AU2002100402A4 - Security camera device and system - Google Patents

Description

P/00/009 25.5.91 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Applicant: Number: Filing Date: ZECORP PTY LTD Invention Title: SECURITY CAMERA DEVICE AND SYSTEM The invention is described in the following statement: SECURITY CAMERA DEVICE AND SYSTEM FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a security camera device and security camera system and in particular to a security camera system for use at service stations dispensing petrol, LPG or the like from a plurality of pumps or bowsers.

BACKGROUND

ART

There has previously been proposed various security camera systems for service stations and it will be appreciated that the main requirement of such systems is that the number plate of the vehicle at a petrol pump can be readily captured and deciphered. These systems are not necessarily generally well known but are detailed herein to assist in showing the difference of the claimed invention.

There has been proposed a scanning system in which a camera continuously scans the total number of petrol pumps of a particular service station and the total scan is saved to videotape. The difficulty with this form of device has been that because of the continual movement of the camera there tends to be a bleed of the vehicle number plates and it can be very difficult to readily identify the relevant number plate from a single frame, or a small number of frames as the particular number plate is scanned.

Therefore in a first system, there is one or a plurality of cameras directed at one or a small number of petrol pumps. Generally this gives a fixed image of each vehicle at the petrol pumps and the output of the required number of these cameras covering all of the petrol pumps of the service station are then "time multiplexed" so that details of all the vehicles are captured on videotape.

That is the videotape changes from one camera to the next and records one camera at a time. The time is also captured on the same video tape so that should a vehicle leave the station without paying, provided the operator has an indication of the time involved and the petrol pump concerned, the vehicle can be readily identified.

There are two problems with this system. The first of these is purely economical. It is necessary to have a plurality of cameras to cover the petrol pumps of a normal medium to large service station and indeed, to get the best results it is necessary to have effectively one camera per petrol pump or two petrol pumps. In this way the image can be sufficiently large to enable the number plate to be readily identified.

If the cameras had a sufficiently wide angled lens to cover a number of petrol pumps, it is often found that it is difficult to identify number plates, as they would appear very small on the captured image. Also, it is found that if a number of cameras are used in order to ensure that the outputs of these could all be multiplexed, it is necessary to store only a few frames from each camera during each cycle of multiplexing.

It is an object of the invention to provide a camera and security system which overcomes or minimises the difficulties which have occurred in the previously proposed arrangements.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the invention there is provided a security camera device including camera means for receiving an image from a directed position; drive means for moving the camera means between a number of predetermined directed positions and stopping the camera means at the predetermined directed positions in a predetermined sequence; and recording means whereby whilst the camera means is in each predetermined directed position, it operates to record the image received in its field of view and subsequently the camera is caused to move to a further predetermined directed position.

The security camera device can further include an axial mount for the camera means allowing axial rotation, and a logic circuit and a stepper or otherwise adjustable motor such that the logic circuit can cause the camera means to pan around through to a predetermined directed position at a certain angle, stop, record for a predetermined time, and then pan around to the next predetermined directed position.

The security camera device can further include a micro-switch at a stop at each end of the movement to reset the arrangement before the camera means moves to the opposite end to restart the predetermined sequence of movement and stopping and filming at the plurality of predetermined directed positions.

Also in accordance with the invention there is provided a security camera system when used for a service station dispensing, petrol, LPG or the like from a plurality of pumps or bowsers including the steps of: a) determining a plurality of positions that are expected to be the location of the front or rear of a vehicle displaying a vehicle alphanumeric registration plate when the vehicle is at one of said plurality of said pumps or bowsers b) mounting a camera means with direct line of sight to each of said determined plurality of positions; c) providing an axial mount for the camera means allowing axial rotation of said camera means; d) providing drive means for moving the camera means on said axial mount; e) determining a number of predetermined directed positions of said camera means corresponding to direct line of sight of said camera means to each of said determined plurality of positions f) providing control means including a stepper or otherwise adjustable motor such that the control means causes the camera means to pan around through to a predetermined directed position at a certain angle, stop and able to capture image for a predetermined time to allow recordal or alphanumeric recognition and recordal; g) controlling said camera means to pan around between a plurality of said predetermined directed positions and stopping the camera means at each of said predetermined directed positions in a predetermined sequence.

