O
`
`UllltGd States Patent [19]
`Paff et al.
`
`4,833,534
`[11] Patent Number:
`[45] Date of Patent: May 23, 1989
`
`[54] SURVEILLANCE ASSEMBLY HAVING
`ENHANCED SHIELDING AND REDUCE
`
`3,916,097 10/1975 Imai ................................... .. 358/108
`4,080,629 3/1978 Hammond .
`.... .. 358/ 108
`
`SIZE
`
`_
`
`4,120,004 10/1978 Coutta . . . . . . . . . . .
`
`. . . . .. 358/108
`
`[75] Inventors: Robert Paff, Boca Raton; Edwin
`Thompson, Loxahatchee, both of Fla.
`.
`_
`_
`.
`[73] Ass1gnee= Sensormatw Elecfromcs Cowman”,
`Deer?eld Beach, Fla-
`
`_
`[21] APPI- NO" 157,803
`
`[22] Filed:
`
`Feb. 19, 1988
`
`[51] Int. C1.4 ............................................. .. H04N 7/18
`
`4,160,999 7/1979 Claggett ............................ .. 358/108
`4,217,606 8/1980 Nordmann .................... .. 358/ 108
`4,225,881 9/1980 ‘Tovi .............................. .. 358/108
`4,320,949 3/1982 Pagano .............................. .. 358/108
`4,594,613 6/1986 Shinbori ................... .. 358/213.11
`4,600,938 7/1986 Sluyter . . . . . .
`. . . . . . . . .. 358/229
`4,672,219 6/1987 lwabuchi
`358/213.11
`4,736,218 5/1988 Kutman ............................. .. 358/108
`
`_
`_
`'
`Primary Exammer-Howard W. Bntton
`Attorney, Agent’ or Firm_Robin’ Blecker & Daley
`
`[52] US. Cl. . . . . .
`
`. . . . . . . .. 358/108; 358/210;
`
`358/213.11; 358/229
`[58] Fleld of Search """"""" " 358/108’ 225’ 229’ 210’
`
`358/213.1l
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`U_S_ PATENT DOCUMENTS
`.
`3,720,147 3/1973 Bemls ................................ .. 358/108
`3,739,703 6/1973 Behles ............................... .. 358/108
`3,819,856 6/1974 Pearl, deceased et al. ....... .. 358/ 108
`
`.
`
`.
`
`.
`
`ABSTRACT
`[57]
`A surveillance assembly wherein the assembly utilizes a
`so11d state Image pickup WhlCh is separately mounted
`from a camera body of a solid state camera and wherein
`a shutter is utilized for shielding the viewing region of
`the assembly.
`
`.
`
`.
`
`33 Claims, 5 Drawing Sheets
`
`VALEO EX. 1018_001
`
`

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`Sheet 1 of5
`Patent May 23,1989
`F/GQ/A
`
`4,833,534
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`VALEO EX. 1018_002
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`

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`US. Patent May 23, 1989
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`Sheet 2 of 5
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`4,833,534
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`VALEO EX. 1018_003
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`

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`US. Patent May 23, 1989
`
`Sheet 3 of 5
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`4,833,534
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`VALEO EX. 1018_004
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`

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`US. Patent May 23, 1989
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`Sheet 4 of 5
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`4,833,534
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`VALEO EX. 1018_005
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`

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`US. Patent May 23, 1989
`
`Sheet 5 of 5
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`4,833,534
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`VALEO EX. 1018_006
`
`

`
`1
`
`4,833,534
`
`SURVEILLANCE ASSEMBLY HAVING
`ENHANCED SHIELDING AND REDUCED SIZE
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`This invention relates to surveillance assemblies, and,
`in particular, to surveillance assemblies utilizing cam
`eras housed within enclosures.
