United States Patent 5
`Blackshear
`
`FARA AAAA
`
`US005111288A
`[11] Patent Number:
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`5,111,288
`May5, 1992
`
`[54]
`
`{75]
`
`[73]
`
`[21]
`
`[22]
`
`[60]
`
`[51]
`[52]
`[58]
`
`[56]
`
`SURVEILLANCE CAMERA SYSTEM
`Inventor: David M. Blackshear, Molena, Ga.
`
`Assignee: Diamond Electronics, Inc., Carroll,
`Ohio
`
`Appl. No.: 772,601
`
`Filed:
`
`Oct. 8, 1991
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`Continuation of Ser. No. 556,903, Jul. 23, 1990, which
`is a division of Ser. No. 391,173, Aug. 9, 1989, Pat. No.
`4,945,367, which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No.
`163,257, Mar. 2, 1988, Pat. No. 4,918,473.
`
`Int. CLS oe eeeccsseeeneeseeserssestenenanenes HO4N 7/18
`US. Ch. cece seeseesneneeees 358/108; 358/229
`Field of Search ............. 358/108, 209, 210, 229,
`358/93, 125, 126; 354/81; 403/348, 349
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`4,320,949
`4,337,482
`4,763,778
`
`3/1982 Pagano wccsecssessssresersesceeenses 358/108
`
`6/1982 Coutta occcscccrerssecereeeee 358/210
`8/1988 Feddersen et al... 403/348
`
`Primary Examiner—Victor R. Kostak
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Biebel & French
`
`ABSTRACT
`[57]
`A surveillance camera system comprises a spherical
`housing that has a partially transparent lower, hemi-
`spherically shaped gold coated dome with a geometric
`center. A camera mount is mounted in the housing for
`panning movements abouta vertical pan axis andtilting
`movement abouta horizontaltilt axis. A video camerais
`mounted to the camera mountand electric motors are
`mounted for panning andtilting the mount and camera.
`A computerand control circuit is mounted to the cam-
`era mount and coupled to actuate the electric motors to
`orient the camera and to actuate the camera zoom and
`focus as well as to enhance the camera’s video image
`with descriptive word captions. The computer is pro-
`grammed for automatic or manual operation of the
`system. A rotary electric connector is mounted to the
`housing and connects the on board computer with a
`joystick and control unit for issuing instructions to the
`computer and connects the camerato an ancillary video
`display.
`
`9 Claims, 6 Drawing Sheets
`
`
`
`COMPUTER AND
`
`
`CONTROL CIRCUIT!
`ROTARY_POWER
`
`ELECTRONICS
`
`
`
`
`
`VIDEO
`
`
`DISPLAY
`
`
`
`ENHANCED
`
`VIDEO SIGNAL
`
`
`
`
`
`
`FOCUS ¢ ZOOM
`
` DATA OR
`FEEDBACK DATA
`
`AL ARMS
`
`PANS TILT MOTOR,
`PAN AND
`
`
`TILT FUNCTIONS-(.
`
`
`PANETILT POSITION
`FEEDBACK DATA
`
`LENS _ASSEMB:
`ZOOM , FOCUS
`AND IRIS
`FUNCTIONS
`
`AXIS EXHIBIT 1010-1
`
`AXIS EXHIBIT 1010-1
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`May5, 1992
`
`5,111,288
`
`Sheet 1 of 6
`
`AXIS EXHIBIT 1010-2
`
`AXIS EXHIBIT 1010-2
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`May5, 1992
`
`Sheet 2 of 6
`
`5,111,288
`
`
`
`VIDEO
`
`DISPLAY
`
`
`COMPUTER AND
`
`
`ROTARY
`POWER
`CONTROL CIRCUIT
`
`
`CONNECTOR
`
`ELECTRONICS
`
`
`
`
`
`
`GRAPHICS
`
`ELECTRONICS
`
`
`
`
`
`
`JOYSTICK/
`KEYPALY
`
`TRANSMITTER
`
`
`
`INTERPOLITIVE
`
`
`FOCUS ¢ ZOOM
`
`
`
`FEEDBACK DATA
`
`CONTROL
`
`AL ARMS
`
`
`
`
`
`
`DATA OR .
