Camera system for day and night use

Claim 2

A camera system comprised of: a camera responsive to infrared light and having an optical system defining a field of view; a source of infrared light, a means responsive to infrared light; a controlling means; said source of infrared light being disposed with respect to said camera so as to illuminate said field of view from a position whereby infrared light reflected from within said field of view may be received by said camera; said means responsive to infrared light being disposed with respect to said camera so as to sense infrared light coming from said field of view and providing a control signal to said controlling means in response thereto; said controlling means being adapted to control the emission from said source of infrared light in response to said control signal applied thereto.

Claim 3

The camera system of claim 1 wherein: said source of infrared light is comprised of an incandescent light, a reflector and an infrared transmitting filter; said incandescent light and said reflector being cooperatively disposed so as to direct light toward said field of view; said infrared transmitting filter being cooperatively disposed with respect to said incandescent light and said reflector so as to filter the output of said incandescent light directed toward said field of view.

Claim 4

The camera system of claim 1 wherein: said camera optical system includes an infrared transmitting filter which prevents the transmission of a substantial amount of visible light; and said means responsive to infrared light is substantially nonresponsive to visible light.

Claim 5

The camera system of claim 3 wherein said means responsive to infrared light is a means substantially responsive to the average intensity of infrared light incident thereto.

Claim 6

The camera system of claim 3 wherein said means responsive to infrared light is a means substantially responsive to the infrared light from the area of said field of view having the least infrared light directed therefrom to said last named means.

Claim 7

A camera system comprised of a camera responsive to visible light, an infrared image converter adapted to receive an infrared image input and provide a visible image output, an optical system defining a field of view, a source of infrared light, at least one means responsive to infrared light coming from said field of view, and an infrared light controlling means; said optical system being coupled to said infrared image converter to provide an infrared image input thereto; said output of said infrared image converter being optically coupled to said camera to transfer said visible image output thereto; said source of infrared light being disposed with respect to said camera so as to illuminate said field of view from a position whereby infrared light reflected from within said field of view may be received by said camera; said means responsive to infrared light providing a control signal to said infrared light controlling means in response to infrared light incident thereto; said infrared light controlling means being adapted to control the emission from said source of infrared light in response to said control signal applied thereto.

Claim 8

A camera system comprised of a camera responsive to visible light, an infrared image converter adapted to receive an infrared image input and provide a visible image output, an optical system defining a field of view, a source of infrared light, at least one means responsive to infrared light coming from said field of view, and an infrared light controlling means; said optical system being coupled to said infrared image converter to provide an infrared image input thereto; said output of said infrared image converter being optically coupled to said camera to transfer said visible image output thereto; said source of infrared light being disposed with respect to said camera so as to illuminate said field of view from a position whereby infrared light reflected from within said field of view may be received by said camera; said means responsive to infrared light providing a control signal to said infrared light controlling means in response to infrared light incident thereto; said infrared light controlling means being adapted to control the emission from said source of infrared light in response to said control signal applied thereto.

Claim 9

The camera system of claim 6 further including an anode to cathode voltage controlling means, wherein: said infrared image converter is an image converter tube having a photo cathode adjacent a first end thereof, and a fluorescent screen and anode adjacent a second end thereof, said visible image output for any infrared image input being controllable by the anode to cathode voltage applied thereto; and said anode to cathode voltage controlling means is responsive to said means responsive to infrared light.

Claim 10

The camera system of claim 7 wherein: said camera optical system includes an infrared transmitting filter which prevents the transmission of a substantial amount of visible light; and said means responsive to infrared light is substantially nonresponsive to visible light.

Claim 11

The camera system of claim 7 wherein said means responsive to infrared light is a means substantially responsive to the average intensity of infrared light incident thereto.

Claim 12

The camera of claim 7 wherein said means responsive to infrared light is comprised of first and second responsive means; said first responsive means providing a control signal to said infrared light controlling means; and said second responsive means providing a control signal to said anode to cathode voltage controlling means.

Claim 13

The camera system of claim 10 wherein said first responsive means is a means substantially responsive to the infrared light from the area of its said field of view having the least infrared light directed therefrom to said last named means.

Claim 14

The camera system of claim 11 wherein said second responsive means is a means substantially responsive to the average intensity of infrared light incident thereto.

