US3482037A - Home security system utilizing television surveillance - Google Patents

Description

2, 1969 M. v. 8. BROWN ET AL 3,482,037

HOME SECURITY SYSTEMUTILIZING TELEVISION SURVEILLANCE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 1, 1966 VIDEO scaumsn I a J Dec. 2, 1969 M. v. B. BROWI-Q ETAL 3,482,037

HOME SECURITY SYSTEM UTILIZING TELEVISION SURVEILLANCE Filed Aug. 1, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 20a I /59 ml nuL 4 19.15. 296: 214 if 260, I INVENTORS United States Patent 3,482,037 IIQME SECURITY SYSTEM UTILIZING TELEVISION SURVEILLANCE Marie Van Brittan Brown and Albert L. Brown, both of 151-58 135th Ave., Jamaica, N.Y. 11434 Filed Aug. 1, 1966, Ser. No. 569,319 Int. Cl. H0411 7/02 US. Cl. 178 -6 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A video and audio security system for a house under control of an occupant thereof. The system includes a video scanning device at the entrance door of the house to scan a visitor outside the door, and includes audio intercommunication equipment inside and outside the door for conversing with the vistor outside the door. A lock is provided for the door with releasing means for the lock manually controlled by the occupant of the house.

' This invention relates to a home security system, and more particularly concerns a system including apparatus mounted at an entrance door of a house, and other cooperating apparatus located remotely in a room of the house.

According to the invention a video scanning device is mounted on an entrance door of a house or apartment to scan a vistor standing at the door. A video picture is transmitted by wireless to a video receiver located in a bedroom or other room of the apartment or house so that an occupant of the house can see who is at the door. The apparatus includes audio intercommunication equipment so that the house occupant can converse with the visitor if desired. The door is equipped with a radio controlled lock which can be actuated by the house occupant to unbolt the dor if entry of the visitor is desired. Audio recording means are provided for recording the conversation with the visitor standing at the door. A radio controlled alarm may also be provided for alerting a guard, policeman or watchman at a security station. The alarm will be actuated by and under the control of the house occupant. The security station may be equipped with video and audio receiving equipment to monitor the video and audio signals passing betwen the apparatus at the entrance door and the house occupant. The monitoring of these signals will occur under control of the house occupant. The video scanning device at the door can be stationary with an optical arrangement for scanning the field of view at the entrance door. Alternatively, the scanning device can be movable under control of the house occupant -for varying the scanned field of view. It is therefore a principal object of the invention to provide a security system for a house, under control of an occupant thereof.

A further object is to provide an entrance door of a house with video equipment for scanning a visitor at the door, and with audio intercommunication equipment at the door so that an occupant of the house can converse with a visitor at the door.

A further object is to provide a security system for a house, the system having devices operable by an occupant of the house, such as devices including an alarm to alert a guard at a security station, video and audio receiving equipment for monitoring video and audio signals, audio recording apparatus, a solenoid controlled safety lock at the entrance door, motor means for moving a scanning device at the entrance door, etc.

For further comprehension and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference may be had to the following description and accompanying drawings and to the ap- 3,482,037 Patented Dec. 2, 1969 pended claim in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view with portions broken away of parts of a security system embodying the invention, shown installed at an entrance door of a house and in a bedroom of the house.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective viewof the front of the entrance door illustrating the arrangement of the apparatus thereat.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a rear elevational view of part of the entrance door.

.FIG. 5 is an enlarged rear view of part of the apparatus at the entrance door.

FIG. 6 is a front view of a video-audio receive-r and control unit employed in the system.

1 FIG. 7 is a diagram of the security system.

FIG. 8 is a perspective View of a security scanning device and part of an entrance door upon which the device can be mounted.

FIG. 9 is a side view of the scanning device of FIG. 8, shown mounted on the entrance door part of which is shown in vertical section.

FIG. 10 is a top view of the scanning device of FIGS. 8, 9, and

FIG. 11 is a sectional view, partially in side elevational taken on line 11-11 of FIG. 10.

Referring now to FIGS. 16, the security system includes arectangular cabinet 20 shown movably mounted on the rear ofentrance door 22 of a house orapartment 24. The cabinet has a removablerear cover 25 providing access to components inside the cabinet. In the cabinet is avideo scanner 26 such as conventionally used in television systems. The scanner has alens barrel 28 projecting out of the front side 2-9 of the cabinet and slightly spaced from the rear side of thedoor 22; see FIG. 3.

