Patent US4293876A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4293876A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Television monitoring system
Assignee: Detection Systems and Engineering Co
•
Filing: 1980-01-11
•
Granted: 1981-10-06
•
Expires: 2000-01-11
Abstract
Abstract A remote controlled television monitoring system for both day and low light level condition monitoring. The monitoring system includes a dual channel camera unit, a passive transmitter unit, and a receiver unit interposed between the transmitter unit and the remotely located camera unit. The transmitter provides control signals to a video control circuit in the receiver unit which controls the positioning of the camera unit as well as the camera lens functions. The dual channel camera unit is mounted on a pan-tilt unit; and includes a day-light camera, a low-light camera, a light intensifier for the low-light camera, and a channel control circuit. The channel control circuit provides for automatic channel switching in response to light intensity variations. This circuit also provides automatic control of the light intensifier during low-light operation.
Inventors
- 👤 Jarvis L. Williams
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 08:42
CPC Classifications
G; G08; G08B; G08B13/00; G08B13/18; G08B13/189; G08B13/194; G08B13/196; G08B13/19639; G08B13/19641; G08B13/19643; G08B13/19617; G08B13/19619; G08B13/19634; H; H04; H04N; H04N7/00; H04N7/18; H04N7/181
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
97 words
A camera unit for a television monitoring system, comprising: a first camera, for monitoring principally during day-light conditions; a second camera, for monitoring principally during low-light conditions; a light intensifier in association with said second camera for intensifying the light received by said second camera; and control circuit means for selectively energizing, utilizing, and de-energizing either said first camera or said second camera and said light intensifier in response to a predetermined variation in ambient light intensity, so that a time delay is provided between said energizing and said utilizing of said cameras and said light intensifier.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
97 words
A camera unit for a television monitoring system, comprising: a first camera, for monitoring principally during day-light conditions; a second camera, for monitoring principally during low-light conditions; a light intensifier in association with said second camera for intensifying the light received by said second camera; and control circuit means for selectively energizing, utilizing, and de-energizing either said first camera or said second camera and said light intensifier in response to a predetermined variation in ambient light intensity, so that a time delay is provided between said energizing and said utilizing of said cameras and said light intensifier.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
The camera unit according to claim 1, wherein said control circuit means further includes a light intensifier control means for adjusting the gain of said light intensifier in response to a variation in the ambient light intensity.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The camera unit according to claim 1, further including mounting means for mounting said first camera substantially parallel to said second camera.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The camera unit according to claim 1, further including a motorized lens for each of said cameras, said motorized lens being selectively energized and de-energized by said control circuit means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The camera unit according to claim 1, further including at least one relay lens, and said relay lens directly couples said light intensifier with said second camera.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The camera unit according to claim 5, further including a housing for containing said cameras, said light intensifier, said control circuit means, and said relay lens; and for sealing against the entry of moisture.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The camera unit according to claim 6, further including a heater and fan, mounted in said housing, and controlled by a thermostat for permitting all weather operation of said camera unit.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
101 words
A method for switching channels in a television monitoring system camera unit, including a first camera for providing a first channel video signal, a second camera for providing a second channel video signal, a motorized lens for each of said cameras, a light intensifier cooperative with one of said cameras, and a control circuit means, comprising the steps of: (a) sensing the ambient light intensity; (b) energizing said first camera in response to a predetermined level of said light intensity; and (c) after a predetermined delay, de-energizing said second camera and concomitantly transferring from said second channel to said first channel.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
101 words
A method for switching channels in a television monitoring system camera unit, including a first camera for providing a first channel video signal, a second camera for providing a second channel video signal, a motorized lens for each of said cameras, a light intensifier cooperative with one of said cameras, and a control circuit means, comprising the steps of: (a) sensing the ambient light intensity; (b) energizing said first camera in response to a predetermined level of said light intensity; and (c) after a predetermined delay, de-energizing said second camera and concomitantly transferring from said second channel to said first channel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method according to claim 8, including the steps of utilizing said first camera for monitoring principally during day-light conditions, and utilizing said second camera for monitoring principally during low-light conditions.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method according to claim 9, including the step of de-energizing said light intensifier concomitantly with said second camera.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method according to claim 8, including the steps of utilizing said first camera for monitoring principally during low-light conditions, and utilizing said second camera for monitoring principally during daylight conditions.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method according to claim 11, including the step of energizing said light intensifier concomitantly with said first camera.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method according to claim 8, including the step of transferring control from said motorized lens for said second camera to said motorized lens for said first camera, concomitantly with said de-energizing of said second camera.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
131 words
For a remote control apparatus in a television monitoring system having a transmitter unit for providing control signals, a camera unit for providing a video signal, a receiver unit in association with said transmitter unit and said camera unit, and at least one actuator for controlling said camera unit in response to said control signals, the improvement comprising: a source of d.c. voltage electrical power for said transmitter unit, contained in said receiver unit, and connected to said transmitter unit via a pair of conductors; a single conductor for transmitting two of said control signals from said transmitter unit to said receiver unit; and a video control circuit means, contained in said receiver unit, for selectively utilizing said two control signals, transmitted alternatively on said single conductor, to energize said actuator.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
131 words
