Abstract: An EAS activation/deactivation antenna in accordance with the invention comprises a core; a coil arrangement having at least two coils spirally wrapped about the core, the first coil having a first rotational direction and the second coil having a rotational direction counter to the first rotational direction; and, a current source operatively connected to the coil arrangement. In consequence of the inventive arrangement, a decaying or steady state, alternating or direct current supplied by a current source can excite the coil arrangement to produce a significant near magnetic field and a reduced far magnetic field, for activation or deactivation of EAS markers.

Abstract: A method for moving and controlling a video surveillance camera comprises the steps of: supporting a video surveillance camera for tilting movements about mutually perpendicular axes; transforming tilt and pan commands into angular movement commands; rotating the camera about the mutually perpendicular axes responsive to the angular movement commands, the video camera having a substantially hemispherical field of view as the camera is pivoted about the axes and the video camera generating a picture which is inverted relative to true horizontal over a portion of the field of view; and, automatically rotating the picture to a substantially right-side-up orientation whenever necessary, whereby a right-side-up picture is provided throughout the field of view without continuous panning rotation of the video camera. In a corresponding system, a servo mechanism tilts the video camera, a motion controller transforms the tilt and pan commands and a video signal processor rotates the picture.

Abstract: A video surveillance system includes a central control station and a plurality of video cameras each mounted inside a dome housing unit. A video data buffer memory, storing compressed video data generated by the camera, is mounted with each camera in the respective dome unit. Data buffered at the dome units may be selectively protected from over-writing in response to alarm signals and then retrieved for display or tape-recording by the central control station. Both live and buffered video signals are transmitted in compressed form over a data network that is also used for command, alarm and status messaging.

Abstract: A video camera is operated to obtain a very rapid change in magnification. A target degree of magnification is achieved by rapid change in an electronic zoom factor provided by an image signal processing circuit. Either before or after the change in electronic zoom factor, simultaneous off-setting changes are carried out in the electronic zoom factor and in a mechanical zoom factor provided by the camera's optical system. The simultaneous off-setting changes in the two zoom factors occur at a rate consistent with practical operation of the mechanical drive components for the camera's optical system.