as) United States
`a2) Patent Application Publication 0) Pub. No.: US 2001/0022627 Al
`
`(43) Pub. Date: Sep. 20, 2001
`Bernhardt
`
`US 20010022627A1
`
`(76)
`
`Inventor: Rainer Bernhardt, Rosbach vor der
`Hohe (DE)
`
`Correspondence Address:
`FULBRIGHT & JAWORSKI, LLP
`666 FIFTH AVE
`
`NEW YORK, NY 10103-3198 (US)
`
`(21) Appl. No.:
`
`09/768,752
`
`(22)
`
`Filed:
`
`Jan. 24, 2001
`
`(54) VIDEO SURVEILLANCE APPARATUS WITH
`ABSTRACT
`(57)
`A DOME CAMERA AND A PROTECTIVE
`In a video surveillance apparatus having
`HOUSING
`a) a dome camera (14) with a housing (15) andafirst
`dome(16) in which a video camera with a lens (18)is
`disposed which is adjustable about a vertical axis of
`rotation (A-A) and a horizontal swiveling axis, having
`b) a plate system (6) with electrical components and a
`mounting for the dome camera (14), a first plane of
`separation (E1-E1) being disposed between the plate
`system (6) and the dome camera (14), and having
`c) a protective housing (19) which surrounds the plate
`system (6) and the dome camera (14) and which has a
`second dome (21) near the first dome (16),
`to improve the accessibility of electrical parts and compo-
`nents, retrofitting, the making and breaking of mechanical
`and electrical connections such as screw, plug and soldered
`connections, the design is configured such that
`d) the plate system (6) is disposed on the bottom of a
`supporting flange (3) and underneath its outer margin,
`and that
`e) the second dome (21) is prolonged upward in the
`direction of the axis of rotation (A-A) by a housing
`jacket (20) which surrounds the plate system (6) and
`has an upper margin whichis releasably connected to
`the supporting flange (3), a second plane of separation
`(E2-E2) being formed which lies abovethe first plane
`of separation.
`
`oo.
`to.
`.
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`(30)
`Mar. 20, 2000.
`(DE)ssvsssnsssvsvsvsnesne 100 13 780.6-31
`
`Publication Classification
`
`(51) Unt. Ch?cscs HO4N 7/18; HO4N 5/225
`
`(52) US. C1. eee ccseseseseseecssceneeeneeseess 348/373; 348/143
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`AXIS EXHIBIT 1009-1
`
`AXIS EXHIBIT 1009-1
`
`

`

`Patent Application Publication
`
`Sep. 20, 2001 Sheet 1 of 7
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`AXIS EXHIBIT 1009-2
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`

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`Patent Application Publication
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`AXIS EXHIBIT 1009-3
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`US 2001/0022627 Al
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`Sep. 20, 2001 Sheet 3 of 7
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`AXIS EXHIBIT 1009-4
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`AXIS EXHIBIT 1009-4
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`

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`Patent Application Publication
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`Sep. 20,2001 Sheet 4 of 7
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`AXIS EXHIBIT 1009-5
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`AXIS EXHIBIT 1009-5
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`

`

`Patent Application Publication
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`Sep. 20, 2001 Sheet 5 of 7
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`AXIS EXHIBIT 1009-6
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`Patent Application Publication
`
`Sep. 20,2001 Sheet 6 of 7
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`US 2001/0022627 Al
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`AXIS EXHIBIT 1009-7
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`AXIS EXHIBIT 1009-7
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`

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`Patent Application Publication
`
`Sep. 20,2001 Sheet 7 of 7
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`US 2001/0022627 Al
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`AXIS EXHIBIT 1009-8
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`