In an embodiment of the invention a security camera is adapted to be moved about an axis, whereby the camera can be caused to move and to be stopped at one of a number of predetermined positions, means whereby whilst the camera is in this position it can operate to record while it is in its field of view and subsequently the camera is caused to move to a further position.

The arrangement uses a logic circuit and a stepper or otherwise adjustable motor, the logic circuit can cause the camera to pan through a certain angle, stop, record for a predetermined time, and then move to the next predetermined position.

There can be a micro-switch at a stop at each end of the movement to reset the arrangement before it moves to the opposite direction, again stopping and filming.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order that the invention can be more readily understood, one particular embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4 is a diagrammatic representation of a general arrangement of a security camera system for a service station forecourt with sight lines indicating the positions at which the camera stops in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention is a diagrammatic representation of an arrangement of the camera mounted for rotation; and is a cross section through the arrangement of the camera mounted for rotation of Figure 2 is a perspective diagrammatic view of a security camera device in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention is a perspective diagrammatic view of a hand held programmer for the security camera device of Figure 4; is a diagrammatic view of the security camera device of Figure 4; Figure 5 Figure 6 Figure 7 is an overhead plan diagrammatic view of a hand held programmer for the security camera device of Figure 4; Figure 8 is a perspective diagrammatic view of a security camera device in accordance with a third embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED

EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the drawings the numerals identifying parts are maintained constant from one embodiment to the next. In Figures 1 to 3 there is shown a security camera device 11 including camera means comprising camera 10 for receiving an image from a directed position along particular sight lines 16.

The camera device 11 also includes drive means 25 in the form of electric motor for moving the camera means between a number of predetermined directed positions 16A, 16B, 16C and 16D and stopping the camera means at the predetermined directed positions in a predetermined sequence. Recording means or equipment such as video digital recorder 15 is used whereby whilst the camera means is in each predetermined directed position, it operates to record the image received in its field of view and subsequently the camera is caused to move to a further predetermined directed position.

As shown particularly from Figure 1, it can be seen that the camera 10 is mounted at a suitable position adjacent a wall of a service station forecourt.

As illustrated, the camera is connected by cables 12, 13 to a computer 14 and a video recorder 15 located within the service station although these could be positioned at any required position inside or outside the service station, such as in a locked enclosure on which the camera is mounted.

The camera is shown as having sight lines 16A, 16B, 16C and 16D to positions adjacent each of the petrol pumps 20 which the camera 10 is monitoring, the positions actually being at a position at which it is likely that the front or back number plate of a vehicle 21 using the petrol pump would be located.

The invention has a drive means being an electric motor 25 which can be started and stopped accurately. This motor 25 is mounted in an assembly and is provided with a gearbox 26 whereby the output shaft 27 of the motor is reduced in speed so that the speed of rotation at the output from the gearbox is relatively slow.

Associated with the shaft 27 there is a table 28 which is centrally mounted to the gearbox shaft so that there can be rotated about generally vertical axis.

The table has means whereby the video camera 10 can be connected thereto in such a manner that the camera is rotated with the table 28.

The arrangement so far described provides a camera, which can be rotated about a substantially vertical axis, and there are means, (not illustrated) to limit the movement of the table. These microswitches associated with the table which act to initiate the stopping of the motor 25 at each end of the movement of the table and which cause the arrangement to commence to operate in the opposite sense. Alternatively, these limiting devices could be optical sensors, which perform the same operation, or the limit control could be effected in any other way. That is the table can rotate between two extreme positions and when it reaches either of the limiting devices 28 it commences to rotate in the opposite sense. The rotation is about 1200.

The control for the motor 25 is by way of logic circuitry which causes the table 28 to initially rotate through a predetermined angle to one of the sight lines 16, stop when it reaches this position, remain stopped for a predetermined time, and then further rotate to a next predetermined position and so on.

When the table 28 reaches the limit stop at the end of its movement, it can either be caused to rotate back to its original position or to repeat the movement and stopping arrangement discussed above, but in the opposite sense.