`
`VOLTAGE
`
`
`
`AXIS EXHIBIT 1010-3
`
`AXIS EXHIBIT 1010-3
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`May5, 1992
`
`Sheet 3 of 6
`
`5,111,288
`
`
`
`AXIS EXHIBIT 1010-4
`
`AXIS EXHIBIT 1010-4
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`May5, 1992
`
`Sheet 4 of 6
`
`5,111,288
`
`GENERATE A
`TARGET VECTORING
`FILE
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`OPERATOR SELECTS
`MANUAL CONTROL
`
`WITH APPROPRIATE
`
`
`KEYBOARD ENTRY
`
`OPERATOR MOVES_CAMERA
`TO PAN AND TILT
`ORIENTATION CORRESPONDING
`TO A DESIRED PRESHOT
`(SCENE OF INTEREST)
`USING JOYSTICK
`
`OPERATOR ADJUSTS ZOOM
`AND FOCUS TO DESIRED
`SETTINGS USING JOYSTICK
`
`SAVE PAN. AND TILT
`ORIENTATION AND ZOOM
`AND FOCUS SETTINGS
`CORRESPONDING TO THIS
`PRESHOT
`
`
`
`OPERATOR. ASSIGNS A
`NUMBER AND A LABEL
`
`
`THIS PRESHOT USING
`
`KEYPAD
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`OPERATOR ASSIGNS A
`
`SEQUENCE NUMBER TO
`EACH OF A SET OF
`PREDEFINED PRESHOTS
`USING KEYPAD
`
`
`
`
`
`
`OPERATOR ASSIGNS A
`
`
`
`DESIRED CAMERA PRESHOT!
`TRAVERSE TIME WITHIN
`
`
`THE SET OF PREDEFINED
`PRESHOTS
`
`
`OPERATOR ASSIGNS A
`DWELL TIME TO EACH
`PRESHOT IN THE
`SEQUENCE USING KEYPAD
`
`
`OPERATOR ASSIGNES
`NUMBER TO THIS
`SEQUENCE OF PRESHOTS
`
`AND SAVES THE SEQUENCE
`
`AS AN AUTOSCAN FILE
`
`
`
`
`
`FIG 7
`
`AXIS EXHIBIT 1010-5
`
`AXIS EXHIBIT 1010-5
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`May 5, 1992
`
`Sheet 5 of 6
`
`5,111,288
`
`DEFINING
`SURVEILLANCE AREA
`“WINDOWS”
`
`
`
`
`
`INPUT LIMITS OF
`PAN RANGE FOR
`THIS WINDOW
`
`USING JOYSTICK
`
`AND KEYPAD
`
` INPUT LIMITS OF
`TILT RANGE FOR
`
`
`THIS WINDOW
`USING JOYSTICK
`AND KEYPAD
`
`
`
`ASSIGN A DESCRIPTIVE
`WORD CAPTION TO
`THIS WINDOW USING
`
`KEYPAD
`
`
`SAVE THIS
`WINDOW
`
`FIG 8
`
`AXIS EXHIBIT 1010-6
`
`AXIS EXHIBIT 1010-6
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`May5, 1992
`
`Sheet 6 of6
`
`5,111,288
`
`FIG 9
`
`AUTOMATIC SURVEILLANCE
`MODE
`
`
`
`CALCULATE THE PAN AND
`
`TILT MOTOR SPEEDS AND
`
`
`THE ZOOM AND FOCUS
`
`
`ADJUSTMENT SPEEDS
`NECESSARY TO ACHIEVE
`
`
`THE NEXT PRESHOT IN
`
`
`THE CORRESPONDING
`
`
`ASSIGNED TRAVERSE TIME
`
`INITIATE MOVEMENT TO
`THE NEXT PRESHOT AT
`THE CALCULATED PAN,
`TILT, ZOOM AND FOCUS
`SPEEDS
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
` ENHANCE VIDEO IMAGE
`FROM CAMERA TO
`INDICATE THAT THE
`SYSTEM 1S IN ROUTE
`
`
`TO THE NEXT PRESHOT
`
`
`
`
`
`
`CONTINUE TO MOVE THE
`CAMERA AND ADJUST
`ITS ZOOM AND FOCUS
`UNTIL. THE NEXT
`PRESHOT 1S ACHIEVED
`
`ENHANCE VIDEO IMAGE
`TO INDICATE THAT THE
`SYSTEM HAS ARRIVED
`AT THE NEXT PRESHOT
`
`INTERROGATE KEYPAD
`
`FOR COMMAND ENTRY
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`TARGET VECTORING FILE NUMBER!
