WO2004095386A1

WO2004095386A1 - Surveillance apparatus, system and method

Info

Publication number: WO2004095386A1
Application number: PCT/GB2004/001655
Authority: WO
Inventors: David Barry Murphy
Original assignee: David Barry Murphy
Priority date: 2003-04-16
Filing date: 2004-04-15
Publication date: 2004-11-04
Also published as: GB0308757D0

Abstract

The invention relates to surveillance apparatus for use in a closed circuit television (CCTV) security system, comprising a self-contained surveillance unit (2) which is provided with means, such as a mounting tube (10), for fitting the unit (2) to the top of a conventional lamp post (1) or the like in place of the normal lamp unit. The surveillance unit incorporates a plurality of CCTV cameras (13) individually adjusted and fixed to survey the required areas of a site. Each camera (13) is associated with a radio transmitter for transmitting video data to a remote central point or control station. The surveillance unit (2) also incorporates its own power supply comprising batteries and a solar panel (5). The combined lamp post-mounted surveillance unit is therefore self-contained and free-standing.

Description

SURVEILLANCE APPARATUS, SYSTEM AND METHOD

The present invention relates to surveillance apparatus, systems and methods, and more particularly to closed circuit television (CCTV) security systems and apparatus which utilise cameras mounted on masts.

With conventional methods of CCTV installation, for example when installing CCTV cameras mounted on masts in car parks or other open outdoor sites, there is a requirement to dig up tracts of land to facilitate the laying of electrical power cables, and CCTV cables required to transmit the video data to a remote control centre, and to transmit control signals from the control centre to enable an operator to adjust the aim and the lens system of the individual cameras. This installation process is extremely disruptive to the public, time consuming and expensive. It is also a major obstacle to the expansion of CCTV security systems in the prevention of crime. In addition, each camera is usually mounted in an exposed position at the top of a specially designed mast, so that its presence is obvious to the public.

It is an object of the present invention to alleviate or effectively overcome one or more of these disadvantages, and to enable installation and use to be simplified and to be more cost effective.

The apparatus embodying the invention basically comprises a self- contained surveillance unit or module incorporating a plurality of CCTV cameras mounted in a housing adapted to be attached to the top of a conventional or commercially available post or pole of a lamp post or other piece of street furniture or the like. The cameras are adapted to be initially adjusted and set, for example manually by an installation engineer, so that each camera will be aimed at a particular predetermined target zone or area and will have a particular predetermined field of view. The unit is preferably designed to resemble a lamp unit which would normally be installed on a lamp post or the like.

Systems embodying the invention, and the apparatus or pole-mounted surveillance units which comprise components of the system, may be arranged and adapted to operate in at least six different configurations. The following provides an overview of some of the configuration options available.

The system may be designed to allow for either local or central storage of video surveillance data.

The system may also be designed to allow for the use of wireless transmission in the case of a centralised storage system, and the use of solar power supply or back-up modules where the provision of a mains power supply is impracticable.

"Lamp Post CCTV" Unit Mark I (Local Storage) Stand Alone The Mark I configuration consists of a stand alone lamp post CCTV system comprising a surveillance unit including a housing or head in the form of a pod or dome, attached to the top of the tubular post or pole of a conventional commercially available lamp post in place of the usual lamp unit. The housing or head contains up to eight CCTV cameras, for example four angularly displaced cameras, arranged in what is referred to for convenience as a "north, south, east, west" array. The data output from the cameras is recorded locally by a digital video recorder or archive (DVA) . The DVA is mounted within the lamp post, or within the housing or head of the unit. Access to the DVA is performed by an operator connecting an operator view module, a standard PC, or similar device, to output terminals provided at the base of the lamp post. The Mark I unit has power supplied from an external source (e.g. a mains power supply or a battery pack located in the base of the lamp post). "Lamp Post CCTV" Unit Mark II (Local Storage) Stand Alone The Mark II configuration differs from the Mark I configuration in that the unit requires no external power supply. The unit is powered by a solar power system consisting of a solar panel (fitted to the domed housing or head of the unit) and a series of deep cycle batteries, which are recharged by, or supplement the solar power system, installed within the base of the lamp post, or in the housing or head.

