THE BASICS OF CCTV

The following is a basic overview of CCTV cameras and their functions and uses.

Jump to Terms and Definitions

What good is it?

Advances in CCTV technology are turning the video surveillance into one of the most valuable loss prevention, safety/security and management tools available today. Retailers use CCTV to monitor for shoplifters and dishonest employees, compile recorded evidence against bogus accident claims and monitor merchandising displays in stores that may be hundreds of miles away. Manufacturers, governments, hospitals and universities use CCTV to identify visitors and employees, monitor hazardous work areas, thwart theft and ensure the security of their premises and parking facilities. 

Security Applications

•         Observe and record theft or violence by overtly monitoring retail floor space, office buildings, building perimeters, warehouses, loading  docks and parking garages.

•         Monitor sensitive areas where infrequent activities occur (i.e. confidential records, safes, etc...)

•         Monitor point-of-sale exceptions (cash register voids, over-rings, etc...) reducing cashier theft.

•         Observe and record shoplifting activities.

•         "Walk a beat" by programming a moving camera to pan, tilt, and zoom within a defined pattern.

•         Perform covert surveillance (where legally applicable)

•         Integrate with access control systems to provide video of persons entering and leaving the premises

•         Complement asset tracking systems to provide video when a tagged asset leaves the premises.

Safety Applications

•        Allow operators to see into areas where the environment is hazardous to life or health

•        Monitor potential accident areas.

•        Monitor residence halls, common areas, or high-risk areas to ensure safety of an educational institution's students and faculty.

•        Help reduce the severity of some incidents by the timely dispatch of police, fire, and emergency personnel.

Management Tools    

•        Train employees, check stock on store shelves and monitor retail sales floor coverage, production lines, etc.

•         Demonstrate management's due diligence towards protecting employees, clients, and visitors, and perhaps avert or minimize litigation and negative publicity

•         Document video images on magnetic tape or optical hard drives to record events. This information may be reviewed and later presented as evidence for prosecution of criminals, or as a training tool.     

Getting Started

    Many elements must be considered when designing and installing CCTV systems.

The scene and light

    The scene refers to the objects or area to be observed and the total environment in which the exist. A scene often contains different colors, surfaces and materials that reflect varying levels of light. To select proper equipment, it is necessary to determine the minimum lighting level (day or night) that will arrive from the scene to the camera lens. 

    A scene or target area can be illuminated by natural or artificial light sources. Natural sources include the sun, the moon, and the stars. Artificial sources include incandescent, sodium, florescent, infrared, and other man-made lights. An axiom in CCTV security applications is: The better the light, the better the picture. 

Color vs. Black and White

    Color cameras generally require higher levels of lighting than their monochromatic (B/W) counterparts. Color produces a more natural, richer image than black and white and may keep the operator's interest for longer periods of time. It also makes it easier to detect subjects. For example, with a color system a viewer can easily distinguish a red car from a green one, while on a black and white system both cars would appear a similar shade of grey. In retail applications, a color system can help security personnel identify shoplifters and their clothing more easily and convincingly. Color accuracy is extremely important in gambling casinos, where hundreds of dollars can ride on the ability to recognize the difference between maroon chips and red ones. 

    While the use of color cameras is growing, black and white cameras continue to offer some distinct advantages. Black and white cameras are better suited for extremely low light situations. The ability to capture good quality images in low light situations increase the cost of both black and white and color cameras. Before purchasing cameras, you should consider the crossover points between lighting costs and camera costs. It's possible that low-light cameras will cost less than paying to increase the lighting level of a parking lot.

The Camera

    Cameras convert the visible scene captured by a lens into an electric signal and transmit that signal to a monitor for viewing. Several considerations should be taken into account when choosing the proper camera/lens for any video system:

•         The purpose of the video system (detection, assessment, identification etc...)

•         The overall sensitivity of the camera needed based upon the actual application

•         The amount of varying levels of light available at the scene

•         The environment in which the camera will operate (indoors/outdoors)

•         The field of view (FOV) required by the application

•         The lens

•         Cost

Camera performance depends largely upon the reflected light at the scene and the quality of the cameras imager

Where the level of available light can change dramatically, a camera equipped with automatic iris control can help assure consistent image quality. Automatic iris control enables cameras to open or close an auto iris lens to adjust the amount of light passing through the lens. On a bright, sunny day an auto iris lens camera will close the lens' iris to prevent strong light from reaching into the camera's imager. At night, the camera will open the iris to allow greater amounts of light into the camera.

Cameras are available in various "formats" expressed as 1/2, 1/3, or 1/4 inches. These measurements represent the overall usable size of the cameras imager. In general, you should match the cameras format to the lens format. For example, a half inch camera should be paired with a half inch lens. This only applies to camera that need a separate lens (i.e. C-Mount types) as opposed to cameras with a built in lens.