`Surveillance assemblies have now been developed for
`use in retail, industrial and other types of establishments
`wherein the surveillance assemblies employ cameras to
`monitor the area under surveillance. These surveillance
`assemblies also employ enclosures to house and ceiling
`mount their respective cameras. Typical types of enclo
`sures in use today include a top housing, usually in shell
`form, in which the camera components are housed and
`which is supported above the ceiling surface. A bottom
`cover, usually in the form of a dome-like member, ex
`tends below the ceiling surface and is attached to the
`top housing for enclosing the camera components.
`In designing the above surveillance assemblies, de
`signers have been faced with the problem of trying to
`make the assemblies as inconspicuous as possible. Also,
`a further problem has been to arrange the assemblies so
`as to make it difficult to determine the assembly viewing
`direction. The need for an inconspicuous structure
`stems from the demands of purchasers of these assem
`blies who for various reasons, such as, for example,
`aesthetics and customer relations, desire the assemblies
`to be unobtrusive. The need to shield the viewing direc
`tion, in turn, is based on the desire to prevent the avoid
`ance of surveillance merely by keeping out of the view
`ing direction of the assembly.
`In early surveillance assemblies, the dome-like covers
`were necessarily of large diameter and depth, due to the
`size of the cameras and lenses used and due to the need
`to pivot or tilt these components along their longer
`dimensions (i.e., their lengths). Similarily, early at
`tempts in hiding the viewing direction of these assem
`blies centered around tinting the dome-like cover and
`/ or utilizing a viewing slot in an otherwise opaque inner
`dome-like shroud member.
`One assembly developed by the assignee of the pres
`ent application and sold under the trademark “Sensorvi
`sion” provided for use of a mirror to fold or redirect the
`viewing direction of the lens and camera. Thus, by
`placing a mirror at a 45° angle and in line with the
`common viewing direction of the camera and lens, the
`latter components could be pivoted jointly with the lens
`along their shorter or width dimensions to obtain the
`desired scanning of the viewing direction. This allowed
`for a smaller size of the dome-like cover and, as a result,
`a reduced observability of the surveillance assembly.
`Also, shielding of the camera and lens in this design was
`achieved by using an inner shroud with a slot and by
`providing various levels of indentations in the shroud.
`While the “Sensorvision” surveillance assembly has
`proven to be an effective unit, the size of the dome-like
`cover which protrudes below the ceiling is still rela
`tively large, it being 24 inches in diameter and 7 inches
`in depth. Furthermore, the use of a slotted shroud for
`camou?age was found not to provide total shielding,
`particularly when viewing the unit from a direction in
`back of the slot.
`Designers of the assignee of the present application
`have, therefore, continued _to explore possible alterna
`tive surveillance assemblies. One alternative assembly
`looked to replacing the normal tube-type camera in the
`
`15
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`2
`“Sensorvision” assembly with a solid state camera.
`Such cameras are of small overall dimension and, thus,
`offer the possibility of reduced size.
`In order to effect replacement of the normal tube
`type camera by a solid state camera in the “Sensorvi
`sion” assembly, it was found that further processing
`electronics would have to be used. These electronics
`were needed to reorient the image which was inverted
`by use of the mirror. In the normal tube~type camera,
`reorientation of the image could be accomplished sim
`ply by switching two leads in the camera. This ap
`proach was not possible in the smaller solid state cam
`eras owing to the use in these cameras of a solid state
`pickup for receiving the image. Accordingly, the need
`for additional electronic processing and its attendant
`disadvantages of increased size and cost negated to a
`large degree the advantage of reduced size of the solid
`state cameras.
`Another possible alternative assembly looked to
`using the solid state camera without a mirror and ar
`ranged, as in the aforementioned prior art assemblies, to
`be pivoted about its length. This arrangement, however,
`still required dimensions for the dome-like cover which
`were fairly large. Also, when a solid state camera is
`used in this way with a slotted shroud for shielding, the
`slot tends to become more visible, particularly from the
`rear of the slot, making shielding more difficult.
`It is, therefore, a primary object of the present inven
`tion to provide a surveillance assembly of reduced size.