On oneside 30 of the cabinet is avertical ridge 32 which fits slidably in agroove 33 formed in avertical rail 34 secured bybrackets 35 to the rear side of thedoor 22. On theother side 31 of the cabinet is aslot 36 in which extendsteeth 38 of astationary rack gear 39 mounted vertically on the door bybrackets 40. Aspur gear 42 mounted on a horizontal shaft 43 is meshed with theteeth 38 of the rack gear. On shaft 43 is aworm gear 45 meshed in axiallyvertical worm 46, the worm is supported by axially aligned shafts of twomotors 48, 50 inside the cabinet; see FIG. 5. The motors are electrically connected to acircuit box 54 in the cabinet. Also connected to the circuit box is a microphone '55, aloudspeaker 56 and thevideo scanner 26, as indicated by dotted lines in FIG. 5. Atelevision antenna 58 is mounted onside 31 of the cabinet and is connected to the circuit box. Anelectric cable 59, connected to the circuit box, extends out of the cabinet and is connected to a solenoid operatedbolt lock 60. This lock has abolt 63 engageable by an associatedcatch member 62 mounted on thejamb 64 of the door. Knob '61 on the bolt enables manual retraction and extension of the bolt. Cable 59 is also connected to aninterlock switch plug 65 mounted on the door. This plug is engaged by an associatedinterlock switch receptacle 66 mounted on thedoor jamb 64.Power supply cable 67 is connected toreceptacle 66.

By the arrangement described, electric power is brought to themotors 48, 50 for driving thecabinet 20 up and down at the rear side of the door. In the door is a line of vertically spacedholes 68 in which are mountedrings 70.Lenses 72 are fitted in the rings. Each lens is covered by aplate 74 eccentrically and pivotally supported by apin 75 on the door. At eachplate 74 is awire spring 76. Each spring extends horizontally and has one end secured by ascrew 77 to the door. Each spring extends horizontally between a pair ofspaced pins 78; see FIG. The right free end of each spring extends between a pair ofpins 79 mounted on ashort lever 80 integral withplate 74 and extending to the left as shown in FIG. 4. By thls arrangement, theplate 74 can be pivoted away from its normal position covering ahole 68 in the door. When thecabinet 20 is driven up or down, thescanner lens barrel 28 will engage eachplate 74 in turn to displace it from the coveredhole 68. When the lens barrel passes the deflected plate, this plate will be returned byspring 76 to nornral position covering ahole 68.

At a guarded location such as abedroom 84 remote fromentrance door 22 is acontrol unit 85 of the system housed in part incabinet 81. Thus unit has avideo receiving screen 83 best shown in FIGS. 1 and 6. On thecabinet 81 arecontrols 86, 87 which control up and down move.- ments respectively of thecabinet 20 containingscanner 26 and other components of the system. Adoor lock control 88,audio recorder control 89,alarm control 90, and ON-OFF switch control 91 are also provided on the unit where they can be conveniently operated by an occupant P1 of the house orapartment 24. Anantenna 92 on theunit 85 is used for receiving video signals and for both receiving and transmitting modulated radio frequency signals. Amicrophone 93 andloudspeaker 94 are also provided oncontrol unit 85.

FIG. 7 showssystem 100 digrammatically employing components already mentioned in connection with FIGS. 1-6. Theentrance door apparatus 110 includesvideo scanner 26 connected to audio-video transmitter 104 which is connected toantenna 58.Microphone 55 is also connected to an input of the transmitter. The combined audio-video signal S1 is transmitted, fromantenna 58 and is picked up byantenna 92 at thecontrol unit 85.Antenna 92 is connected tovideo receiver 106, and a picture appears onscreen 83 of the video receiver.Antenna 92 is also connected to anaudio demodulator 107 which removes the audio signal from signals S1 and applies it toaudio amplifier 108 so that it is heard onloudspeaker 94.