`TO EXECUTE
`
`RECEIVE TARGET VECTORING FILE
`NUMBER _FROM_KEYPAD
`
`
`INDICATE
`ERROR
`
`DWELL FOR THE PREASSIGNED:
`TIME CORRESPONDING TO
`THIS PRESHOT
`
`
`INTERROGATE KEYPAD FOR
`COMMAND.
`ENTR
`
`READ PAN§TILT SETTINGS
`MOVE CAMERA
`FOR NEXT PRESHOT IN
`
`
`
`THIS TARGET VECTORING FILE
` DETERMINE SHORTEST PAN
`
`ARC FROM PRESENT CAMERA
`
`
`PAN ORIENTATION TO PAN
`
`
`ORIENTATION OF NEXT PRESHOT
`
`
`AXIS EXHIBIT 1010-7
`
`AXIS EXHIBIT 1010-7
`
`

`

`1
`
`SURVEILLANCE CAMERA SYSTEM
`
`5,111,288
`
`REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
`
`This applicationis a continuation of co-pending appli-
`cation Ser. No. 07/556,903,filed July 23, 1990, whichis
`a divisional of application Ser. No. 07/391,173, filed
`Aug. 9, 1989, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,945,367, which is a
`continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No.
`163,257, filed Mar. 2, 1988, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,918,473.
`
`TECHNICAL FIELD
`
`The present invention relates to domed surveillance
`camerasystemsof the type that have encapsulated cam-
`eras mounted hidden from view and orientationally
`controllable by operators
`from remote locations
`through a computerized control system mounted with
`the camera.
`
`_ 0
`
`- 5
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`20
`
`Ne5
`
`40
`
`Today, remote controlled surveillance camera sys-
`tems are commonly employed as a security measure.
`The cameras are normally used to generate a video
`image of an area undersurveillance that is displayed to
`and/or recorded for use by security personnel. In some
`cases, Cameras are mounted to a wall or to a ceiling
`structure where they may be observed by people within
`the area under surveillance. In other cases the cameras
`are hidden from view as by being placed behind one-
`way mirror domesorthe like to avoid creating an ob-
`jectionable presence to an honest person and to makeit
`difficult for or to worry creating an objectionable pres-
`ence to an honest person and to makeit difficult for or
`to worry potential wrongdoers by making it impossible
`for them to locate the camerasand to see wherethey are
`directed.
`Surveillance camera systems of the types just de-
`scribed have had several problems andlimitations asso-
`ciated with their use. For example, where the cameras
`have been located within domes that movein unison
`with cameras, they have not been successfully used
`outdoors due to adherence to, and accumulation of,
`snow andice which tendsto freeze the movingparts. In
`addition, moving domes have been virtually impossible
`to seal against entry into the domeof airborne particu-
`lates and insects which tend to contaminate the camera
`and its associated electronics. Moisture condensation
`within the dome can also be a problem with such sys-
`tems. Even indoors, movements of the dome may be
`visually detected which is undesirable for discreet sur-
`veillance.
`Maintenance of cameras in domes and other enclo-
`sures has been difficult and time consuming as the cam-
`era mount mechanism commonly is firmly secured
`within the domeandthe associated control electronics,
`usually comprising a receiver box for receiving orienta-
`tion control signals from a remote location and translat-
`ing sameinto pan/tilt/zoom camerafunctions, often has
`been remotely located, such as above a suspendedceil-
`ing.
`Surveillance cameras of the prior art also have oper-
`ated in operator selectable automatic pan modes in
`order to provide full, continuous coverage of areas of
`surveillance. Generally, such cameras have been ofthe
`continuous scan type which panoroscillate through an
`arc continuously at a fixed speed until stopped by an
`operator. Some such cameras have been incapable of
`full 360 degree movement and instead are mounted to
`
`2
`actuate limit switches that border ends of arcuate paths
`of camera travel which reverse the direction of camera
`panning movement. Such continuous panningresults in
`a constantly moving image on a video monitor which
`can have a hypnotizing effect on guards or other per-
`sons responsible for watching such monitors. Many
`activities within the camera field-of-view can thus go
`undetected.
