Camera system and method for monitoring an installation, in particular switchgear

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11606509-B2
Application number	US-202117218840-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 31, 2021
Priority date	Mar 31, 2020
Publication date	Mar 14, 2023
Grant date	Mar 14, 2023

Abstract

A camera system for monitoring an installation, in particular switchgear, has at least one camera, a display device, a switchover device and a power supply which, in an active state, supplies the camera with power via the switchover device. The switchover device is configured to transmit an image signal from the camera automatically to either the display device or to an interface to which a computer can be connected. There is also described a method for monitoring an installation, in particular switchgear, by way of the camera system.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A camera system for monitoring an installation, the camera system comprising:
a camera configured to generate an image signal;
a display device;
a first interface, a second interface, and a third interface;
a switchover device connected via said first interface to said camera for receiving the image signal from said camera and connected via said second interface to said display device for transmitting the image signal to said display device;
said third interface being configured for connecting said switchover device to a computer and, in an active state thereof, to transmit the image signal from said switchover device to the computer, and to configure a first power supply from the computer via said switchover device to provide power to said camera; and
a second power supply which, in an active state thereof, supplies said camera with power via said switchover device;
said switchover device being configured to assume a first switching state a), a second switching state b), and a third switching state c), wherein:
said switchover device is configured to effect the first switching state a) if said first power supply is inactive and said second power supply is active, wherein, in the first switching state a), the image signal received from said camera via said first interface is transmitted via said second interface to said display device, but not to said third interface, and said display device displays an image defined by the image signal;
said switchover device is configured to effect the second switching state b) if said first power supply is active to power said camera and said second power supply is inactive, wherein, in the second switching state b), the image signal received from said camera via said first interface is transmitted to said third interface, but not via said second interface to said display device; and
said switchover device is configured to effect the third switching state c) if both said first power supply and said second power supply are active, wherein, in the third switching state c), the image signal received from said camera via said first interface is transmitted to said third interface, but not via said second interface to said display device, and said camera is still supplied with power via said switchover device from said second power supply but not by said first power supply.

2. The camera system according to claim 1 , wherein:
said switchover device has a first relay device which is actuated by a logic circuit and transmits the image signal from said first interface to either said second interface or said third interface, and a second relay device which initiates a power supply for said camera from either said first power supply or said second power supply;
said logic circuit is configured to detect whether or not said first power supply and the second power supply are active;
said logic circuit is configured to cause said first relay device to transmit the image signal from said first interface to said second interface, but not to said third interface, when said logic circuit detects that said first power supply is inactive and said second power supply is active; and
said logic circuit is configured to cause said first relay device to transmit the image signal from said first interface to said third interface, but not to said second interface, when said logic circuit detects that said first power supply is active;
said second relay device supplies said camera with power via said first power supply if said second relay device is excited by the active, said second power supply; and
said second relay device initiates the power supply of said camera from said first power supply and not from said second power supply when said second relay device is not energized by the inactive, said second power supply.

3. The camera system according to claim 1 , wherein each of said first interface and said third interface is an RJ45 interface to transmit the image signal with integrated power supply lines for said first power supply.

4. The camera system according to claim 1 , wherein said third interface has a USB stream, an RJ45 data stream and a combined RJ45 stream in which lines of the USB stream and the RJ45 data stream are combined.

5. The camera system according to claim 4 , wherein said third interface is a Y-cable.

6. The camera system according to claim 1 , wherein said second interface is an RJ45 interface configured to transmit the image signal.

7. The camera system according to claim 1 , wherein said first power supply has a rated voltage of 5 V and/or said second power supply has a rated voltage of 12 V.

8. The camera system according to claim 1 , further comprising a panel configured for attachment to a housing of the installation, said panel having a socket forming a part of said third interface and an illuminated pushbutton for switching said camera on and off.

9. The camera system according to claim 1 , further comprising a panel configured for attachment to a housing of the installation, said panel having a socket forming a part of said third interface and an illuminated switch for switching said camera on and off.

10. The camera system according to claim 9 , wherein:
said camera is one of a plurality of cameras; and
said panel is one of a plurality of panels; and
respective said switches of said panels are configured to uniquely identify or display an associated said camera.

11. The camera system according to claim 1 , further comprising a third power supply forming an alternative 5 V voltage source as an alternative to said first power supply.

12. The camera system according to claim 11 , wherein said third power supply is power bank, a charging device, or a tablet.

13. The camera system according to claim 1 , further comprising a human-machine interface or a second computer having said display device.

14. The camera system according to claim 1 configured for monitoring switchgear.

15. The camera system according to claim 14 , wherein said display device forms a part of a computer which belongs to a control station and is located at a distance from the switchgear.

16. The camera system according to claim 14 , wherein said display device forms a part of a computer which belongs to a remote control station of the installation.

17. A method for monitoring an installation, the method which comprises:
providing a camera system having at least one camera which generates an image signal; a switchover device which is connected via a first interface to the camera in order to receive the image signal from the camera and which is connected via a second interface to a display device in order to transmit the image signal to the display device; a third interface which is configured to connect the switchover device to a computer, wherein the third interface is configured, in an active state, to transmit the image signal from the switchover device to the computer and to provide power from a first power supply from the computer via the switchover device to the camera; and a second power supply which, in an active state, supplies the camera with power via the switchover device;
selectively effecting with the switchover device at least a first switching state a), a second switching state b), or a third switching state c), and thereby:
effecting the first switching state a) when the first power supply is inactive and the second power supply is active, wherein, in the first switching state a), the image signal received from the camera via the first interface is transmitted via the second interface to the display devic

Assignees

• Siemens Ag

Inventors

• Alberti Nicolas
• Aumann Erhard
• Hild Thomas

Classifications

• H02J13/12

  Monitoring network conditions, e.g. electrical magnitudes or operational status · CPC title

• H02J13/36

  specially adapted for protection systems · CPC title

• H02J13/13

  characterised by the transmission of data to equipment in the power network · CPC title

• H04N23/66

  Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices · CPC title

• H04N23/65

  Control of camera operation in relation to power supply · CPC title