Also, if required, the table 28 could be adapted to also rotate about a horizontal axis, which crosses the axis of vertical rotation, so that the camera 10 cannot only rotate about its vertical axis but can also be caused to rotate about the horizontal axis so that the field of view of the camera can be adjusted in two planes.

When the camera is actually traversing, it is not taking images, but when it stops moving it is actuated and the particular area to which it is being directed is then filmed for the time during which the table is stationary and once this is about to move then again the camera is inactivated.

It would also be possible, with the logic circuit, to cause the camera to zoom depending on the station at which it is located and the distance from the camera.

A computer 14, as illustrated in Figure 1, provides the logic circuitry or, as illustrated in Figure 2, the drive could be incorporated in the table of the camera.

The operation of this invention will be described hereinafter. A security camera system when used for a service station dispensing, petrol, lpg or the like from a plurality of pumps or bowsers including the steps of: a. determining a plurality of positions that are expected to be the location of the front or rear of a vehicle displaying a vehicle alphanumeric registration plate when the vehicle is at one of said plurality of said pumps or bowsers b. mounting a camera means with direct line of sight to each of said determined plurality of positions; c. providing an axial mount for the camera means allowing axial rotation of said camera means; d. providing drive means for moving the camera means on said axial mount; e. determining a number of predetermined directed positions of said camera means corresponding to direct line of sight of said camera means to each of said determined plurality of positions f. providing control means including a stepper or otherwise adjustable motor such that the control means causes the camera means to pan around through to a predetermined directed position at a certain angle, stop and able to capture image for a predetermined time to allow recordal or alphanumeric recognition and recordal; g. controlling said camera means to pan around between a plurality of said predetermined directed positions and stopping the camera means at each of said predetermined directed positions in a predetermined sequence.

In a service station environment, there are one or more cameras each of which can be used to monitor a substantial number of petrol pumps. A preferment is to monitor five petrol pumps per camera but this is not limiting.

For the purposes of description only Figure 1 has a single camera 10 and this can be programmed to move from an initial position to one where it is directed toward a first petrol pump, stop there for a predetermined time and then to rotate to a next position, and so on.

In the simplest form of the device, illustrated in Figure 2, logic circuitry is associated with the drive means. The set-up is done by "walking" the table through the required movements and programming it to stop at the required positions and remain in position for a predetermined time.

As illustrated, the control system located in casing 30 in which is mounted the logic circuitry, the drive motor 25 and the gear box 26 and from which extends the shaft 27.

At one end of casing, there are the controls necessary to "program" the mechanism to operate correctly. As illustrated, there is a 24VAC inlet 32, which provides the power for the electronics and the motor drive and, by way of outlet 33, the power to operate the camera. There is an ON/OFF switch 31, which controls the overall operation of the device.

To program the device, the reset button 39 is pressed and the camera is brought to an initial position. Then by use of either the right 36 or left arrow key, the camera is caused to move and, whilst monitoring its position, the movement is continues until it gets to its first required position. At this time it is stopped and the memory button 37 is depressed to indicate this position. Either the time set device 38 can be set for the particular position and the memory button again activated or the time set by this device can be the same for all rest positions and the camera will remain at the position for the pre-determined time. The arrow 35, 36 being used is again activated and the camera continues to move to the required position which is then set in memory.

This operation continues until all of the required positions have been located and the limit reached. At this time, the camera can be constrained to move back to the initial position and the operations continued, and this is the preferment in simple arrangements or the camera can be caused to retrace its previous movements in the opposite direction.

Once the camera is programmed it can continue to make the movements until these are no longer required. As many service stations operate 24 hours per day, once set, the camera will operate continuously. Alternatively, the camera can be switched off when not required and switched on as required. This will not affect the movements programmed into the camera and these will be retained until the reset button 39 is activated.

The images recorded by the camera at the rest positions can be sent to a video recorder within the service station or elsewhere for later examination should this be required.

An operator could by watching a screen see the field of view of the camera an effect both its movement about a vertical axis, as it moves from petrol pump to petrol pump, movement about the horizontal axis so that it is directed at a position to ensure that the number plate of a vehicle at the petrol pump is readily seen and possibly even by controlling the zoom of the camera ensure that cars which are further away from the camera are photographed at a higher magnification that the others so that the standard of the view of the number plate is not degraded by distance from the camera.