"Lamp Post CCTV" Unit Mark III (Central Storage) Stand Alone The Mark III configuration differs from the Mark I and II configurations in that the unit does not incorporate its own DVA. Instead, the video outputs from the cameras are physically connected to a central point (control room) by electrical or optical cables, where the signals are recorded by a centralised DVA. "Lamp Post CCTV" Unit Mark IV (Central Storage) Stand Alone

The Mark IV configuration differs from the Mark III configuration in that, like the Mark II unit, it incorporates its own internal power supply. "Lamp Post CCTV" Unit Mark V (Central Storage) Stand Alone

The Mark V configuration differs from the Mark I configuration in that the video output from the cameras is transmitted to a central point (control room) by a wireless transmission system operating, for example, within the 2.3-2.4 or 2.4 to 2.5Ghz frequency range. This video transmission system consists of a wireless video transmission interface and a yagi directional transmission antenna within the local unit, and a wireless video receiver interface and a yagi directional receive antenna at the central point. The video output from the cameras may be multiplexed at the lamp post and de- multiplexed at the central recording point where the signals are recorded by a centralised DVA.

"Lamp Post CCTV" Unit Mark VI (Central Storage) Stand Alone The Mark VI configuration differs from the Mark V configuration in that, like the Mark II unit, it incorporates its own internal power supply. Overview of significant features

The lamp post-or pole-mounted local surveillance unit embodying the invention may provide up to eight, for example four, covert surveillance cameras installed in the housing or head mounted on top of the lamp post in place of the usual lamp unit. Video signals from these cameras are recorded by a digital video recorder or archive that is also contained within the lamp post, or housing or head.

At the same time that the video signals output from the cameras are recorded by the internal or local digital video recorder, or instead of using or fitting an internal or local recorder, up to eight video signals can be transmitted (in the 2.4-2.5 or 2.3 to 2.4Ghz range) for (optional) recording by a remote digital video recorder or archive at a central point (control room), or in another lamp post. The transmission unit for each surveillance camera consists of a video transmission module (with up to eight channel settings) and a unidirectional antenna.

The pole-mounted unit is powered by a bespoke solar power system.

This system consists of a solar panel or array that is fitted to the exterior of the unit's cover, for example domed cover, a solar charge voltage regulator and one or more batteries such as batteries of the type known as dry fit deep cycle batteries.

The solar voltage regulator and deep cycle battery are contained within the housing or head of the unit, or within the base of the lamp post, and provide, in one specific example, a 1 2VDC power supply to the cameras, digital video recorder and wireless video transmitters contained within the housing or head

Condensation build-up within the housing is minimised or effectively prevented by the inclusion of one or more, for example four, silica gel modules or troughs that remove moisture from the atmosphere within the housing.

Video data from the digital video recorder can be downloaded from the unit by the connection of an operator view module. This module provides a 10 Base T connection to the base of the lamp post for the downloading and subsequent replay of historical video information. Other significant Features

1 .0 Surveillance Cameras Overview

The surveillance cameras of each pole-mounted unit provide live video output data to the rest of the system for recording or live viewing by system operators. The cameras used by the units may utilize CCD (charge couple device) technology. Two types of camera may be incorporated in units supported by the system. Colour cameras are incorporated for use during daytime or in illuminated areas, and a black and white "night vision" cameras are incorporated for areas that have no lighting during night time. Both camera types support PAL or NTSC standards. The "night vision" camera, to be effective, requires that the target area is lit by infrared light. An individual unit will usually incorporate only one type of camera depending upon its intended location and purpose, but both types, for example two sets, could be incorporated in a single unit if appropriate to the circumstances.

1 .1 Camera Lens Three distinct zones may be implemented using cameras with different lens sizes or characteristics. These zones are termed Detection, Recognition and Identification zones.

D Detection cameras will provide a wide view of the area thus allowing the general detection of personnel and events. □ Recognition cameras will provide a greater depth of view for the viewing of a protected area.

D Identification cameras will be placed or directed at entry points, exit points, panic zones and other areas of importance to allow for the capture of close-up images to facilitate the clear imaging of identifying features.

2.0 Wireless Video Signal Transmission

In this embodiment, the lamp post unit provides a local wireless link between the surveillance cameras and an optional remote or central digital video recorder. The wireless link consists of a transmitter module that is preferably integrated into each surveillance camera, and a central receiver unit that collects the signal and provides it as an analogue output to the remote digital video recorder. 3.0 Digital Video Recorder

The digital video recorder or archive unit takes the video output from the surveillance cameras (by direct connection within the lamp post, and/or via the wireless connection) and records these images or image data on to digital media (e.g. hard disk drives). The digital video recorder provides unattended recording, remote administration and remote viewing of live or historical video data (via the operator view module).

Each digital video recorder captures video signals from up to eight surveillance cameras. The video signals are recorded at a resolution of up to 800 by 600 pixels.

The amount of disc space per unit is configurable up to 5 terra byte.