`

`US 2001/0022627 Al
`
`Sep. 20, 2001
`
`VIDEO SURVEILLANCE APPARATUS WITH A
`DOME CAMERA AND A PROTECTIVE HOUSING
`
`BACKGROUND AND SUMMARYOF THE
`INVENTION
`
`is an outside diameter of the upper hemispherical shell of
`about 46 centimeters, which has to be fastened in a fork-like
`holder of correspondingsize.
`
`[0008] Similar systems, in which difficult manipulations
`from underneath are necessary between the dome camera
`and a bulky protective housing to install and remove them,
`are also offered in prospectuses of VICONIndustries Ltd. in
`Great Britain.
`[0002] a) a dome camera with a housing andafirst
`
`[0009] Through a prospectus of Sensormatic Electronics
`dome whichis atleast partially permeable to radiation,
`Corporation from 1998it is knownto provide the housing of
`in which a video camera with a lens is disposed whose
`a dome camera on the upper side with an expensive bayonet
`optical axis is adjustable about a vertical axis of rota-
`socket and a plurality of sliding electric contacts which are
`tion and a horizontal swivel axis, with
`inserted into a compatible socket of a protective housing.
`Then a second transparent dome—also called a “bubble”—
`is fastened to the bottom of the protective housing. Thus
`does eliminate manipulations in the annular space between
`the dome camera and the protective housing, but this solu-
`tion requires an especially adapted, compatible and expen-
`sive protective housing which is still substantially larger
`than the dome cameraitself and cannot be used everywhere.
`
`[0001] The invention relates to a video surveillance appa-
`ratus having
`
`b) a plate system with electrical components and
`[0003]
`a mounting for the dome camera, a first plane of
`separation being disposed betweenthe plate system and
`the dome camera, and having
`
`cc) a protective housing which surroundsthe plate
`[0004]
`system and the dome camera, and which has a second
`radiation-permeable domein the area of the first dome.
`
`[0005] These dome cameras and those described below are
`series products of several manufacturers. In approximately
`cylindrical housing, conductors and electronic components
`are disposed for a video camera whoseoptical axis—the axis
`of the lens—canrotate and swivel about a vertical axis and
`
`a horizontal axis such that, through the superimposition of
`the movements,all space coordinates below the housing can
`be reached by the optical axis of the camera lens. The
`swiveling range of the camera lens can be surrounded by an
`approximately hemispherical dome whichisat leastpartially
`permeable to visible light and/or infrared radiation, and
`which gives the camera its name. The outside diameters of
`the housing and dome are approximately equal. Adjustment
`of the optical axis and of the angle of view can be performed
`manually. Also possible, however, is a remote control of the
`position in space of the optical axis and the angle of view of
`a zoom lens, and even to achieve following action by
`automatic target tracking. For this purpose, electric motors
`and their control elements for the video camera are disposed
`in the housing.
`
`Forcertain applications, e.g., outdoors, such dome
`[0006]
`cameras can be contained in a protective housing which does
`not impair the operation of the dome camera and protects it
`against weather and acts of vandalism. Even for minimal
`requirements at least six electrical connections are needed,
`all of which must be made by hand,andthis can also be done
`by plug connections.
`
`Ina prospectus of VIDEOLARM/USAdated 1996
`[0007]
`it is known to compose a protective housing for a dome
`cameraof a video surveillance apparatus of two hemispheri-
`cal shells of different size, which are joined and sealed
`downwardly by a wide ring at their equatorial planes. The
`inside diameter of this ring and of the lower, transparent
`hemispherical shell is, however, more than twice as large as
`the outside diameter of the dome camera, whose housing
`extends far upward into the upper hemispherical shell. This
`difference in diameter is necessary so as to enable an
`installer, after removing the lower shell, to reach with his
`fingers and tools through the broad annular gap into the
`upper hemispherical shell where the electrical and mechani-
`cal connections for the dome camera are located. The result
`
`[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 3,819,856 discloses a protective
`housing for video surveillance apparatus, in which a trans-
`parent hemispherical shell
`is hung with a hinge on the
`bottom endof a truncoconical base housing, namely at about
`the equatorial plane of the hemisphere, whose diameter
`corresponds to the smaller base surface of the truncated
`cone. The base housingis affixedat its larger base surface to
`a supporting disk which serves for mounting the apparatus
`on the ceiling. The arrangementof plates for the wiring of
`the multi-conductor feeder cable coming out of the ceiling,
`and the details of this wiring, are not disclosed. The ceiling
`mounting, and the connecting and disconnecting the wiring
`are possible only if the apparatus is taken apart and the
`camera removed. On account of the narrow annular gap
`between the rotatable camera holder and the base housing in
`the said equatorial plane, mounting on the ceiling,
`the
`connection and disconnection of the wiring with the camera
`installed would be difficult to perform. The truncoconical
`skirt of the base housing cannot be separated from the
`supporting disk.
`
`[0011] EP 0 642 053 A1 discloses protective housings for
`video surveillance apparatus, which consist of an opaque
`upper hemispherical shell for fastening to the ceiling and of
`a transparent lower dome whichis barely hemispherical in
`shape. The fastening is performed in the equatorial plane of
`the upper hemispherical shell. To provide for establishing a
`circulation of heating air,
`the upper hemispherical shell
`contains two additional concentric spherical shell segments
`which along with an approximately U-shaped camera holder
`have to be mounted in the upper hemispherical shell after the
`latter is fastened to the ceiling; a plate configured as a
`supporting plate, which bears two blowers with heaters and
`a part of the multi-conductor wiring coming out of the
`ceiling, comes to lie between the upper hemispherical shell
`and the two spherical shell segments. For this kind of
`mounting a great numberof screws are provided, whichall
`have to be loosened and retightened whenever any changeis
`made in the wiring, and/or an inspectionis to be performed.
`The ceiling mounting, the wiring and the disconnection of
`the wiring are likewise possible only if the apparatus is taken
`apart and the camera removed. The only seam in the said
`equatorial plane is likewise much too low for lateral access
`
`AXIS EXHIBIT 1009-9
`
`AXIS EXHIBIT 1009-9
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`