`It is also a primary object of the present invention to
`provide a surveillance assembly with enhanced shield
`ing.
`It is a further object of the present invention to pro~
`vide a surveillance assembly using a solid state camera
`in a way to achieve a dome-like cover of reduced width
`and depth.
`It is yet a further object of the present invention to
`provide a surveillance assembly employing a slotted
`inner shroud and further adapted to reduce the visibility
`of the slot.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`In accordance with the principles of the present in
`vention, the above and other objectives are realized, in
`part, in a surveillance assembly utilizing a solid state
`camera in which the image pickup of the camera is
`separate from the camera body which houses the con
`trols for the pickup and the other camera components.
`In particular, a mounting is provided for the assembly
`which enables the image pickup to be mounted pivot
`ally and in alignment with the viewing lens of the as
`sembly along a viewing direction and which also ena
`bles mounting of the camera body separate from the
`pickup and other than with its longest dimension di
`rected in or along the viewing direction. As a result, the
`surveillance assembly need not accommodate an in-line
`length of lens, image pickup and camera body and piv
`oting of these components along their combined length.
`The dome-like cover of the assembly can, therefore, be
`reduced both in diameter and depth, allowing for an
`overall reduction in the size of the assembly.
`In further accord with the invention, the above and
`other objectives are also realized, in part, in a surveil
`lance assembly wherein a de?ned, light transmissive
`viewing region (such as the aforementioned slot in a
`dome-like shroud) is used, and wherein means is pro
`vided for blocking light transmission through portions
`
`VALEO EX. 1018_007
`
`

`
`4,833,534
`3
`of the viewing region other than the portion presently
`being used for viewing. In this way, light is not trans
`mitted into the assembly through these blocked por
`tions, providing enhanced camouflaging of the assem
`bly. In the embodiment of the invention to be disclosed
`hereinafter, the blocking means is in the form of a shut
`ter which pivots with the viewing lens of the assembly
`to block light transmission through portions of the de
`?ned viewing region below the portion through which
`the lens is viewing.
`
`DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`The above and other features and aspects of the pres
`ent invention will become more apparent upon reading
`the following detailed description in conjunction in the
`accompanying drawings, in which:
`FIGS. 1A and 1B taken together an exploded, picto
`rial view of a surveillance assembly in accordance with
`the principles of the present invention;
`FIG. 2 shows schematically in plan view a portion of 20
`the assembly of FIGS. 1A and 1B;
`FIG. 3 also illustrates pictorially an enlarged side
`view of the assembly of FIGS. 1A and 1B;
`FIG. 4 shows the major components of the image
`pickup element of the solid state camera of the assembly
`of FIGS. 1A and 1B; and
`FIGS. 5-7 show pictorially various positions of the
`lens and shutter as they appear in the viewing slot of the
`assembly of FIGS. 1A and 1B.
`
`25
`
`4
`for real time monitoring of the surveillance area or the
`signal may be recorded for subsequent viewing of the
`area.
`A dome-like cover 15 transmissive to light encloses
`the above-mentioned components of the assembly 1.
`Upstanding plates 7b and 7b’ integral with the plate 7
`receive a ?anged area 150 of the dome at threaded rods
`7c and 7c’ and are secured to the rod via nuts 63. The
`dome is thereby held to the plate 7 and rotates with the
`plate.
`An outer skirt 17 borders the exterior of the dome 15
`and has a central aperture 17a through which the dome
`protrudes. The skirt is held to the housing 2 via projec
`tions 17b which engage holes 2b at the upper edge of the
`housing. A lanyard 18 mounted by mounting 18a holds
`the skirt to the housing when the projections 17b are
`disengaged from the holes 2b.
