Abstract: A video monitoring system is proposed, which is used to mask objects in a monitored scene that involve the privacy of an individual. Such objects include vehicle license plates or the person himself. An unmasking occurs when proof of legitimacy is entered. In a modification, a combination of a stationary camera and a moving camera also permits the masking of individual objects in the monitored scene.

Abstract: A method is provided for monitoring at least one object in a scene, which method provides that, once a moving object stops and comes to a standstill, the dwell time at standstill is counted so as to generate a signaling as a function of the dwell time. The object is described by a list or a matrix characterizing the direction of movement and the time.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device and a method for identifying an object O in an opening that can be closed by means of a mobile element (12). Light is fed into at least one fiber-optic light guide (33, 34) from a light source (1, 2), and variations in the received light are detected by means of at least one receiver (Ea, Eb), the fiber-optic light guide being arranged at least partially along the edge of the opening (11). A first fiber-optic light guide sends light transversally to the length thereof, said light being then received by a second fiber-optic light guide transversally to the length thereof. The second fiber-optic light guide (34) is connected to the receiver (Eb). The fiber-optic light guides are arranged on the edge of the opening (11) in such a way that a light field (F) at least partially bridging the opening is produced.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device and a method for identifying an object O in an opening that can be closed by means of a mobile element (12). Light is fed into at least one fibre-optic light guide (33, 34) from a light source (1, 2), and variations in the received light are detected by means of at least one receiver (Ea, Eb), the fibre-optic light guide being arranged at least partially along the edge of the opening (11). A first fibre-optic light guide sends light transversally to the length thereof, said light being then received by a second fibre-optic light guide transversally to the length thereof. The second fibre-optic light guide (34) is connected to the receiver (Eb). The fibre-optic light guides are arranged on the edge of the opening (11) in such a way that a light field (F) at least partially bridging the opening is produced.

Abstract: A device for deflecting optical beams is provided, the device having an array of mirror elements, and each mirror element being pivotable at any angle independently from another mirror element. This array may be manufactured micromechanically. The pivoting of the mirror element may be executed either capacitively or thermally. The array may be situated in a camera either as a deflecting mirror or as a lens. Scanning of a space element is also possible by using the array. Applications of the device include, e.g., use in a passive infrared detector, as well as use in a scattered-light smoke detector.

Abstract: A control arrangement for a control element for opening and closing a hatch in a motor vehicle has a motorized vehicle panel. The control element is designed in such a way that, upon a short actuation of the control element, depending on the direction of actuation of the control element, a control unit outputs a signal to a motor in order to displace the vehicle panel, and the vehicle panel is displaced in response to the signal. A safety operating device for the arrangement has at least one light transmission section which is actuated upon actuation of the control element and which correspondingly outputs an activation confirmation signal to a control unit. The control unit will not output a signal in response to which the motor displaces the vehicle panel until the signal from the control element and the activation confirmation signal from the safety operating device are present at the same time.

Abstract: A method is provided for monitoring at least one object in a scene, which method provides that, once a moving object stops and comes to a standstill, the dwell time at standstill is counted so as to generate a signaling as a function of the dwell time. The object is described by a list or a matrix characterizing the direction of movement and the time.

Abstract: A device for deflecting optical beams is provided, the device having an array of mirror elements, and each mirror element being pivotable at any angle independently from another mirror element. This array may be manufactured micromechanically. The pivoting of the mirror element may be executed either capacitively or thermally. The array may be situated in a camera either as a deflecting mirror or as a lens. Scanning of a space element is also possible by using the array. Applications of the device include, e.g., use in a passive infrared detector, as well as use in a scattered-light smoke detector.

Abstract: A method for detecting moved objects in chronologically successive pictures is disclosed in which a current picture is divided into picture blocks and in each picture block a change of a picture signal of the current picture from that of a corresponding picture block of a first reference picture preceding the current picture is as certained , To detect the change the difference between the picture signals of the current picture and tho se of a second reference picture without moved objects is first compared pixel-precisely with a first threshold. If the first threshold is exceed, an object-oriented analysis of object size and/or shape takes place in which the picture signals corresponding to the moved object are compared with picture signals of a corresponding region of the first reference picture. For at least one moved object of the current picture that undershoots a size threshold, a motion vector is estimated.