Photography – Camera support – Surveillance type
Patent
1998-09-29
1999-11-09
Blankenship, Howard B.
Photography
Camera support
Surveillance type
348154, 340567, G03B 1700, G08B 1500
Patent
active
059801239
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to systems for detecting intruders into a guarded area generally and to such systems which utilize infra red sensors combined with cameras in particular.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Systems for protecting guarded areas and detecting intruders are known in the art. One example of a intruder detection system is an electrical or electronic fence which provides an alarm whenever there is an intrusion, since such a change indicates that the fence has been touched. Such systems only detect intrusion when the intruder enters or is about to cross a boundary or a guarded perimeter.
Various existing security systems are discussed in pages 33-41 of an article entitled "Was kann man erwarten--was ist zu beacten?" by Bernd Bull , published in vol 19, no 4 of the "Protector", September 1991 in Zurich.
Other detection systems use cameras which continually view the secured area. Any change in the view is visible to an operator providing he is continuously watching the screen. Such systems allow the operator to distinguish between the actual view and a pre-recorded view. Furthermore, the cameras need to be switched on all the time and during the hours of darkness require relatively expensive lighting or special night cameras.
Other detection systems actively search for intruders by continually scanning the area to be guarded. One example of a scanning system seeks to detect objects which are not among the known objects of the background or movement at a significant rate. If an intruder has been detected, the scanning systems typically track the location of the intruder.
Japanese Patent No. A 8055286 to Kawamoto Yuichi describes an active infra-red sensor device using a plurality of sensor poles so that the infrared rays emitted by the infrared light source of one sensor pole are detected by the next sensor pole. A disadvantage of active infra-red sensor devices is that they can only detect objects which break the beam emitted by the infrared light source between the transmitting and receiving sensor poles. Thus, to detect objects outside a perimeter boundary, the sensor poles also need to located outside.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved intruder detection system which includes detectors which include passive infrared sensors, a CCD camera and a light projector, which operate within a narrow angle of view.
The infrared sensors initially detect the intruder causing the camera to be switched on. If light conditions are poor, the projected is also switched on and the light beam is projected along the narrow field of view to provide sufficient illumination for the camera so as to clearly view the intruder.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an intruder detection system which also is able to track the intruder.
There is provided, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a system for detecting at least one intruder into an area to be guarded. The system includes a plurality of detection units, each of the plurality of detection units having at least one infra-red sensor and having a first field of view external to and directed generally along the perimeter and located within the area to be guarded. The infra-red sensor may be a passive sensor.
Additionally, there is provided, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a method for detecting at least one intruder proximate to an area to be guarded having a perimeter. The method includes the following steps: a pre-determined distance apart and
Each of the detection units includes at least one infra-red sensor having a first field of view.
Furthermore, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the detection units include a camera for recording intrusion within a second field of view and a controller. The controller includes means, responsive to output of the infra-red sensor, for determining when an intruder has entered the first field of view and ac
REFERENCES:
patent: 5448320 (1995-09-01), Sakai et al.
patent: 5657076 (1997-08-01), Tapp
B.Bull, "Was kann man erwarten--was ist zu beachten?" Protector, vol. 19 No. 4, pp.33-41, Sep. 1991.
Blankenship Howard B.
State of Israel Ministry of Defense Armament Development Authori
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