Each frame of data received by the digital video recorder is digitally watermarked with the date, time and camera location.

4.0 Operator View Module The operator view module allows system operators to playback the system's video recordings, or view live video. The module is connected using a connection provide at the base of the lamp post, or directly in the case of a remote digital video recorder.

5.0 Solar Power Module The solar power module provides the power requirements for all the components contained within the lamp post unit. The module consists of three parts:

D Deep cycle battery D Solar charge regulator D Solar cell panel or array

5.1 Deep cycle battery The battery used is a deep cycle rechargeable unit, for example known as a dryfit battery, especially designed for solar power applications. The battery will allow the continued operation of the surveillance camera, digital video recorder and wireless video transmission system during night time and periods of low light.

5.2 Solar Charge Regulator

Due to the nature of solar power, voltage output can vary quite significantly due to fluctuations in weather conditions. In the event that the panel is producing a voltage in excess of a predetermined value, 1 3.8 VDC in a specific example, for a prolonged period of time, this would result in damage to the batter cells, causing failure or reducing the battery lifetime. The solar charge regulator, for example of the type known as a solar guard, is especially designed to ensure that the output from the solar panel does not exceed 1 3.8 VDC while charging the batteries, thus prolonging the life of the system and effectively preventing battery and equipment damage due to over-voltages.

5.3 Solar Cell Panel or Array

The solar panels to be supplied are preferably of the polycrystalline silicon type, which are suitable for medium to high power applications. The purpose of the solar panel is to provide a sufficient charge to the batteries in order to keep the system operating on a 24 hour basis.

The preferred embodiments of the invention provide a free-standing modified lamp post (without the lamp unit/lighting apparatus) which is a complete CCTV security management system. The product can be erected anywhere, on footpaths, in town centres, within car parks, schools, hospitals, shopping centres on railways, in sea/air ports, and in or around commercial or industrial installations or sites. It is a completely self- contained security system. CCTV systems currently suffer from the disadvantage that, when a system is to be installed, there are always ground civil engineering works and external and internal building attachment works to be carried out, involving laying the electrical power cables and camera video and control cables to the various points.

The preferred embodiments of the invention enable the laying of the cables, etc. to be dispensed with, thereby creating a much more flexible recording and transmission system that, if required, can also interact with existing CCTV technology. Accordingly, these embodiments provide a dome/pod surveillance unit at the top of a modified lamp post, which is a complete self-contained, solar powered, digital video recording management security system.

By way of one specific example, a particular application of a system embodying the invention is a hospital car park that requires 24 hour CCTV security monitoring. Hospitals inevitably have several car parks i.e., patients, out patients, visitors and staff.

The various car parks within the hospital grounds would need to be surveyed. Position points for each lamp post would be established and mapped and each prospective lens size selected that would be suitable for each view from each camera (taking into account the depth and angle of field of view) to achieve detection, recognition and identification. Each camera would be connected to an antenna that would be tuned to transmit camera image data to a receiving antenna associated, for example, with a de-multiplexing console at a central recording point within a building, whilst at the same time recording the data in the digital video recorder within the lamp post (or the lamp post-mounted unit), to cover for monitoring staff when not available at the central recording point. A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a modified lamp post on top of which is attached a CCTV surveillance unit or head embodying the invention in place of a conventional lighting unit;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation, partly sectioned along the vertical axis of the lamp post, of the surveillance unit or head shown in Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section through the lower or camera chamber of the unit on the line 3-3 in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a plan view of the unit shown in Fig. 2, with the cover or dome of the upper or recorder chamber removed;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the cover or dome of the upper or recorder chamber;

Fig. 6 is an underneath plan view of the platform support plate shown in Fig. 4;

Figs. 7 and 8 are, respectively, side and plan views, on an enlarged scale, of the camera support ring shown in Figs 2 and 3;

Figs. 9 and 10 are, respectively, exploded side and plan views of the hinged camera mounting arrangement shown in Figs. 2 and 3; Figs. 1 1 and 1 2 are, respectively, a vertical section and plan view of the transparent cover of the lower or camera chamber shown in Fig. 2; and

Fig. 1 3 is a side elevation of the main support or stub tube of the unit shown in Fig. 2 which fits into the modified lamp post.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the modified lamp post comprises a vertical hollow post or pole 1 of conventional design having at its upper end a CCTV surveillance unit or head 2 which is circular in plan. The unit 2 includes a housing formed between a lower, circular, inverted dome shaped transparent plastic (for example one piece clear polycarbonate) cover 3 defining the bottom of a lower chamber 3a comprising a camera chamber, and an upper domed cover or cap 4 that defines the top of an upper chamber 4a and supports a solar cell panel or array 5 (Fig. 5). A stop ring 6 is attached to the pole 1 to prevent the lower transparent cover 3 falling passed this point when detached during servicing. The bottom section 1 a of the pole 1 is increased in width to increase stability and has a door 1 b to allow access to a cavity containing various electrical and/or optical connections and/or components depending on the particular configuration or "Mark" of the unit. For example, the cavity may contain a panel with power supply and/or video recorder download points and LED indicator(s), and/or may contain the solar charge regulator and/or the solar support deep cycle battery or batteries.