For a remote control apparatus in a television monitoring system having a transmitter unit for providing control signals, a camera unit for providing a video signal, a receiver unit in association with said transmitter unit and said camera unit, and at least one actuator for controlling said camera unit in response to said control signals, the improvement comprising: a source of d.c. voltage electrical power for said transmitter unit, contained in said receiver unit, and connected to said transmitter unit via a pair of conductors; a single conductor for transmitting two of said control signals from said transmitter unit to said receiver unit; and a video control circuit means, contained in said receiver unit, for selectively utilizing said two control signals, transmitted alternatively on said single conductor, to energize said actuator.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
The remote control apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said two control signals are generated from said d.c. voltage electrical power.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
33 words
The remote control apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said d.c. voltage electrical power provides a positive voltage on one of said conductors and a negative voltage on the other of said conductors.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
75 words
The remote control apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said video control circuit means comprises: a first switching means for transmitting a positive voltage to energize said actuator in one direction; a second switching means for transmitting a negative voltage to energize said actuator in the reverse direction; and a selective blocking means for alternatively gating on and off said first and second switching means in response to a control signal from said transmitter unit.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
15 words
The remote control apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said actuator is an electric motor.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
14 words
The remote control apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said actuator is a relay.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
17 words
The remote control apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said first and second switching means are transistors.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
30 words
The remote control apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said selective blocking means comprises a diode connected to a base terminal of each of said first and second switching transistors.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
105 words
A camera unit for a television monitoring system, comprising: a first camera, for monitoring principally during day-light conditions; a second camera, for monitoring principally during low-light conditions; a light intensifier in association with said second camera for intensifying the light received by said second camera; and control circuit means for selectively energizing, utilizing, and de-energizing either said first camera or said second camera and said light intensifier to provide a video signal from said camera unit, and for adjusting the gain of said light intensifier in response to a variation in the ambient light intensity when said second camera and said light intensifier are utilized.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
105 words
A camera unit for a television monitoring system, comprising: a first camera, for monitoring principally during day-light conditions; a second camera, for monitoring principally during low-light conditions; a light intensifier in association with said second camera for intensifying the light received by said second camera; and control circuit means for selectively energizing, utilizing, and de-energizing either said first camera or said second camera and said light intensifier to provide a video signal from said camera unit, and for adjusting the gain of said light intensifier in response to a variation in the ambient light intensity when said second camera and said light intensifier are utilized.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
37 words
The camera unit according to claim 22, wherein said control circuit means includes a photocell for sensing the ambient light intensity and a transistor coupled to said photocell for regulating the voltage supplied to said light intensifier.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
144 words
For a remote control apparatus in a television monitoring system having a transmitter unit for providing control signals, a camera unit for providing a video signal, a receiver unit in association with said transmitter unit and said camera unit, and a plurality of actuators for controlling said camera unit in response to said control signals, the improvement comprising: a source of electrical power for said transmitter unit, contained in said receiver unit, and connected to said transmitter unit via a pair of conductors; a single conductor for each of said plurality of actuators for transmitting at least two control signals from said transmitter unit to said receiver unit; and video control circuit means for each of said plurality of actuators, contained in said receiver unit, for selectively utilizing said two control signals, transmitted alternatively on said single conductor, to energize one of said actuators.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
144 words
For a remote control apparatus in a television monitoring system having a transmitter unit for providing control signals, a camera unit for providing a video signal, a receiver unit in association with said transmitter unit and said camera unit, and a plurality of actuators for controlling said camera unit in response to said control signals, the improvement comprising: a source of electrical power for said transmitter unit, contained in said receiver unit, and connected to said transmitter unit via a pair of conductors; a single conductor for each of said plurality of actuators for transmitting at least two control signals from said transmitter unit to said receiver unit; and video control circuit means for each of said plurality of actuators, contained in said receiver unit, for selectively utilizing said two control signals, transmitted alternatively on said single conductor, to energize one of said actuators.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
45 words
The remote control apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said source of electrical power provides a d.c. low voltage signal on said pair of conductors, such that one of said conductors provides a positive voltage and the other of said conductors provides a negative voltage.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
35 words
The remote control apparatus according to claim 25, wherein said transmitter unit includes a switch for each of said plurality of actuators for generating said two control signals from said positive and negative voltage signals.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
23 words
The remote control apparatus according to claim 26, wherein said switches are connected electrically in parallel to said positive and negative voltage signals.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
14 words
The remote control apparatus according to claim 27, wherein said switches comprise three-position switches.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2978538A
Cited
DE1134884B
Cited
US3399614A
Cited
US3634622A
Cited
US3798368A
Cited
US3889052A
Cited
US3891795A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-10-05 | 1985-04-06 | 1985-10-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-10-05 | 1989-04-06 | 1989-10-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-10-05 | 1993-04-06 | 1993-10-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |