Patents by Inventor John D. Pretzer

John D. Pretzer has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • System and method for tracking objects and obscuring fields of view under video surveillance
    Patent number: 7161615
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Pelco
    Inventors: John D. Pretzer, Robert D. Sexton, Reford R. Still, John C. Ellenberger
  • System and method for tracking objects and obscuring fields of view under video surveillance
    Publication number: 20030103139
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2002
    Publication date: June 5, 2003
    Applicant: Pelco
    Inventors: John D. Pretzer, Robert D. Sexton, Reford R. Still, John C. Ellenberger