Abstract:
A surveillance system controller comprising a housing, a first control module and a second control module. The first control module is located in a first location in the housing, and it is rotatable around a first axis so that the first control module can be rotated to a first angular position. The second control module is located in a second location in the housing, and it is rotatable around a second axis so that the second control module can be rotated to a second angular position independent of the first angular position.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   N/A 
   STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
   N/A 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates to surveillance systems and, in particular, to a controller for use in a surveillance system. As used herein the term surveillance system includes building management and security systems. 
   The controllers have been used in the surveillance systems to select and control video cameras. The controller usually provides a number of keys to perform various functions and a joystick to control the pan, tilt and zoom of the camera under present control. Security personnel may operate these controllers for extended periods, which can become tedious and tiring. The prior art controllers have their keys and joysticks fixed in position. The security personnel operating the controller must position themselves as best they can in relation to the controller and then hold their hands in a position that may not be ergonomically suited to the operator. Accordingly, there has been a long felt need for a surveillance system controller that provides an ergonomic advantage to the operator while still providing the required video controls. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In accordance with the present invention there is provided a surveillance system controller comprising a housing, a first control module and a second control module. The first control module is located in a first location in the housing, and it is rotatable around a first axis so that the first control module can be rotated to a first angular position. The second control module is located in a second location in the housing, and it is rotatable around a second axis so that the second control module can be rotated to a second angular position independent of the first angular position. 
   In an alternative embodiment of the present invention there is provided a surveillance system controller comprising a housing having a plurality of apertures and a plurality of electrical connectors, a first control module positioned in a first aperture of the plurality of apertures and having a first electrical connector connected to a first electrical connector of the plurality of electrical connectors, and a second control module positioned in a second aperture of the plurality of apertures and having a second electrical connector connected to a second electrical connector of the plurality of electrical connectors, wherein the first and second control modules can be interchanged between the first and second apertures. 
   In various alternative embodiments the present invention can have a convex shape on the side intended to be closest to a user of the controller or a third control module located in the housing between the first and second control modules. This third control module can be interchangeable with either of the first and second control modules. The control modules may comprise one of the following: a control module having a joystick and control buttons, a control module having controls for controlling video storage devices, or a control module having a keypad. In addition, the three control modules can be located in the controller so that an arc drawn from the periphery of the first, second and third modules is similar in shape to the convex shape of the first side intended to be closest to a user of the controller. 
   Other advantages and applications of the present invention will be made apparent by the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     A more complete understanding of the present invention, and the attendant advantages and features thereof, will be more readily understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a video surveillance system utilizing the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a controller utilizing the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the controller shown in  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 4  is a plan view of the housing shown in  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 5  is a side view of the bottom portion of the housing. 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the clicker show in  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 7  is a partial bottom view of the top portion of the housing shown in  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 8  is a bock diagram of the electrical connections of the modules and printed circuit board of the present invention. 
       FIG. 9  is a perspective top view bottom portion of the housing shown in  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the module bottom of the control modules shown in  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 11  is a plan view of the wrist support shown in  FIG. 3 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described herein above. In addition, unless mention was made above to the contrary, it should be noted that all of the accompanying drawings are not to scale. A variety of modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, which is limited only by the following claims. 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , a video surveillance system is shown generally by numeral  10 . Controller  12  is connected by network  14  to video surveillance camera  16 , video storage  18 , and monitor  20 . Network  14  can be a hard-wired closed network, local area network, or wide area network such as the Internet. Controller  12  transmits and receives appropriate electrical signals to control camera  16 , such as its pan, tilt, and zoom functions as is known in the art. The video signals from camera  16  may be viewed on monitor  20  and stored in video storage  18 , which can be a videocassette recorder or digital video recorder. 
   Referring to  FIG. 2 , controller  12  has a housing  22  which contains three control modules,  24 ,  26  and  28 , and optional wrist support  30 . Control module  24  contains a plurality of keys for keypad control type functions. Control module  26  contains a jog/shuttle control and several keys for video playback control from video storage devices. Control module  28  contains a joystick and several keys for control of a video surveillance camera, including pan, tilt, zoom and other functions. The positions of control modules  24 ,  26 , and  28  can be changed in any configuration, for example, control module  28  can be located where control module  24  is and vice versa. This feature allows the user to place the control module that is used most of the time in the position for control by the user&#39;s preferred arm. In addition, although three control modules have been shown, it is not necessary that controller  12  have three control modules. In the case where less than three control modules are used a plate or plates are placed over the unused position or positions. In addition, control modules  24 ,  26 , and  28  can be rotated independently to be aligned with the user to provide ergonomic comfort and advantage. Optional wrist support  30  provides additional comfort and ergonomic support to a user. 
     FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of controller  12  which illustrates that control modules  24 ,  26 , and  28  are placed in their respective module cavities  32  in top portion  34  of housing  22 . Module clickers  38  are located between top portion  34  and bottom portion  36  of housing  22  and are connected to control modules  24 ,  26 , and  28  by screws  39 . The function and interconnection of module clickers  38  with control modules  24 ,  26 , and  28  is explained in detail below. Top portion  34  and bottom portion  36  of housing  22  can be made of plastic or other suitable material. 
     FIG. 4  shows a top view of top portion  34  of housing  22 . Each module cavity  34  has a center aperture  40  and a ring  42  of durable, low wear, low friction plastic such as Delrin® acetal resin available from DuPont. There are four notches  44  in each module cavity  32  in which suitable tabs from ring  42  can be placed to hold ring  42  in position without slippage. In addition, each module cavity  34  has a stop  46  which mates with lip  48  of module bottom  50 , which is shown in  FIG. 10 . Module bottom  50  has edges  52  which limit the amount that bottom module  50  can be rotated in module cavity  32 ; this in turn limits the amount that control modules  24 ,  26 , and  28  can be rotated since a module bottom  50  is connected to each of control modules  24 ,  26 , and  28  by screws, not shown, that are placed in holes  54 . The amount that control modules  24 ,  26 , and  28  can be rotated is preferably 180 degrees or less. Surface  56  of bottom module  50  rests on ring  42  and slides on ring  42  when bottom module  50  is rotated. Line  58  which is drawn along the periphery of control modules  24 ,  26 , and  28  shows an arc that is similar in shape to the convex shape of side  60 . The convex shape of side  60  in combination with the rotatable positioning of control modules  24 ,  26 , and  28  provides an ergonomic advantage to the user. In addition, as shown in  FIG. 1 , top surface  62  of controller  12  is sloped slightly towards the user to provide additional comfort and ergonomic advantage to a user. With reference to  FIG. 5 , back support wall  64  is higher than front support wall  66  to provide the slight incline of top surface  62 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 2 ,  6 ,  7 ,  9 , and  10 , clicker  38  has three raised portions  68  that engage with teeth  70  on the bottom side  72  of top portion  34  of housing  22  to maintain the position of control modules  24 ,  26 , and  28  when they are rotated to the desired position. Clicker  38  has a cavity area  74  that mates with raised portion  76  on module bottom  50 . Cavity area  74  has an aperture  78  that aligns with aperture  80  in raised portion  76  so that when screw  39  is inserted through aperture  83  in bottom portion  36  of housing  22  it fastens clicker  38  to control modules  24 ,  26 , and  28  thereby engaging raised portions  68  with teeth  70 . The bottom of clicker  38  engages rings  82  on top surface  84  of bottom portion  36  of housing  22 . Bottom module  50  has a channel  86  to accommodate at electrical connector, such as a USB connector, to connect to control modules  24 ,  26 , and  28 . 
     FIG. 8  shows schematically the electrical connections of the present invention. Control modules  24 ,  26 , and  28  each have an electrical connector  88  which mates with electrical connector  90  from circuit board  92 . Connectors  88  and  90  can be USB type connectors. Circuit board has connectors  94 ,  96 , and  98 , which can be USB connectors, phone jacks or other suitable connectors for communication between controller  12  and network  14 , as is shown in  FIG. 1 . In addition, other types of devices, for example digital storage devices, can be connected to connectors  94 ,  96 , and  98 . In  FIG. 9 , lines  100 ,  102 , and  104  indicate the routing of the electrical wires from connectors  90  to circuit board  92  which is contained inside enclosure  106 . 
   Wrist support  30 , which is shown in  FIG. 11 , has a concave side  106  that mates with the shape of side  60  of housing  22  and a convex side  108  that is similar in shape to the shape of side  60  of housing  22 . Wrist support  30  has four tabs  110  with apertures  112  through which screws can be inserted to fasten wrist support  30  to bottom portion  36  of housing  22 . 
   It is to be understood that variations and modifications of the present invention can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. It is also to be understood that the scope of the invention is not to be interpreted as limited to the specific embodiments disclosed herein, but only in accordance with the appended claims when read in light of the foregoing disclosure.