GB2444951A - Surveillance camera with solar detector - Google Patents

Surveillance camera with solar detector Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2444951A
GB2444951A GB0624990A GB0624990A GB2444951A GB 2444951 A GB2444951 A GB 2444951A GB 0624990 A GB0624990 A GB 0624990A GB 0624990 A GB0624990 A GB 0624990A GB 2444951 A GB2444951 A GB 2444951A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
light
surveillance camera
level
led
solar
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB0624990A
Other versions
GB0624990D0 (en
Inventor
Sung-Ken Lin
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Camdeor Tech Co Ltd
Original Assignee
Camdeor Tech Co Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Camdeor Tech Co Ltd filed Critical Camdeor Tech Co Ltd
Priority to GB0624990A priority Critical patent/GB2444951A/en
Publication of GB0624990D0 publication Critical patent/GB0624990D0/en
Publication of GB2444951A publication Critical patent/GB2444951A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
    • H05B45/00—Circuit arrangements for operating light-emitting diodes [LED]
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01J—MEASUREMENT OF INTENSITY, VELOCITY, SPECTRAL CONTENT, POLARISATION, PHASE OR PULSE CHARACTERISTICS OF INFRARED, VISIBLE OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT; COLORIMETRY; RADIATION PYROMETRY
    • G01J1/00—Photometry, e.g. photographic exposure meter
    • G01J1/42—Photometry, e.g. photographic exposure meter using electric radiation detectors
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G08—SIGNALLING
    • G08B—SIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
    • G08B13/00—Burglar, theft or intruder alarms
    • G08B13/18—Actuation by interference with heat, light, or radiation of shorter wavelength; Actuation by intruding sources of heat, light, or radiation of shorter wavelength
    • G08B13/189—Actuation by interference with heat, light, or radiation of shorter wavelength; Actuation by intruding sources of heat, light, or radiation of shorter wavelength using passive radiation detection systems
    • G08B13/194—Actuation by interference with heat, light, or radiation of shorter wavelength; Actuation by intruding sources of heat, light, or radiation of shorter wavelength using passive radiation detection systems using image scanning and comparing systems
    • G08B13/196—Actuation by interference with heat, light, or radiation of shorter wavelength; Actuation by intruding sources of heat, light, or radiation of shorter wavelength using passive radiation detection systems using image scanning and comparing systems using television cameras
    • G08B13/19617—Surveillance camera constructional details
    • G08B13/19626—Surveillance camera constructional details optical details, e.g. lenses, mirrors or multiple lenses
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G08—SIGNALLING
    • G08B—SIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
    • G08B15/00—Identifying, scaring or incapacitating burglars, thieves or intruders, e.g. by explosives
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N23/00—Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof
    • H04N23/56—Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof provided with illuminating means
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N23/00—Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof
    • H04N23/70—Circuitry for compensating brightness variation in the scene
    • H04N23/74—Circuitry for compensating brightness variation in the scene by influencing the scene brightness using illuminating means
    • H04N5/2256—
    • H05B33/0833—
    • H05B37/0218—
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
    • H05B47/00—Circuit arrangements for operating light sources in general, i.e. where the type of light source is not relevant
    • H05B47/10—Controlling the light source
    • H05B47/105—Controlling the light source in response to determined parameters
    • H05B47/11—Controlling the light source in response to determined parameters by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01J—MEASUREMENT OF INTENSITY, VELOCITY, SPECTRAL CONTENT, POLARISATION, PHASE OR PULSE CHARACTERISTICS OF INFRARED, VISIBLE OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT; COLORIMETRY; RADIATION PYROMETRY
    • G01J1/00—Photometry, e.g. photographic exposure meter
    • G01J1/42—Photometry, e.g. photographic exposure meter using electric radiation detectors
    • G01J2001/4266—Photometry, e.g. photographic exposure meter using electric radiation detectors for measuring solar light
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02B—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS
    • Y02B20/00—Energy efficient lighting technologies, e.g. halogen lamps or gas discharge lamps
    • Y02B20/40—Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Spectroscopy & Molecular Physics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Multimedia (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Closed-Circuit Television Systems (AREA)
  • Transforming Light Signals Into Electric Signals (AREA)
  • Studio Devices (AREA)

Abstract

A video surveillance camera (200) has an infrared (IR) light emitting diode (LED) or an array of such LEDs (212) for emitting IR light, and a solar detector (214) for detecting visible light but not infra-red light. The surveillance camera includes means to control the LED source to emit the IR light according to a level of visible light detected by the solar detector. Therefore the camera can fully turn the IR LED on or off when the level of visible light changes, even in the presence of invisible light which may be emitted or reflected from the LED source itself.

