Signal transfer and power delivery system for a television camera station

An apparatus for transferring video, audio or control signals between a control station and a remote station and for providing operating power to the remote station over a pair of conductors, said apparatus comprising:

• control station signal means including means for coupling with the control station and with the conductors for transferring signals therebetween;
• remote station means including means for coupling with the remote station and with the conductors for transferring signals therebetween;
• and
• power delivery means, including means for coupling with the conductors, for delivering power from a source thereof to the conductors,
• said remote station means including power reception means
• for receiving said power from the conductors and for delivering said power to the remote station, and
• for sensing the status of said power at said remote station means, for producing a power status signal representative of said status, and for transferring said status signal to the conductors,
• said power delivery means including means for receiving said status signal and for controlling the delivery of said power in accordance therewith,
• said power delivery means including means for delivering power at a first level and at a second reduced level, for initially delivering said power at a reduced level, and for testing for excessive current flow in the conductors at said reduced level before delivering power at said first level.

An apparatus for transferring video, audio or control signals between a control station and a television camera station and for providing operating power to the camera station by way of a coaxial cable, said apparatus comprising:

• a control station module including means for coupling with the control station and with the cable including
• control station signal means for transferring signals between the control station and the cable,
• power delivery means for delivering power in the form of D.C. voltage and current from a source thereof to the cable;
• and
• a camera station module including means for coupling with the cable and with the camera station including
• camera station signal means for transferring signals between the camera station and the cable;
• and
• power reception means for receiving said power from the cable and for delivering said power to the camera station.
• said power reception means including voltage sensing and signal means for sensing the voltage of said power delivered to said camera station, for producing a power status signal representative of said voltage, and for transferring said status signal to said cable,
• said power delivery means including voltage control means for receiving said status signal and for controlling said delivery of power in accordance therewith for maintaining said voltage delivered to said camera station at a predetermined level despite variations in power consumption by said camera station and losses in the cable,
• said power reception means including means for producing said status signal as an A.C. signal which varies in frequency in accordance with said received D.C. voltage.

An apparatus for transferring video, audio or control signals between a control station and a television camera station and for providing operating power to the camera station by way of a coaxial cable, said apparatus comprising:

• a control station module including means for coupling with the control station and with the cable including
• control station signal means for transferring signals between the control station and the cable,
• power delivery means for delivering power in the form of D.C. voltage and current from a source thereof to the cable;
• and
• a camera station module including means for coupling with the cable and with the camera station including
• camera station signal means for transferring signals between the camera station and the cable;
• and
• power reception means for receiving said power from the cable and for delivering said power to the camera station,
• said power reception means including voltage sensing and signal means for sensing the voltage of said power delivered to said camera station, for producing a power status signal representative of said voltage, and for transferring said status signal to said cable,
• said power delivery means including voltage control means for receiving said status signal and for controlling said delivery of power in accordance therewith for maintaining said voltage delivered to said camera station at a predetermined level despite variations in power consumption by said camera station and losses in the cable,
• said power delivery means including means for delivering power at a first level and at a second reduced level, for initially delivering said power at a reduced level, and for testing for excessive current flow in the cable at said reduced level before delivering power at said first level.

A method of transferring audio or control signals between a control station and a television camera station and for providing operating power to the camera station by way of a coaxial cable, said method comprising steps of:

• transferring signals between the control station and the cable:
• using a power delivery unit for delivering power as delivered power in the form of D.C. voltage and current from a source thereof to the cable;
• transferring signals between the camera station and the cable;
• receiving said power as received power from the cable and delivering said power to the camera station,
• sensing the voltage of said received power as received voltage;
• producing a power status signal representative of said received voltage;
• transferring said status signal to the cable;
• and
• receiving said status signal from the cable into said power delivery unit and controlling said delivered voltage in accordance with said status signal for maintaining said received voltage at a predetermined level in order to compensate for voltage drop in said cable,
• further including the steps of initially delivering power at said delivery unit at said reduced voltage,
• testing for excess current flow into said cable from said power delivery unit at said reduced voltage, and
• preventing delivery of power at an operational level of voltage higher than said reduced voltage upon the occurrence of said excess current flow.