`Interior of the dome 15 is a further dome-like member
`or shroud 20 which is also secured to and rotates with
`the plate 7 similarly as the cover dome l5. Shroud 20 is
`designed to provide camou?age for the assembly 1. In
`particular, the shroud is totally opaque so as to block
`the passage of light except for a de?ned viewing region
`which is aligned with viewing direction 130 of the as
`sembly. In the present illustrative case, the viewing
`region is in the form of a slot 20a in the shroud which
`runs from the apex 20b of the shroud vertically circum
`ferentially through an angle of approximately 90° and
`horizontally circumferentially through an angle of ap
`proximately 25° (see, FIGS. 5-7). This permits the
`viewing direction 130 to be pivoted or tilted from a
`horizontal position (along the ceiling) to a vertical posi
`tion (directly downward) for each pan position of the
`assembly 1.
`As above-mentioned, in normal ceiling mounting of
`the assembly 1, the support housing 2 would be dis
`posed above the ceiling, while the dome 15 and shroud
`20 would protrude below the ceiling and be observable.
`As a result, as above discussed, to make the assembly 1
`as unobstrusive as possible, it is desirable that the dome
`15 and shroud 20 be made as small as possible. In accor
`dance with the principles of the present invention, a
`signi?cant reduction in size of the dome and shroud as
`compared to prior assemblies is realized in the assembly
`1, by appropriate selection and mounting of the camera
`assembly 14.
`More particularly, in accord with the invention, cam
`era assembly 14 comprises a solid state camera in which
`the solid state image pickup assembly 14a of the camera,
`i.e., the camera portion which receives the optical
`image from the lens 13, is physically separate from the
`main body assembly 14b of the camera, i.e., the portion
`which houses the control electronics for the image
`pickup as well as the video processing, power and other
`electronics of the camera.
`Because the image pickup element of the image
`pickup assembly 14a is an integrated circuit, the assem
`bly 14a is of substantially shorter length than the com
`bined length of assembly 14a and main camera body
`14b. This fact and the fact that the pickup and main
`body can be physically separate allows these compo
`nents to be mounted in such a way as to realize the
`desired pivoting or tilting of the viewing direction 13a
`of the assembly 1 relative to the horizontalor x direc
`tion for each pan position of the assembly, as well as to
`signi?cantly reduce the overall space required for the
`pivoting action. This, in turn, permits the dome 15 and
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrates a surveillance assembly 1
`in accordance with the principles of the present inven
`tion. The assembly 1 comprises a shell-like support
`housing 2 which houses the main components of the
`assembly. The housing 2 can typically be made of a hard
`plastic and is provided with internal ribs 3 to add
`strength to the housing. The housing is also provided
`with flange 4 which is used to support the housing when
`the assembly is in storage and not in use.
`The central area 2a of the housing 2 is strengthened
`by the presence of a metal plate 5 which is bolted to the
`housing via screws 6. A further plate 7 situated below
`the metal plate 5 is rotably mounted to the central area
`2a via a bearing assembly 8. The assembly 8 is bolted to
`the housing via bolts 9 and nuts 90 and at its lower end
`carries a ?xed gear 80.
`Threaded members 11b on the plate 7 and corre
`sponding nuts 11c serve to ?x a drive or pan motor 11
`on the plate 7 so that the drive gear 110 of the motor
`engages the ?xed gear 80. As a result, operation of the
`pan motor 11 causes rotation of the plate 7 which rides
`on bearings located above ?xed gear 8a. Stabilizer bear
`ings 12 mounted to the plate 5 are provided to accomo
`date momentary embalances in the plate 7 during rota
`tion.
`The above rotation of the plate 7 allows the plate to
`be rotated 360° about a vertical or y axis. The viewing
`direction 130 of the assembly 1 can, therefore, be made
`to pan the entire area under surveillance.
`The assembly 1 is further provided with a viewing
`means or lens 13 which de?nes the aforementioned
`viewing direction 130. The lens 13 views the surveil
`lance area along the direction 13a as the assembly 1 pans
`and provides an image of the viewed surveillance area
`to' a camera assembly 14 which converts the image into
`a video signal. This signal may then be transmitted to a
`control station where it is displayed on a TV monitor
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`VALEO EX. 1018_008
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`shroud 20 of the assembly 1 to be of signi?cantly less
`diameter and depth and, thus, of a reduced overall size.
