ROTATABLE BAY WINDOW SWITCH BOX SURVEILLANCE CAMERA AND ILLUMINATOR FOR FACIAL RECOGNITION

CAMERA DE SURVEILLANCE ET ILLUMINATEUR DE RECONNAISSANCE FACIALE MONTES DANS UNE ENCEINTE DE COMMUTATION A FENETRE ROTATIVE

English Abstract

A surveillance camera and illuminator are covertly mounted in a partially rotatable bay window inner frame mounted within an electrical switch box. The bay window inner frame can thus be pivoted back and forth to orient the camera toward an entrance to a room in which the switch box is mounted. When the bay window inner frame is rotated to the desired position. a bay window switch box decor cover plate is mounted over the bay window inner frame, engaging it and locking it in the selected position by attachment of the cover plate to the switch box.

French Abstract

La présente concerne une caméra de surveillance et un illuminateur qui sont discrètement fixés dans le cadre intérieur en partie tournant d'une fenêtre à baie, et à l'intérieur d'une boîte d'interrupteur électrique. Le cadre intérieur de la fenêtre à baie peut ainsi être pivoté vers l'avant et l'arrière, de manière à orienter la caméra vers l'entrée d'une pièce où la boîte d'interrupteur est installée. Sur le cadre intérieur de la fenêtre à baie qui est orienté dans une direction donnée, une plaque de recouvrement décorative est installée sur la boîte d'interrupteur électrique. Cette plaque permet de placer le cadre et de le verrouiller dans la position voulue, du fait de la fixation de la plaque de recouvrement sur la boîte de l'interrupteur.

Claims

ROTATABLE BAY WINDOW SWITCH BOX SURVEILLANCE CAMERA AND
ILLUMINATOR FOR FACIAL RECOGNITION
CLAIMS
I claim:
1. A rotatable bay window switch box surveillance camera and illuminator
system suited
for facial recognition comprising:
a) a partially rotatable bay window frame mounted within a switch box;
b) a surveillance device mounted within the frame;
c) a bay window cover plate;
in which the bay window frame can be pivoted back and forth horizontally, to
orient
horizontally the surveillance device toward an entrance to a room in which the
switch box
is mounted, and then locked in the selected position by engagement of the bay
window
cover plate with a front portion of the bay window frame front during
attachment of the
bay window cover plate to the switch box, a vertical orientation of the bay
window frame
14

and of the surveillance device having been fixed by mounting of the switch box
and
remaining constant during and after pivoting of the bay window for horizontal
orientation
of the surveillance device.
2. The rotatable bay window switch box surveillance camera and illuminator
system of
Claim 1, in which the switch box is a standard electrical switch box adapted
for mounting
adjacent to an electrical light switch at an entrance to a room at a typical
chest height
location for users of the room, and the bay window cover plate resembles a
decor motion
detector switch cover and conceals the surveillance device.
3. The rotatable bay window switch box surveillance camera and illuminator
system of
Claim 1, in which the surveillance device is a camera.
4. The rotatable bay window switch box surveillance camera and illuminator
system of
Claim 1, in which the surveillance device is an illuminator.
5. The rotatable bay window switch box surveillance camera and illuminator
system of
Claim 1, in which the surveillance device is a camera and illuminator, the
camera is
mounted in a camera compartment of the bay window frame, the illuminator is
mounted
in an illuminator compartment of the partially rotatable bay window frame, and
both
camera and illuminator can be pivoted back and forth

with the frame prior to locking in position, for illumination of a scene at
which the
camera is pointed.
6. The rotatable bay window switch box surveillance camera and illuminator
system of
Claim 5, in which the camera compartment is separated from the illuminator
compartment
by a floor that seals light from the illuminator compartment from entering
directly to the
camera compartment, the light being directed out a pane of the bay window
cover plate
for reflection from the scene and return to the camera for imaging of the
scene.
7. The rotatable bay window switch box surveillance camera and illuminator
system of
Claim 1, in which the surveillance device is integrated with a video
processing system
having facial recognition software, which can analyze various features of a
face of a
person under surveillance and match them with known features of identified
people to the
point of identification of a person entering the room.
8. The rotatable bay window switch box surveillance camera and illuminator
system of
Claim 1, in which the surveillance device is integrated with a video
processing system
having facial recognition software, which can analyze various features of a
face of a
person under surveillance and categorize them in a database for later
comparisons or
elimination of suspects having similar or different facial characteristics to
or than those
recorded.
16