`Where manual controls of such cameras have been
`provided,
`the cameras have tended not
`to produce
`smooth, continuous images when operated at pan and
`tilt rates above about 10 degrees per second. This is
`because abrupt, manually controlled movements have
`tended to cause the cameras to wobble and vibrate,
`particularly where the cameras are broughtto a halt as
`when a security guard identifies an area of interest and
`wishesto direct the camerain that direction for a period
`oftime. For this reason, most camera movementcontrol
`systems have been limited to pan andtilt rates of about
`12 degrees or less per second. This limitation in camera
`movementrate can render prior art systems unsatisfac-
`tory in many situations such as when a guardis alerted
`to an unauthorized entry and wishes to direct the cam-
`era toward the entrance. By the time (usually several
`seconds) that the camerais able to pan and point in the
`direction of the entry, the intruder usually has moved
`away and thus entered undetected. A more desirable
`rate would correspondto an average turning rate of a
`human head (about 90 degrees per second) in order to
`detect and track fleeting events or targets.
`Another problem with prior art systems that pan at
`fixed speeds has been their inability to track smoothly
`objects of varying speed or objects moving obliquely
`relative to the camera’s optical axis. In these situations,
`it has been necessary to jog the cameras pan and tilt
`positions intermittently to point the camera just ahead
`of the moving object allowing the object
`to move
`through the camera’sfield of view prior to another such
`anticipatory jog.
`;
`It thus is seen that a need exists for a surveillance
`camera system that can be centrally located indoors and
`outdoors, and which is capable of continuous 360 de-
`gree panning movement for scanning a surveillance
`area, and which has panning and tilting rates much
`higher than those to which prior art systems have been
`limited. Such a system would further be capable of
`easily controllable variable pan andtilt rates for track-
`ing variable speed or obliquely moving objects. Also,it
`would be desirable for the camera to be programmable
`to move automatically and quickly from onefixed scene
`to another and to be manually controllable if desired in
`a smooth mannerat high rates without the camerajerk-
`ing, wobbling and producing unsteady images during
`accelerations and decelerations.
`It would be desirable to render the camera hidden
`from view without sacrifice in video quality of images
`produced by the cameraorrestricting the cameras pan
`and tilt movement ranges. Further, it would be desir-
`able to provide such a camera in a compact, stationery
`dome type housing, with the dome having an aestheti-
`cally pleasing configuration, and with the camera and
`its associated control electronics being readily accessi-
`ble and easily removable as a unit from its housing for
`maintenance. Finally, such a camera system preferably
`would include a programmable computer and control
`circuit mounted with the camera for operating the cam-
`
`AXISEXHIBIT 1010-8
`
`AXIS EXHIBIT 1010-8
`
`

`

`5,111,288
`
`3
`era system in various preprogrammed modesfor auto-
`matic surveillance.
`It is to the provision of such a surveillance camera
`system, therefore, that the present inventionis primarily
`directed.
`
`SUMMARYOF THE INVENTION
`
`A surveillance camera system comprises a generally
`spherical partially transparent dome housing that in-
`cludes a stationary mounting plate supported in the
`upper portion thereof. A camera mountis adapted to
`support a video camera for panning movements about a
`pan axis and tilting movements about a tilt axis that
`transverses the pan axis. The camera mountincludes a
`connectorplate that is configured along with the hous-
`ing mounting plate to define a quick release bayonet-
`type connector system for quickly and releasably
`mounting the camera mount
`to the mounting plate
`within the housing.
`A video camera is mounted on the camera mount and
`electric motor means are configured to pan and tilt the
`mount and camera. A computerized electronic control
`circuit is supported on the camera mountandis opera-
`tively coupled to contro! the electric motor means to
`orient the camera and to control the camera’s zoom,
`focus andiris settings in response to preprogrammed or
`manual commands. Rotary electric coupling means
`such asa Slip ring assembly orthe like including electric
`connector meansare provided for connecting the cam-
`era and computer with an ancillary video display and
`for connecting the computer and control circuit to a
`remote control] means for issuing instructions to the
`computer which, in turn, controls camera movement,
`focus, zoom andiris in response to the instructions. The
`rotary coupling means allows continuous 360 degree
`panning movementof the camera and mount.