`More particularly, in accord with the invention and
`as shown in FIGS. 1A and IE, only the shorter length
`pickup assembly 140 of the camera 14 is mounted to
`undergo x-direction pivoting, while the longer length
`camera body 141) is not required to pivot. Speci?cally, a
`pivot or tilt bracket 16 pivotally mounted to plate 7
`carries the pickup assembly 140 as well as the lens as
`sembly .13. These assemblies are joined together at a
`mounting part 10 so. as to be in alignment with each
`other and the viewing direction 13a.
`The pivot bracket 16 includes a main plate 160 having
`an aperture 16b through which the pickup assembly 14a
`protrudes. Capture plates 16c and 16d extend upwardly
`from the plate 16a at the lateral ends of aperture 16b and
`receive the protruding sides of the pickup assembly.
`Bolts 16h and 161‘ secure the assembly to the plates.
`A pivot block 16e carried on an arm 16f of the pivot
`bracket 16 pivotally mounts the bracket to a support
`arm 7a of the rotatable plate 7. This allows the lens and
`pickup assemblies 13 and 14a and, thus, the viewing
`direction 13a, to be pivoted in the x-direction relative to
`the plate 7 so that at each pan position of the plate 7, the
`viewing direction 13a can be made to scan the surveil
`lance area. A tilt or pivot motor 19 with a shaft 190 and
`mounting 19b is coupled to a second arm 16g of the
`bracket 16 via a coupling screw 21. The motor 19 is
`mounted via screws 19c to a further arm 22 which is
`bolted to the plate 7 via bolts 23 and imparts rotating
`motion to the bracket 16 causing it to pivot relative to
`the plate 7.
`As above-discussed, the main camera body 14b of the
`camera 14 is separately mounted from the image pickup
`assembly 14a and, as can be seen from FIGS. 1 and 2,
`the camera body is ?xedly mounted to the rotating plate
`7. The exact positioning of the body 14b is selected to
`minimize space requirements and, as shown in FIG. 2,
`the body is horizontally positioned offset from the lens
`and pickup assemblies and with the length of its longest
`dimension not aligned with (i.e., not directed in) the
`viewing direction.
`As can be appreciated, by mounting the camera 14 to
`the assembly 1 as above-described, the tilting or pivot
`ing motion for the viewing direction 13a, need only
`accomodate the combined length of the lens and image
`pickup assemblies 13 and 14a, and not the combined
`length of these assemblies and the camera body 14b. As
`a result, the diameter and the depth dimensions of the
`cover dome 15 and the shroud 20 of the assembly can be
`sharply reduced relative to prior structures. In particu
`lar, an overall depth dimension of 5 inches and a diame
`ter of 12 inches are now realizable.
`The two piece con?guration for the camera assembly
`14 of the assembly 1 can be simply realized from avail
`able prior art solid state cameras merely by removing
`the image pickup and lens mounting elements of a par
`ticular camera from the camera body and placing these
`elements in their own housing. A suitable cable 14c can
`then be used to connect the image pickup 14a to the
`main camera body 14b. Typical cameras which can be
`adapted in this manner are Panasonic models Nos. WV
`CD24 (black and white) and WV-CD134 (color).
`FIG. 4 shows, in exploded view, the elements of the
`former camera used to form the image pickup assembly
`65
`14a. Thus, the pickup includes, the body cap 71, FE
`control ring 72, front escutcheon 73, IR cover ring 75,
`bracket 76, springs 78, optical IR ?lter 79, cushion for
`
`6
`IR 81, LSI B/W CCD assembly 82 and .printed circuit
`board assembly 83 of the WV-CD24 camera. The main
`camera body 14b includes the remaining components of
`the camera.
