WO2008037127A1

WO2008037127A1 - Monitoring camera and monitoring system having function of laser positioning

Info

Publication number: WO2008037127A1
Application number: PCT/CN2006/003003
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ching-Shan Chang
Original assignee: Appro Technology Inc.
Priority date: 2006-09-29
Filing date: 2006-11-09
Publication date: 2008-04-03
Also published as: CN101155297A

Abstract

A monitoring camera (100) including a housing (110), a monitoring lens (120) and at least a light beam sight (130) is provided. The monitoring lens (120) is fixed to the housing (110) and faces a monitoring direction. The light beam sight (130) is fixed to the housing (110) and disposed nearby the monitoring lens (120). The light beam sight (130) is adapted to emit a light beam along the monitoring direction. The light beam is adapted to provide an image locking position for monitoring lens (120) to lock an image. The setup process of the monitoring camera (100) can be simplified through the function of positioning provided by the light beam sight (130).

Description

MONITORING CAMERA AND MONITORING SYSTEM HAVING FUNCTION

OF LASER POSITIONING

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention generally relates to a monitoring system, in particular, to a monitoring system having a function of light beam positioning, and a monitoring camera thereof. 2. Description of Related Art

[0002] A monitoring camera is usually secured on a wall or a building, for monitoring internal public spaces or surroundings of the building. Such a monitoring camera is often employed in a monitoring system. A monitoring system generally includes a plurality of monitoring camera, a monitoring host and a monitor. Typically, the monitoring host is electrically coupled to the monitoring cameras and the monitor. The monitoring cameras invert obtained images into image signals, and transfer the signals to the monitoring host, by which images obtained from the monitoring cameras can be displayed on the monitor. In this way, guards and security service personnel are able to monitor multiple public spaces inside/outside the building via the monitoring system.

[0003] In a conventional process for installing monitoring cameras to the building, angles and positions being monitored by the monitoring cameras are usually learned by assistance of the monitor. Otherwise, the monitoring area cannot be figured out. Unfortunately, the monitor and the monitoring cameras are often needed to be installed apart from each other for quite a long distance. Accordingly, the installing staff has to come and go between the positions of the monitor and the monitoring cameras for several times to see the images displayed on the monitor and then go back to the worksite for adjustment. The whole process is time-consuming and inconvenient. Even further, when a sight being monitored has an inanimate background, e.g., a whole wall of a single color or ornamented with a drab pattern, or lacks of light, it is not easy for the installing staff to leam whether the currently monitored area is exactly the required monitoring area. On the other hand, without facilitation of the monitor, installing the monitoring cameras by eyes only often causes deviation of the actual monitoring area from what is predicated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0004] Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a monitoring camera. The camera has a function of light beam positioning, by which the installing process can be simplified.

[0005] Another object of the present invention is to provide a monitoring system including a monitoring camera. The camera has a function of light beam positioning, by which the installing process can be simplified. [0006] For achieving the foregoing objects and others, the present invention provides a monitoring camera. The monitoring camera includes a housing, a monitoring lens, and at least a light beam sight. The monitoring lens is fixed to the housing, and is configured to monitoring toward a monitoring direction. The light beam sight is fixed to the housing, and is disposed nearby the monitoring lens. The light beam sight is adapted for emitting a light beam transmitting along the monitoring direction. The light beam is adapted for providing an image locking position for the monitoring lens to lock an image. [0007] According to an embodiment of the invention, the monitoring direction is substantially parallel with the transmitting direction of the light beam. [0008] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the light beam sight is a laser sight. [0009] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the monitoring camera further includes a switching device fixed to the housing. The switching device includes a switching circuit and an action device. The switching circuit is electrically connected to the light beam sight for turning on/off the light beam. The action device is adapted for being applied with a force to conduct or disconnect the switching circuit. [0010] For achieving the foregoing objects and others, the present invention further provide a monitoring system. The monitoring system includes an aforementioned monitoring camera, a monitoring host, and a monitor. The monitoring host is electrically connected to the monitoring camera. The monitoring camera is adapted for converting positioned images into image signals, and transferring the image signals to the monitoring host. The monitoring host is adapted for providing a control signal for controlling the monitoring camera. The monitor is electrically connected to the monitoring host, and is adapted to display a monitoring image thereby. [0011] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the foregoing monitoring camera is electrically connected to the monitoring host via an intranet, internet, or a wireless network.

[0012] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the foregoing monitoring system further includes a data storage apparatus. The data storage apparatus is electrically connected to the monitoring host, and is adapted for storing the image signals as image data.

[0013] In summary, the monitoring camera in accordance with the present invention employs a light beam sight disposed nearby a monitoring lens. The light beam sight emits a light beam for providing an image locking position for the monitoring lens to lock the image. Therefore, the monitoring camera can be accurately and conveniently installed to an optimal position with an optimal installing angle without facilitation of a monitor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

[0015] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a monitoring camera fixed to an object, according to an embodiment of the present invention. [0016] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a monitoring system, according to an embodiment of the present invention. DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0017] Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts.