For audio intercommunication purposes,microphone 93 is connected toaudio amplifier 112. The amplified audiosignal is modulated in modulator 114 and the modulated carrier drivesaudio amplifier 116. A modulated radio frequency carrier signal S2 is applied toantenna 92 and is radiated by this antenna. Signal S2 is picked up byantenna 58 and applied to radio receiver 118 forming part ofapparatus 110. The received audio frequency signal is reproduced atloudspeaker 56.

For control purposes there is provided ON-OFF switch 91 atunit 85 in circuit withpower supply 120 andaudio tape recorder 122,video receiver 106,audio amplifiers 108 and 112 and oscillators 123-126. The oscillators all emit different signal frequencies F1-F4. In series with each oscillator is apushbutton control switch 88, 86, 89, 90, respectively, connected to modulator 114. When one of these switches is closed at thecontrol unit 85, the associated oscillator connected to modulator 114 applies a signal thereto be modulated on the radio frequency carrier applied toamplifier 116.

At theapparatus 110 areselective filters 130, 131 and 132 tuned to frequencies F1, F2 and F3 respectively. Filter 130 is connected to arelay 133 having normallyopen contacts 134.Contacts 134 are connected in series withsolenoid 135 which retractsbolt 63 ofsolenoid lock 60. The bolt is manually set into engagement withcatch member 62 of the lock. When solenoid 135 is energized thebolt 63 retracts to open the lock.Contacts 134 andsolenoid 135 are connected in series withplug 65 which engagesconiacts 138 inreceptacle 66 terminating at power supply Filter 131 is connected to relay 140 which has normallyopen contacts 142 connected in series withmotor 48 4 and plug 65.Filter 132 is connected to relay 144 Which has normallyopen contacts 146 connected in series withmotor 50 and plug '65. Theplug 65 andreceptacle 66 constitute an interlock switch which cuts off the power supply from components in apparatus when thedoor 22 is open.

Thesystem 100 also includes apparatus 150 at a guard station. This apparatus has an audible or visual alarm 152 connected in series withpower supply 154 via a manually operable switch and normallyopen contact 158 of arelay 160. The relay is connected to filter 162 tuned to the same frequency F4 asoscillator 126. The filter is connected to the output of video andaudio receiver 164.Receiver 164 has anantenna 166 which receives both signals S1 and S2 radiated betweenantennas 58 and 92.

In operation of the apparatus shown and described in FIGS. 1-7 relating to the security system, theswitch 91 will be closed to alert thecontrol unit 85 for action. The solenoid controlledlock 60 will be set by manually pushingbolt 63 into engagement withcatch 62. When thedoor 22 or 22a is closed, theinterlock switch 65, 66 will .pass power to energize thescanner 26,transmitter 104 and radio receiver 118. The tape recorder and oscillators atunit 85 will be normally deenergized. They will preferably be transistorized so as to become activated instantly when any of the switches 86-90 is closed. The video receiver and audio and radio amplifiers are energized by the power supply whenswitch 91 is closed. Suppose now that a visistor V comes to thedoor 22 or 22a. The occupant 'P1 of the house will see picture P2 of the visitor on thescreen 83 as shown in FIG. 1. By pushing eitherbuttons 86 or 87 thedrive motors 48 or 50 will be energized to drive thecabinet 20 up or down to obtain the best view of the visitor. Ifdoor 22a is employed, themotors 48, 50 and controls 86, 87 will not be required. The occupant P1 will interrogate the visistor V as to his business by speaking intomicrophone 93. The occupant P1 will hear the reply vialoadspeaker 94. The microphone 55 :at the door is sensitive enough to pick up the visistors reply at the door,passage 225 passes sound waves throughdoor 22 or 22a. The visitor will hear the occupants inquiry fromloudspeaker 56 viapassage 225.

If the visitor is to be admitted, the occupant will pressbutton 88 which will result in withdrawal ofbolt 63 fromcatch member 62 to open thelock 60. Then the visitor can turndoor knob 250 to open the door.

Suppose the visitor V is a prowler or other undesired person, the occupant P1 can pressrecorder button 89 to obtain an audio record on tape of the interrogation and reply of the visitor. If the occupant P1 feels that a real danger exists of some unlawful act or entry, the occupant will press the alarm button. This will activate the alarm 152 at the guard station. At the same time thereceiver 164 will display the picture of the visitor and the audio signals passing back and forth between the occupant and the visitor can be heard atreceiver 164. The guard or policeman at the guard station will thus be able to monitor the audio and video signals and can keep the entire situation under surveillance to take whatever protective action may be required.