At the same time the arrangement can be such that when the table stops traversing, the camera is initiated and the area being supervised filmed for a predetermined period before the camera is again stopped and the operation of the table continued.

In a more sophisticated, fully computerised version, as illustrated generally in Figures 4 to 8 the external components includes a camera means being a camera 10 mounted on an axial mount 58 being a protruding gearbox motor shaft 58 protruding from drive box 41 housing gearbox 26. The drive box 41 also includes On/Off power switch 31, LED light and 4 plug electrical connecting block 48 having power in/out 32,33 and video in/out 62,63 and is connected to camera 10 Oby weather proof core cable 49 carrying both video and power. The drive box also includes logic circuitry having inlet/outlet by screw type electronic connecting block 45, which is connected to handheld programmer 42 shown in Figure The protruding electric gearbox shaft 58 is required as the axial mount for mounting the camera 10. The LED light is used as an indicator to alert the user that the unit is on when the power is on and is also used as an indicator in the process of programming the unit. The electrical connecting block 48 is the connection for the unit to 24 Volt AC power via a transformer, or power from an existing camera power supplied on site. The four plugs provide for: video IN 62, having two wires (coaxial cable) and provides an external source to video capture device such as video/digital recorder video OUT 63, having two wires connected to camera through special weatherproof cable to transmit camera information back to recorder Power in 32 having two wires 24 Volt AC internally wired to the power switch and Power OUT 33 having two wires 24 Volts AC connected to camera through special weatherproof cable to power the camera. The electronic connecting socket 45 provides a cable-connected interface for the handheld programmer 42 that programs an internal programmable logic controller PLC in the camera controller box and controls the operation of the camera and axial mount. The PLC requires 24 Volts DC, which power is provided from a converter circuit from the incoming 24 Volts AC to the unit and converts to a DC supply.

As shown by Figures 4 to 8 there is provided a programmable logic controller 71 with 24 Volt Dc supply 72 with 2 kV fast transient, a reversing synchronous geared motor 26 with 24 Volt AC electric motor, custom designed 24 Volt AC to 24 Volt DC transformer and 240 Volt AC to 24 Volt AC adaptor 73.

To program the unit the power is switched ON. The LED lights up indicating the unit is powered. If the unit has an existing program it will automatically reset to the programmed initial predetermined position and the programmed predetermined sequence applies. If there is no existing program the unit is set into program mode by holding down the program button 68 and the motion button 69 for two seconds on the handheld programmer 42 connected by cable to the drive box 41. The LED will start flashing to indicate program mode.

The stepper motor 72 controlling the axial rotation of the axial mount 58 upon which the camera 10 is mounted is geared down by gearbox 26. This slows the rotation of the axial mount to 360 degrees per minute. The gearbox shaft 58 is extended in both directions allowing for the attachment of a location lever arm 81 at one end within the drive box 41 and the extended shaft 58 to the camera 10 protruding from the drive box 41 at the other as shown in Figure 6. The axial mount will stop and return to the initial position when the lever arm strikes a first internal position 1 micro switch 82 and rotates until lever arm 81 strikes a limit end position micro switch 83.

The unit in program mode has the axial mount rotated to initial position when the lever arm 81 strikes the internal position 1 micro switch 82. The operator can loosen the camera housing 10 that is connected to the axial mount 58 and freely rotate it to the desired location. The housing can then be locked into place against the shaft forming the axial mount, which then defines the initial position corresponding with the lever arm striking the internal position 1 micro switch.

To program additional locations the operator simply holds down the motion button 69 which activates the stepper motor 72 to rotationally drive the axial mount 58 until the shaft rotates to the next desired location. On releasing the motion button 69 the stepper motor and axial rotation of the shaft stops.

Holding down the program button 68 for two seconds records this position into a sequence in the PLC controller 71. This process is repeated for additional locations. A total of six can be programmed. When the last location is programmed the unit will automatically return to position 1 and start operating in Run mode. If programming less than the maximum six positions at the last position the program button and motion button are held down together for two seconds to finish the predetermined sequence.

