Surveillance apparatus

There is disclosed a surveillance apparatus comprising: —a retractable support member the member having a first end and a second end; a housing; a spooling mechanism mounted at the housing, and being rotatable relative to the housing, and being attached to the second end of the retractable support member, the spooling mechanism being:Operable to rotate in a first direction to convert the retractable support member from a coiled condition to an extended condition and thereby pay-out the support member from the housing,Operable to rotate in a second direction opposite to the first to convert the retractable support member from the extended condition to the coiled condition and thereby retract the support member into the housing;A mount attached to the first end of the retractable support member; A surveillance device attached to the mount for receiving environmental signals, a human interface remote from the surveillance device; and an electrical connection operably connecting the surveillance device to the human interface, the electrical connection comprising an electrical rotary joint between the housing and the spooling mechanism, such that the surveillance device may be supported, remote from the human interface by paying out the member.

The present invention relates to surveillance apparatus.

It is known to provide a retractable support for attachment to an imaging device such as a digital camera, for capturing images of a scene or a video of a scene. Such supports enable the operator to capture images or video from viewpoints which may not be possible in the absence of such a support.

Often such supports have a telescopic mechanism for enabling the support to switch between a compressed and an extended condition. As such the supports include a retractable member comprising a series of coaxial tubular sub-members, each having decreasing girth compared to the preceding sub-member, and interconnected such that smaller girth sub-members may be sheathed inside their larger girth neighbours. Typically such supports can extend to a length of approximately one meter.

According to the present invention there is provided a surveillance apparatus comprising:—a retractable support member the member having a first end and a second end; a housing; a spooling mechanism mounted at the housing, and being rotatable relative to the housing, and being attached to the second end of the retractable support member, the spooling mechanism being:

Operable to rotate in a first direction to convert the retractable support member from a coiled condition to an extended condition and thereby pay-out the support member from the housing,

Operable to rotate in a second direction opposite to the first to convert the retractable support member from the extended condition to the coiled condition and thereby retract the support member into the housing;

A mount attached to the first end of the retractable support member; A surveillance device attached to the mount for receiving environmental signals, a human interface remote from the surveillance device; and an electrical connection operably connecting the surveillance device to the human interface, the electrical connection comprising an electrical rotary joint between the housing and the spooling mechanism, such that the surveillance device may be supported, remote from the human interface by paying out the member.

Such a surveillance apparatus can tend to provide a lightweight support which offers the operator the option of using the surveillance device at a number of different displacements from the housing, and yet still provides for efficient stowage.

The retractable support member may be in the form of a cambered tape

Such a support member has been determined to provide efficient use of material in supporting the load of the surveillance device for low weight per unit length.

The spooling mechanism may comprise a spring biased to retract the support member and the surveillance apparatus may further comprise a selectively applicable brake for locking the member in position when a desired amount of retractable support member has been converted into an extended condition.

Such a spooling mechanism can tend to be convenient to operate. Further, the retraction of the support member, i.e. the tape, can be completed quickly by releasing the brake and allowing the spooling mechanism to retract the extended portion of the support member, as urged by the spring.

The human interface may be at the housing.

The surveillance device may be a camera, and the human interface may be a display screen.

As such the operator may monitor the output of the surveillance device remote from the surveillance device, either at the housing, or may be even on a non-contiguous human interface such as a separate tablet computer, which may be viewed by another operator.

The display screen may be pivotally attached at the housing in at least one axis, such that the display screen may switch between a readily observable condition and a stowed condition.

As such convenient viewing of the display screen can be achieved.

The electrical connection between the device and the human interface may comprise a coaxial cable mounted on the tape and running along a length of the tape such that the coaxial cable can operably connect to the surveillance device at the first end of the retractable support member, and can thereby relay a signal from the surveillance device towards the human interface.

Such a provision for relaying data from the surveillance device to the human interface can be readily assembled from available materials, and can provide for covert communications between the surveillance device and the interface (e.g. compared to a wireless communications link).

The electrical rotary joint may comprise a first set of contacts internal to the spooling mechanism and being for connection to the coaxial cable and a second set of contacts external to the spooling mechanism and interconnected with the first set of contacts.

