# US 2013/0155233 A1 · Monitoring camera

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- Number: US 2013/0155233 A1
- Document ID: US20130155233A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/720,378
- Filed: 2012-12-19
- Published: 2013-06-20
- Earliest claimed: 2011-12-19
- Assignees: Axis AB
- Inventors: Christian DAHLQVIST; Henrik PERSSON; Magnus GRUFFMAN; Jan RYZAK
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130155233A1

## CPC

- H04N 7/18: Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast
- H04N 23/00: Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof
- H04N 23/56: provided with illuminating means
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION

## Abstract

A camera and a method is used for monitoring a scene, the camera having a camera lens and an illumination device arranged to create an illumination pattern for illuminating the scene. The illumination device comprises at least one light source and a plurality of light guiding elements mounted in a plurality of mounting positions essentially along the circumference of the camera lens. The light guiding elements direct light emitted from the at least one light source in a respective direction unobscured by the camera lens to create essentially mutually complementary parts of the illumination pattern.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A camera for monitoring a scene, the camera having a camera lens and an illumination device arranged to create an illumination pattern for illuminating the scene, the illumination device comprising:
at least one light source; and
a plurality of light guiding elements mounted in a plurality of mounting positions essentially along the circumference of the camera lens;
wherein the light guiding elements are arranged to direct light emitted from the at least one light source, in a respective direction unobscured by the camera lens, to create essentially mutually complementary parts of the illumination pattern.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The camera of claim 1, wherein each light guiding element is associated with a respective light source.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The camera of claim 1, wherein the illumination device comprises two light guiding elements, the illumination pattern is circular and the mutually complementary parts are essentially complementary semicircles.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The camera of claim 1, wherein the illumination device comprises two light guiding elements, the illumination pattern is rectangular and the mutually complementary parts are essentially complementary rectangular halves of the rectangular illumination pattern.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The camera of claim 3, wherein the mounting positions of the light guiding elements are 180° apart from each other along the circumference of the camera lens.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The camera of claim 1, further comprising an additional light guiding element arranged to create an additional illumination pattern in front of the camera lens, the additional illumination pattern essentially encompassing a center line of the camera lens.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The camera of claim 6, wherein the illumination pattern is in the shape of a hollow frame surrounding the additional illumination pattern.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The camera of claim 1, wherein output light intensity from the light guiding elements is controllable.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The camera of claim 1, wherein at least one of the light guiding elements comprises a lens.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The camera of claim 1, wherein at least one of the light guiding elements comprises a wave guide.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The camera of claim 1, wherein at least one of the light guiding elements comprises a mirror surface arranged for reflecting incident light in a direction of the respective part of the illumination pattern.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The camera of claim 1, wherein the at least one light source is arranged for emitting IR-radiation.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The camera of claim 1, wherein the at least one light source comprises an LED.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The camera of claim 1, wherein the camera comprises a dome having a transparent dome surface, and wherein the camera lens and the plurality of light guiding elements are mounted inside the dome.

### Claim 15

A method of illuminating a scene monitored by a camera, comprising:
arranging a plurality of light guiding elements in a corresponding plurality of mounting positions essentially along the circumference of a camera lens; and
directing light, by the light guiding elements, emitted from at least one light source, in a respective direction unobscured by the camera lens, to create essentially mutually complementary parts of an illumination pattern for illuminating the scene, such that each part of the illumination pattern is created essentially on a same side of the camera lens as the corresponding mounting position of the respective light guiding element.