Natural vision-based video surveillance system

#There are many fields where a video system is used to connect a remote operator or observer to the events at hand. With a singular video source, the operator or observer is restrained visually by the field of view of the lens. In cases where a wide-angle lens is employed to give the operator a broader perspective, the perspective comes at a loss of definition. In the field of remotely piloted vehicles, for example, a camera is employed to provide the operator the visual information necessary to pilot the vehicle and/or gather intelligence data; however, with a restricted field of view, as has been traditionally provided in these systems, the operator's natural vision processing facilities are considerably handicapped and thus critical information may be overlooked.

#It is therefore desirable to have a camera system that provides the operator or observer a more natural visual presentation in camera surveillance operations, for example, thus including both a peripheral/wide field of view vision as well as a high-definition/narrow field of view vision.

#In certain aspects, the present invention is directed to a video surveillance system comprising a video camera system for attachment to a remote carrier such as a remote vehicle or a remote stationary structure (e.g. a building, camera stand, etc.). The video camera system comprises a first video camera having a lens that provides for a wide field of view (WFOV) image. The video camera system also comprises a second video camera having a lens that provides for a narrow, high definition field of view (NFOV) image. The video camera system is operatively connected (e.g. via modem) to a control or monitoring station comprising a computer system, wherein the computer system includes a CPU, a visual display monitor, and at least one input control unit (e.g. standard joystick or custom hand-controller) for remotely steering the second video camera. The CPU is provided with interface software designed to receive streaming visual data corresponding to the images transmitted by the camera system. The interface software is also designed to display simultaneously on the monitor a first window containing the WFOV image transmitted by the first camera and a second window containing a narrow field of view (NFOV) image transmitted by the second camera such that the second window display is co-located adjacent the first window. In addition, the first window may contain a rectangle surrounding a portion of the WFOV image corresponding to the NFOV image displayed in the second window. Other aspects of the present invention include software that calculates and displays on the monitor directional information corresponding to the NFOV image transmitted by the second camera. The second camera may be mounted on a steerable, gyro-stabilized gimbaled platform or a non-stabilized platform operable by the user via the input device (e.g. joystick) at the control station.

#FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of the remote video camera system attached to the underside of an aerial vehicle.

#FIG. 2 illustrates exemplary imagery displayed in separate windows on a computer monitor of the present invention.

#FIG. 3 is a schematic flow chart illustrating the operation of the present invention.

#The present invention is directed to a camera surveillance system comprising a video camera system for attachment to a remote vehicle and a control station comprising a CPU, monitor, modem, and input device operatively connected to the video camera system. The invention, as described in more detail below, provides for concurrent acquisition and display of visual information transmitted by the camera system, wherein the visual display comprises (1) a peripheral/wide field of view (WFOV) display transmitted by one video camera of the video camera system and (2) a high definition/narrow field of view (NFOV) display transmitted by a second video camera of the camera system. As discussed in more detail below, the second camera is preferably steerable by the control station operator.

#Referring now to the figures, where similar reference numbers correspond to similar features of the invention, the present invention comprises a video camera system 101, 102 attached to a remote vehicle (moving or non-moving), including, but not limited to, an airplane, automobile, truck, military vehicle, and the like. Alternatively, the video camera system may be attached to a remote, non-vehicular stationary carrier, including, but not limited to, one or more camera stands, buildings, walls, ceilings, signs, and the like. FIG. 1 illustrates schematically the underside of an airplane or a remote carrier such as a ceiling 10 having attached thereto a first video camera 101 having a WFOV lens for transmitting video images corresponding to an observer's peripheral vision. This WFOV camera 101 has wide angle lens preferably fixed at 60-180 degrees, most preferably 120 degrees. The video camera system further includes a second video camera 102 having a NFOV lens 102b for zooming in on a particular object or region of interest within the wide field of view. Preferably, the first video camera 101 is stationary while the second video camera 102 is steerable by a remote operator, as discussed further below. Provision of this steering capability allows the operator the ability to zoom in on a region of interest within the WFOV transmitted by the first camera 101. It will be further recognized by the skilled artisan that the first video camera may be provided with steering features similar or identical to the second video camera, if desired.

#As shown schematically in FIG. 3, the remote video camera system is in communication with a control station 300 comprising a CPU 301, a visual display monitor 302, and at least one input control device 303, such as a joystick or custom hand controller, for remotely steering the second video camera 102. The control station and video camera system are operatively linked via a radio frequency-controlled modem system 304. Loaded on the CPU 301 is interface software designed to receive streaming visual data corresponding to the images recorded by the video camera system 101, 102.