Reconfigurable surveillance apparatus and associated method

• US 9,065,982 B2
• Filed: 01/07/2010
• Issued: 06/23/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Inventors: Schwartz, Steven Allen, Morris, Kenneth Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): Serrao, Ranodhi
• Assistant Examiner(s): RICHARDSON, THOMAS W
• Application Number:
  US12/683,537
• Publication Number:
  US 20110164137A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,993 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19621 Portable camera
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19636 pertaining to the camera
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19697 Arrangements wherein non-video detectors generate an alarm themselves
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

An apparatus includes a housing; a plurality of cameras in the housing, each of the cameras being configured to capture image data of a portion of a scene external to the housing; an attitude detector for detecting an orientation of the housing; and a transmitter disposed within the housing, the transmitter being configured to transmit the image data and an orientation signal to a station disposed remotely from the scene. A method of using the apparatus is also provided.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a housing;

a plurality of cameras in the housing, each of the cameras being configured to capture image data of a portion of a scene external to the housing;

an attitude detector configured to detect an orientation of the housing and produce an orientation signal that is representative of an orientation of the apparatus;

a transmitter disposed within the housing, the transmitter being configured to transmit the image data and the orientation signal to a station disposed remotely from the scene;

a plurality of hoops encircling the housing wherein one or more of the hoops serves as an antenna system for the transmitter; and

further comprising at least one of;

a receiver configured to receive signals from the remotely disposed station;

a self-destruction device connected to a receiver triggered by a signal from the remote station to destroy the apparatus; and

a two-wag speakerphone to enable communication with occupants in the scene.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cameras comprise:

video cameras, each including a 90°

field of view and each oriented in a different direction with respect to the housing to provide 360°

coverage of the scene.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the attitude detector comprises:

first and second 3-axis accelerometers having different sensitivities.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein:

the first 3-axis accelerometer distinguishes acceleration resulting from propelling the housing from lower accelerations that occur when the housing is being handled; and

the second 3-axis accelerometer detects the force of gravity.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a motion sensor configured to actuate the cameras to capture the image data upon detection of motion in the scene.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a communications link between the transmitter and another apparatus for relaying the image data to the remote station.

7. An apparatus comprising:

a housing;

a plurality of cameras in the housing, each of the cameras being configured to capture image data of a portion of a scene external to the housing;

an accelerometer;

a light source for illuminating the scene;

a processor configured to initiate a flash from the light source in response to a signal from the accelerometer, the processor receiving the image data and the orientation signal and producing a panoramic mosaic image showing the scene as it would appear if the cameras were in a predetermined orientation;

a transmitter disposed within the housing, the transmitter being configured to transmit the panoramic mosaic image to a station disposed remotely from the scene; and

further comprising at least one of;

a receiver configured to receive signals from the remotely disposed station;

a self-destruction device connected to a receiver triggered by a signal from the remote station to destroy the apparatus; and

a two-way speakerphone to enable communication with occupants in the scene.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the cameras comprise:

video cameras, each including a 90°

field of view and each oriented in a different direction with respect to the housing to provide 360°

coverage of the scene.

9. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the attitude detector comprises:

first and second 3-axis accelerometers having different sensitivities.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the first 3-axis accelerometer distinguishes acceleration resulting from propelling the housing from lower accelerations that occur when the housing is being handled;

and the second 3-axis accelerometer detects the force of gravity.

11. An apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising:

a plurality of hoops encircling the housing wherein one or more of the hoops serves as an antenna system for the transmitter and/or the receiver.

12. An apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising:

a communications link between the transmitter and another apparatus for relaying the image data to the remote station.

13. A method of viewing a scene from a station disposed remotely thereto, said method comprising:

propelling a monitoring apparatus into an area of interest, the monitoring apparatus comprising;

a housing;

an accelerometer;

a light source for illuminating the scene;

a plurality of cameras in the housing, each of the cameras configured to capture image data of a portion of a scene external to the housing;

an attitude detector configured to detect an orientation of the housing and produce an orientation signal that is representative of an orientation of the apparatus;

a processor configured to initiate a flash from the light source at a predetermined time after the monitoring apparatus breaks a window, or strikes a wall or floor; and

a transmitter disposed within the housing, the transmitter being adapted to transmit the image data to a station disposed remotely from the scene;

using the image data from the cameras and the orientation signal from the attitude detector to construct a panoramic mosaic image showing the scene as it would appear if the cameras were in a predetermined orientation; and

viewing the panoramic image at a station remote from the area of interest.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of using the image data from the cameras and an orientation signal from the attitude detector to construct a panoramic mosaic image showing the scene as it would appear if the cameras were in a predetermined orientation is performed in a processor in the monitoring apparatus.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of using the image data from the cameras and an orientation signal from the attitude detector to construct a panoramic mosaic image showing the scene as it would appear if the cameras were in a predetermined orientation is performed in a processor in the remote station.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the monitoring apparatus includes a communications relay, and the method further comprises:

using additional monitoring apparatus to communicate with the communications relay to enable perimeter monitoring.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the attitude detector comprises first and second 3-axis accelerometers having different sensitivities.