`

`US 2001/0022627 Al
`
`Sep. 20, 2001
`
`to the plate when the apparatus installed. This patent also
`fails to deal with these problems.
`
`[0012] The invention therefore is addressed to the problem
`of proposing a combination of a dome camera and a pro-
`tective housing,
`in which no difficult manipulations are
`necessary, which can be manufactured cost-effectively, and
`in which the protective housing envelops the dome camera
`as closely and as sealingly as possible. In particular, con-
`ventional dome cameras of different manufacturers are to be
`
`able to be used in a protective housing which can be usable
`everywhere without special fitting, and are to be reliably
`protected against weathering and vandalism.
`
`[0013] The solution of the stated problem is achieved by
`the invention in that
`
`d) The plate system is disposed on the bottom of
`[0014]
`a supporting flange and at least substantially under-
`neath its outer margin,
`
`[0015] ) the second domeis prolonged upward in the
`direction of the axis of rotation through a housing
`jacket which surrounds the plate system and has an
`upper margin which is releasably connected to the
`supporting flange, a second plane of separation being
`formed at the junction, which lies abovethefirst plane
`of separation.
`
`[0016] The stated problem is solved in full by the inven-
`tion, i.e., a combination of a dome camera and a protective
`housing is proposed, in which no difficult manipulations are
`necessary in the making and releasing of mechanical and
`electrical connections, which can be manufactured cost-
`effectively, and in which the protective housing surrounds
`the dome camera as closely and sealingly as possible. In
`particular, conventional dome cameras of different manu-
`facturers are to be able to be inserted into a protective
`housing not especially adapted but universally practical and
`reliably protected against weathering and vandalism. When
`the protective housing is released and drawn downwardly,at
`least all important mechanical and electrical connections are
`fully visible and accessible for engagementoftools.
`
`is especially advantageous if, as a result of
`It
`[0017]
`further embodiments of the invention—either singly or in
`combination:
`
`a rotary drive and a swiveling drive are dis-
`[0018]
`posed in the housing for the remotely controlled
`movementof the optical axis of the lens;
`
`the supporting flange has a coaxial surface
`[0019]
`onto which the upper margin of the housing jacket
`can be placed;
`0020]
`the supporting flange is of substantially disk-
`PP
`g
`lang
`y
`like configuration and joins a mounting pipe to the
`jacket of the protective housing;
`
`at the bottom of the supporting flange at least
`[0021]
`one supporting plate is provided throughat least one
`set of spacers, and on it the dome camerais fastened,
`the first plane of separation being between the sup-
`porting plate and the dome camera;
`0022]
`between the supporting
`flange and the sup-
`g
`PP
`g
`Pp
`porting plate an intermediate plate is disposed, the
`intermediate plate being connected to the supporting
`
`flange by a first set of spacers and the supporting
`plate being connected to the intermediate plate by a
`second set of spacers;
`
`the plate system is removably fastened as a
`[0023]
`component group on the supporting flange;
`
`the plate system is fastened to the spacers of
`[0024]
`the supporting flange through key-hole shaped holes;
`
`a heating element is disposed on the support-
`[0025]
`ing flange and a bloweron the intermediate plate for
`the circulation of the heated internal atmosphere of
`the protective housing;
`
`a heating element is disposed on the support-
`[0026]
`ing flange and a blower on the supporting plate for
`the circulation of the heated internal atmosphere of
`the protective housing;
`
`the housing jacket has a ring on its bottom
`[0027]
`and, if the second dome has an outwardly turned
`margin whichis affixed by a snap ring against the
`ring with the interposition of a gasket;
`
`the housing jacket is surrounded by an addi-
`[0028]
`tional jacket;
`
`an upwardly removable protective roofis dis-
`[0029]
`posed above the supporting flange and its outer
`margin overlaps the upper margin of the protective
`housing;
`
`the housing jacket of the protective housing is
`[0030]
`configured as a hollow cylinder;
`
`the length of the housing jacket amountsto at
`[0031]
`least 0.5 times, especially 0.8 times its outside diam-
`eter;
`
`the outer domeconsistsof a partially spherical
`[0032]
`shell from the margin of which a hollow cylindrical
`extension of the same diameter as that of the margin
`reaches toward the housing jacket and/or if
`
`the outer dome consists of a hemispherical
`[0033]
`shell and a hollow cylindrical prolongation of the
`same diameter;
`
`[0034] Additional a advantages re given in the following
`detailed description.
`
`[0035] Two embodiments of the invention and their parts
`are explained below with the aid of FIGS. 1 to 12.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
`
`[0036] FIG. 1 is a partial axial section through a first
`embodiment of a complete video camera system with a
`dome camera, a plate system and a protective housing;
`
`[0037] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the subject of FIG.
`1 with the protective roof raised and the protective housing
`removed;
`
`[0038]
`
`FIG.3 the separated protective housing of FIG.1;
`
`[0039] FIG. 4 a reduced axial section through the sup-
`porting flange with installation parts;
`
`[0040] FIG. 5 a bottom view of the subject of FIG. 4;
`
`[0041] FIG. 6 a bottom view of the heating element in
`FIGS. 4 and 5;
`
`AXIS EXHIBIT 1009-10
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`AXIS EXHIBIT 1009-10
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`

