Granted Patent B2

US 8,854,468 · App. 11/951,652 · Granted Oct 7, 2014

Abstract

Claims (36)

1. A video surveillance system, the system comprising:

a video camera;

a motor operable to move the video camera; and

a processor assessing a signal value corresponding to an amount of accumulated current provided to the motor, the processor terminating the current to the motor when the assessed signal value exceeds a predetermined value for a predetermined period of time, the processor allowing manual repositioning of at least a portion of the video surveillance system when current to the motor is terminated, and the processor reinitiating the current to the motor after a predetermined period of time, the reinitiating of the current providing sufficient current to maintain a position after manual repositioning.

2. The video surveillance system according to claim 1 , wherein the processor assesses a speed of the motor, the processor terminating the current to the motor when the assessed signal value exceeds a predetermined value for a predetermined period of time and the assessed speed is less than a predetermined speed value.

3. The video surveillance system according to claim 2 , further comprising:

a pulse-width-modulation driver in electrical communication with the processor and the motor, the driver providing the signal to the motor; and

a decoder generating a speed output based on revolutions of the motor, the assessed speed of the motor based at least in part on the speed output.

4. The video surveillance system according to claim 1 , further comprising a communication network coupled to the processor, the processor communicating the termination of the current across the network.

5. The video surveillance system according to claim 1 , wherein the processor monitors a signal value corresponding to the amount of current and adjusts at least one of a zoom setting and focus setting of the video camera based at least in part on the monitored signal value.

6. A method of operating a video camera assembly having at least one motor, the method comprising:

defining a threshold signal value corresponding to an accumulation rate of current provided to the motor;

monitoring a value of a signal corresponding to an accumulation rate of current provided to the motor;

determining that the monitored signal value exceeds the threshold signal value for a predetermined period of time;

terminating the current to the motor;

allowing manual repositioning of at least a portion of the video camera assembly when current to the motor is terminated; and

reinitiating the current to the motor after a predetermined period of time, the reinitiating of the current providing sufficient current to maintain a position after manual repositioning.

7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the signal is a pulse-width-modulation signal.

8. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the defined threshold signal value is less than 100% for a pulse-width-modulation signal duty cycle.

9. The method according to claim 6 , further comprising:

defining a threshold speed of the motor;

monitoring a speed of the motor;

determining that the monitored speed is lower than the threshold speed; and

terminating the current to the motor being based at least in part on the monitored speed of the motor.

10. The method according to claim 6 , further comprising communicating the termination of the current across a communication network.

11. The method according to claim 6 , further comprising manually applying a force to the assembly until the monitored signal value exceeds the threshold signal value.

12. The method according to claim 6 , further comprising:

monitoring movement of at least a portion of the video camera assembly, and

reestablishing current to the motor after a predetermined time period lapses without any monitored movement.

13. The method according to claim 6 , further comprising manually

applying a force to at least a portion of the camera assembly to adjust of at least one of a focus setting and zoom setting of the camera assembly.

14. A motor over-current protection system for a camera assembly, the system comprising:

a processor electrically coupled to the camera assembly, the processor assessing (a) a signal value corresponding to an accumulated amount of current provided to a motor and (b) a speed of the motor, the processor terminating the current to the motor based on at least one of the assessed signal value and the assessed speed, the processor allowing manual repositioning of at least a portion of the camera assembly when current to the motor is terminated, and the processor reinitiating the current to the motor after a predetermined period of time, the reinitiating of the current providing sufficient current to maintain a position after manual repositioning.

15. The motor control system according to claim 14 , wherein the processor terminates the current provided to the motor when the signal value exceeds a predetermined value for a predetermined period of time.

16. The system according to claim 14 , wherein the processor terminates the current to the motor when the assessed signal value exceeds a predetermined value for a predetermined period of time and the assessed speed is less than a predefined speed value.

17. The system according to claim 14 , further comprising a pulse-width-modulation driver in electrical communication with the processor, the pulse-width-modulation driver providing the current to the motor by adjusting a duty cycle of the signal.

Assignments (8)