Long Range Day/Night Surveillance Video Camera

• US 20110199482A1
• Filed: 04/30/2010
• Published: 08/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Arthur C. Morgan
• Original Assignee: Arthur C. Morgan
• Inventors: Morgan, Arthur C.
• Application Number:
  US12/771,213
• Publication Number:
  US 20110199482A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/143
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/11 for generating image signals from visible and infrared light wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/50 Constructional details
• 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 23/695 Control of camera direction for changing a field of view, e.g. pan, tilt or based on tracking of objects

Abstract

This invention relates to video cameras and, more specifically, to a high-resolution day/night video camera with a long lens, fast optics and pan/tilt/zoom electronics, coupled with a diode-pumped solid state laser illuminator for long range low light illumination. Potential applications include ports, borders, pipelines, power stations, communication transmitters and prisons.

Claims

1. A high resolution day/night video camera system, comprising:

a. a video camera with a zoom lens having a functional focal length that allows imaging at a distance up to about 5 kilometers;

b. a ½

inch CCD image sensor;

c. a high-resolution image processing component, a light sensitivity processing component, a low light image enhancement processing component and a backlight compensation (BLC) image processing component for image enhancement;

d. said video camera mounted on a heavy duty pan and tilt motor system having a pan/tilt driver controlled by a pan and tilt controller protocol;

e. said heavy duty pan and tilt motor system enabling the video camera to move axially across wide vertical and horizontal ranges; and

f. an infrared laser illuminator component that delivers a clean nighttime image up to a distance of up to 5 kilometers.

2. The camera system of claim 1, further comprising wherein the focal length of the zoom lens is 12.5-750 mm zoom with internal digital double that functions at 20-1500 mm.

3. The camera system of claim 1, further comprising wherein the high resolution image processing component delivers resolution up to 520 television lines (TVLs) using either a NTSC or PAL television system.

The camera system of claim 1, further comprising wherein the light sensitivity processing component delivers sensitivity of 0.08 Lux at F1.2 in daytime mode and 0.008 Lux at F1.2 in nighttime mode.

4. The camera system of claim 1, further comprising wherein the pan and tilt mechanism enables the video camera to move axially across horizontal range of a vertical axis of from about 0 to about 360 degrees.

5. The camera system of claim 1, further comprising wherein the pan and tilt mechanism enables the video camera to move axially across a vertical range of a horizontal axis of from about −

45 degrees to about +45 degrees.

6. The camera system of claim 1, further comprising wherein the heavy duty pan/tilt motor system is controlled by an integrated RS-485 pan and tilt controller communication protocol or other similar protocol.

7. The camera system of claim 1, further comprising wherein the laser infrared illuminator operates at approximately the 808 nanometer wavelength.

8. The camera system, of claim 1, further comprising wherein the image processing component includes a solid state hard drive storage disk.

9. The camera system, of claim 1, further comprising wherein the camera system comprises a battery backup power system.

10. The camera system, of claim 1, further comprising a GPS computing system for calculating the location of a target detected by the camera system.

11. The camera system, of claim 1, further comprising a coordination system comprising a radio communication unit containing software and computer hardware for communication with and coordination with an external secondary targeting source.

12. The camera system, of claim 1, further comprising a remote plug-in port for local wired control of the camera system and local access to the camera feed.

13. The camera system, of claim 1, further comprising wherein the camera system is connected to a LAN using an encrypted ethernet over copper transmission protocol.

15. The camera system of claim 8 wherein the iris range of the zoom lens is 4.6˜

720.

16. The camera system of claim 8 wherein the electronic shutter speed range is between 1/50 and 1/120,000 second.

17. The camera system of claim 8 wherein the signal to noise ratio is between 52 dB and 60 dB;

18. The camera system of claim 8 wherein the image provided totals pixels of 410K×

470K.

19. The camera system of claim 8 wherein the system further provides motion detecting capability.

20. The camera system of claim 8 wherein the system further provides selectable features of negative imaging, mirroring, and adjustable automatic gain control.

21. The camera system of claim 8 wherein the video camera further provides adjustable high light suppression capability.

22. The camera system of claim 8 wherein the video camera remains operable between −

20°

C. and 50°

C., and at up to 85% relative humidity.

23. The camera system of claim 8, wherein the laser infrared illuminator operates within a temperature range between 18 degrees C. and 30 degrees C.

