Self contained compact and portable omni-directional monitoring and automatic alarm video device

• US 8,059,150 B2
• Filed: 09/06/2007
• Issued: 11/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mistral Detection Ltd.
• Original Assignee: O.D.F. Optronics Ltd., Wave Group Ltd.
• Inventors: Gal, Ehud
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Quang N.
• Application Number:
  US11/899,564
• Publication Number:
  US 20080062255A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,531 Days
• Field of Search: 348/36, 348/37, 348/38, 348/39, 348/143, 359/725
• US Class Current: 348/37
• 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 13/19697 Arrangements wherein non-video detectors generate an alarm themselves
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

The present invention is a self contained portable and compact omni-directional monitoring and automatic alarm video device. The device enables automatic omni-directional detection, directional imaging inspection, tracking, real-time alarm transmission, and remote monitoring. The device comprises an omni-directional detection sensor, processor, and directional video imaging camera located inside a rotatable housing. The omni-directional detection sensor enables detection of moving objects near the device'"'"'s surroundings; the processing assembly enables extraction of information such as the relative direction to the moving object and automatic pointing of the directional video imaging camera in that direction by rotation of the housing. The information acquired by the video camera is then transmitted to a remote control and observation unit.

Claims

1. A self contained, compact, portable observation device comprising:

a static base, a rotatable housing, and means for rotating said housing relative to said base;

a slip ring assembly configured to allow two-way transmission of electrical power and signals between the base and electric components inside the housing while avoiding tangling wires while said housing undergoes unlimited rotation in either direction relative to said base;

wherein said rotatable housing comprises omni-directional detection means, directional inspection means, a processing assembly for identifying the occurrence of predetermined events within the field of view of said omni-directional detection and for automatic aiming of said directional inspection means at the location at which said predefined events take place, and a communication assembly that enables automatic transmission and documentation of predefined events to a remote receiving and observation unit;

wherein the omni-directional detection means comprises omni-directional optics integrated to a video camera system and one or more of the following;

imaging sensors;

microphone arrays;

volume detector arrays; and

heat detectors;

wherein the directional inspection means comprises a directional video imaging camera;

a plurality of peripheral LEDs spaced around the top of the housing for providing illumination for the omni-directional optics wherein said peripheral LEDs provide illumination in the spectral range to which said optics are sensitive; and

a plurality of directional LEDs mounted near the objective lens of the directional video imaging camera for illuminating the scene imaged by said directional video imaging camera, wherein said directional LEDs provide illumination in the spectral range to which said camera is sensitive.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the housing comprises one or more non-optical sensors to measure other phenomenon of interest.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the one or more non-optical sensors are chosen from the group consisting:

light detectors, smoke detectors, fire detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, and temp detectors.

4. The device according to claim 1, comprising a microphone to gather audio information that can be used by the processing means as an alarm trigger/filter and can be also used for remote listening to sounds associated with the events portrayed in the video images transmitted to the remote receiving and observation unit.

5. The device according to claim 1, comprising a speaker enabling mutual audio communication between persons at the device'"'"'s surroundings and the remote user and enabling said device to be used as an IP camera and/or as a communication device in a video conference system.

6. The device according to claim 1, comprising a siren, which can be activated automatically by the processor of the device when a predetermined event is detected and/or manually by a signal from the remote reception and observation unit.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the processing assembly comprises a Digital Signal Processor (DSP) with integrated software that is capable of extracting the general direction of a predetermined phenomenon from data provided by the omni-directional sensor assembly and/or any additional sensors that may be present said device.

8. The device according to claim 7, wherein the DSP is capable of providing Video Motion Detection (VMD), which allows detection of moving objects from the information obtained by the omni-directional detection sensor assembly.

9. The device according to claim 7, wherein the DSP enables sensor fusion to enable automatic alarm filtering and Image Understanding (IU) capabilities according to predefined characteristics.

10. The device according to claim 7, wherein the DSP enables automatic detection of distress situations.

11. The device according to claim 1, wherein the communication assembly provides advanced means of communication and documentation for transmitting data, including streaming audio and video signals, to the remote reception and observation unit.

12. The device according to claim 1, wherein the communication assembly provides means for receiving signals from the remote unit to enable logging on to said device for remote monitoring and to enable transfer of control and operation commands to said device.

13. The device according to claim 1, wherein the remote reception and observation unit is one or more of the following:

a cellular phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a laptop, a PC, or a service provider.

14. The device according to claim 1, comprising an internal rechargeable energy pack located in the static base, said power pack for supplying electrical energy to electronic components inside the housing enabling limited operation periods and serving as back up during electrical power interruptions.

15. The device according to claim 1, comprising a power plug located in the base and in electrical communication with the interior of the housing via the slip ring assembly, said power plug enabling recharge of the energy pack and supplying electrical energy when extended operation of said device is required.

16. The device according to claim 1, comprising a plug in the base for wired network connection, said plug electrically connected to the slip ring assembly to enable transmission of information acquired by the sensors to a wired network and transmission of operating commands received via said wired network to the processing assembly.

17. The device according to claim 1, wherein the processing assembly comprises means for automatic documentation of predefined events.