9. The rotatable bay window switch box surveillance camera and illuminator
system of
Claim 1, in which the surveillance camera is integrated with a video
processing system
that causes sequential shuttering variations by the surveillance device in
order to capture a
variety of exposures of the light information from a face, together with
software that
discards the less informative exposures and proceeds with more informative
exposures.
10. The rotatable bay window switch box surveillance camera and illuminator of
Claim 1,
in which the surveillance device is integrated with a video processing system
which has
the surveillance device take a series of normal exposures, overexposures, and
underexposures by varying a camera's shutter speed or opening, to accommodate
unpredictable effects of varying ambient light together with light from an
illuminator on
faces or other objects sought to be recognized.
11. The rotatable bay window switch box surveillance camera and illuminator of
Claim
10, in which the surveillance camera is integrated with a video processing
system having
facial recognition software, which gives feedback to increase the variation in
exposure if
facial recognition is poor and to decrease the variation in exposure if facial
recognition is
good.
12. The rotatable bay window switch box surveillance camera and illuminator of
Claim 2,
in which:
17

a) the surveillance device is a camera and illuminator, the camera is mounted
in a camera
compartment of the bay window frame, the illuminator is mounted in a
illuminator
compartment of the partially rotatable bay window frame, and both camera and
illuminator can be pivoted back and forth with the frame prior to locking in
position, for
illumination of a scene at which the camera is pointed;
b) the camera compartment is separated from the illuminator compartment by a
floor that
seals light from the illuminator compartment from entering directly to the
camera
compartment, the light being directed out a pane of the bay window cover plate
for
reflection from the scene and return to the camera for imaging of the scene;
c) the surveillance device is integrated with a video processing system having
facial
recognition software, which can analyze various features of a face of a person
under
surveillance;
d) the surveillance camera is integrated with a video processing system that
causes
sequential shuttering variations by the surveillance device in order to
capture a variety of
exposures of the light information from the face, together with software that
discards the
less informative exposures and proceeds with more informative exposures;
e) the video processing system has the surveillance device take a series of
normal
18

exposures, overexposures, and underexposures by varying the surveillance
camera's
shutter speed or opening, to accommodate unpredictable effects of varying
ambient light
together with light from the illuminator on faces or other objects sought to
be recognized;
f) the video processing system has facial recognition software, which gives
feedback to
increase the variation in exposure if facial recognition is poor and to
decrease the
variation in exposure if facial recognition is good.
19

Description

CA 02435424 2003-07-29
ROTATABLE BAY WINDOW SWITCH BOX SURVEILLANCE CAMERA
AND ILLUMINATOR FOR FACIAL RECOGNITION
SPECIFICATION
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to unobtrusive and covert surveillance cameras.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
There exist miniaturized surveillance cameras which can record images in low
light and no visible light conditions by means of infra-red illumination. It
is
common to mount surveillance cameras in a noticeable position, in order to
deter
illicit activity. But most such surveillance cameras are located high and away
from
human reach in order to minimize the risk of tampering. Those camera
placements
often result in unsatisfactory video surveillance where the purpose is to
obtain
facial recognition of persons, due to the distance to the target area, and due
to the
position of the cameras taking only top head shots of target persons (who
often
wear hats). Face shots are preferred and usually essential for identification
of a
1

CA 02435424 2003-07-29
person. It is also sometimes desirable to monitor a location with an
unobtrusive or
even hidden camera. By keeping the camera concealed, its presence does not
interfere with the activity monitored, and can reduce the chance of
destruction of
the camera by persons who do not wish their activity to be observed by the
camera.
Decor plates for electrical switch boxes are now comrnonly, used, but for
decorative purposes in a room and not to disguise camieras and illuminators.
Bay
windows for wide angle movement detector arrays are used in switch boxes to
manage automatic light switching, but have not been presented in the partially
rotatable configuration of the present invention to provide pointing of a
camera
and coordinated illuininator system after mounting.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention comprises a surveillance camera mounted in a partially
rotatable
bay window inner frame mounted within an electrical switch box. The bay window
inner frame can thus be pivoted back and forth to orient the camera toward an
entrance to a room in which the switch box is mounted. When the bay window
inner frame is rotated to the desired position, a bay window switch box cover
plate
is mounted over the bay window inner frame, engaging it and locking it in the
2

CA 02435424 2003-07-29
selected position by attachment of the cover plate to the switch box.
In a second stage of the partially rotatable inner fraine is mounted an
illuminator,
which will be turned within the bay window inner frarne to illuminate the
scene at
which the camera is pointed.
The position of typical switch boxes at or near average chest or chin height
on a
wall adjacent to an entrance to a room is ideal for cameras or infrared
illuminators
hidden within the switch box, as they are not only at the expected height to
target
persons standing near the wall, but are also at an excellent height to give
good
"face-shot" surveillance.
As an option, the camera can be integrated with a video processing system
having
facial recognition software, which can analyze various features of the face of
a
person under surveillance and match them with known features of identified
people to the point of identification of the person entering the room, or at
least
categorize them in a database for later comparisons or elimination of suspects
having similar or different facial characteristics to or than those recorded.
A further option is to apply sequential shuttering variations in order to
capture a
3

