Robert Boschgmbh

Philips Electronics North America Corporation

Burle Technologies, Inc.

Jennifer L Randall

Theodore Leroy Jones

Scott Alan Corbin

Gopi N Mehrotra

Ronald G Sergeant

Franciscus Herman Maria Bergen

Bruce Magid

The present invention relates to a method of and an apparatus for multiplexing a number of video signals, in which to save circuits for compressors the video signals are reduced in their information, combined into a single video signal, and then the video signal is compressed by one compressor.

Method of multiplexing a number of video signals with a compressor

A security system with a Pan/Tilt/Zoom Camera and maskable motion detection is disclosed. At selected fields of view of the P/T/Z camera, masks are created to mask, from motion detection, select sub-areas within the selected field of view. The mask created for the selected view may be saved in memory. The saved mask may be recalled and reapplied to the motion detector whenever the P/T/Z camera is repositioned to the field of view corresponding to the saved mask. The commands required to reposition the camera to each selected field of view may also be saved. The mask and repositioning commands can be associated with each other, so that selecting a target view corresponds to selecting the commands to position the camera to that view, as well as the mask to be applied for this view.

Security system with maskable motion detection and camera with an adjustable field of view

A camera module for use in a surveillance camera system is provided. The camera module includes a housing and a pan-and-tilt mechanism that is mounted to the housing. The pan-and-tilt mechanism includes a pan motor for panning a camera and a tilt motor for tilting the camera. The pan motor is mounted on the pan-and-tile mechanism so as to be stationary relative to the housing. A slip ring, mounted to the pan-and-tilt mechanism, provides electrical connections to the tilt motor and the camera and a flex cable connects the camera to the slip ring. Also provided are methods for controlling unique functions of the surveillance camera system. Calibration of a home pan position for the camera is achieved by monitoring an optical homing sensor. Calibration of a home tilt position for the camera is accomplished by driving the camera against a stop. Thereafter, pan and tilt positions of the camera are tracked relative to the home pan and tilt positions. The electric current for energizing the tilt and pan motors is controlled in relation to the motor speed. In addition, an auto-pivot feature provides automatic pivoting of the camera when the camera is in a vertical position. A tour feature is included for playing back a recorded sequence of camera pan and tilt positions. A speed scaling feature automatically adjusts panning and tilting speeds of the camera based on the distance of a target from the camera.

Surveillance camera system

A video surveillance system includes a plurality of remote surveillance units, each of which has a video camera mounted in a dome housing. The video camera is panned and/or tilted to a desired orientation within the dome by a pan motor and/or a tilt motor. The surveillance system also includes a keyboard for entering user commands, a joystick for controlling the positioning of the cameras, a central processing unit for interpreting the user commands and the joystick movements, and a communication system for issuing operating commands to the remote surveillance units. Each remote surveillance unit is constructed and arranged to store and to recall selected camera control parameters in association with selected pan and tilt coordinates in response to commands entered by the user. The camera control parameters include white balance, focus, and shutter speed settings for the camera. Additionally, automatic control of the camera exposure, white balance, and focus is provided. Video signals from the remote surveillance units are received by a video switcher/multiplexer under the control of a central processing unit. The video switcher/multiplexer includes an automatic phase adjustment system for synchronizing the video signals from the remote surveillance units.

Video surveillance system

A vertical phase adjust circuit with high noise immunity for line locked surveillance cameras. To prevent noise from the AC line producing false output signals, a counter is used to lock out the delayed vertical line locked output signal. The horizontal scan frequency is counted from the time a vertical output is produced, and the vertical output signal is prevented until 98 percent of the period between legitimate vertical signals has elapsed. The circuit also includes a lock detect circuit to increase the time window during startup conditions to assure initial synchronization and an increased phase adjust range to permit synchronization with any other camera.

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Lancaster, PA, United States of America

Jennifer L Randall