`

`US 2001/0022627 Al
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`Sep. 20, 2001
`
`[0042] FIG. 7 a bottom view of another connecting plate
`in FIGS. 4 and5;
`
`[0043] FIG. 8 an axial section taken through an assembly
`of the supporting flange and the intermediate plate;
`
`[0044]
`FIG.8;
`
`FIG. 9 a plan view of the intermediate plate of
`
`[0045] FIG. 10 an axial section of a removable component
`group of the intermediate plate and the supporting plate with
`the powertransformer and an additional terminal plate;
`
`[0046] FIG. 11 a top plan view of the supporting plate of
`FIG. 10; and
`
`[0047] FIG. 12 a partial axial section through a second
`embodiment of a complete video camera system with a
`dome camera, a plate system and a protective housing,
`similar to FIG. 1.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`
`In FIG. 1 the bottom end of a mounting pipe 1 is
`[0048]
`through which all
`the electrical conductors are
`shown,
`brought for the power supply, the controls and the video
`signals, and which in the rest of its length can be either
`rectilinear, e.g., for ceiling mounting, or bent, e.g., for wall
`mounting. Also includedis fastening to any other surfaces or
`holding devices. A PG screw thread 2 (PG=Panzer-
`Gewinde=armorthread) serves to bring in the wiring. The
`mounting pipe 1 carries on its bottom end a supporting
`flange 3 with an outer cylindrical surface 4 which is inter-
`rupted by a groove with an annular gasket 5. A plate system
`6 is fastened to the supporting flange 3 and consists in this
`case of an upper intermediate plate 7 (according to FIGS. 8
`and 9) and a lower supporting plate 8 (according to FIGS.
`10 and 11). The numberof plates is notcritical: only one
`plate or even more than two plates can be used. The plate
`system 6 is carried by a plurality of spacers 9 distributed
`about
`the circumference, and corresponding screws (see
`FIG.8). The lower supporting plate 8 is likewise held on the
`upper intermediate plate 7 by a plurality of spacers 10
`distributed about
`the circumference, with corresponding
`screws (see also FIG. 10). The spacers 10 can be spacing
`pins, as shown,or can be in the form of sheet metal brackets.
`
`[0049] Above the upper intermediate plate 7 there is a
`blower 11 and a heating element 12 with which heating is
`made possible in a cold environmentto prevent water vapor
`condensation. Between the plates 7 and 8 a powertrans-
`former 13 is disposed. the numberof contacts necessary for
`the electrical connections is omitted for the sake of simplic-
`ity, but it depends on the function and distribution of the
`electrical components. As a rule at least 6 terminal contacts
`are needed, including the contacts for the video signal.
`
`[0050] On the bottom of the supporting plate 8 a commer-
`cial dome camera 14 is fastened, such as the ones supplied
`in similar form by various manufacturers. Such a dome
`camera includes a housing 15 to accommodate a numberof
`electronic components and circuits. These also include two
`electric motors for the remote controlled rotation of a video
`camera abouta vertical axis A and for swiveling the optical
`axis of this video camera about a second, horizontal axis in
`a vertical plane in whichthe axis A is located. The horizontal
`angle of rotation of the camera can be greater than 360°, the
`vertical swivel angle up to 100°, and the remote controlled
`
`operating speed is so great that this angle can be traversed