The unit 2 includes a circular plate or platform 7 (Figs. 2 and 4) which divides the unit housing into the upper chamber 4a and lower chamber 3a. The platform 7 is carried by and bolted to a rectangular electrical component plate 9 (Figs. 6 and 13) welded to the upper end of a mounting tube or stub tube 10 which is dimensioned to slidably fit into the top of the pole 1 . Welded to the stub tube 10 are an intermediate flange 10a which rests on the top of the pole 1 , and a lower spacer ring 10b which slidably fits inside the pole. The stub tube is provided with holes 10c, and a bolt or the like (not shown) passes through these holes and corresponding holes in the pole 1 , to securely releasably anchor the unit to the pole.

As shown in Fig. 3, the lower or camera chamber 3a is partitioned into four preferably equal sectors by radial divider fins 1 1 located around the stub tube 10 where it extends through the chamber. The fins prevent light spillage between the chamber segments. Mounted from the underside of the platform 7 by brackets 1 2a is a camera support ring 1 2 (see also Figs. 2, 7 and 8). A CCTV camera 1 3 is located in each chamber sector, mounted from the camera support ring 1 2 by a hinged bracket arrangement 1 4 (see also Figs. 9 and 10). The cameras are manually adjustable in azimuth by sliding the bracket arrangements 14 around the ring 1 2 and clamping them in the required positions, for example 90° apart as shown in Fig. 3. The cameras are adjusted in elevation by means of the hinges, and are tightened and locked at the required inclinations by locking nuts or the like, for example as shown in Fig. 2. These adjustments are carried out after installation of the pole 1 and associated surveillance unit 2.

As will be apparent from Fig. 2, the transparent plastic camera chamber cover 3 is curved and dimensioned so that, irrespective of the vertical or horizontally adjustment of the optical axis or field of view of each camera, the front face or lens of the camera will be close to and effectively perpendicular to the surface of the cover. This possesses the advantage that spurious reflections, etc. are reduced or effectively eliminated.

The lower and upper covers 3 and 4 are provided with peripheral rims which are bolted to the platform 7 with the interposition of resilient sealing rings. The lower cover 3 also has a lower axial opening through which the stub tube 10 passes, and around the opening, the lower cover 3 is bolted upwardly to the underside of the intermediate flange 10a which the interposition of a resilient sealing ring. The upper and lower chambers are therefore hermetically sealed against ingress of rain, etc. To minimise or effectively eliminate internal condensation, the camera chamber incorporates a trough 3c (Fig. 2) for a dessicant such as silica gel. Additionally or alternatively, one or other chamber may contain one or more electric cooling fans, controlled by a temperature gauge or sensor, for circulating air around the two chambers, via ventilation openings in the platform 7, and, if necessary in the dividing partitions or fins in one or both chambers.

With reference to Figs. 2 and 4, the upper chamber 4a is provided with internal walls mounted on the upper surface of the platform 7. The walls 4b define radial fins or partitions which divide the upper chamber into sectors corresponding to those of the lower chamber. The walls 4c define a central rectangular area which, in some embodiments, accommodate a digital video (DVD) recorder 8. The upper chamber also contains, mounted on the platform 7, multi- or unidirectional antennae 15 connected one to each transmitter incorporated in each camera, and an array of deep cycle batteries 16. Preferably, there are two batteries for powering each camera, electrically interconnected via appropriate circuitry so that if the output of the battery powering a particular camera falls below an acceptable level, the associated second or stand-by battery will take over or act as a back-up. When sufficient light is available, for example during daylight, the power supplied by the batteries may be replaced or augmented by power supplied by the solar cell panel or array 5 mounted on top of the upper domed cover 4 (see Fig. 5). The solar panel is connected to the batteries and/or cameras via appropriate circuitry including protective and/or voltage control circuitry or modules 18, for example known as solar guards, one for each camera, mounted on the underside of the plate 9 as shown in Fig. 6. These modules prevent the batteries and/or cameras from being subjected to excessively high voltages from the solar panel, for example when the panel is subjected to intense sunlight. It will be appreciated that basic CCTV surveillance unit 2 of the type described and illustrated may be readily adapted and utilised in any of the configurations or "Marks" described earlier. The CCTV surveillance units and systems or networks embodying them possess numerous advantages.

The units are self-contained and may be simply assembled to, example fitted into, the top of conventional commercially available lamp posts or posts or poles of other commercially available street furniture with the minimum of modification. This allows the installer to use readily available poles of conventional design to suit the particular application with the minimum of modification, obtained for example from a local supplier instead of from the supplier of the surveillance units. The surveillance units have the capability of being totally self- contained, i.e. may incorporate their own source of power (batteries and/or solar panels) and associated control circuitry, one or more radio transmitters and associated aerials for transmitting the video data from the individual cameras, and/or from a local internal video recorder, to a remote receiver at a central point. Therefore, the disruptive time consuming and expensive ground civil engineering work required to install a conventional CCTV security system is effectively eliminated or substantially alleviated.

Since the cameras are adjusted and fixed in set positions to provide the required surveillance coverage, in combination with the adjusted and fixed cameras of other similar surveillance units at a particular site (e.g. car park, etc), the additional expense and complication of providing remotely controlled cameras and associated cabling, and providing staff at the central point or control station for remotely manipulating the cameras, is eliminated.

The lamp post-mounted surveillance units are particularly suitable for covert surveillance since, to casual or uninformed observers or passers by, they resemble the lamp units of conventional lamp posts.

It will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention .

For example video recorders, cameras, solar cells and/or batteries of various types and configurations other than those specifically described and illustrated herein may be employed, and the components may be disposed at other locations in and/or on the surveillance unit or pole. For example, if the video recorder is not located in the associated component in the upper chamber, the batteries may be relocated there instead.

The central control point or station, instead of being located in a building, may comprise one or more of the posts-mounted surveillance units as described and/or illustrated. For example, a number of such post- mounted slave or local surveillance units may be arranged to transmit video data from their cameras to a common recorder in a central or master post- mounted surveillance unit. If desired, the array of post-mounted surveillance units at a particular site may include a number of slave and master units. The various permutations and combinations herein described and/or illustrated, all of which may be incorporated in a basic surveillance unit, render the apparatus and systems embodying the invention particularly versatile and adaptable.

When a local post-mounted unit or post incorporates a video recorder, the recorder data may be transmitted to the central point or control room, etc. by a single transmitter instead of by individual transmitters associated with each camera, so that the latter transmitters and their aerials may be omitted.

Claims

1 . Surveillance apparatus for use in a closed circuit television security system, comprising a surveillance unit adapted to be mounted on a mast and including a housing, a plurality of cameras mounted in the housing, transmission means for transmitting the camera outputs to a recorder, and means for attaching the unit to the mast at an elevated location.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the mast comprises the pole or post of a lamp post or the like, and the surveillance unit is attached or attachable to the top of the pole or post in place of an intended lamp unit.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the transmission means includes wireless transmitter means and antenna means for transmitting the camera outputs to wireless receiver means and video recorder means at a central point or location remote from the surveillance unit.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , 2 or 3, wherein the transmission means includes electrical cabling for transmitting the camera outputs to local video recorder means located in the surveillance unit housing or mast, and means for outputting or accessing video data from the local video recorder means.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the transmission means includes wireless transmitter means and antenna means for transmitting the output from the local video recorder means to a central point or location remote from the surveillance unit.

6. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the surveillance unit incorporates its own power supply including battery means located in the surveillance unit housing and solar panel means located on the housing.

7. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the cameras are mounted for manual adjustment in the surveillance unit housing to adjust their fields of view through a transparent wall of the housing, the transparent wall and/or each adjustable camera mounting being so arranged and adapted that the associated camera remains immediately adjacent the transparent wall over a predetermined range of adjusted positions of the camera.

8. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the surveillance unit housing is externally configured to resemble a lamp post lamp unit.

9. A surveillance system, including an array of free-standing, pole- mounted surveillance units as claimed in any preceding claim.

10. A method of installing a surveillance system as claimed in claim 9, which comprises: erecting an array of free-standing pole-mounted surveillance units at predetermined locations on a site which is to be subjected to surveillance; selecting or adjusting lens for the individual cameras of the various units depending upon the particular nature of the surveillance to be carried out by the individual cameras (general detection, more specific recognition, and/or close-up identification); adjusting and setting the aim of individual cameras to survey the required areas of the site; and checking the camera settings by reference to the individual video outputs of the cameras.