Security camera systems
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A security camera system comprising:
- a plurality of video cameras;
an image display monitor;
a user control; and
camera selector means;
whereinthe cameras'"'"' images in combination can provide a predetermined overall area of coverage;
a target of interest can be observed by a first camera and an image of said target be displayed on the monitor;
an image acquired by said first camera overlaps with an adjacent image acquired by at least one other camera, forming a transition region, said transition region being defined by a portion that is common to the images of both said first camera and said at least one other camera;
each such transition region is displayed as a ‘
button’
region by the image display;
there are a plurality of such ‘
button’
regions which substantially surround a central portion of an image in a field of view; and
upon movement of the target to a transition region, the user control is operable to select the ‘
button’
region in which the target appears in a displayed image, so as to select a second camera and to employ video signals from the second video camera to maintain target image continuity.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A security camera system is provided. Several video cameras operate in conjunction with an image display monitor, a user control and camera selector means whereby a target of interest may be followed. Each two cameras providing adjacent areas of coverage are operable to provide an overlay image portion at transition regions of a displayed image. Upon movement of the target of interest to a specified transition region of a currently displayed image provided by one video camera, the camera selection means is operable to select a second camera whereby to maintain target display continuity by the monitor.
38 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A security camera system comprising:
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a plurality of video cameras; an image display monitor; a user control; and camera selector means;
whereinthe cameras'"'"' images in combination can provide a predetermined overall area of coverage; a target of interest can be observed by a first camera and an image of said target be displayed on the monitor; an image acquired by said first camera overlaps with an adjacent image acquired by at least one other camera, forming a transition region, said transition region being defined by a portion that is common to the images of both said first camera and said at least one other camera; each such transition region is displayed as a ‘
button’
region by the image display;there are a plurality of such ‘
button’
regions which substantially surround a central portion of an image in a field of view; andupon movement of the target to a transition region, the user control is operable to select the ‘
button’
region in which the target appears in a displayed image, so as to select a second camera and to employ video signals from the second video camera to maintain target image continuity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of operating a security camera system comprising a plurality of video cameras, an image display monitor, a user control and a camera selector means;
- wherein,
the cameras'"'"' images in combination can provide a predetermined overall area of coverage; a target of interest can be observed by a first camera and an image of said target can be displayed on the monitor; an image acquired by said first camera overlaps with an adjacent image acquired by at least one other camera, forming a transition region, said transition region being defined by a portion that is common to the images of both said first camera and said at least one other camera; each such transition region is displayed as a ‘
button’
region by the image display;there are a plurality of such ‘
button’
regions which substantially surround a central portion of an image field of view; andupon movement of the target to a transition region, the user control is operable to select the ‘
button’
region in which the target appears in a displayed image, whereby to select a second camera and to employ video signals from the second video camera;the method comprising the steps of; observing a target of interest displayed as an image on the monitor; and upon movement of the target to a transition region, operating the user control to select the button in which the target appears, whereby said camera selector means causes an image from a second camera to be displayed so that target image continuity may be maintained. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
- wherein,
Specification