Description

VIDEO SURVEILLANCE CAMERA WITH SOLAR DETECTOR
Background of the Invention
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a video surveillance camera, and more particularly, to a video surveillance camera with a solar detector for enabling an Infrared light emitting diode of the video surveillance camera.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Typical video surveillance cameras use infrared (lR) light emitting diodes (LED) as a light source when visible light Is InsuffIcient to obtain a discernable picture. To enable the infrared LEDs, the video surveillance camera typically includes a photoresistor, a photodlode, or a phototransistor, which generates a signal based on a level of visible and Invisible light detected. More recently, to comply with the Restrictions on Hazardous Substances (RoHS), the photoresistor, which typically contains lead (Pb), is generally being replaced by the a photodiode or the phototransistor.
Please refer to Fig. 1, which is a diagram of a video surveillance camera according to the prior art. The video surveillance camera 100 comprises a panel 110, an array of IR LEDs 112 attached to the panel 110, a screen 120 for shielding a camera tens, and a 114 for detecting light. When the photodiode/phototransistor 114 detects the light, the photodiode/phototransistor 114 generates an electrical signal, which is used to turn off the IR LEDs 112. When the light detected by the photodiocfe/phototransistor 114 is at a sufficiently low level, the photodiode/phototransistor 114 generates a signal used to turn on the IRLEDs 112.
While the photodiode and the phototransistor are both capable of detecting the level of ambient visible light, and generating the signals based on a result of the detection, IR light emitted by the infrared LEDs that reflects off of the screen 120 that covers the photodiode/phototransistor 114 and the infrared LEDs can also be
S
detected by the photodiode/phototrans,stor 114. Thus, even though the level of the visible light is relatively low, the infrared light will still produce a signal in the photodiocje/phototransisto,. 114 due to detected invisible light and the infrared LEDs may not be turned fully on.
To overcome this problem, the prior art typically adds a gasket 116 to the photodiode/phototransjstor 114, and presses the photodiode/phototransistor 114 against the screen 120, so as to shield the phototransistor/photodjode 114 from the IR light reflected off of the screen 120, thereby reducing the amount of infrared fight detected by the phototransistor/photodjode 114. However, this measure is not completely effective, and infrared light is still able to reach the photodiode/phototransisto,. 114, not to mention that installation of the gasket 116 requires great care to ensure proper shielding, which complicates assembly of the video surveillance camera.
Summary of the Invention
According to the present invention, a video surveillance camera comprises an IR LED for emitting IR light, a solar detector for detecting light, and means for controlling the JR LED to emit the lR light according to a level of light detected by the solar detector.
According to the present invention, a video surveillance camera comprises an IR LED array for emitting JR light, a solar detector for detecting light, and means for controlling the JR LED array to emit the IR light according to a level of light detected by the solar detector.
These and other objectives of the present invention will no doubt become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment that is illustrated in the various figures and drawings.
Brief Description of the Drawings
Fig. 1 is a diagram of a video surveillance camera according to the prior art.
Fig. 2 is a diagram of an JR LED panel according to the present invention.
Fig. 3 is a diagram of a video surveillance camera according to the present invention. a
Detailed Description
Please refer to Fig. 2, which is a diagram of an lR LED panel 200 according to the present invention. The IR LED panel 200 comprises a panel 210, an array of JR LEDs 212, and a solar panel 214. The IR LEDs 212 are attached to the panel, and generate JR light picked up by a lens of a video camera. The solar panel 214, a specific type of solar detector, detects visible light from the Sun, and generates an electrical signal based on a level of light detected. The tR LED panel 200 further comprises means for controlling the JR LEDs 212 to emit the JR light according to the level of light detected by the solar panel 214. The means for controlling the IR LEDs 212 can be hardware means, e.g. a comparator, a switch, or a microcontroller, software means, or firmware means.
When the level of light detected by the solar panel 214 is higher than an upper threshold, the means for controlling the JR LEDs 212 to emit the JR light turns off the JR LEDs 212. As the level of light detected by the solar panel 214 drops below the upper threshold, the means for
S
controlling the JR LEDs 212 to emit the IR light will begin to turn on the JR LEDs 21 2 and control the JR LEDs 212 to emit an intensity of the IR light corresponding to the level of light detected by the solar panel 214.
When the level of light detected by the solar panel 214 is lower than a lower threshold, the means for controiJing the JR LEDs 212 to emit the IR light will turn the JR LEDs 212 fully on, i.e. the intensity of theIR light emitted by the JR LEDs 212 will no longer increase beyond a maximum intensity.
Although the array of lR LEDs 212 is used in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, only one JR LED 212 is required to enable the present invention JR LED panel 200. As shown in Fig. 3, the JR LED panel 200 is used in a video surveillance camera 300 comprising the JR LED panel 200. Also, though the solar panel 214 is used to detect the visible light from the Sun, the solar panel 214 is not a limitation of the present invention. Any light detecting element that only generates a signal based on the level of light within the visible range could be used in the present invention. Finally, the solar panel 214 shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 Is shown with a plurality of cells, however this is not a $ limitation on the present invention, as a solar panel with only one cell is also effective to achieve the goal of the present invention. The shape of the solar panel 214 is also not limiting on the present invention. The goal of the present invention could also be achieved with solar panels of other shapes, e.g. circular, elliptical, triangular, or pentagonal solar panels, etc. Any light detecting element that produces an electrical response corresponding to incident visible light is sufficient to achieve the goal of the present invention.
Compared to the prior art, the solar panel 214 does not produce the electrical signal according to the lR light incident on the solar panel.
Thus, the present invention video surveillance camera can turn the IR LEDs fully on when the visible light detected by the solar panel 214 is at a sufficiently low level. Installation of the solar panel 2)4 eliminates the need for the gasket of the prior art, and provides a more appropriate means for detecting visible light than the photodiode/phototransistor
of the prior art.
Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous modifications
V
S
and alterations of the device and method may be made while retaining the teachings oldie Invention. AccordIngly the above disclosure should be construed as limited only by the metes and bounds of the appended claims.