Such a rotary joint conveniently allows the signal to be passed between the spooling mechanism and the housing, for onward distribution to the human interface.

The housing may be man-portable and comprise a grip.

As such, the apparatus can more conveniently be used manually. In general, the apparatus may be a handheld apparatus.

The tape may be at least 30 mm wide, a camber radius of 15-25 mm, and a thickness of 0.3-0.5 mm.

As such, the tape is able to vertically support a camera weighing approximately 1 Kg to a distance of up to approximately 3 m.

The retractable support member may be provided with a low observable finish

Such provision can tend to mitigate the risk of detection and so provide a support suited for covert operations. For example, the support member may be finished in a matt black paint and thereby mitigate against the risk of glint.

The surveillance apparatus100comprises a surveillance device10, attached by way of a mount25to a first, or distal, end24of a retractable support member20. The retractable support member20extends away from the surveillance device10into a rotatable spooling mechanism30.

The retractable support member20is generally rigid but may readily be collapsed by the application of a suitable force.

More specifically, the support20is generally in the form of a cambered metallic tape. Thus the tape has a convex Cx and a concave Cc surface, as shown inFIG. 2. When in an extended condition, the tape20may be readily collapsed by applying a positive bending moment over the length of the tape (i.e. the bending moment tends to compress the concave surface and stretch the convex surface) and subsequently coiling the tape20.

The tape of the present embodiment is made from steel and has a thickness of 0.4 mm, a width of 32 mm and a camber radius of 20 mm.

The applicant has determined that, surprisingly, when such a tape20is provided in an extended condition it can be sufficiently rigid to support not only the mass of its extended portion but also the mass of the surveillance device10.

Indeed, the applicant has ascertained that, surprisingly, for a surveillance device10of approximate mass820g(including a65gbattery power supply), using the tape20of the present embodiment, a tape length of 3 m may exist in the extended condition and feasibly support the surveillance device10.

Thus, in the present embodiments, the tape20may be 3 m long.

Such a tape20may alternatively be provided in a coiled condition (or a ‘reeled-in’ condition) where the tape20is wound in a spiral for more convenient stowage.

The tape20may exist in a combination of conditions: an outer portion of the tape20may be provided in an extended condition and an inner portion of the tape20may be in a coiled condition.

The camber of the tape20is arranged such that as the tape20is coiled, or reeled in, the concave surface Cc of the tape20tends to be laid on top of the convex Cx surface of the tape20.

With further reference toFIG. 2, the rotatable spooling mechanism30comprises a rotatable drum, rotatably mounted within a housing40. The drum is in the form of a reel or spool and comprises a generally hollow cylinder32(the axis31of which being coaxial with the axis of rotation of the drum) extending between flanking annular flanges34. Within the hollow cylinder32there is a coil spring36, formed from a strip of metal, which is at its innermost end37fixed to the housing40. The coil spring36is wound around itself such that it spirals out from the innermost end37, extending in a clockwise direction. The outermost end38of the coil spring36extends through an aperture in the cylinder32and is attached to the innermost end22of the tape20.

Thus the innermost end22of the tape20is held close to the outer surface of the cylinder32and the concave surface Cc of the tape20faces the outer surface of the cylinder32. From the innermost end22of the tape20, the tape20extends in a clockwise manner, overlapping itself to form a spiral about the cylinder32and ultimately terminating at the distal end24of the tape20.

The coil spring36is biased to urge the outermost end38of the coil spring36back into the interior of the drum32. Consequently the cylinder32is biased to rotate relative to the housing in an anticlockwise direction to reel in the tape20.

Furthermore, the biasing of the spring36and the interconnection between the spring's distal end38and the tape's inner end22tend to provide that the interconnection is in a substantially fixed location, relative to the cylinder32.

A brake46is provide which may be applied, by sliding into contact with the mechanism30, so as to arrest the rotation of the drum and tlock the amount of tape20paid out from the spooling mechanism30.