`in less than one second. In the case of automatic tracking of
`a moving target, this speed can also be much lower. Of
`course, the invention also includes dome cameras in which
`the optical axis of the lens together with the camera can be
`set manually.
`
`[0051] With the optical axis of the video camera, com-
`bined movements can be continuously set and/or shifted
`below a plane in which the housing marginlies.
`
`[0052] The housing 15 is closed at the bottom by a dome
`16. In this dome 16 is a sector-shaped view window 17
`behind which a lens 18 of a video camera, not shown in
`detail, is arranged. The dome 16, which has the shape of a
`hollow hemisphere, consists either wholly or partially of a
`material transparentto visible light and/or infrared radiation,
`which can also be tinted and/or silvered. The lens 18 can be
`an autofocus lens, a lens with a fixed focal length, with or
`without autofocusing, and/or a remote-controlled zoom lens.
`Further information is probably unnecessary, since such
`camera systems,also called dome cameras, are packaged for
`sale. The dome 16 can also consist of an opaque material in
`which the view window 17 is open, and in this case a
`transparent material can be placed in the view windowin the
`form of a fitted sector of a spherical disk.
`
`[0053] Significant for the following definitions is here a
`first plane of separation E1-E1 between the upper end of the
`housing 15 and the bottom of the lower supporting plate 8.
`Also importantis the fact that, for this connection, neither an
`expensive bayonet coupling nor a guided plug-in connection
`with precisely arranged contacts are necessary asis the case
`with photographic cameras and even dome cameras, for
`which compatible protective housings are necessary any-
`way. A simple threaded connection and/or a plug connection
`and/or a soldered connection will suffice in the subject
`matter of the invention.
`
`the bottom of the supporting flange 3 is a
`[0054] At
`protective housing 19 which consists of an upper hollow
`cylindrical housing jacket 20 and a second dome 21 attached
`to the bottom, whichis at least substantially concentric with
`the first dome 16. Dome 21, whichis likewise in the form of
`a hollow hemisphere, consists of a material transparent to
`visible light and/or infrared radiation, which can also be
`tinted and/or silvered. On its exterior the housing jacket 20
`is surrounded by an additional jacket 22 which consists of
`thermal
`insulating and/or reflective material, but
`is not
`essential.
`
`[0055] Between the upper edge of the housing jacket 20
`and the outer margin of the supporting flange 3 an additional
`plane of separation E2-E2 is formed,1.e., after a plurality of
`screws 23 distributed on the circumference are removed, the
`protective housing 19 can be drawn down complete. Above
`the system thus far described a protective roof 24 is disposed
`which, after removal of screws 25, can be lifted upward.
`Thus the screws 23 are also accessible from the side.
`Alternatively,
`to avoid the need for disassembly of the
`protective roof 24, openings can be providedin its margin at
`the locations of the screws 23.
`
`[0056] This condition is represented in FIG. 2. Since the
`plane of separation E2-E2 is above the plane of separation
`E1-E1 , the spaces above the plate 7 and betweenthe plates
`7 and 8 are accessible from the side and at an angle from the
`
`AXIS EXHIBIT 1009-11
`
`AXIS EXHIBIT 1009-11
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`

