Covert camera with a fixed lens

• US 8,050,551 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2008
• Issued: 11/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rosemount Aerospace, Inc. (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Original Assignee: Rosemount Aerospace, Inc. (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Inventors: Peterson, Ericka A., Schwartz, Richard A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Laballe; Clayton E
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fenwick; Warren K
• Application Number:
  US12/242,253
• Publication Number:
  US 20100080548A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,127 Days
• Field of Search: 396/5, 396/12, 396/153, 396/427, 396/433, 348/151, 348/156, 348/144, 348/351, 348/374, 359/819
• US Class Current: 396/433
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/55 with provision for heating or cooling, e.g. in aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19602 Image analysis to detect motion of the intruder, e.g. by frame subtraction
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19619 Details of casing
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19626 optical details, e.g. lenses, mirrors or multiple lenses
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19628 of wide angled cameras and camera groups, e.g. omni-directional cameras, fish eye, single units having multiple cameras achieving a wide angle view
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1965 the vehicle being an aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 15/001 Concealed systems, e.g. disguised alarm systems to make covert systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 Housings

Abstract

A covert camera for surveillance in an aircraft comprises a front panel that can have an appearance other than a conventional camera. The front panel can include at least one aperture therethrough. A lens can be in or near the aperture, the lens having a field of view. A camera mount can be positioned on the front panel. The camera mount can include a sensor capable of receiving an image of at least a portion of the field of view. The camera mount can be capable of adjustment without movement of the lens.

Claims

1. A covert camera for surveillance in an aircraft comprising:

(a) a front panel having an appearance other than a conventional camera, the front panel having at least one aperture therethrough;

(b) a lens in or near the aperture, the lens being fixed relative to the front panel and having a field of view; and

(c) a camera mount positioned on the front panel, the camera mount having a sensor capable of receiving an image of at least a portion of the field of view, wherein;

the camera mount is further capable of adjustment relative to the front panel so that the sensor is moveable to a preferred focus position without movement of the lens relative to the front panel; and

the sensor moves relative to the lens upon adjustment of the camera mount to said preferred focus position, while the lens remains fixed relative to the front panel.

2. The covert camera of claim 1, wherein the camera mount further comprises

a housing having a first threaded opening;

a camera board mount having a second threaded opening, the sensor positioned on the camera board mount;

the housing capable of receiving the camera board mount;

a screw in the first and second threaded openings;

wherein rotation of the screw is capable of adjusting the camera board mount and the sensor to the preferred focus position.

3. The covert camera of claim 2, wherein the camera board mount has a locking helicoil in the first opening capable of locking the sensor at the preferred focus position.

4. The covert camera of claim 1, further comprising a motion sensor in or near the front panel, the motion sensor capable of detecting activity in the field of view.

5. The covert camera of claim 1, further comprising an infrared light in or near the front panel, the infrared light capable of illuminating the field of view.

6. The covert camera of claim 1, further comprising a light sensor in or near the front panel, the light sensor capable of detecting illumination in the field of view.

7. The covert camera of claim 1, wherein the camera is capable of transmitting the image for use on a display.

8. The covert camera of claim 1, wherein the camera is capable of transmitting the image wirelessly for use on a display.

9. The covert camera of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a charged couple device.

10. A camera for surveillance in an aircraft comprising:

(a) a front panel having an appearance other than a conventional camera, the front panel having at least one aperture therethrough;

(b) a lens in or near the aperture, the lens being fixed relative to the front panel and having a field of view; and

(c) a camera mount positioned on the front panel, the camera mount further comprising;

a housing having a first threaded opening;

a camera board mount having a second threaded opening and a sensor positioned on the camera board mount, the sensor capable of receiving an image of at least a portion of the field of view,

the housing capable of receiving the camera board mount;

a screw in the first and second threaded openings connecting the camera board mount to the housing;

wherein;

rotation of the screw is capable of adjusting the camera board mount relative to the front panel and the sensor to a preferred focus position; and

the sensor moves relative to the lens upon rotation of said screw, without the lens moving relative to the front panel.

11. The camera of claim 10 further comprising,

a motion sensor in or near the front panel, the motion sensor capable of detecting activity in the field of view;

an infrared light in or near the front panel, the infrared light capable of illuminating a field of view; and

a light sensor in or near the front panel, the light sensor capable of detecting illumination in the field of view.

12. A covert camera for surveillance in an aircraft comprising:

(a) a front panel having an appearance other than a conventional camera, the front panel having at least one aperture therethrough;

(b) a lens in or near the aperture, the lens being fixed relative to the front panel and having a field of view; and

(c) a camera mount positioned on the front panel and having a sensor capable of receiving an image of at least a portion of the field of view, the camera mount further comprising;

a housing having a first threaded opening;

a camera board mount having a second threaded opening;

the housing capable of receiving the camera board mount;

a screw in the first and second threaded openings;

a locking helicoil in the first threaded opening capable of locking the sensor at a preferred focus position, wherein;

the sensor moves relative to the lens upon rotation of the screw, without the lens moving relative to the front panel.

13. The camera of claim 12 further comprising a motion sensor in or near the front panel, the motion sensor capable of detecting activity in the field of view;

an infrared light in or near the front panel, the infrared light capable of illuminating a field of view; and

a light sensor in or near the front panel, the light sensor capable of detecting illumination in the field of view.