Zoom illumination system

• US 8,947,527 B1
• Filed: 03/22/2012
• Issued: 02/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dmitry Postovalov, Valdis Postovalov
• Original Assignee: Dmitry Postovalov, Valdis Postovalov
• Inventors: Postovalov, Valdis, Postovalov, Dmitry
• Primary Examiner(s): Rao, Andy
• Assistant Examiner(s): Elahi, Shan
• Application Number:
  US13/427,438
• Time in Patent Office: 1,048 Days
• Field of Search: 348/143
• US Class Current: 348/143
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 15/05 Combinations of cameras with electronic flash apparatus; Electronic flash units
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2215/0567 Solid-state light source, e.g. LED, laser
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2215/0571 With second light source
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2215/0592 installed in front of light emitter
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/196 using television cameras
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19656 Network used to communicate with a camera, e.g. WAN, LAN, Internet
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19695 Arrangements wherein non-video detectors start video recording or forwarding but do not generate an alarm themselves
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/56 provided with illuminating means
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/69 Control of means for changing angle of the field of view, e.g. optical zoom objectives or electronic zooming
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/70 Circuitry for compensating brightness variation in the scene
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/74 by influencing the scene brightness using illuminating means
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/188 Capturing isolated or intermittent images triggered by the occurrence of a predetermined event, e.g. an object reaching a predetermined position signal generation from motion picture films H04N5/253

Abstract

Zoom illumination system for use with closed circuit TV cameras in applications requiring long distance illumination, such as surveillance and night vision. The system includes multiple strings of LEDs, which may have additional lenses, with each LED string capable of providing illumination for a predetermined viewing angle. The LED strings can be switched on and off to provide illumination as desired.

Claims

1. An illuminator for a zoom illumination system, said illuminator comprising:

a plurality of light sources comprising LEDs, said light sources selected from visible light sources, infrared light sources, and combinations thereof, said light sources positioned geometrically and connected electrically to provide illumination for a plurality of preselected different angles of view;

a regulated DC/DC power supply for said light sources;

a power source adapter for converting input voltage to DC voltage usable by said power supply;

a switch that interchangeably directs power from said power supply to selected ones of said light sources to illuminate a selected one of said angles of view.

2. The illuminator of claim 1, wherein said power source adapter is operative to convert input voltage selected from 12 V DC, 24 V AC, batteries, internet protocol power over ethernet (IP PoE), and combinations thereof.

3. The illuminator of claim 1, wherein said power supply is operative to use input voltages between about 1 V and about 500 V and selected from AC and DC, and output voltages between about 1 V DC and about 500 V DC.

4. The illuminator of claim 1, wherein said power supply is operative to use input voltages between about 9 V DC and about 36 V DC.

5. The illuminator of claim 1, further comprising a housing for providing a water-proof enclosure for said light sources, wherein said housing is transmissive for light at wavelengths provided by said light sources.

6. The illuminator of claim 1, wherein said LEDs are mounted onto at least one circuit board.

7. The illuminator of claim 6, further comprising a heat sink thermally coupled to each circuit board.

8. The illuminator of claim 1, wherein said LEDs are divided into groups, with the LEDs in each group in electrical communication with each other and arranged geometrically to provide illumination for one of said preselected angles of view.

9. The illuminator of claim 8, further comprising at least one lens, said at least one lens selected from external lenses coupled to single LEDS, built-in lenses coupled to single LEDs, lens matrices coupled to groups of LEDs, and combinations thereof.

10. The illuminator of claim 8, wherein each group of LEDs is operative to provide light at one wavelength, and different groups provide light at different wavelengths.

11. The illuminator of claim 1, wherein said illuminator is operative to provide illumination for viewing objects at distances greater than or equal to 100 feet.

12. The illuminator of claim 1, wherein said illuminator is operative to provide illumination for viewing objects at distances greater than or equal to 400 feet.

13. The illuminator of claim 1, wherein said illuminator is operative to provide illumination for viewing objects at distances greater than or equal to 600 feet.

14. The illuminator of claim 1, wherein said illuminator is operative to provide illumination for viewing objects at distances of about 100 feet.

15. The illuminator of claim 1, wherein said illuminator is operative to provide illumination for viewing objects at distances of about 400 feet.

16. The illuminator of claim 1, wherein said illuminator is operative to provide illumination for viewing objects at distances of about 600 feet.

17. A zoom illumination system comprising:

an illuminator, comprising a plurality of light sources comprising LEDs, said light sources selected to provide illumination at wavelengths selected from visible wavelengths, infrared wavelengths, and combinations thereof, said light sources positioned geometrically and connected electrically to provide illumination for a plurality of preselected different angles of view;

a camera operative to record images at the wavelengths provided by said light sources; and

control means for operating said illuminator to provide illumination for said camera, said control means comprising;

a regulated DC/DC power supply for said light sources;

a power source adapter for converting input voltage to DC voltage usable by said power supply; and

a switch that interchangeably directs power from said power supply to selected ones of said light sources to illuminate a selected one of said angles of view.

18. The illumination system of claim 17, wherein said camera is a CCTV camera.

19. The illumination system of claim 17, further comprising a digital zoom processor.

20. The illumination system of claim 17, wherein said system consists essentially of non-moving parts.

21. The illumination system of claim 17, wherein said system is a surveillance system.

22. The illumination system of claim 17, comprising a plurality of illuminators, with each illuminator comprising a plurality of light sources comprising LEDs, said light sources positioned geometrically and connected electrically to provide illumination for a plurality of preselected different angles of view.

23. The illumination system of claim 17, wherein said illuminator and said camera are mechanically coupled.

24. The illumination system of claim 17, wherein said illuminator is operative to provide illumination for said camera at distances greater than or equal to 400 feet within at least one angle of view.

25. The illumination system of claim 17, wherein said illuminator is operative to provide illumination for said camera at distances greater than or equal to 100 feet within at least one angle of view.

26. The illumination system of claim 17, wherein said illuminator is operative to provide illumination for said camera at distances greater than or equal to 600 feet within at least one angle of view.

27. The illumination system of claim 17, comprising a plurality of illuminators, wherein each of said illuminators is positioned geometrically and connected electrically to provide illumination for different preselected angles of view.

28. The illumination system of claim 17, wherein said illuminator is operative to provide illumination for said camera at distances of about 100 feet within at least one angle of view.

29. The illumination system of claim 17, wherein said illuminator is operative to provide illumination for said camera at distances of about 400 feet within at least one angle of view.

30. The illumination system of claim 17, wherein said illuminator is operative to provide illumination for said camera at distances of about 600 feet within at least one angle of view.