`

`US 2001/0022627 Al
`
`Sep. 20, 2001
`
`bottom for tool access, so that the mechanical andelectrical
`connections and wiring as well as measurements can easily
`be carried out during assembly.
`
`[0057] FIG. 3 shows the protective housing 19 as a
`dismounted assembly. The second or outer dome 21 is
`removably held on the bottom margin of the housing jacket
`20 by an outwardly turned margin 26 between a ring 27
`cemented, welded or integrally formed ring 27 and a snap
`ring 28. A round sealing ring 29 is provided as a gasket. At
`the upper margin the housing jacket 20 is provided with an
`enlargement 30 of its diameter and a step 31, so that the
`protective housing 19 can be fitted onto the cylindrical
`surface 4 of the supporting flange 3. After assembly of the
`parts according to FIGS. 2 and 3, the state shown in FIG.
`1 is the result.
`
`Important in this case is the following: The domes
`[0058]
`16 and 21 (whether with or without the special view window
`17) are to be at least largely concentric with one another and
`with the swiveling center and center of rotation of the video
`camera andits optical axis, respectively, in order to mini-
`mize optical distortion. This requires a defined length of the
`housing jacket 20. For example, when retrofitting an
`arrangement according to FIG. 1 to the one in FIG. 12, or
`vice versa, it may be necessary to replace the housing jacket
`20 with a shorter or longer tubular section or to cut off part
`of the length of the tube section. The separability of the
`housing jacket 20 and dome 21 is an important requirement
`for
`this and for
`the replacement of a damaged dome.
`Alternatively, an adaptation is also possible by changing the
`length of the spacers 9 and/or 10.
`
`the expressions, “partially spherical” and
`[0059] Also,
`“hemispherical” applied to the domes 16 and/or 21 are not
`necessarily restrictive geometrical descriptions. The par-
`tially spherical shells may very well also merge with cylin-
`drical sections of the same diameter as that of the virtual
`
`margin, as is shown in FIG. 1, 3 and 12. It is also impor-
`tant—also in connection with the length of the housing
`jacket 20—that the bottom margin of non-transparent parts
`does not reach so far down that the range of rotation and
`swiveling of the lens 18 is undesirably shaded off from its
`angle of view.
`
`[0060] According to FIGS. 4 to 7, the heating element 12
`and a trapezoid distributor plate 32 with a semicircular
`cutout 33 are screwed onto the supporting flange 3 from
`below (shown in broken lines in FIG. 5). The heating
`element 12 is configured as a sector of a circle in plan and
`has in its center a groove 34 in which a rod-like heater 35 is
`contained (FIG. 4). The terminals have been omitted for
`simplicity. By its arrangement above the blower 11 (FIGS.
`1, 2 and 12)the circulated air is blown against the heating
`element and is thereby heated.
`
`In FIGS. 8 and 9 the circular disk-shaped inter-
`[0061]
`mediate plate 7 1s shown, which is screwed through the
`spacers 9 to the supporting flange 3 (FIG. 1 and 2).
`According to FIG. 9, this is done by means of keyhole-
`shaped openings 36 which can be pushed over the screw
`heads 37 (FIG.8). After the intermediate plate 7 is rotated
`it can be tightened by the screw heads 37. At the margin of
`the intermediate plate 7 there are adjacent notches 38 for