`As above-indicated, the camera body 14b and pickup
`assembly 140 are connected by the cable 14c which
`plugs into appropriate connectors on both units. The
`output video signal from the camera body 14b, in turn,
`is passed via a connection 24 (see, FIG. 2), cable 25 and
`connector 26 to a slip ring assembly 27. The latter as
`sembly includes a stationary member 27a bolted to the
`bearing assembly 8 via bolts 9 and cooperating nuts 9a
`and a rotating member 27b which is mounted by bolt
`27c and receiving bore 7d to rotate with plate 7.
`The video output from the slip ring member 270 is
`coupled via cable 28 and connectors 29, 31 to CPU plate
`33 which makes the signal available, via output connec
`tor 32, to‘ the control station which is monitoring the
`surveillance information being gathered by the assem
`bly 1. The CPU board 33 also includes further connec
`tors 34, 35 for coupling data between the monitoring
`station and assembly 1 via connectors 36, 37, cable 38,
`slip ring 27' and data connector 39.
`The CPU board 33 is protected by a plate 53 through
`the top of which the connectors 32, 34 and 35 extend.
`Screws 54 received in bores 53a connect the plate 53 to
`the board 33. Plate 53, in turn, is connected to housing
`2 via members 56.
`The data connector 39 is coupled, via a line 41, to a
`data block 390 on a printed circuit control board 42
`supported on the plate 7. The circuit board 42 develops
`the control signals for the lens assembly 13 and the pan
`and tilt motors 11 and 19. It communicates with these
`components via respective connectors 42a, 42b and 42c.
`The board 42 also recieves auxiliary power for the pan
`motor 11 from a power supply 43 via cable 44 and con
`nectors 42d and 43a. Connecting lines 45 and 46 couple
`the respective connectors 42b and 42c to their associ
`ated components. The connector 420, in turn, is coupled
`to the lens assembly 13 via line 47, block 48 on bracket
`7b, cable 49, connector 51 and cable 52.
`The above con?guration thus allows the lens assem
`bly and pan and tilt motors to be controlled so as to
`effect panning and tilting of the ?eld of view 130 of the
`assembly 1 in the desired manner. Also, this control can
`be effected and changed via appropriate signalling from
`the monitoring station receiving the surveillance infor
`mation.
`As discussed above, the assembly 1 is provided with
`a shielding or camouflaging shroud 20 having a slot 20a
`which de?nes a viewing region through which the
`viewing direction 13a of the assembly moves as the lens
`and image pickup assemblies 13, 14a are pivoted. The
`viewing region, i.e., slot 20a, as also above-discussed,
`allows for pivoting between a position where the lens
`and image pickup point the viewing direction 13a verti
`cally downward (this is the case shown in FIGS. 1A
`and 1B) to a position where they point the direction
`horizontally along the ceiling line.
`When pointing in these directions and in the direc~
`tions therebetween, it is important that the viewing
`region not be readily discernible from the surveillance
`area, since knowledge of the position of the viewing
`region provides a direct indication of the position of the
`viewing direction. However, use of slot 20a for the
`viewing region tends to render the viewing region visi
`ble for particular viewing direction positions, particu
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`4,833,534
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`slot portion 20a’ and the lens and pickup block the
`larly when viewing the assembly 1 from rearward of the
`remaining upper slot portion.
`slot.
`Finally, as the lens and pickup are tilted so that the
`More speci?cally, when the lens and pickup assem
`viewing direction is substantially horizontal, the shutter
`blies are positioned to direct the viewing direction di
`62a continues to block the lower slot portion 200’,
`rectly downward, the assemblies themselves block the
`which now covers substantially the entire slot, with lens
`slot 20a so that in this position visibility of the slot is
`and pickup blocking the minimal remaining portion of
`substantially obstructed. However, as the lens and
`the slot. This is shown in FIG. 5. Pivoting of the lens
`pickup are tilted toward the horizontal, i.e., upward, the
`and pickup assemblies in the opposite direction, causes
`portion 20a’ of the slot 200 below the lens and pickup
`opposite movement of the shutter with the shutter al
`are no longer blocked (those above the lens and pickup
`ways blocking the slot portion 20a’ below the lens and
`still remain blocked) and provide a path for light to
`pickup and the lens and pickup blocking the remaining
`pass. As a result, this lower slot portion 20a’ is visible
`portion of the slot.