[0018] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a monitoring camera fixed to an object, according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, a monitoring camera 100 of the present embodiment is adapted to be installed onto an object 200. The object 200 for example can be a building, a wall, a ceiling, a post, a ground, or anything suitable for supporting the monitoring camera 100. In this preferred embodiment, the object 200 is exemplified as a ceiling. The monitoring camera 100 includes a housing 110, a monitoring lens 120, and a light beam sight 130. [0019] The monitoring lens 120 is fixed to the housing 110, and is configured to monitoring toward a monitoring direction "A". The light beam sight 130 is fixed to the housing 1 10, and is disposed nearby the monitoring lens 120. The light beam sight 130 is adapted for emitting a light beam "B" transmitting along the monitoring direction ^UA". The light beam "B" is adapted for providing an image locking position "C" for the monitoring lens 120 to lock an image. In details, according to the present embodiment, the monitoring direction "A" is substantially parallel with the transmitting direction of the light beam "B". The light beam "B" can be projected to the image locking position "C" of a reference object 300 and configures a light dot on the reference object 300, the image locking position "C" being aimed by the monitoring lens 120. The reference object 300 for example is a wall, a ceiling, furniture, an ornament, a human being, an animal, a plant, or any object allowing the light beam "B" to configure a light dot thereon. Therefore, the monitoring camera 100 is capable of monitoring images within a monitoring area centered by a line connecting the image locking position "C" and the monitoring lens 120. The monitoring area "D" can be enlarged or narrowed in accordance with the change of the zooming rate of the monitoring lens 120. However, it is to be noted that in other embodiments of according to the present invention, the monitoring direction "A" can also be not parallel with the transmitting direction of the light beam "B". Similarly, the monitoring camera 100 can also include more than one light beam sight 130, for providing optimal image locking position "C" or multiple image locking positions "C".

[0020] In the present embodiment, the light beam sight 130 is a laser sight, and the light beam "B" is a laser correspondingly emitted from the laser sight. However, in other embodiments according to the present invention, the light beam sight can also be any other light source capable of configuring a light dot, a light spot or light dispersion pattern on an object.

[0021] The monitoring camera 100 of the present embodiment further includes a switching device 140 fixed to the housing 110. The switching device 140 includes a switching circuit 142 and an action device 144. The switching circuit 142 is electrically connected to the light beam sight 130 for turning on/off the light beam "B". The action device 144 is adapted for being applied with a force to conduct or disconnect the switching circuit 142. For example, when the action device 144 is applied with a force to conduct the switching circuit 142, the switching circuit 142 turns on the light beam ^UB"; and when the action device 144 is applied with another force to disconnect the switching circuit 142, the switching circuit 142 turns off the light beam "B". The action device 144 for example is a button, a knob, a control stick, or any element adapted for being applied with a force to turn on/off the switching circuit 142. As shown in FIG. 1, the action device 144 is a button, adapted for conducting or disconnecting the switching circuit 144 when being pressed. However, in other embodiments according to the present invention, the function of turning on/off the light beam "B", can be integrated to other operational elements or interfaces of the monitoring camera 100, with other functions of the monitoring camera 100. [0022] To install the monitoring camera 100 to the object 200, the light beam sight 130 is turned on. For example, an installing staff may apply a force on the action device 144 to conduct the switching circuit 142 to turn on the light beam "B". Then, the installing staff changes the angle of the monitoring camera 100, or shifts the position of the monitoring camera 100, while observing changes of the position of the light dot. When the light dot is observed to be on the image locking position "C" of the reference object 300 for positioning of the monitoring camera 100, the monitoring camera 100 can be fixed on the object 200. In such a way, the monitoring camera 100 can be installed accurately, quickly and conveniently, to an optical position and optimal angle, without facilitation of a monitor. [0023] It is to be noted that if the reference object 300 has an inanimate outlook, e.g., a whole wall of a single color or ornamented with a drab pattern, or the environment lacks of light, the monitoring camera 100 can still be positioned by the light dot projected on the reference object 300, while conventional monitoring camera suffers difficulties for installment under such conditions. Specifically, in the present embodiment, the light beam "B" provided thereby is a laser beam that does not diffuse. Therefore, the light beam sight 130 can obtain clear light dot on the reference object 300 for the monitoring camera 100 to lock an image, even in a relatively dark environment. [0024] Furthermore, the above illustrated monitoring camera 100 is also adapted for using in a monitoring system that is to be exemplified with embodiments below.