The spooling mechanism30is held within the chamber of the housing40such that it is able to rotate relative to the housing. The housing40is provided with an aperture to allow the retractable member, tape20, to extend out from the general bounds of the housing40.

A human interface device50, which in the present invention is a display screen50, is attached to the housing40by hinge45. The axis of the hinge45is oriented such that the display screen50may in one condition be folded into the main body of the housing40for secure stowage, or in another condition flipped out from the housing40for ease of viewing by an operator.

The hinge45may be provided with a further pivot (not shown), having an axis normal to that of the hinge45such that the screen50may be tilted for even further ease of viewing by an operator.

The housing40is further provided with a power supply42for providing power to electrical components at the housing40, and a grip44for facilitating handheld operation of the apparatus.

In the first surveillance apparatus presently embodied, the surveillance device10is a video camera.

Further, surveillance device10is provided with an interface12for a wireless link S and is thereby capable of transmitting and/or receiving electromagnetic signals. In association with the interface12, the display screen50is provided with an interface52for the wireless link S and as such, images captured at the camera10may be relayed to the display screen50and shown thereon.

The interfaces12and52may comprise an antenna and transceiver unit. Thus the wireless link S may adopt RF transmission protocols included in or associated with BLUETOOTH™ technology (including in particular the IEEE standard 802.15.1) or included in or associated with the IEEE 802.11 standards (referred to commonly as WIFI™). IEEE 802.11 standards would tend to be suited to relaying high definition video signals.

Still further, the wireless link S may be operable at frequencies in the range of 55-65 GHz and thereby enable high data rates and covert signal distribution (this band being strongly attenuated by air).

Alternatively, and in contexts where overt operation is permissible, the interface12may comprise a light beacon, photo-detector and a transceiver unit.

Thus the wireless link S may be provided with a free space optical signal transmission protocol.

Referring toFIGS. 3, 4 and 5, a surveillance device according to the second embodiment of the present invention is shown generally at200.

The surveillance device200is similar to the first embodiment shown inFIG. 1. Consequently, for simplicity, where components are repeated such that reference numerals would be the same, these reference numerals have been omitted fromFIG. 3for clarity.

The surveillance apparatus200differs from the first embodiment in providing an alternative means for relaying signals (e.g. conveying data) from the surveillance device10(e.g. camera) to the human interface50(e.g. display screen).

In particular and referring toFIGS. 4 and 5, the apparatus200provides a continuous electrical connection between the device10and the display50.

This continuous connection comprises a coaxial cable21bonded to the tape20and thereby extending between the camera10and the housing40.

The coaxial cable21is bonded to the tape20using a thin single-sided adhesive strip23(omitted fromFIG. 5for visual clarity) running along the tape20.

The coaxial cable21and adhesive strip23are selected to be sufficiently fine (i.e. having low profile) that they do not significantly impede the spooling mechanism30, given that approximately 3 m of tape (or more) may be coiled in the mechanism30.

The applicant has identified ‘38 AWG 50 Ohm Coaxial Cable’ as supplied by ADS Europe Ltd (ADS Europe Ltd, Clay House Business Centre, 5 Horninglow St, Burton-on-trent, DE14 1 NG; info@adseuropeltd.com) as being suitable for this purpose.

More specifically the adhesive strip is a transparent adhesive laminate tape with a thickness of 0.05 mm and cut to the width and length of the tape20

As shown inFIGS. 3 and 5, the surveillance apparatus200is provided with a rotary electrical joint, between the cylinder32and the housing40such that the signal carried over the coaxial cable24may be communicated onward to the display screen50.

The rotary electrical joint comprises annular tracks47aand47bon the outer surface of one of the flanges34. These are electrically connected to the innermost end of the coaxial cable21. More specifically: wire43aconnects the outer conductor of the cable21to the circular track47a; and wire43bconnects the inner conductor of the cable21to the circular track47b. (Wires43aand43bare omitted fromFIG. 3for visual clarity).

