Photographing device in particular for video surveillance and working methods of same

• US 8,167,506 B2
• Filed: 04/03/2006
• Issued: 05/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mardel Image
• Original Assignee: Mardel Image
• Inventors: Martos, François
• Primary Examiner(s): Laballe, Clayton E
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hancock, Dennis
• Application Number:
  US11/910,268
• Publication Number:
  US 20080181600A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,220 Days
• Field of Search: 396419-428
• US Class Current: 396/427
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 15/00 Special procedures for taking photographs; Apparatus therefor

Abstract

Disclosed is a device providing the control and movement of a camera. The device includes a housing configured to form a protective chamber around the camera, the housing being mounted mobile in rotation along a first axis with respect to an arm. The device further includes a first slip ring between the housing and the arm, and a second slip ring. Power for the camera is transmitted in the first and second slip ring.

Claims

1. A device providing the control and movement of a camera, the device comprising:

a stationary base;

a plate;

an arm integrated with the plate;

a housing configured to form a protective chamber around the camera, wherein the housing is mounted mobile in rotation along a first axis with respect to the arm, wherein the device further includes

a first slip ring between the housing and the arm, the first slip ring defining radii in a first plane, wherein the plate is mounted mobile in rotation along a second axis with respect to the stationary base, wherein the second axis is perpendicular to the first axis, wherein the device further includes

a second slip ring between the plate and the stationary base, the second slip ring defining radii in a second plane, the second plane being perpendicular to the first plane, wherein a supply for the camera is transmitted in the first and second slip rings and wherein the two rotation movements occur over three hundred and sixty degrees without stopping, with the arrangement and the size of the plate and the base with respect to the arrangement and size of the camera defining a field of visibility of at least two hundred and seventy degrees,

wherein the housing defines a window for the photographing means, and the plate includes a cleaning mechanism including a first member and a second member, the first member and second member being configured to frame the window such that the window, first member, and second member define an enclosed volume having straight edges.

2. A device according to claim 1, characterised in that said protective housing receives a plurality of cameras of different technologies.

3. A device according to claim 1, characterised in that said protective housing receives a plurality of cameras.

4. A device according to claim 1, characterised in that said protective housing receives a plurality of cameras and is equipped with a plurality of windows.

5. A device according to claim 1, characterised in that said protective housing receives a sensor associated with the camera.

6. A device according to claim 1, characterised in that the plate supporting the arms is preformed with bevelled edges so as to minimise the visual obstacle that it may constitute.

7. A device according to claim 1, characterised in that the rotation movements are provided for each axis by a stepper motor.

8. A device according to claim 1, characterised in that the rotation movements are monitored for each axis by an encoder.

9. A device according to claim 1, characterised in that said protective housing includes a window in front of which the objective of the camera is installed, which window is closed by a plate of transparent material.

10. A device according to claim 1, characterised in that the controls, and the input and output data for the camera are transmitted in the first and second slip rings.

11. A device according to claim 1, characterised in that said plate includes two arms between which said protective housing rotates.

12. A device according to claim 1 wherein the device is configured to cause the protective housing to rotate so as to bring the protected window to the cleaning mechanism in order to perform the cleaning of the protected window.

13. A device according to claim 1 wherein the device is configured to integrate a legal locking and unlocking function for image hiding, which can be processed either locally (recorder on-board the device), or by a processing device on request by the courts.

14. A device providing the control and movement of a camera, the device comprising:

a stationary base;

a plate;

an arm integrated with the plate;

a housing configured to form a protective chamber around the camera, wherein the housing is mounted mobile in rotation along a first axis with respect to the arm, wherein the device further includes

a first slip ring between the housing and the arm, the first slip ring defining radii in a first plane, wherein the plate is mounted mobile in rotation along a second axis with respect to the stationary base, wherein the second axis is perpendicular to the first axis, wherein the device further includes

a second slip ring between the plate and the stationary base, the second slip ring defining radii in a second plane, the second plane being perpendicular to the first plane, wherein a supply for the camera is transmitted in the first and second slip rings and

wherein the two rotation movements occur over three hundred and sixty degrees without stopping, with the arrangement and the size of the plate and the base with respect to the arrangement and size of the camera defining a field of visibility of at least two hundred and seventy degrees, characterised in that the plate is equipped at the base of the arm with projecting elements coming into contact with the rotating housing and forming with the external surface of the latter an enclosed volume having straight edges.

15. A device according to claim 14 wherein the device is configured to rotate the housing so as to bring the window into the enclosed volume so as to protect the widow, in response to detection of an object moving toward the camera.