Abstract: A home security and automation system includes multi-sensor sensor devices that communicate with a base unit. Each sensor device is a self-identifying multi-function device that includes a housing, multiple sensors disposed in the housing, and a communication device disposed in the housing that permits communication between the sensor device and the base unit. Each sensor device is configured to be operated in multiple operating modes, and an active operating mode of each sensor device, corresponding to one operating mode selected from the several possible operating modes, is determined by the orientation in space of the sensor device housing. The base unit is configured to receive from each sensor device information identifying the active operating mode.

Abstract: A surveillance camera system includes a camera that acquires images and that has an adjustable field of view. A processing device is operably coupled to the camera. The processing device allows a user to define a virtual mask within the acquired images. The processing device also tracks a moving object of interest in the acquired images with a reduced level of regard for areas of the acquired images that are within the virtual mask.

Abstract: A bracket assembly is used to secure a housing to a support structure such as a post, wall or ceiling. The bracket assembly includes an inner bracket, an outer bracket and a connector. The inner bracket is configured to be mounted on the support structure separately from the outer bracket, and the outer bracket is configured to be quickly mounted on the inner bracket. The outer bracket and connector are joined by a ball and socket joint. Angular adjustment of the ball relative to the socket is made prior to mounting of the outer bracket on the inner bracket, and the desired orientation is maintained using a clamping assembly. The bracket assembly includes sealing features that prevent moisture from entering the assembly.

Abstract: A housing assembly includes a base and a front assembly assembled with the base. The base includes a bottom and a sidewall that surrounds a peripheral edge of the bottom, and the front assembly is configured to engage with the sidewalls and close an open end of the base. The front assembly includes a latch that protrudes inward from an inner surface, and a spring-biased cam is rotatably supported on the base. The cam includes a cam surface that is engaged with the latch in such a way that rotation of the cam about the rotational axis results in a translation of the front assembly relative to the base in a direction parallel to the cam rotational axis. The cam is manually actuated using a tool.

Abstract: A bracket assembly is used to secure a housing to a support structure such as a post, wall or ceiling. The bracket assembly includes an inner bracket, an outer bracket and a connector. The inner bracket is configured to be mounted on the support structure separately from the outer bracket, and the outer bracket is configured to be quickly mounted on the inner bracket. The outer bracket and connector are joined by a ball and socket joint. Angular adjustment of the ball relative to the socket is made prior to mounting of the outer bracket on the inner bracket, and the desired orientation is maintained using a clamping assembly. The bracket assembly includes sealing features that prevent moisture from entering the assembly.

Abstract: A bracket assembly is used to secure a housing to a support structure such as a post, wall or ceiling. The bracket assembly includes an inner bracket, an outer bracket and a connector. The inner bracket is configured to be mounted on the support structure separately from the outer bracket, and the outer bracket is configured to be quickly mounted on the inner bracket. The outer bracket and connector are joined by a ball and socket joint. Angular adjustment of the ball relative to the socket is made prior to mounting of the outer bracket on the inner bracket, and the desired orientation is maintained using a clamping assembly. The bracket assembly includes sealing features that prevent moisture from entering the assembly.

Abstract: A motion sensor housing includes a base and a lens holder that is supported on the base. The motion sensor is disposed in the housing between the base and the lens holder so as to face the lens holder, and a frameless lens is supported on an outer surface of the lens holder in such a way that the lens provides the outermost surface of the housing. In addition, when the motion sensor housing is viewed facing the lens, the lens holder is not visible, and the outward-facing surface of the lens is free of edges, borders and/or discontinuities.

Abstract: A video tracking system and method are provided for tracking a target object with a video camera.

Abstract: A surveillance camera system includes a camera that acquires images and that has an adjustable field of view. A processing device is operably coupled to the camera. The processing device allows a user to define a virtual mask within the acquired images. The processing device also tracks a moving object of interest in the acquired images with a reduced level of regard for areas of the acquired images that are within the virtual mask.

Abstract: An active infra-red surveillance illuminator uses a statistically mono-directional micro-diffractive material overlaid on a bank of light emitting diodes (LEDs) to refract light from the LEDs onto a target image. This delivers energy distribution profiles out to a distance to match the aspect ratios of current wide-angle target and wide-angle camera surveillance systems. The distribution of refracted light is elliptical. This distribution can vary by using different diffractive material in conjunction with various numbers, brightness and angles of the LEDs in an LED bank. The effective range of the illuminators is greatly extended with this type of illumination. By limiting infrared (IR) radiation down to a 10 degree vertical window it renders the IR illumination much more effective for surveillance imaging by providing much more effective power on wide, ground-level scenes, and particularly enables multi-lane license plate capture.

Abstract: This system provides a wide range of smooth and precisely controlled low and high speeds for pan-tilt-zoom surveillance cameras, in which a brushless motor is controlled by a Microcontroller in a low speed mode by sinusoidal synchronous commutation, in a high speed mode by block commutation, and in a transition phase from the low speed mode to the high speed mode by modulating integrated pulse-width modulation (PWM) square waves with sine waves. PID and lookup table registers are used by a microcontroller for a smooth transition from high speed mode to low speed mode, and from low speed mode to high speed mode, phase locking a sine position during transitions, in order to give a surveillance camera an ability to quickly move from one target to another at up to 100 degrees per second yet track objects that are moving very slowly.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and system for installing and programming a network interface module within a security system. A security programming system may be implemented from a computing device connected over a network with the network interface module. The computing device may communicate with a server storing components of the security programming system. The security programming system may include user interface components located on the server and accessible through a browser of the computing device to enable selection of a network interface module participating in the security system and selection of a security system application program. The system may additionally include one or more programming applications located on the server for programming the selected network interface module to operate within the security system, wherein the programming application is selectable from the user browser of the computing device.

Abstract: The present invention is an illuminator for CCTV surveillance and security applications that maintains constant optical output from an array of LEDs by employing output compensation, feedback and enhancement. This constant optical output illuminator system enables reliable long-duration low-light imaging and data capture for surveillance and security applications, via an array of LEDs, LED power supply circuitry, and output feedback and compensation circuitry in which a photodetector circuit provides a voltage signal proportional to an amount of light falling on a photosensor and the voltage signal is fed to a drive control circuit for electrical current to the LEDs to achieve a desired optical output as measured by a photosensor voltage setpoint across the photodetector circuit.

Abstract: A modular building system arrangement includes a plurality of electrical building systems. Each electrical building system has a housing with a mechanical connector that is connectable with a like connector of each other building system housing. Members of any subset of the building system housings are connectable with each other to form a building system assembly. The building systems of the building system assembly conjointly define an electrically conductive pathway interconnecting each of the building systems of the building system assembly. The pathway carries power and/or data.

Abstract: A modular building system arrangement includes a plurality of electrical building systems. Each electrical building system has a housing with a mechanical connector that is connectable with a like connector of each other building system housing. Members of any subset of the building system housings are connectable with each other to form a building system assembly. The building systems of the building system assembly conjointly define an electrically conductive pathway interconnecting each of the building systems of the building system assembly. The pathway carries power and/or data.

Abstract: A method of transmitting a message from a security system to a central station receiver includes receiving at the security system an IP address associated with the central station receiver. An attempt is made to transmit the message from the security system to the central station receiver by use of the IP address. In response to a failure to receive at the security system an acknowledgement from the central station receiver that the message was received, the security system is used to query a Domain Name Server for a current IP address associated with the central station receiver. The query is dependent upon a domain name of the central station receiver. The current IP address associated with the central station receiver is received and used to re-attempt the transmitting of the message from the security system to the central station receiver.