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
`
`FIG. 1 is an exploded, side elevational view of a
`surveillance camera system embodyingprinciples of the
`invention in a preferred form.
`FIG. 2 is a diagrammatical view of the electrical
`connections of components of the surveillance camera
`system illustrated in FIG. 1.
`FIG.3 is a functional block diagram ofthe intercon-
`nections of components of the system through theslip
`ring rotary connector.
`FIG. 4 is a diagrammatical view showing camera
`orientation within the housing.
`FIG.§ is an exploded view of the camera mount and
`upper housing illustrating the quick disconnect bayonet
`mount.
`FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a portion of the quick
`disconnect mount showing the spring loaded connect-
`ing pin and correspondingslot.
`FIG. 7 is a functional flow chart illustrating a pre-
`ferred programmed method of generating an automatic
`target vectoringfile.
`FIG. 8 is a functional flow chart illustrating a pre-
`ferred programmed method of defining and assigning
`captions to surveillance area windows.
`FIG. 9 is a functional flow chart illustrating a pre-
`ferred programmed method of operation of the system
`in its automatic surveillance mode.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`
`With reference next to the drawings, in which like
`numerals represent like parts throughout the several
`
`20
`
`25
`
`40
`
`45
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`4
`views, a domed surveillance camera system 1s illustrated
`which includes a generally spherical camera housing
`provided by an upper hemispherical dome 11 and a
`lower hemispherical dome 12. The lower dome 12 is
`formed of a clear plastic substrate the interior of which
`is vacuum metalized with a thin layer of gold or similar
`reflective materialsufficient to transmit into the housing
`approximately 32% of the light incident of the dome
`with approximately 68% of the light being reflected.
`The upper dome 11 is also metalized and is further
`coated onits inside with black paint to renderit opaque.
`The result is a spherical housing with a one-way mir-
`rored lower portion through which a video camera
`within the housing can survey surrounding areas while
`being undetectable from outside the housing. The lower
`dome12is releasably fastened to the upper dome11 by
`meansofa set of four interlocking tabs 13 that may be
`rotary positioned onto mating supports about the lower
`rim 14 of the upper dome.
`The upper dome11 includes a combination hanging
`and mounting structure 1§ which has a central body
`portion 19 integrally cast with the upper dome from
`which a threaded tubular neck 16 upwardly extends.
`Secured to the bottom of the central body portion 19 is
`a disk shaped metal mounting plate 18 from which de-
`pendsa set of spring loaded quick disconnectpins 48 for
`releasably securing the camera mount 20 within the
`housing as described more fully below.
`The surveillance camera system further includes a
`camera mountindicated generally at 20 which is releas-
`ably mountable to the mounting plate 18 within the
`upper dome 11. The camera mount comprises an in-
`verted U-shaped fork 21 which tiltably supports a U-
`shaped camera receiving platform or saddle 22 adapted
`to pivot about a line extending through its points of
`attachment 33. The fork 21 is rotatably suspended from
`a disk shaped sun gear 58 to the top of whichis affixed
`a larger disk shaped mounting plate 59. The plate 59
`includes slots 64 (FIG. 5) positioned and configured to
`align and lockingly engage with the depending spring
`loaded pins 48 of the plate 18 upon juxtaposition and
`rotation of the mounting plates 59 and 18 as detailed
`below.
`An electric motor 24 is mounted to the ceiling of the
`fork 21 and has a planetary gear 25 securedtoits drive
`shaft and placed in mesh with the sun gear 58. Another
`electric motor 27 is mounted to the saddle 22 and has a
`planetary gear 28 in mesh with a half sun gear 29 thatis
`rigidly secured to the fork 21. With this configuration,
`operation of the electric motor 24 causes the mount 20
`to rotate about a vertical pan axis that extends through
`the center of the spherical housing and alongtheaxis of
`the threaded neck 16 when the camera mount 21is
`mounted within the housing. Operation of the other
`motor 27 causes the platform 22 to pivotortilt about a
`horizontal axis that transverses both the pan axis and the
`optical axis of a camera mounted on the platform 22.
`Theintersection of these axes is preferably located just
`beneath the center of the spherical housing when the
`camera mount is mounted within the housing for unob-
`structed view through the lower transparent domeat
`horizontal tilt orientations of the camera.