CA 02435424 2003-07-29
variety of exposures of the light information from a face, together with
software
that discards the less informative exposures and processes the inost
informative
exposures. Because facial recognition depends on fine differences of facial
features, it is critical to have the best possible image captured.
There may be lighting advantages as well as covert placement advantages in
some
situations to having a surveillance device illuminator contained in one such
bay
window switch box and a surveillance device camera contained in an adjacent or
remotely located bay window switch box.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a rotatable bay window switch box
surveillance camera and illuininator system suited for facial recognition is
provided comprising a partially rotatable bay window frame mounted within a
standard electrical switch box, a surveillance camera and illuminator mounted
within the frame, and a decor bay window cover plate, in which:
a) the bay window frame can be pivoted back and forth to orient the
surveillance
device toward an entrance to a room in which the switch box is mounted and
then
locked in the selected position by engagement of the bay window cover plate
with
the bay window frame front during attachment of the bay window cover plate to
4

CA 02435424 2003-07-29
the switch box;
b) the camera is mounted in a camera compartment of the bay window frame, the
illuminator is mounted in a illuminator compartment of the partially rotatable
bay
window frame, and both camera and illuminator can be pivoted back and forth
with the frame prior to locking in position, for illumination of a scene at
which the
carnera is pointed;
c) the camera compartinent is separated from the illuminator compartment by a
floor that seals light from the illuminator compartment from entering directly
to
the camera compartment, the light being directed out a pane of the bay window
cover plate for reflection from the scene and return to the camera for imaging
of
the scene;
d) the camera and illuminator are integrated with a video processing system
having
facial recognition software, which can analyze various features of the face of
a
person under surveillance and match them with known features of identified
people to the point of identification of the person entering the room;
e) the facial recognition software can analyze various features of the face of
a

CA 02435424 2003-07-29
person under surveillance and categorize them in a database for later
comparisons
or elimination of suspects having similar or different facial characteristics
to or
than those recorded;
f) the video processing system causes sequential shuttering variations by the
surveillance camera in order to capture a variety of exposures of the light
information from a face, and the software discards the less informative
exposures
and proceeds with more informative exposures;
g) the video processing system has the surveillance camera take a series of
normal
exposures, overexposures, and underexposures by varying the camera's shutter
speed or opening electronically, to accommodate unpredictable effects of
varying
ambient light together with illumination from an illuminator on faces or other
objects sought to be recognized;
h) the facial recognition software gives feedback to increase variation in
exposure
if facial recognition is poor and to decrease the variation in exposure if
facial
recognition is good.
b

CA 02435424 2008-02-13
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is an isometric view of a camera and illuminator mounted in
respective
upper and lower stages of a partially rotatable bay window inner frame, behind
a
rotational position-locking switch box bay window cover plate.
Figure 2 is an exploded isometric view of the device of Figure 1.
Figure 3A is a top view of the device of Figure 1 with the camera pointed
perpendicular to a wall in which the device is mounted.
Figure 3B shows the bay window inner frame partially rotated and locked to
point
in a different direction.
Figure 3C shows the bay window inner frame partially rotated and locked to
point
in a different direction and with the bay window cover re-attached.
Figure 4 is a side view of the device of Figure 1.
Figure 5 is a block diagram showing the steps of sequential shutter processing
interfaced with facial recognition software.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
7

CA 02435424 2003-07-29
Referring to Figures 1 and 2 , the camera I and the illuminator 2 are
miniaturized
such each could fit within half of a standard electrical switch box. 3. A pair
of pivot
holes, with the top pivot hole shown at 5 and the bottom pivot hole shown at
6, are
drilled in the top and bottom of the electrical switch box 3. A partially
rotatable
bay window inner frame 4 is provided. It has a back 7 and side portions 8 and
9
between the rear portions of each of its top 10 and its bottom 11, to make
them
rigid in the rear portions with respect to the back 7. It has a top front
portion 12
and a bottom front portion 13, on each of which is fornied a pivot pin (the
top
pivot pin being shown at 14) that can fit within the top pivot hole 5 and the
bottom
pivot hole 6 respectively, thereby allowing the bay window inner frame 4 to be
partially rotatable within the front portion 15 of the electrical switch box
3. The
pivot pin 14 has a sloped top, which allows it to slide readily along top
guiding
channel 16, the top front portion 12 bending downward during the sliding, and
snap into position in the top pivot hole 5. Likewise, a bottom pivot pin 17
(shown
in Figure 4) simultaneously slides along bottom channel 18 while the bottom
front
portion 13 bends to snap into the bottom pivot hole 6. The camera I and the
illuminator 2 are mounted on a backing board 19. 7'he backing board 19 snaps
into
the bay window inner frame behind the sloped retaining clips shown at 20 and
21.
The illuminator 2 comprises multiple LED's 22, 23, 24. 25, 26. A curved
8

