US3798368A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Panning circuit for surveillance camera
Assignee: VIDEOSONICS Inc
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Filing: 1972-09-25
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Granted: 1974-03-19
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Expires: 1992-09-25
Abstract
Abstract A surveillance camera is panned back and forth by electric motor means between predetermined clockwise and counterclockwise limits of rotation. The limits of rotation are established by two adjustable reference voltage levels, one of which represents the clockwise limit and the other of which represents the counterclockwise limit. A feedback voltage is generated representing the rotary position of the surveillance camera. When the feedback voltage equals either of the reference voltages, a switching circuit is activated to reverse the camera''s direction of rotation. This automatically pans the camera back and forth between the clockwise and counterclockwise limits of rotation established by the reference voltages.
Inventors
- 👤 G Kardach
- 👤 R Treleven
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 12:29
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B15/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
166 words
A panning circuit for panning a surveillance camera back and forth between predetermined limits of rotation, said panning circuit comprising electric motor means coupled to said camera for rotating the camera in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction, transducer means coupled to said motor means for generating a feedback voltage which is proportional to the rotary position of said camera, reference voltage means for generating two reference voltages which are respectively proportional to predetermined clockwise and counterclockwise limits of rotation for said camera, voltage comparison means coupled to said transducer and to said reference voltage means for comprising said feedback voltage to said reference voltages and producing an output indication when the feedback voltage is approximately equal to either reference voltage, and electronic switch means coupled between said comparison means and said motor means for switching the direction of motor rotation in accordance with the output indications of said comparison means to pan said camera back and forth between said predetermined clockwise and counterclockwise limits of rotation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
166 words
A panning circuit for panning a surveillance camera back and forth between predetermined limits of rotation, said panning circuit comprising electric motor means coupled to said camera for rotating the camera in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction, transducer means coupled to said motor means for generating a feedback voltage which is proportional to the rotary position of said camera, reference voltage means for generating two reference voltages which are respectively proportional to predetermined clockwise and counterclockwise limits of rotation for said camera, voltage comparison means coupled to said transducer and to said reference voltage means for comprising said feedback voltage to said reference voltages and producing an output indication when the feedback voltage is approximately equal to either reference voltage, and electronic switch means coupled between said comparison means and said motor means for switching the direction of motor rotation in accordance with the output indications of said comparison means to pan said camera back and forth between said predetermined clockwise and counterclockwise limits of rotation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
77 words
A panning circuit as defined in claim 1 in which said transducer comprises a first potentiometer having a resistance element and a movable arm which slides along said resistance element, said movable arm being coupled to said motor means to be moved thereby, and a source of voltage coupled across said resistance element, whereby the voltage on the arm of said first potentiometer comprises said feedback voltage which is proportional to the rotary position of said camera.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
93 words
A panning circuit as defined in claim 2 in which said reference voltage means comprises a second and a third potentiometer each having a resistance element and a movable arm which slides along said resistance element, and a source of voltage coupled across both of said resistance elements, whereby a voltage which is proportional to the positions of said movable arms appears on each of said movable arms, the voltages on said movable arms comprising said reference voltages which are respectively proportional to predetermined clockwise and counterclockwise limits of rotation for said camera.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
88 words
A panning circuit as defined in claim 3 wherein said voltage comparison means comprises a first voltage comparator and a second voltage comparator, each of said comparators having two inputs and being operable to produce an output voltage which is proportional to the differenCe between the two input voltages, the inputs of said first voltage comparator being coupled to the movable arms of said first and second potentiometers, and the inputs of said second voltage comparator being coupled to the movable arms of said first and third potentiometers.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
83 words
A panning circuit as defined in claim 4 wherein said electronic switch means includes a bistable multivibrator circuit having two inputs and two outputs, the inputs of said multivibrator being coupled to the outputs of said voltage comparators, and means coupled between the output of said multivibrator and said motor means for rotating said camera in the clockwise direction when said multivibrator is in one state and for rotating said camera in the counterclockwise direction when said multivibrator is in the other state.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
140 words
A panning circuit as defined in claim 5 wherein said motor means includes a first motor which, when energized, causes the camera to rotate clockwise, and a second motor which, when energized, causes the camera to rotate counterclockwise, and wherein said electronic switching means includes a first and a second electronic switch element each having two main current carrying electrodes and a gate electrode for switching the current flow between said main current carrying electrodes, the main current carrying electrodes of said first electronic switch element being coupled in series with said first motor and the gate electrode thereof being coupled to one output of said multivibrator, the main current carrying electrodes of said second electronic switch element being coupled in series with said second motor and the gate electrode thereof being coupled to the other output of said multivibrator.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
121 words
A panning circuit as defined in claim 4 wherein said second and third potentiometers are located at a control station remote from the camera whereby the panning limits of the camera are remotely controllable, and further comprising switch means for disconnecting the movable arms of said second and third potentiometers from the input of said first and second voltage comparators and connecting voltages of such magnitude and polarity to the inputs of said first and second voltage comparators as to stop the rotation of said motor means, and switchable circuit means for momentarily altering the input conditions of said first and second voltage comparators to selectively momentarily cause rotation of the motor means in the clockwise or counterclockwise direction of rotation.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
A panning circuit as defined in claim 1 in which said reference voltage means are located at a control station remote from the camera whereby the panning limits of the camera are remotely controllable.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
69 words
A panning circuit as defined in claim 1 in which said transducer comprises a first voltage divider with a movable element coupled to said motor means to be moved thereby, and a source of voltage for said voltage divider, the voltage output of said voltage divider as established by the position of said movable element comprising said feedback voltage which is proportional to the rotary position of said camera.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
66 words
A panning circuit as defined in claim 9 in which said reference voltage means comprises second and third dividers having movable elements, and a source of voltage for said voltage dividers, whereby voltages proportional to the positions of said movable elements are generated thereby, said generated voltages comprising said reference voltages which are respectively proportional to predetermined clockwise and counterclockwise limits of rotation for said camera.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
89 words
A panning circuit as defined in claim 10 wherein said voltage comparison means comprises a first voltage comparator and a second voltage comparator, each of said voltage comparators having two inputs and being operable to produce an output voltage which is proportional to the difference between the two input voltages, the inputs of said first voltage comparator being coupled to the output of said first and second voltage dividers, and the inputs of said second voltage comparator being coupled to the outputs of the first and third voltage dividers.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
83 words
A panning circuit as defined in claim 11 wherein said electronic switch means inlcudes a bistable multivibrator circuit having two inputs and two outputs, the inputs of said multivibrator being coupled to the outputs of said voltage comparators, and means coupled between the output of said multivibrator and said motor means for rotating said camera in the clockwise direction when said multivibrator is in one state and for rotating said camera in the counterclockwise direction when said multivibrator is in the other state.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
139 words
A panning circuit as defined in claim 12 wherein said motor means includes a first motor which, when energized, causes the camera to rotate clockwise, and a second motor which, when energized, causes the camera to rotate counterclockwise, and wherein said electronic switching means includes a first and a second electronic switch element each having two main current carrying electrodes and a gate electrode for switching the current flow between main current carrying electrodes, the main current carrying electrodes of said first electronic switch element being coupled in series with said first motor and the gate electrode thereof being coupled to one output of said multivibrator, the main current carrying electrodes of said second electronic switch element being coupled in series with said second motor and the gate electrode thereof being coupled to the other output of said multivibrator.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3166699A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-03-18 | 1977-09-17 | 1978-03-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-03-18 | 1981-09-17 | 1982-03-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-03-18 | 1985-09-17 | 1986-03-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |