GB2456142A

GB2456142A - An inexpensive video recording surveillance system

Info

Publication number: GB2456142A
Application number: GB0800028A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert Stewart
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-01-02
Filing date: 2008-01-02
Publication date: 2009-07-08
Also published as: GB0800028D0

Abstract

A miniature security camera recording to a choice of various solid state on board memories, controlled remotely by the user. In mode 1 the unit continually records images, overwriting earlier images until deactivated, providing multiple images of a period of time prior to deactivation. In mode 2 the camera records but does not overwrite images previously recorded and is automatically deactivated when the memory is full, thus providing multiple images of a period of time after activation.

Description

This invention relates to an inexpensive video recording surveillance system.

The concept of CCTV surveillance is well known and frequently referred to in the media as an important aid in the fight against crime. There is no doubt that this is the case and it is the part of the security market growing the quickest with no sign of a slowdown.

However, one of the main drawbacks with these systems are that they are technically complicated, involve considerable disruption during the installation process. demand a level of skill beyond the average DIY installer and above all are expensive to a degree that it is only usually only the larger commercial companies, government or wealthy individuals who can afford them.

This presents the problem that despite the benefits in the fight against crime provided by existing CCTV systems, the price and installation requirements will exclude those who do not have a lot of money available to spend on security from benefiting from this type of technology.

To overcome these obstacles the present invention proposes a unit consisting of an electronic digital miniature camera, much like the current inexpensive digital cameras in common use, recording onto a solid state memory, either built onto the printed circuit board on the cheaper units or removable digital card or USB memory stick, on the more expensive units.

The operational differences between this unit and a normal camera is that this unit will continually and automatically take high quality pictures at pre-programmed intervals, and save them onto the solid state memory. When that solid state memory is full it will then start to overwrite that memory.

The lowest capacity of the memory will be such that the camera will always contain at the very least, 360 still high quality photos. from the preceding 3 minutes taken at 0.5 second intervals, and very much longer and many more photos if a lower quality photo setting is chosen and/or a larger memory card/stick is used.

There will be various inputs and outputs on the unit depending on the model and use. The standard basic model will have a 12 volt dc input to power the unit, and a set of connections that when opened switches the camera off. Another separate input when shorted will clear the memory and activate the unit which will stop when the memory is full. On the printed circuit board will be an LED that will indicate when the unit is working. A switch will allow the user to choose the quality of the photos, which depending on the selection will provide a longer record time in lower quality and a shorter record time in high quality.

On the output side will be a simple USB port for downloading the photos to a suitable computer, or with the alternate removable memory media models, the removal of the digital memory for photo download in addition to the normal USB port.

These simple controls will allow many different usages of the unit for example:-In normal use in the prevention of crime, the camera, being very small, will be easily secreted in a variety of suitable containers, either by the manufacturer. distributer, installer, or the user, and pointed towards the area to be protected. An example would be to conceal it in a dummy electrical socket located at the end of a shop counter, recording all the daily comings and goings in a normal trading day. The input that switches the unit off will be wired to a switch or standard security panic button and the unit powered up by plugging in the 12 volt power supply unit. The shop keeper will then go about his normal day, knowing the unit is continually recording the counter area. If at some point in the day something happens at the counter, a holdup. an assault, or even a dud cheque/credit card presented, then immediately the incident the shopkeeper operates the panic button or switch which switched the unit off. Then the shopkeeper or an outside security firm can then download the imagines of the incident. Granted that there will only be between 3 to 10 minutes of recording depending on the quality of the photos, but most incidents only happen for seconds never mind minutes and a unit such as this could capture at least 90% of such incidents.

Another example using the make switch input would be locating the unit to view a sensitive area where there should be no intruders, and triggering from a variety of devices should something untoward happen, such as a door opening, a light coming on, a change in temperature, movement of all sorts, and even connect it to the outputs of an intruder alarm system, triggering the unit when the alarm activates thus taking photos of whoever is entering the premises and triggering the alarm. In fact the usage is only limited to the imagination of the user and what sort of photo recording he is trying to achieve.

There should also be many other uses again limited to the needs and imagination of the user, but potentially there is a huge world market for such a simple inexpensive device and I, as an Intruder Alarm Company owner of 35 years standing, would welcome such a unit in my armoury.

Claims

An inexpensive video recording surveillance system Claims 1. A small self contained digital camera that when powered up continually saves and overwrites images in the solid state memory until deactivated by a simple remote switch and will allow downloading of the series of images saved in its memory.
2. A small self contained digital camera that when activated with a simple remote switch will write images to a solid state memory and automatically stop when that memory is full and will allow downloading of the series of images saved in its memory.
3. A small self contained digital camera that is designed to be powered continually for long periods of time from an external power supply unit and must be manually switched off to be deactivated.