`The surveillance camera system further includes a
`video camera 30 such as model DE-3112 CCD camera
`sold by Diamond Electronics, Inc. The camera 30 in-
`cludes a lens assembly 32 having controllable lens
`zoom, focus andiris functions. A CCD video sensor 31
`is mountedto the rear of the lens assembly 32 atits focal
`
`AXIS EXHIBIT 1010-9
`
`AXIS EXHIBIT 1010-9
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`

`

`5,111,288
`
`te 0
`
`25
`
`35
`
`6
`5
`plane and a camera electronics package 35 for convert-
`also be transmitted to the computer from alarmed
`events such as the opening of a door or from other
`ing sensed imagesto videosignals is mounted to the top
`means such as interpolative data from a point of sale
`of the lens assembly 32. The lens assembly 32 has an
`cash register interface, to control camera functions in
`optical axis 43 and is mounted upon the platform 22
`response thereto.
`with its optical axis 43 intersecting the pan axis and
`The computeris preferably preprogrammedforvari-
`transversing tilt axis of the camera mount. In this way,
`ous automatic operation modes such as, for example,
`the cameraoptical axis remains normalto the surface of
`automatic target vectoring, wherein the camera is
`the lower dome12 in all possible pan and tilt orienta-
`moved by the on-board computer in a predetermined
`tions of the camera. Further, the center of gravity of the
`order and at predetermined speedsto a series of preset
`camera 30 and lens assembly 32 is preferably coincident
`pan, tilt, zoom and focussettings at which the camera
`with the intersection of the pan andtilt axis such that
`dwells for predetermined dwell times. The operator can
`the camera and lens assembly is kinematically balanced
`instruct the computerto executeafile corresponding to
`for rapid pan and tilt movementrates.
`one of its automatic operation sequences by issuing a
`The video camera 30 is conventionally provided with
`corresponding instruction through the keypad 63. Op-
`powerterminals for connecting the camera with electri-
`tionally, the computer can be instructed through the
`cal power and with video output terminals for output-
`keypad 63 to receive X-Y axis orientation signals as well
`ting the camera’s video signals. Asillustrated in FIG. 3,
`as zoom and focussignals from the joystick and to ori-
`the video camera is connected through the computer
`and control circuit 61 and, in turn, through the rotary
`ent the camera accordingly. In this way, the pan,tilt,
`connector 39 to a source ofelectrical power. The video
`zoom and focus of the camera system can be operated
`output signal of the camera passes through a graphics
`manually if desired through appropriate manipulations
`electronics portion of the computer and control circuit
`of the joystick.
`61 which may enhance the video signal by adding de-
`As shown in FIG. 4, the center of gravity of the
`scriptive word captions to the video image as detailed
`camera 30 is located on or very close to the intersection
`below prior to passing the video signal on to a video
`of the vertical pan axis and horizontal tilt axis. These
`axes are also located so as to intersect at or close to the
`display through the rotary connector.
`The computer and control circuit 61 is mounted to
`center of the spherical housing when the camera and
`and movable with the camera mount andis operatively
`camera mount are secured therein. With this configura-
`coupled to the pan andtilt motors 24 and 27 to control
`tion, the housing diameter required to accommodate the
`pan andtilt functions of the camera andalso operatively
`full range of movement of the camera and mount is
`coupled to the zoom, focus, and iris controls of the
`minimized such that the smallest possible dome can be
`used. Further, with this configuration,
`the camera’s
`camera Jens assembly for control of lens functions. In
`this way,the pan,tilt, zoom, focus andiris functions of
`optical axis 43 is always oriented substantially normal to
`the surface of the dome 12 regardless of the camera’s
`the system are all directly controllable by the on board
`computer and control circuit 61.
`Orientation with respect to the pan andtilt axes. This
`As illustrated in FIG. 3, the computer and control
`serves to minimize some generated image refractions
`whichtend to impedeoptical quality of the image trans-
`circuit 61 is electrically connected through the rotary
`mitted to the camera.
`connector 39 for exchange of data with a hand held
`joystick keyboard transmitter controller 42. The con-
`For operation, the upper dome may be suspended
`troller 42 includes a conventional joystick 62 (FIG. 2)
`from a room ceiling or pendant mountvia the threaded
`neck 16, the camera mount 20 attached, andelectrical
`capable of omnidirectional X-Y axis movement. The
`joystick 62 has a rotatable knob-like upper portion 60
`connections established through the rotary connector
`mountedto actuate internal potentiometers whose resis-
`39 (FIG. 5) via pin connector 73. The camera may then
`tanceis indicative of the rotary position of the knob. In
`be operated so as to scan an area under surveillance
`located beneath and aboutit. As this is done the camera
`the preferred embodiment, when the system is operated
`in its manual mode, the camera’s pan andtilt movement
`is hidden from view since only a reflective ball-like
`are controlled by X-Y movementof the joystick knob
`object, or domein a false ceiling version, is viewable by
`60 while zoom functions of the lens assembly are con-
`people in the surveillance area.
`trolled by rotary movement of the knob-like upper
`Should an operator, such as a security guard, see an
`portion of the joystick. Focus and iris functions are
`activity of possible interest to hirh on his video monitor
`manually controlled by switches mounted on the con-
`screen, he may place the system in its manual mode and
`orient the camera by operation of the joystick and then
`troller 42. Further, pan and tilt movementrates of the
`zoom into the area ofinterest for magnified viewing. In
`cameraare proportional to the magnitude of X-Y move-
`ment of the joystick. In this way, the camera can be
`doing so, the displacement of the stick from its zero
`movedslowly to track slow moving objects, quickly to
`point is proportional to the speed of camera movement
`as discussed above.
`move to a desired scene or variably to track variable
`speed objects such as persons moving obliquely relative
`With the center of gravity of the camera located
`closely adjacent the intersection of the pan andtilt axes,
`to the camera’s optical axis.
`A visual display 34 (FIG. 2) is also included on the
`high speed camera movements can be made and the
`controller/transmitter 42 for displaying status and
`camera brought to rather abrupt halts quite smoothly
`prompt messagesto a user of the surveillance system.
`with imperceivable wobbling actions developed by
`The keypad 63 can be used to key in instructions and
`camera and camera mount momentum. Thus, the CCD
`camera, with its unique modular configuration and
`directions to the on-board computer control] circuit 61
`which is programmed to respond to the instructions to
`mounting,
`is kinematically balanced with movement
`control the surveillance system in a desired way. In a
`rates of at least 75 degrees per second achieved.
`The central location of the camera within a spheri-
`preferred embodiment, data is processed by both the
`cally or at least a hemispherically-shaped housing dome
`controller/transmitter 42 and the on board computer
`and exchanged throughaserial data interface. Data can
`also provides for a compact unit. The semi-transparent,
`
`40
`
`45
`
`60
`
`65
`
`AXIS EXHIBIT 1010-10
`
`AXIS EXHIBIT 1010-10
`
`

`

`5,111,288
`
`7
`unidirectional coating of the dome, in combination with
`the normal directing of the camera optical axis onto the
`lower domein all camera orientations, further provides
`for high quality, low distortion video imaging by the
`camera while it remains hidden form view from ambi-
`ence within a stationery housing. The unique multiple-
`use of the rotary electrical connector and the on-board
`mounting configuration of the computer and control
`circuit, in combination with the quick disconnect pro-
`vided by the specially configured mountingplates, pro-
`vides for continuous, panning in either direction and
`enables the camera system to be removed quickly and
`easily.
`Referring in particular to FIGS. 5 and 6, which illus- .
`trate the quick disconnectfeature, the housing 11 is seen
`to have a mounting plate 18 from which dependsa set of
`pins 48 arranged in a circular array. Each pin 48 has a
`shank 69 fixed at one end to the plate 18 and a head 70
`formed on the distal end of the shank 69. A washer71 is
`mounted about the shank 69 and is yieldably spring
`biased toward engagement with the head 70 by a com-
`pression spring 72.
`.
`The lower mounting plate 59 of the camera mount
`has formed therein a set of generally arcuate slots 64
`that are positioned to align with the pins 48 upon juxta-
`position of the mounting plates 18 and 59. Eachslot has
`a central portion 66 having a width greater than the
`diameter of a pin shank and less than the diameterof a
`corresponding pin head. A circular opening 67 is
`formed at one end ofthe slot 64 andis sized to pass the
`pin head 70 therethrough. A circular depression 68 is
`formed in the mounting plate 59 at the other end of the
`slot 64 and is sized to receive the pin head in locking
`nestled relationship.