Claims (8)

  1. Claims What is claimed is: 1. A video surveillance camera comprising:
    an IR LED for emitting IR light; a solar detector for detecting light; and means for controlling the lR LED to emit the IR light according to a level of light detected by the solar detector.
  2. 2. The video surveillance camera of claim 1, wherein the solar detector is a solar panel.
  3. 3. The video surveillance camera of claim 1, wherein the means for controlling the IR LED to emit the IR light according to the level of light detected by the solar detector comprises means for enabling or disabling the lR LED according to the level of light detected by the solar detector.
  4. 4. The video surveillance camera of claim 1, wherein the means for controlling the JR LED to emit the JR light according to the level of light 9/, detected by the solar detector comprises means for controlling the IR LED to emit IR light at an intensity corresponding to the level of light detected by the solar detector.
  5. 5. A video surveillance camera comprising: an IR LED array for emitting lR light; a solar detector for detecting light; and means for controlling the IR LED array to emit the lR light according to a level of light detected by the solar detector.
  6. 6. The video surveillance camera of claim 5, wherein the solar detector is a solar panel.
  7. 7. The video surveillance camera of claim 5, wherein the means for controlling the IR LED array to emit the JR light according to the level of light detected by the solar detector comprises means for enabling or disabling the IR LED array according to the level of light detected by the solar detector.
  8. 8. The video surveillance camera of claim 5, wherein the means for controlling the JR LED array to emit the PR light according to the level of light detected by the solar detector comprises means for controlling the JR LED array to emit the PR light at an intensity corresponding to the level of light detected by the solar detector.
GB0624990A 2006-12-14 2006-12-14 Surveillance camera with solar detector Withdrawn GB2444951A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0624990A GB2444951A (en) 2006-12-14 2006-12-14 Surveillance camera with solar detector

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0624990A GB2444951A (en) 2006-12-14 2006-12-14 Surveillance camera with solar detector

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB0624990D0 GB0624990D0 (en) 2007-01-24
GB2444951A true GB2444951A (en) 2008-06-25

Family

ID=37712157

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB0624990A Withdrawn GB2444951A (en) 2006-12-14 2006-12-14 Surveillance camera with solar detector

Country Status (1)

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GB (1) GB2444951A (en)

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1996029827A1 (en) * 1995-03-20 1996-09-26 Northrop Grumman Corporation Varied intensity and/or infrared auxiliary illumination of surveillance area
WO2001010129A1 (en) * 1999-07-29 2001-02-08 Insight Technologies, Inc. Dba Scopus Optoelectronic Systems A multi-purpose and compact camera system including infrared emitters and cameras
WO2003043316A1 (en) * 2001-11-15 2003-05-22 Gin J M Jack Dual camera surveillance and control system
EP1452014A2 (en) * 2001-11-26 2004-09-01 Thales Avionics, Inc. Universal security camera
WO2005043890A1 (en) * 2003-10-09 2005-05-12 Stereonics Limited Imaging device

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1996029827A1 (en) * 1995-03-20 1996-09-26 Northrop Grumman Corporation Varied intensity and/or infrared auxiliary illumination of surveillance area
WO2001010129A1 (en) * 1999-07-29 2001-02-08 Insight Technologies, Inc. Dba Scopus Optoelectronic Systems A multi-purpose and compact camera system including infrared emitters and cameras
WO2003043316A1 (en) * 2001-11-15 2003-05-22 Gin J M Jack Dual camera surveillance and control system
EP1452014A2 (en) * 2001-11-26 2004-09-01 Thales Avionics, Inc. Universal security camera
WO2005043890A1 (en) * 2003-10-09 2005-05-12 Stereonics Limited Imaging device

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB0624990D0 (en) 2007-01-24

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WAP Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1)