Apparatus within a street lamp for remote surveillance having directional antenna
US6462775B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 10, 1999 |
| Grant date | Oct 8, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 10, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF21W2131/103
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A covert surveillance system for viewing images from a remote location is provided. The surveillance system provides a mirror, lens and camera arrangement within a small enclosure that allows full 360 degree pan, tilt, zoom, focus and iris control from a remote location. The system receives control commands such as rotate left, zoom out and tilt down via a radio receiver, and controls the camera accordingly. Images viewed by the camera are transmitted to a remote receiver for display on a monitor, or for recording. Continuous camera rotation is achieved by use of a specialized conductive drum that provides continuous electrical contact between camera signals and camera control. In one embodiment, the surveillance system is mounted in place of a photo detector in a street lamp, making the camera virtually undetectable. In addition, a rotatable directional antenna is included in the surveillance system to allow surveillance at great distances from the system. The directional antenna is remotely rotated using the same radio receiver that is used for camera control.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.