24. The camera system of claim 8, wherein the laser infrared illuminator is a diode-pumped solid state laser.

25. The camera system of claim 8, wherein the system operates within the light range of 3200°

K to 10000°

K.

26. The camera system of claim 8, wherein the dimensions of the system casing are 50.5 mm wide, 50.5 mm high and 115 mm long.

28. The video camera system of claim 21, further comprising wherein the laser infrared illuminator comprises:

a. dimensions of 165 mm×

74 mm×

78 mm;

b. output power of 2400 mw;

c. TTL modulation analogy;

d. beam quality of (M2) less than 3;

e. beam ellipticity of less than 10%;

f. pointing drift of less than 0.2 mrad;

g. power stability of less than 5% @ 4 hours;

h. beam diameter of less than 3 mm at the output mirror;

i. beam divergence of less than 1.2 mrad;

j. a warm up time of less than 10 minutes;

k. a lifetime of over 10,000 hours of usage; and

l. electrical requirements of 24VAC/6 amps.

29. The camera system of claim 21, wherein a tubular axial unit is built within the PTZ support to contain cables.

30. The camera system of claim 21, wherein the camera is mounted on a metal platform comprising stabilizing springs.

31. The camera system of claim 21, wherein all components containing cables, circuitry or other elements susceptible to water damage are sealed with water-resistant rubber or composite seals.

32. The camera system of claim 21, wherein the camera lens is mounted behind a protective, transparent and shatter-resistant plastic shield.

33. The camera system of claim 21, wherein the power supply is connected to the system via a battery backup device capable of providing power to the unit for at least 30 minutes in the event of power failure.

34. The camera system of claim 21, wherein the wherein the image processing component includes a solid state hard drive storage disk.

35. The camera system of claim 21, further comprising a remote plug-in port for local wired control of the camera system and local access to the camera feed.

36. The camera system, of claim 21, further comprising a GPS computing system for calculating the location of a target detected by the camera system.

37. The camera system, of claim 21, further comprising a coordination system comprising a radio communication unit containing software and computer hardware for communication with and coordination with an external secondary targeting source.

38. The camera system, of claim 1, further comprising wherein the camera system is connected to a LAN using an encrypted ethernet over copper transmission protocol.

14. A high resolution day/night video camera system, comprising:

a. a video camera with a zoom lens wherein the focal length of the zoom lens is 12.5-750 mm zoom with internal digital double that functions at 20-1500 mm;

b. said video camera system having a ½

inch CCD image sensor;

c. a high resolution image processing component delivering resolution up to 520 television lines (TVLs) using either a NTSC or PAL television system;

d. a light sensitivity processing component providing sensitivity of 0.08 Lux at F1.2 in daytime mode and 0.008 Lux at F1.2 in nighttime mode;

e. said video camera system having a backlight compensation (BLC) image processing component for image enhancement;

f. said video camera mounted on a pan and tilt mechanism having a heavy duty pan/tilt motor system controlled by an integrated RS-485 pan and tilt controller communication protocol or other similar protocol;

g. said pan and tilt mechanism enabling the video camera to move axially across horizontal range of a vertical axis of from about 0 to about 360 degrees and to move axially across a vertical range of a horizontal axis of from about −

45 degrees to about +45 degrees; and

h. said video camera system comprising a laser infrared illuminator operates at approximately the 808 nanometer wavelength.

27. A high resolution day/night video camera system, comprising:

a. a video camera with a zoom lens wherein the focal length of the zoom lens is 12.5-750 mm zoom with internal digital double that functions at 20-1500 mm;

b. wherein the iris range of the zoom lens is 4.6˜

720;

c. wherein the electronic shutter speed range is between 1/50 and 1/120,000 second;

d. wherein the signal to noise ratio is between 52 dB and 60 dB;

e. a ½

inch CCD image sensor;

f. motion detecting capability;

g. selectable features of negative imaging, 2×

digital zoom, mirroring, and adjustable automatic gain control;

h. a high resolution image processing component delivering resolution up to 520 television lines (TVLs) using either a NTSC or PAL television system;

i. wherein the image provided totals pixels of 410K×

470K;

j. wherein the system further provides motion detecting capability;

k. wherein the system further provides selectable features of negative imaging, mirroring, and adjustable automatic gain control;

l. providing adjustable high light suppression capability;

m. wherein the video camera remains operable between −

20°

C. and 50°

C., and at up to 85% relative humidity;

n. a light sensitivity processing component providing sensitivity of 0.08 Lux at F1.2, in daytime mode and 0.008 Lux at F1.2 in nighttime mode;

o. a backlight compensation (BLC) image processing component for image enhancement;

p. said camera mounted on a heavy duty pan/tilt motor system controlled by an integrated RS-485 pan and tilt controller communication protocol or other similar protocol;

q. said heavy duty pan and tilt motor system enabling the video camera to move axially across horizontal range of a vertical axis of from about 0 to about 360 degrees and to move axially across a vertical range of a horizontal axis of from about −