CA 02435424 2003-07-29
translucent pane 37 in the decor bay window cover plate resembles a motion
detector switch cover, and conceals both the cainera 1 and the illuminator 2
from
view, yet allows the illumination out and images in to the camera behind the
pane.
A horizontal wall 38 divides the bay window into a carnera stage 39 and an
illumination stage 40, extending to and abutting the translucent pane 37, in
order to
prevent bounce-back effects that would obscure the in:iaging if the wall were
not
present and allowed illumination to reflect off the interior of the pane 37
into the
camera 1.
Referring to Figure 3A, the camera 1 and illuminator 2 assembly within the
partially rotatable bay window inner frame 4 can thus readily be mounted
within
the electrical switch box 3 after it has been secured enipty to a stud in
wa1144. The
bay window inner fram.e 4 is then rotated such that the camera I points in the
desired direction, as shown in Figure 3B. Often the desired direction will
that
which will capture face shots of persons who have come through an entrance to
a
room in which the device is installed.
Referring to Figures 3C and 4, the bay window switch box cover plate 30 is
then
attached with upper screw 51 and lower screw 52 onto the electrical switch box
3,
thereby securing the inner frame 4 by means of the inner frame notches 31 and
32
9

CA 02435424 2003-07-29
on each of the top and bottom portions' partially circular front edges fitting
within
complementary points 33 and 34 in each of the complementary partially circular
top and bottom rimmed flanges, 35 and 36 respectively.
With one such double bay window device the camera I and the illuminator 2 each
point at the same area, but as an option several such devices with additional
separate illuminator modules could be installed at various locations within a
room
to provide multiple-angle lighting.
The illumination could be visible light if that was desired, with camera
sensitivity
to match, but in most security situations, it would be preferable to use infra-
red
radiant illumination, with camera sensitivity to match, allowing observation
and
recording whether there are good or poor visible light conditions. The curved
translucent pane 37 can be a dark red to function as an. optical screen,
passing the
infra-red frequencies through to the camera while to some degree obscuring
visible
light, which allows the camera 1 to be hidden behind the curved translucent
pane
37.
The illuminator 2 would typically comprise an array oi.' high efficiency
LEi.~s 22,
23, 24, 25, 26 providing infra-red radiation at 850 or 940 nanometers, powered
by

CA 02435424 2008-02-13
either a 12 or a 24 volt alternating current power supply. The LED array thus
uses
only a few watts of power to provide good video images with a matching CCD
camera 1, effective for day or night surveillance under low light and no-light
ambient conditions with performance in the infra-red spectrum. A typical lens
58
for the camera 1 would be from 2.5 mm to 16 mm.
A spike protecting regulator board for the illuminator 2 allows for 12 vdc or
24
vac input power. A common power supply could be used for the regulator board
for the camera 1. A variable resistor enables a "dimmer switch" to allow the
installer to control the light to optimize the picture required at the
distance desired.
Good picture performance from one foot to twenty feet can be expected.
The curved translucent panel 37 can be a dark red optical screen, making this
infra-red camera and illuminator effectively discreet. If desired the
translucent
panels and the switch plate can be colour-matched to the decor of the room
instead.
Referring to Figure 5, the process of facial recognition by software and
database
indexing of features observed by the device of Figure 1 can be enhanced by
having
11

CA 02435424 2008-02-13
the camera take a varying series of exposures by varying its shutter speed or
opening, to accommodate varying ambient light effects on the illumination from
the
device. A predetermined shutter speed / opening that is "normal" for the
equipment
and anticipated conditions starts the process at block 61. A lesser exposure
is taken
at block 62, while a greater exposure is taken at block 63. The greater
exposure is
taken either by slowing the shutter speed or opening up an iris for the lens,
both of
which are effected electronically. An even lesser exposure follows at 64, and
an
even greater exposure is taken at 65. A series of such frames are exposed and
the
data passed to the facial recognition software, which has a facial feature
resolution
measurement module 66. The assessment of the facial feature resolution data
coming into the module gives feedback 67 to block 61, changing its setting to
that
of the optimum exposure received at module 66. Feedback 68 is given to blocks
62
through 65, causing their exposure settings to increase or decrease
(respectively),
such that they provide a series of exposures that vary less than initially,
but still
vary in case the play of light on the face to be recognized changes. If the
facial
feature resolution becomes poor, the feedback 68 can cause the exposure
settings of
blocks to vary more widely.
The within-described invention may be embodied in other specific forms and
with
additional options and accessories without departing from the spirit or
essential
12

CA 02435424 2003-07-29
characteristics thereof. The presently disclosed embodiment is therefore to be
considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of
the
invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing
description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of
equivalence of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.
13

Representative Drawing