`hanging a catching device, e.g., a loop, by which all of the
`removable parts are prevented from falling down. The
`blower 11 is fastened over an approximately square notch
`
`38. Countersunk screw holes 39 serve for fastening the
`supporting plate 8 according to FIGS. 10 and 11.
`
`[0062] According to FIGS. 10 and 11, in addition to the
`power transformer 13, an additional circuit board 40 is
`fastened on the supporting plate 8 and bears additional
`connecting means 41 of which one is represented on the
`outside left in FIG. 10. From a combined view of FIGS. 8
`to 11 it can be seen that the entire plate system 6 can be
`removed downwardly by loosening the screw heads 37 and
`rotating the plate system 6 with or without the dome camera
`14, and howtheflexible connecting wires permit this, so that
`the accessibility of the plate system 6 is further improved,
`also from the top.
`
`In FIG.12, identical parts or parts serving the same
`[0063]
`purpose are provided with the same reference numbers. The
`plate system 6a in this case contains only a single supporting
`plate 8 for mounting the dome camera 14, whichis indicated
`only by broken lines, and originates with another manufac-
`turer. In this case no powertransformer is present because
`the apparatus operates on low voltage, so that the housing
`jacket 20 of the protective housing 19 is shorter. In this case
`too, the plane of separation E2-E2 is above plane of sepa-
`ration E1-E1 so that, after the protective housing 19 is
`removed, the space above the supporting plate 8 is acces-
`sible from the side and from below at an angle for the
`introduction of tools to make and break mechanical and
`electrical connections. Otherwise, it is largely identical with
`the subject of FIGS. 1 to 3.
`
`[0064] The construction according to FIGS. 4 to 11 can
`easily be transferred to the construction according to FIG.
`12, the intermediate plate 7 being omitted and the supporting
`plate 8 performingits function of fastening the dome camera
`14.
`
`It is apparent from all figures that the entire system
`[0065]
`is made substantially rotationally symmetrical with the axis
`A-A,that the outside diameter of the protective housing 19
`is as small as possible in proportion to the outside diameter
`of the dome camera 14, and that no manipulations are
`needed within the annular gap between the dome camera 14
`and the protective housing 19 in order to make or break
`mechanical and/or electrical connections.
`
`[0066] The dome camera 14 is removable as a unit from
`the inner dome 16 (with or without slot), from the video
`camera itself and from the installed housing 15.
`
`I claim:
`
`1. Video surveillance apparatus comprising:
`
`a dome camera with a housing and anat least partially
`radiation-permeable first dome in which a video camera
`with a lens is disposed whoseoptical axis is adjustable
`abouta vertical axis of rotation and a horizontal swivel
`axis, with
`
`a plate system with electrical components and a mountfor
`the dome camera a first plane of separation being
`disposed between the plate system and the dome cam-
`era and with
`
`a protective housing which surroundsthe plate system and
`the dome camera and which has a second radiation-
`
`permeable dome nearthe first dome wherein
`
`AXIS EXHIBIT 1009-12
`
`AXIS EXHIBIT 1009-12
`
`