45 degrees to about +45 degrees;

r. an infrared laser illuminator operating at approximately the 808 nanometer wavelength;

s. wherein the laser infrared illuminator capable of operating at a temperature between 18 degrees C. and 30 degrees C.;

t. wherein the laser infrared illuminator is a diode-pumped solid state laser infrared illuminator;

u. operating within the light range of 3200°

K to 10000°

K; and

v. wherein the dimensions of the system casing are 50.5 mm wide, 50.5 mm high and 115 mm long.

39. A high resolution day/night video camera system, comprising:

i. a video camera with a zoom lens wherein the focal length of the zoom lens is 12.5-750 mm zoom with internal digital double that functions at 20-1500 mm;

ii. wherein the iris range of the zoom lens is 4.6˜

720;

iii. wherein the electronic shutter speed range is between 1/50 and 1/120,000 second;

iv. wherein the signal to noise ratio is between 52 dB and 60 dB;

v. a ½

inch CCD image sensor;

vi. motion detecting capability;

vii. selectable features of negative imaging, 2×

digital zoom, mirroring, and adjustable automatic gain control;

viii. a high resolution image processing component delivering resolution up to 520 television lines (TVLs) using either a NTSC or PAL television system;

ix. wherein the image provided totals pixels of 410K×

470K;

x. wherein the system further provides motion detecting capability;

xi. wherein the system further provides selectable features of negative imaging, mirroring, and adjustable automatic gain control;

xii. adjustable high light suppression capability;

xiii. wherein the video camera remains operable between −

20°

C. and 50°

C., and at up to 85% relative humidity;

xiv. a light sensitivity processing component providing sensitivity of 0.08 Lux at F1.2, in daytime mode and 0.008 Lux at F1.2 in nighttime mode;

xv. a backlight compensation (BLC) image processing component for image enhancement;

xvi. said camera mounted on a heavy duty pan/tilt motor system controlled by an integrated RS-485 pan and tilt controller communication protocol or other similar protocol;

xvii. said heavy duty pan and tilt motor system enabling the video camera to move axially across horizontal range of a vertical axis of from about 0 to about 360 degrees and to move axially across a vertical range of a horizontal axis of from about −

45 degrees to about +45 degrees;

xviii. an infrared laser illuminator operating at approximately the 808 nanometer wavelength;

xix. wherein the laser infrared illuminator capable of operating at a temperature between 18 degrees C. and 30 degrees C.;

xx. wherein the laser infrared illuminator is a diode-pumped solid state laser infrared illuminator;

xxi. operating within the light range of 3200°

K to 10000°

K;

xxii. wherein the dimensions of the system casing are 50.5 mm wide, 50.5 mm high and 115 mm long;

xxiii. wherein a tubular axial unit is built within the PTZ support to contain cables;

xxiv. wherein the camera is mounted on a metal platform comprising stabilizing springs;

xxv. wherein all components containing cables, circuitry or other elements susceptible to water damage are sealed with water-resistant rubber or composite seals;

xxvi. wherein the camera lens is mounted behind a protective, transparent and shatter-resistant plastic shield;

xxvii. wherein the power supply is connected to the system via a battery backup device capable of providing power to the unit for at least 30 minutes in the event of power failure;

xxviii. wherein the wherein the image processing component includes a solid state hard drive storage disk;

xxix. further comprising a remote plug-in port for local wired control of the camera system and local access to the camera feed;

xxx. further comprising a GPS computing system for calculating the location of a target detected by the camera system;

xxxi. further comprising a coordination system comprising a radio communication unit containing software and computer hardware for communication with and coordination with an external secondary targeting source; and

,

xxxii. further comprising wherein the camera system is connected to a LAN using an encrypted ethernet over copper transmission protocol.