The wires43aand43bare physically routed within the mechanism30such that, with the exception of the innermost end22of the tape20, they are secured away from the tape20, and away from the coil spring36. As such, the wires do not tangle with or otherwise contact these as the tape20pays out or reels in. Nonetheless, the wires are physically routed such that there is sufficient slack in them, particularly, where they contact the innermost end22so as to be able to accommodate shifts in the position of the innermost end22relative to the drum cylinder32. However, the spring37of the spooling mechanism30is calibrated such that the innermost end22is substantially fixed relative to the cylinder32; shifts in position should tend to be minimised.

The housing40, at the chamber that accommodates the spooling mechanism30is provided with sprung contacts48aand48bwhich are biased to touch their respective tracks47aand47band thereby maintain contact as the spooling mechanism30rotates. The sprung contacts48a,48b, are electrically connected to wires49aand49bwhich feed an input signal into the display screen50.

Thus the wires43, the annular tracks47and the contacts48provide the rotary electrical joint and contribute to the continuous electrical connection between the device10and the human interface50.

Also shown clearly inFIG. 5, is an axle41which is fixed to and forms part of the housing40. The axle41protrudes through and supports the cylinder32of the spooling mechanism30. Such support is provided at a low friction cylindrical interface51which facilitates the rotation of the spooling mechanism30about axis31. In the present embodiment, the axle41is the part of the housing40to which the innermost end37of the spring36connects.

In operation, the apparatus100or200may be in a collapsed condition where the tape20is fully retracted into the spooling mechanism, as shown inFIG. 6A, so as to minimise the space the apparatus occupies.

Thus, when the camera10is not in use, the apparatus can be readily stashed in a pocket or backpack.

Alternatively, the apparatus100or200may be in an extended condition where the device10is remote to at least some degree from the human interface50, as compared to when the apparatus is in the retracted condition and signals are being communicated therebetween. It is also noted that the camera may be activated and the apparatus generally in use, but without the need for the tape20to be extended and provide a different/displaced viewpoint.

The apparatus100or200may readily be converted from such a storage condition into an extended condition, such as shown inFIGS. 1, 3, and 6B.

To effect such a conversion, the operator may simply disengage the brake46(if it is engaged) and then manually pay out the tape20to gradually displace the camera10from the housing40.

As the tape is paid out, the operator overcomes the urging force of the spring36and causes the spooling mechanism30to rotate relative to the housing40.

Once a desired displacement (e.g. height) of the camera has been achieved, the brake46may be reapplied in order to hold the camera10steady at that displacement and with the desired amount of tape in the extended condition.

Consequently, with the camera and screen activated the operator may survey a scene by monitoring environmental signals from a viewpoint that could otherwise be unachievable. For example the apparatus100,200may be extended in order to see over a wall or other obstacle.

Further, the apparatus100,200may readily be converted from such an extended condition back to the storage condition by releasing the brake46and allowing the spring36to rotate the spooling mechanism30and thereby draw the tape20back into its coiled condition.

Variants of the present invention may provide one or more of the following in combination or as an alternative to equivalents mentioned above.

For instance, the human interface50may be a simple control panel for issuing blind instructions to the surveillance device10. For example, the control panel may be operable to issue a signal to the device10so as to start recording (where the device10is a video camera), or to capture and image (where the device10is a stills camera). Such a control panel may be suited to interfacing with the device10by means of a BLUETOOTH™ scheme.

The mount25may be provided in an articulated form, such that it may swivel and tilt. Such articulation may be passive so that the operator determines and applies the swivel and tilt whilst proximate to the device10. Alternatively, the mount may be active such that in response to signals issued via the interface50, the operator is able to swivel or tilt the device10e.g. to vary the field of view.

The surveillance device has been embodied above as a camera or video camera. In further embodiments within the scope of the present invention the device10may alternatively or additionally be capable of monitoring other environmental signals. The device may therefore comprise a microphone or a thermometer, or a magnetometer.

In embodiments there may be provided a releasable fastening at the mount25, which also serves to connect/disconnect the device from the cable. As such there is facilitated an arrangement where a surveillance device can be conveniently swapped for a replacement or alternative surveillance device.

In variants, the housing40may be provided with a motor or other actuator means for automatically reeling in or paying out of the tape20. This provision would tend to enable one handed operation of the apparatus.