Pan, tilt, zoom dome camera with optical data transmission method

An apparatus for capturing images and transmitting images to a destination by transferring optical signals between a target location to the destination, the apparatus comprising:

• a surveillance camera comprising a lens;
• a plurality of motor drives that are operable to move the surveillance camera in at least two planes;
• a housing that supports the surveillance camera with the housing including a first aperture;
• a conductor;
• a second component including a second aperture that engages the housing such that the housing rotates relative to the second component;
• the conductor being supported by at least one of the housing and the second component, the conductor transferring electrical power from a power supply to the conductor and to at least one of the surveillance camera and motor drive;
• a first optical component that extends through the first aperture of the housing;
• a second optical component that extends through the second aperture in the second component, the first optical component being separated by the second optical component by a gap to permit the housing to rotate about three hundred sixty degrees relative to the second component;
• and
• the images captured by the surveillance camera converted from a video signal to an optical format and to optical signals communicated through the first optical component across the gap to the second optical component at a predetermined bandwidth being greater than 100 Megabits.

A method for capturing video, and transmitting a signal from the surveillance camera to a remote location, the method comprising:

• capturing an image using the surveillance camera in a predetermined format;
• converting the image from the predetermined format to an optical format;
• and
• transmitting an optical signal across a gap to the remote location.