Outdoor surveillance dome with enhanced environmental aptitude and control system therefor

In combination, in an outdoor surveillance apparatus of the type including upper and lower dome-shaped assemblies, supporting therewithin a camera for rotational and tilting movements, said upper assembly including a sunshield and a housing within said sunshield, said lower assembly including a light transmissive outer member and an opaque shroud within said outer member, said shroud including a slot for providing optical communication for said camera therethrough:

• (a) first flow communication passage means between said slot and said lower assembly outer member;
• (b) second flow communication passage means between said sunshield and said housing and open to ambient environment;
• (c) first fan means for flow communication with said first flow communication passage;
• (d) second fan means for flow communication with said second flow communication passage means;
• (e) valve means operable for providing access for said second fan means to said second flow communication passage means for intake of ambient medium to said apparatus and exhaust of said ambient medium to ambient environment;
• (f) heater means in flow communication with said first fan means;
• (g) thermostat means for sensing respective predetermined low and high temperatures in said apparatus;
• and
• (h) control means for operating said first fan means continuously during use of said apparatus, for operating said second fan means selectively on sensing of said predetermined high temperature, and for operating said heater means selectively upon sensing of said predetermined low temperature.

A control system for an outdoor surveillance apparatus of the type including first and second housing assemblies, supporting therewithin a camera for rotational and tilting movements, said control system comprising:

• (a) heater means supported with said camera assembly for movement therewith;
• (b) circulation fan means supported with said camera assembly for issuing output thereof onto said heater means;
• (c) exhaust fan means supported in the first housing assembly;
• (d) thermostat means for generating first and second output signals indicative of respective first and second temperatures in said apparatus;
• and
• (e) control means for
• (1) operating said circulation fan means continuously during use of said apparatus,
• (2) operating said heater means upon occurrence of said thermostat means first output signal, and
• (3) operating said exhaust fan means upon occurrence of said thermostat means second output signal.