`and noticeable, particularly, as above-indicated, when
`As can be appreciated, therefore, the shutter assem
`viewing the assembly 1 from rearward of the slot.
`bly 62 thus adds considerably to shielding of the surveil
`In accordance with the principles of a second aspect
`lance assembly 1, by making it more difficult to deter~
`of the present invention, the assembly 1 is further
`mine the viewing direction 13a of the assembly. The use
`adapted to inhibit visibility of the slot 200 for substan
`of the opaque shutter 62a in combination with the
`tially all tilt positions of the lens and pickup and, hence,
`opaque shroud 20 also now permits the cover dome 15
`substantially all positions of the viewing direction 13a.
`to be entirely clear, thus enhancing the viewing ability
`This is realized in the assembly 1 by use of a shutter
`of the lens and pickup and the overall appearance of the
`assembly 62. The latter assembly is mounted to the
`assembly 1.
`assembly 1 in such a way as to closely follow the lens
`In all cases, it is understood that the above-identi?ed‘
`and pickup assemblies 13 and 14a and to be in close
`arrangements are merely illustrative of the many possi
`proximity to the shroud 20 so as to block the slot por
`ble speci?c embodiments which represent applications
`tion 20a’ below the lens and pickup. As can be seen in
`of the present invention. Numerous and varied other
`FIGS. 1 and 3, the shutter assembly 62 comprises a
`arrangements can readily be devised in accordance with
`shutter element 620 which, like the shroud 20 and lens
`the principles of the present invention without depart
`assembly 13, is opaque and which is mounted in align
`ing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
`ment with slot 200 via an arm 62b.
`What is claimed is:
`The arm 62b is pivotally mounted to the arm 7a of the
`1. A surveillance assembly comprising:
`plate 7 at a position A which is vertically and horizon
`a housing:
`tally offset from the pivot position B at which the lens
`means for viewing outward of said housing and pro
`and pickup assemblies 13 and 14a are pivotally
`ducing an image;
`mounted. The offset between the pivot portions A and
`camera means including:
`B is required to insure that the shutter 62a follows in
`solid state pickup means for receiving the image pro
`close proximity to the inner surface of the shroud 20a.
`duced by said viewing means; and camera body
`This would not otherwise occur if the pivot point of the
`means being separate from and responsive to said
`arm 62bwvere set at the position B of the lens and pickup
`pickup means;
`assemblies.
`and mounting means for mounting said viewing
`The arm 62b is further provided at an enlarged part
`means and said pickup means to said housing and
`62b’ with an inclined slot 62c. A drive pin 62d rides in
`for mounting said body means to said housing so
`the slot 620 and is connected to the arm 16f of the pivot
`that said body means is separate from said pickup
`or tilt bracket 16. As a result, as the bracket 16 is piv
`means.
`oted, the drive pin 62d moves along the slot 620 causing
`2. A surveillance assembly in accordance with claim
`a force to be exerted on arm 62b. The arm thus pivots
`1 wherein:
`about point B,‘ causing the shutter 62a to follow the
`said viewing means is a lens means;
`pivoting motion and to block slot portion 20a’ of the
`said lens means and said pickup means are commonly
`slot 20a below the lens and pickup assemblies.
`pivotally mounted by said mounting means and
`This can be seen in FIG. 3 and in FIGS. 5-7 which
`de?ne a viewing direction for said surveillance
`show various positions of the shutter 62a corresponding
`assembly;
`to various pivot or tilt positions of the bracket 16 and
`and said camera body means is mounted by said
`thus the lens and pickup assemblies. Thus, when the lens
`mounting means with the length of its longest di
`and pickup are positioned by the pivot or tilt bracket 16
`mension being other than in said viewing direction.