It will be noted that the oscillators 123-126 generate the appropriate signals for operating thelock 60, motors and alarm. Filters 130-132 pass the selected signals for operating the lock or motors. Filter 162 passes the signal F4 to activate the alarm 152 and also to activate thereceiver 164. Thus the occupant P1 is able to obtain police help if desired and to keep control of the situation at the entrance door at all times.

In FIGS. 8-11 is shown acabinet 20a which can be mounted on adoor 22a in a security system including most of the apparatus described in connection with FIG. 7. Corresponding parts having like functions are identically numbered.Cabinet 20a has a removablerear cover 25a. On thefront wall 29a of the cabinet is a rectangulartubular arm 200 extending outwardly. This arm serves as a, bracket to support the cabinet ondoor 220. The door has arectangular notch 202 at its upper end to receive the arm 2%. The arm is formed with a dependingflange 204 which abuts the front of the door. This flange has corner holes 206 to receive anchoring screws 208. Dependingeyes 210 are formed at the bottom end of the front of the cabinet to receive anchoring screws 212. Anoptical tube 214 is formed onarm 200 at its forward end. This tube has a downwardlyinclined barrel 216 in which is alens 218. In the optical path P of the lens isv an angularly disposedmirror 220 inside the barrel which deflects the scanned line of sight into thebarrel 28a ofvideo scanner 26 inside ofcabinet 20a.Antenna 58 andcable 59 extend laterally of the cabinet.Microphone 55 andloudspeaker 56 are mounted behindopenings 224 in thefront wall 29a. These openings communicate with apassage 225 in the door protected by aperforated plate 226. Sound waves pass freely through this plate andpassage 225 to and from the microphone and loudspeaker respectively.

Thedoor 22a will be equipped with the power interlock switch and the solenoid controlled lock in the same manner as described in connection with FIGS. 1 and 7. The components ofcabinet 20a will be connected insystem 100 in the same manner as shown in FIG. 7.Motors 48, 50, relays 140, 144 and filters 130, 131 will be removed sincecabinet 20a does not require them.Cabinet 20a is fixed in position. The opticalfield scanning lens 218 is so located that it encompasses the entire field F desired to be scanned in front of thedoor 22a by thevideo scanner 26.

Operation of thesystem employing cabinet 20a is the same as already described in connection with FIG. 7, with the exception of the motor drive for the cabinet.

In a securitysystem employing cabinet 20 or 20a the same measure of security is afforded to the occupant P1 in the house orapartment 24. Complete and effective interview and surveillance of a visitor is had under control of occupant P1, with supervision and monitoring of the interview at the guard station if the occupant Pl'deems it necessary.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise construction herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

1. A security system for protecting the interior of a place of residence having an entrance door, comprising a plurality of windows in the door disposed in vertically spaced array; protective plates covering the windows, respectively; means pivotally supporting said plates on the door to clear each of the windows; a cabinet containing avideo scanning device; gear means movably supporting the cabinet to move in a vertical path at the door; motor means in the cabinet engaged with said gear means to drive the video scanning device in said vertical path past the windows while the cabinet pivots each protective plate in turn to clear its associated window for exposing said video scanning device at the cleared Window; a video signal transmitter in said cabinet connected to said video scanning device to send a picture of a scanned field in front of each cleared window in turn to a remote location in the interior of said place of residence; radio receiver means in said cabinet; radio transmitter means at said remote location for sending radio signals to said radio receiver; power supply means connected to said motor means for energizing the same to drive the video scanning device up and down; and switch means connected in circuit with said power supply and said radio receiver means for turning on the motor means selectively in response to receipt of a signal from said radio transmitter means, whereby the field in front of each cleared window is scanned in turn.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,146,512 2/1939 Phinney 1785.6 2,914,746 11/1959 James 340149 3,258,595 6/1966 Galante 250-199 OTHER REFERENCES RCA, Closed Circuit Television Systems, Book I, pp. 182-186, 1958.

ROBERT L. GRIFFIN, Primary Examiner R. L. RICHARDSON, Assistant Examiner

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