[0025] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a monitoring system, according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 2, a monitoring system 400 includes a monitoring camera 100, which has been illustrated in the aforementioned embodiments, a monitoring host 410, and a monitor 420. The monitoring host 410 is electrically connected to the monitoring camera 100. The monitoring camera 100 is adapted for converting positioned images into an image signal, and transferring the image signal to the monitoring host 410. The monitoring host 410 is adapted for providing a control signal for controlling the monitoring camera 100. The monitor 420 is electrically connected to the monitoring host 410, and is adapted to display a monitoring image thereby. For example, the monitoring host 410 can adjust the focus and/or the monitoring direction "A" of the monitoring camera 120 by transmitting the control signal to the monitoring camera 100 (also refer to FIG. 1). [0026] However, it is to be noted that the quantity of the monitoring camera 100 and the monitor 420 of the monitoring system 400 is not limited or exclusively defined by the present invention. In other embodiments according to the present invention, more than one monitoring camera 100, and/or more than one monitor 420 can be employed. Multiple monitors 420 are suitable for displaying images obtained by different monitoring cameras 100. In another hand, a single monitor 420 also can display images obtained fi'ora different monitoring cameras 100 by partitioning the displaying area thereof.

[0027] According to the present embodiment, the monitoring host 410 of the monitoring system 400 for example is a computer, while the monitoring camera 100 is electrically connected to the monitoring host 410 via an intranet, internet, or a wireless network. Such a monitoring system 400 is often called a digital network monitoring system. Further, the monitoring system 400 can further include a data storage apparatus 430. The data storage apparatus 430 is electrically connected to the monitoring host 410, and is adapted for storing the image signal as image data. For example, the data storage apparatus 430 is a hard disk machine, a soft disk machine, a video recorder, an optical disk burner, or any other suitable data storage apparatus, for allowing the image signal stored therein. Furthermore, the data storage apparatus 430 can also convert stored image data into image signals, and transmit the image signal to the monitoring host 410, by which the monitor 420 can display the image thereof. [0028] In other embodiments according to the present invention, the monitoring host 410 and the data storage apparatus 430 can also be integrated as a digital network video recorder (DNVR). However, the present invention does not limit the monitoring camera 100 as connecting to the monitoring host 410 via a network. Normal circuits can also be used to electrically connect the monitoring camera 100 with the monitoring host 410.

[0029] In summary, the monitoring camera in accordance with the present invention employs a light beam sight disposed nearby a monitoring lens. The light beam sight emits a light beam for providing an image locking position for the monitoring lens to lock the image. Therefore, the monitoring camera can be accurately, quickly and conveniently installed to an optimal position with an optimal installing angle without facilitation of a monitor. Moreover, the monitoring camera according to the present invention can be employed in almost all kinds of monitoring systems, and the efficiency of installing the monitoring system thereof can be well enhanced thereby.

[0030] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the structure of the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the present invention cover modifications and variations of this invention provided they fall within the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A monitoring camera comprising: a housing; a monitoring lens, fixed to the housing, and configured to monitoring toward a monitoring direction; and at least one light beam sight, fixed to the housing, and disposed nearby the monitoring lens, wherein the light beam sight is adapted for emitting a light beam transmitting along the monitoring direction, the light beam being adapted for providing an image locking position for the monitoring lens to lock an image.

2. The monitoring camera according to claim 1, wherein the monitoring direction is substantially parallel with the transmitting direction of the light beam.

3. The monitoring camera according to claim 1, wherein the light beam sight is a laser sight.

4. The monitoring camera according to claim 1 further comprising a switching device, fixed to the housing, the switching device comprising: a switching circuit, electrically connected to the light beam sight, for turning on/of the light beam; and an action device, adapted for being applied with a force to conduct or disconnect the switching circuit.

5. A monitoring system comprising: at least one monitoring camera, the monitoring camera comprising: a housing; a monitoring lens, fixed to the housing, and configured to

-U- monitoring toward a monitoring direction; and at least one light beam sight, fixed to the housing, and disposed nearby the monitoring lens, wherein the light beam sight is adapted for emitting a light beam transmitting along the monitoring direction, the light beam being adapted for providing an image locking position for the monitoring lens to lock an image; and a monitoring host, electrically connected to the monitoring camera, wherein the monitoring camera is adapted for converting a positioned image into an image signal, and transferring the image signal to the monitoring host, and the monitoring host is adapted for providing a control signal for controlling the monitoring camera; and a monitor, electrically connected to the monitoring host, for displaying a monitoring image thereby.

6. The monitoring system according to claim 5, wherein the monitoring direction is substantially parallel with the transmitting direction of the light beam.

7. The monitoring system according to claim 5, wherein the light beam sight is a laser sight.

8. The monitoring system according to claim 5 further comprising a switching device, fixed to the housing, the switching device comprising: a switching circuit, electrically connected to the light beam sight, for turning on/of the light beam; and an action device, adapted for being applied with a force to conduct, or disconnect the switching circuit.

9. The monitoring system according to claim 5, wherein the monitoring camera is electrically connected to the monitoring host via an intranet, internet, or a wireless network

10. The monitoring system according to claim 5 further comprising a data storage apparatus electrically connected to the monitoring host, and adapted for storing the image signal as image data.