Philips Electronics North America Corporation

Robert Boschgmbh

Philips Electronics N.a. Corporation

Christopher J Ryan

Theodore Leroy Jones

Richard R Wright

The invention provides an environmental shroud ( ) and a camera assembly ( ) including the shroud. The environmental shroud ( ) absorbs and dissipates heat energy that is not reflected and heat energy that is generated by the contents of the camera housing so that the camera housing temperature does not exceed the maximum rated temperature. In one embodiment, the camera assembly includes a camera housing ( ) having a mounting cap ( ) attached to sidewalls ( ) to which is attached an optical surface ( ), the camera housing enclosing a camera system; and an environmental shroud ( ) attached to the camera housing. The shroud has a lower section ( ) having sidewalls ( A) that descend to a drip edge ( ), and at least one vent ( ) in a top portion; and an upper section ( ), at least the lower section having means that reflects or deflects radiant heat energy and means to remove unreflected or undeflected heat from the camera housing ( ) through said vent ( ), the upper section ( ) covering the vent ( ) and having a lower edge ( ) situated below the vent and over the sidewalls ( A) to provide a tortuous path which prevents the penetration of water into the camera housing ( ).

Environmental shroud

The invention provides an environmental shroud (,) and a camera assembly (,) including such environmental shroud (,) which absorbs and dissipates heat energy that is not reflected and/or deflected from radiation and heat energy that is generated by the contents of the camera housing so that the camera housing temperature does not exceed the maximum rated temperature. In one embodiment, the camera assembly (,) includes a camera housing (,) which has a mounting cap (,) attached to sidewalls (,) to which is attached an optical surface (,). The camera housing encloses a camera system. An environmental shroud (,) is attached to the camera housing and includes a plurality of vertical strips (,) situated concentrically with the camera housing (,) and with each other with gaps being present between the vertical strips (,) and between the camera housing (,). In another embodiment, the environmental shroud is a turbine and includes a plurality of vertical blades (,) situated concentrically with the camera housing (,), whereby wind which contacts the blades causes the shroud to rotate and generate a centrifugal force effective to remove moisture from the camera housing (,).

Indoor/outdoor surveillance housing with environmental protection

A camera housing is fixed against rotation in a cavity in a backbox which is mounted in a ceiling. The housing carries a camera module which is rotatable about a vertical axis with respect to the housing, the module in turn carrying a camera which is pivotable about a horizontal axis with respect to the module. The housing is held in place in the cavity by a locking ring which is received around the camera module and engages a backbox ring fixed to the backbox. The locking ring has an outward facing cylindrical surface which is concentrically received in an inward facing cylindrical surface of the backbox ring. The surface on the locking ring has cam followers which ride up a cam ridge on the surface of the backbox ring as the locking ring is rotated, in order to position the camera housing in the backbox. A spring loaded detent mechanism holds the locking ring in the locked position until it is counter-rotated to overcome the spring force.

Apparatus for mounting a surveillance camera

A cable drive apparatus is presented which has minimal cable slippage and backlash. Such a cable drive is particularly well suited for systems requiring accurate positioning and repositioning capabilities, such as motorized camera orientation systems. To achieve minimal slippage on a cable driven pulley, one or more positioning balls are located at fixed locations on the cable, and corresponding positioning holes are located on either pulley. Tensioning means are also provided to remove slack, to minimize the backlash which may result from the stretching of the cable over time. A two pulley system is presented wherein the cable is fixedly attached to one pulley, travels over the other pulley which has the slippage constraining positioning holes, and then to tensioning means which also fixedly attached to the first pulley.

Growing community of inventors

Lancaster, PA, United States of America

Christopher J Ryan