`The just described configuration forms a spring
`loaded bayonet-type mount which permits quick and
`easy mounting and dismounting of the camera mount,
`camera,lens and electronics as a unit for replacement or
`repair. In particular, to install the camera mount within
`the housing,
`the mount is moved upwardly into the
`housing with the mounting plates 18 and 59 approach-
`ing juxtaposition and with the pin heads 70 aligned with
`the openings 67. As the mounting plates move toward
`engagement, the pin heads 70 movethrough the open-
`ings 67 while the washers 71 engage and bear against
`the uppersurface of the plate 59 causing the springs 72
`to compress.
`Whenthe pin head has cleared the opening 67, the
`camera mountandplate 59 are simply rotated to move
`the pin shank 69 through the central portion ofthe slot
`and to the distal end thereof. At this location, the force
`applied to the mounting plate 59 by the springs 72 and
`washers 71 and the force of gravity urge the plate 59
`downwardly such that the pin head 70 drops into and
`nestles within the depression 68. The plates 59 and 18
`are thus securely locked together. The camera mountis
`easily removed from the housing by applying upward
`force to the mountto dislodge the pin heads from the
`depressions and rotating the mountin the opposite di-
`rection until the pin head can pass back through the
`opening 67. It can be seen that this configuration forms
`a convenient quick release mount. In the event that the
`unit should require service,
`the defective camera,
`mount and computer control circuit are all removed
`together by disconnection of the bayonet mount. A
`replacement unit can then be installed al! within a very
`short time such that virtually no down timeresults from
`required repair of a defective unit.
`
`— 0
`
`_ 5
`
`20
`
`25
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`8
`FIGS. 7 through 9 illustrate methods that can be
`programmedinto the computer and control circuit for
`controlling the surveillance camera system in a pre-
`ferred way, particularly for automated surveillance.
`FIG. 7 illustrates such a method ofdefining to the com-
`puter a set of camera pan andtilt orientations, zoom and
`focussettings to which the camera can be movedby the
`computer in a predetermined sequence and speed for
`automated surveillance. The set of camera settings thus
`defined is called an automatic target vectoring file and
`several such files can be defined and saved within the
`computer depending on available memory. According
`to the functional flow chart illustrated in FIG. 7, when
`it is desired to define and save a target vectoringfile, an
`operatorfirst instructs the on-board computer to place
`the system in its manual control mode wherein camera
`orientation, zoom and focus are controlled through
`appropriate manipulations of the joystick 62. The cam-
`era is then directed manually to a sceneofinterest such
`as, for example, the jewelry counter of a department
`store in which the surveillance camera system may be
`installed. The operator then adjusts the camera zoom
`and focus until the desired scene is displayed on the
`video monitor and instructs the on-board computer,
`through appropriate keypad entries, to save the camera
`orientation and settings as a “preshot” and an identify-
`ing numberorlabel is assigned through keypad entries
`to the preshot for future reference. Further, a descrip-
`tive word caption as well as a desired traverse time
`from the previous preshot to this preshot is assigned to
`the preshot and stored for later use. This procedureis
`repeated until all desired preshots have been defined
`and saved. A groupofpreshotsis then identified with a
`sequence number with a dwell time being assigned to
`each preshot of the group. The group as a whole is then
`saved within the computer as a target vectoring file.
`This procedure can be repeated as necessary to define
`and save additional
`target vectoring files for future
`access and execution as described in detail below.
`The desired traverse time assigned to each preshotis
`used by the on-board computer to calculate the speed at
`which the pan and tilt motors should be operated and
`the zoom and focus adjusted in order for the camera to
`reach the corresponding preshot from the previous
`preshot in the assigned traverse time. This can be used
`to produce valuable surveillance transitions between
`preshots. One preshot, for example, might be chosen to
`orient the cameraat one end ofan isle while the subse-
`quent preshot chosen to orient the camera at the other
`end. The traverse time corresponding to the second
`preshot can then be chosen to movethe cameraslowly
`along theisle from the first to the second preshotso that
`the operator can survey the isle during preshottransi-
`tion.
`FIG.8 illustrates a preferred programmed method of
`defining within the surveillance area a number of pan
`andtilt position ‘“‘windows” to which descriptive word
`captions can be assigned and presented as an enhance-
`mentof the image displayed on the video monitor whe