`so that the viewing direction 13a is vertically down
`3. A surveillance assembly in accordance with claim
`ward, the shutter 62a is tilted so that it covers only a
`2 wherein:
`small lower portion 20a’ of the slot 20a, as shown in
`said lens means and said pickup means are pivotal
`FIG. 7. In this case, the lens and pickup assemblies 13
`relative to a ?rst direction.
`and 14a themselves block the majority of the slot 20a
`4. A surveillance assembly in accordance with claim
`which is above these assemblies, and the shutter 62a is
`3 wherein:
`needed to block only the negligible lower portion 200'. '
`said ?rst direction is the horizontal direction.
`As the lens and pickup are now pivoted, the slot
`5. A surveillance assembly in accordance with claim
`portion 20a’ below the lens and pickup and which is not
`3 wherein:
`blocked by them increases. However, the shutter 62a,
`said mounting means mounts said lens means, said
`through the above-described driving action, pivots with
`pickup means and said camera body means so as to
`the lens and pickup and now covers or blocks the in
`be rotatable about a second direction.
`creased lower slot portion 20a’. This is seen in FIG. 6
`6. A surveillance assembly in accordance with claim
`wherein the shutter 6211 now blocks the increased lower
`5 wherein:
`
`30
`
`55
`
`65
`
`20
`
`40
`
`45
`
`VALEO EX. 1018_0010
`
`

`
`20
`
`25
`
`35
`
`40
`
`said ?rst direction is the horizontal direction and said
`second direction is the vertical direction.
`7. A surveillance assembly in accordance with claim
`5 wherein:
`said mounting means comprises:
`a ?rst plate mounted to said housing so as to be rotat
`able about said second direction; and second plate
`mounted to said ?rst plate so as to be pivotable
`about said ?rst direction;
`said camera body means is mounted to said ?rst plate;
`and said lens means and pickup means are mounted to
`said second plate.
`8. A surveillance assembly in accordance with claim
`7 wherein:
`said second plate has an aperture therethrough;
`and said lens means and pickup means are mounted to
`said second plate so as to extend through said aper
`ture.
`9. A surveillance assembly in accordance with claim
`7 wherein:
`'
`said ?rst plate includes ?rst and second arms extend
`ing in a direction outwardly of said housing;
`and second plate is pivotally supported between said
`arms.
`10. A surveillance assembly in accordance with claim
`9 wherein:
`said camera body means is mounted to said ?rst plate
`in spaced relationship to said arms.
`11. A surveillance assembly in accordance with claim
`10 wherein:
`the longest dimension of said camera body means
`parallels the direction between said arms.
`12. A surveillance assembly in accordance with claim
`1 further comprising:
`cable means for connecting said pickup means to said
`camera body.
`13. A surveillance assembly in accordance with claim
`1 further comprising:
`a means for covering said housing to enclose said
`viewing, camera and mounting means and for al
`lowing said viewing means to view outward of said
`housing.
`14. A surveillance assembly in accordance with claim
`13 wherein:
`said mounting means pivotally mounts said viewing
`means to said housing; and
`said cover means has a region which is at least par
`tially transmissive to light and through portions of
`which said viewing means views as said viewing
`means is positioned by said pivoting.
`15. A surveillance assembly in accordance with claim
`14 further comprising:
`means for blocking the transmission of light through
`portions of said region other than the portion
`through which said viewing means is positioned to
`view.
`'
`16. A surveillance assembly in accordance with claim
`I 15 wherein:
`the portions of said region for which the transmission
`of light is blocked are those below the portion
`through which said viewing means is positioned to
`view.
`17. A surveillance assembly in accordance with claim
`16 wherein:
`the portions of s