Claim 15

A camera system comprised of a television camera responsive to visible light, an infrared image converter adapted to receive an infrared input and provide a visible image output, an optical system defining a field of view, a source of infrared Light illuminating said field of view so that infrared light reflected from within said field of view may be received by said optical system, an infrared light controlling means and at least one video detector coupled to the video signal of said television camera; said optical system being coupled to said infrared image converter to provide an infrared image input thereto; said output of said infrared image converter being optically coupled to said camera to transfer said visible image output thereto; one of said video detectors providing a control signal to said infrared light controlling means in response to said video signal; said infrared light controlling means being adapted to control the emission from said source of infrared light in response to said control signal applied thereto.

Claim 16

A camera system comprised of a television camera responsive to visible light, an infrared image converter adapted to receive an infrared input and provide a visible image output, an optical system defining a field of view, a source of infrared Light illuminating said field of view so that infrared light reflected from within said field of view may be received by said optical system, an infrared light controlling means and at least one video detector coupled to the video signal of said television camera; said optical system being coupled to said infrared image converter to provide an infrared image input thereto; said output of said infrared image converter being optically coupled to said camera to transfer said visible image output thereto; one of said video detectors providing a control signal to said infrared light controlling means in response to said video signal; said infrared light controlling means being adapted to control the emission from said source of infrared light in response to said control signal applied thereto.

Claim 17

The camera system of claim 13 wherein said camera optical system includes an infrared transmitting filter which prevents the transmission of a substantial amount of visible light.

Claim 18

The camera system of claim 13 further comprising an anode to cathode voltage controlling means, wherein; said infrared image converter is an image converter tube having a photo cathode adjacent a first end thereof, and a fluorescent screen and anode adjacent a second end thereof, said visible image output of any infrared image input being controllable by the anode to cathode voltage applied thereto; and said anode to cathode voltage controlling means is responsive to the signal from one of said video detectors.

Claim 19

The camera system of claim 15 wherein said infrared light controlling means is controlled by a first video detector, and said anode to cathode voltage is controlled by said second video detector.

Claim 20

The camera system of claim 16 wherein said first video detector is substantially a peak video detector.

Claim 21

The camera system of claim 17 wherein said second video detector is an average video detector.

Claim 22

The camera system of claim 18 wherein said infrared light controlling means is controlled by one of said video detectors substantially responsive to the peak of said video signal, said anode to cathode voltage is controlled by one of said video detectors substantially responsive to the average of said video signal, and said camera tube control voltage is controlled by one of said video detectors substantially responsive to the average of said video signal.

Claim 23

The camera system of claim 16 wherein said camera has a camera tube having a response which is controllable by means of a camera tube control voltage, and one of said video detectors is coupled to control said camera tube control voltage.

Claim 24

A camera system comprised of: a television camera responsive to visible light; an infrared image converter adapted to receive an infrared image input and provide a visible image output, the intensity of said visible image output in relation to said infrared image input being responsive to an anode to cathode image tube control voltage, said image tube being disposed with respect to said camera so as to present said visible image to said camera; an optical system coupled to said infrared image converter having a field of view and presenting an infrared image input to said infrared image converter; a controllable source of illumination adjacent said camera so as to illuminate said field of view, whereby illumination reflected from objects within the field of view may be received by said optical system; an infrared transmissive filter coupled to said source of illumination to prevent the transmission of substantial visible light from said source of illumination into said field of view; a video detection means responsive to the video signal in said television camera for providing first and second control signals; a first controller responsive to said first control signal to control said source of illumination, and a second controller responsive to said second control signal to control said anode to cathode voltage of said infrared image converter.

Claim 25

A camera system comprised of: a television camera responsive to visible light; an infrared image converter adapted to receive an infrared image input and provide a visible image output, the intensity of said visible image output in relation to said infrared image input being responsive to an anode to cathode image tube control voltage, said image tube being disposed with respect to said camera so as to present said visible image to said camera; an optical system coupled to said infrared image converter having a field of view and presenting an infrared image input to said infrared image converter; a controllable source of illumination adjacent said camera so as to illuminate said field of view, whereby illumination reflected from objects within the field of view may be received by said optical system; an infrared transmissive filter coupled to said source of illumination to prevent the transmission of substantial visible light from said source of illumination into said field of view; a video detection means responsive to the video signal in said television camera for providing first and second control signals; a first controller responsive to said first control signal to control said source of illumination, and a second controller responsive to said second control signal to control said anode to cathode voltage of said infrared image converter.

Claim 26

The camera system of claim 21 further comprised of a second infrared transmissive filter, said second filter being disposed within said optical system to prevent the presentation of substantial amounts of visible light to said infrared image converter.