`

`US 2001/0022627 Al
`
`Sep. 20, 2001
`
`the plate system is disposed on the bottom of a supporting
`flange andat least substantially below its outer margin,
`
`the second domeis prolonged in the direction of the axis
`of rotation upward through a housing jacket which
`surrounds the plate system and has an upper margin
`whichis releasably fastened to the supporting flange, a
`second plane of separation being formedat the junction
`point, and lies above the first plane of separation.
`2. Video surveillance apparatus according to claim 1,
`wherein in the housing a rotary drive and a swiveling drive
`are disposed for the remote-controlled movement of the
`optical axis of the lens.
`3. Video surveillance apparatus according to claim 1,
`wherein the supporting flange has a coaxial surface onto
`which the upper margin of the housing jacket can be placed.
`4. Video surveillance apparatus according to claim 1,
`wherein the supporting flange is substantially discoidal in
`form and connects a mounting pipe to the housing jacket of
`the protective housing.
`5. Video surveillance apparatus according to claim 1,
`wherein on the bottom of the supporting flange at least one
`supporting plate is fastened through at
`least one set of
`spacers and to it the dome camerais fastened,thefirst plane
`of separation being disposed between the supporting plate
`and the dome camera.
`
`6. Video surveillance apparatus according to claim 5,
`wherein between the supporting flange and the supporting
`plate an intermediate plate is disposed,
`the intermediate
`plate being connected through a first set of spacers to the
`supporting flange and the supporting plate being connected
`through a second set of spacers to the intermediate plate.
`7. Video surveillance apparatus according to claim 5,
`wherein the plate system is fastened removably as a com-
`ponent group to the supporting flange.
`8. Video surveillance apparatus according to claim 6,
`wherein the plate system is fastened removably as a com-
`ponent group to the supporting flange.
`9. Video surveillance apparatus according to claim 7,
`wherein the plate system is fastened by means of keyhole-
`shaped openings to the spacers of the supporting flange.
`10. Video surveillance apparatus according to claim 8,
`wherein the plate system is fastened by means of keyhole-
`shaped openings to the spacers of the supporting flange.
`
`11. Video surveillance apparatus according to claim 6,
`wherein a heating element is fastened to the supporting
`flange and a blower for circulating the heated internal
`atmosphere of the protective housing is fastened to the
`intermediate plate.
`12. Video surveillance apparatus according to claim 5,
`wherein a heating element is fastened to the supporting
`flange and a blower for circulating the heated internal
`atmosphere of the protective housing is fastened to the
`supporting plate.
`13. Video surveillance apparatus according to claim 1,
`wherein the housing jacket has a ring on its bottom, and that
`the second dome has an outwardly bent margin which is
`fixed against the ring by a snap ring with the interposition of
`a gasket.
`14. Video surveillance apparatus according to claim 1,
`wherein the housing jacket is surrounded by an additional
`jacket.
`15. Video surveillance apparatus according to claim 1,
`wherein above the supporting flange an upwardly removable
`protective roof is disposed, whose outer margin overlaps the
`upper margin of the protective housing.
`16. Video surveillance apparatus according to claim 1,
`wherein the housing jacket of the protective housing is
`configured as a hollow cylinder.
`17. Video surveillance apparatus according to claim 14,
`wherein the length of the housing jacket amountsto at least
`0.5 times its o