Reford R Still

US Patent:

20030103139, Jun 5, 2003

Filed:

Nov 18, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/298783

Inventors:

John Pretzer - Clovis CA, US
Robert Sexton - Fresno CA, US
Reford Still - Fresno CA, US
John Ellenberger - Clovis CA, US

Assignee:

Pelco

International Classification:

H04N007/18

US Classification:

348/143000, 348/159000

Abstract:

A system and method is provided for processing video signals, tracking objects in view, and blanking fields of view in video surveillance systems. The system includes a camera having two rotational degrees of freedom, a display, and a combination of switches for routing the video signal. The displayed video signal is divided into an array of cells which may be individually masked, blanked, or blurred. The camera microcontroller captures and stores objects in view, and tracks such objects as the camera zooms, pans and tilts in spherical coordinates. Objects in view may be tracked and blanked by obscuring an agglomeration of the cells in response to a masking signal generated by the microcontroller.