The position 1 micro switch 82 acts as a limit/start locator and resets the program after every cycle to eliminate any cumulative errors. An end limit micro switch 83 acts as a protection device in the unit, preventing the programming or running of the unit outside its operational boundaries. If for any reason the lever arm 81 strikes the end limit micro switch the axial mount of the camera being the shaft will return to initial position 82. If this occurs in Program mode the unit will switch to Run mode. If this occurs in Run mode the unit will continue in Run mode and move to the next programmed position.

The PLC program has an internal memory chip which will not lose the programmed sequence or predetermined directional positions in the event of a power interruption or failure. In the event of power interruption the unit will automatically reset to the initial position 1 and restart operating according to the programmed sequence.

A light chopping strobe 90 provides positional information to the PLC 71 in a count system so that it can control the positions that the electric stepper motor 72 stops the shaft 58 of the axial mount of the camera 10. A four slot circular wheel 92 is attached to the camera shaft 58 within the drive box 41 between a light emitter 91 and a light sensor 93. As the shaft 58 rotates, light passes through the slits in the wheel 92. The sensor 93 sends a signal to the PLC 71, which converts it into a count. Each programmed predetermined directional position therefore is defined by Program position 0 X where position 1 is correlated to be 0 counts and x is the count to the next rotational position and so on till the final position. The number of slots in the counting wheel 92 defines the degree of accuracy and therefore can be adjusted to the required accuracy and the response speed of the PLC 71.

It will be seen that the arrangement of the present invention minimises the technical difficulties in previous systems whilst using what is effectively a simple video camera and further there is no necessity for multiplexing or using a number of different recorders, the whole of the operation can be maintained on a single recorder.

It will be understood that the logic systems used to operate a device such as this can vary widely but provided the system controls the panning, at least, of the camera, then this will lie within the scope of the invention and the panning, the operation of the camera after the table is stopped, and possibly modification in a horizontal plane and adjustment to the zoom of the camera also be within the scope of the invention. The scope of the claims is limited only by the following claims.

Claims (4)

1. A security camera device including: camera means for receiving an image from a directed position; drive means for moving the camera means between a number of predetermined directed positions and stopping the camera means at the predetermined directed positions in a predetermined sequence; recording means whereby whilst the camera means is in each predetermined directed position, it operates to record the image received in its field of view and subsequently the camera is caused to move to a further predetermined directed position.

2. A security camera device according to claim 1 further including an axial mount for the camera means allowing axial rotation, and a logic circuit and the drive means being a stepper or otherwise adjustable motor such that the logic circuit can cause the camera means to pan around through to a predetermined directed position at a certain angle, stop, record for a predetermined time, and then pan around to the next predetermined directed position.

3. A security camera device according to claim 1 or 2 further including a micro-switch at a stop at each end of the movement to reset the arrangement before the camera means moves to the opposite end to restart the predetermined sequence of movement and stopping and filming at the plurality of predetermined directed positions.

4. A security camera system when used for a service station dispensing, petrol, lpg or the like from a plurality of pumps or bowsers including the steps of: a) determining a plurality of positions that are expected to be the location of the front or rear of a vehicle displaying a vehicle alphanumeric registration plate when the vehicle is at one of said plurality of said pumps or bowsers b) mounting a camera means with direct line of sight to each of said determined plurality of positions; c) providing an axial mount for the camera means allowing axial rotation of said camera means; d) providing drive means for moving the camera means on said axial mount; e) determining a number of predetermined directed positions of said camera means corresponding to direct line of sight of said camera means to each of said determined plurality of positions f) providing control means including a stepper or otherwise adjustable motor such that the control means causes the camera means to pan around through to a predetermined directed position at a certain angle, stop and able to capture image for a predetermined time to allow recordal or alphanumeric recognition and recordal; g) controlling said camera means to pan around between a plurality of said predetermined directed positions and stopping the camera means at each of said predetermined directed positions in a predetermined sequence. A security camera system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings. DATED this 22nd day of May, 2002 CON ANDRONICOU By their Patent Attorneys PIPERS