Fixed and PTZ Cameras

    CCTV cameras can be fixed or have pan, tilt, and zoom (PTZ) capabilities. Fixed cameras are mounted on a fixed bracket and cannot move in response to operator commands. PTZ cameras are motor driven and can pan left or right, tilt up or down, and zoom in and out. A camera housing protects the camera and lens from vandalism and the environment. It also can enhance the appearance of the camera installation and conceal the equipment from the casual observer. All outdoor cameras require a housing of some type. The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) rates housings on their ability to withstand environmental conditions. Protection from cold, heat, dust, dirt, or other elements is needed to ensure optimal performance and extend the life of the camera.

Dome Cameras

Many PTZ cameras today are disguised in dark colored Plexiglas housings called domes. Dome cameras are found in practically every major department store and in many industrial/commercial locations such as hospitals, colleges and government facilities. They are particularly popular wherever aesthetics are valued. Dome cameras offer three primary benefits:

•         Deterrence - Domes make it virtually impossible for suspects to determine where the camera is pointed.

•         Economy - Domes equipped with a camera, lens, and PTZ capabilities can be augmented with dummy cameras

•         Aesthetics - Domes conceals all the internal equipment in a nice clean shell.

Smoked Plexiglas bubbles have the same effect as wearing sunglasses. It reduces the amount of light reaching the lens affecting the color accuracy picked up by the camera.

The lens (optics)

    Lenses (Optics) play an important role in the design of a CCTV system. Their primary function is to collect reflected light from a scene and focus a clear, sharp image on the camera's imager. Typically the more light that passes through the lens, the better the quality of the picture. Selection of a lens is especially critical because it directly affects the size, shape, and sharpness of the image to be displayed on the imager. Factors such as distance from the scene, focal length, desired field of view, lighting and format affects the size and clarity of the image on cameras imager.

Field of view

    The field of view (FOV) is the actually picture size (height and width) produced by the specific lens. If the field of view is not suitable, you may consider using a different lens (wide angle, telephoto, etc...) to increase or decrease the field of view. Camera lenses can be divided into two basic types.: fixed focal and varifocal (sometimes known as zoom). A fixed focal lens has a constant focal length, while the varifocal lens can change its focal length. Focal length is simply the distance from the optical center of the lens to a focal point near the back of the lens. This distance is written on the lens and expressed in millimeters (mm). Fixed focal length lenses are available in various wide, medium, and narrow fields of view. A lens with a "normal" focal length produces a picture that approximates the field of view of the human eye. A wide-angle lens has a short focal length, while a telephoto lens has a long focal length. When you select a fixed lens for a particular view, bear in mind that if you want to change the field of view, you must change the lens.

    When both wide scenes and close-up scenes are needed, a varifocal lens is best. A zoom lens is an assembly of lens elements that move the change the focal length from a wide angle to a telephoto while maintaining focus on the camera's imager. This permits you to change the field of view between narrow, medium, and wide angles.

F-Stop    

    The ability of a lens to gather light depends on the relationship between the lens opening (aperture) and the focal length. This relationship is symbolized by the letter f, which is commonly referred to as the "F-stop," and can be found printed on the side or front of the lens. The lower the F-Stop number, the larger the maximum lens aperture and the greater the lens' ability to pass light to the camera imager and the better it can view a low light scene. For example, a lens with an F-stop of f/1.2 can gather a great deal more light than a lens with an F-stop of f/4.0. A lens with a low F-stop number is sometimes also called a "fast lens".

Depth of field

    Another consideration when determining the proper lens is depth of field. Depth of field is the area in focus before and behind a subject. This means that when you focus precisely on a subject a certain distance in front of and behind the subject also will be in focus, although not as sharp. Depth of field increase or decreases based on the Iris.         

Purchasing and planning decisions should take these factors into account since depth of field can affect image quality (and may jeopardize the ability to identify and prosecute subjects). If depth of field is important, you may want to explore options such as increasing artificial lighting or installing cameras with normal lenses rather than telephoto lenses, etc...

Lens mounts

    Camera lenses generally come with either a C-mount or CS-mount and must be matched appropriately to the camera's mounting requirements. The difference between the two mounts is the distance of the lens options from the camera's imager. The C-Mount lens is 17.5mm from the imager; the CS-Mount lens is 12.5 mm from the imager. Follow these guidelines when purchasing equipment:

            A C-Mount lens can be used on a CS-mount camera only if a 5mm spacer is added.

            A CS-Mount lens cannot be used on a C-Mount camera.

Video Transmission Methods

    The purpose of the transmission medium is to carry the video signal from the camera to the monitor. Today, many video transmission methods exist: coaxial cable, fiber optic, phone lines, microwave, and radio frequency. Due to varying application technologies in use within the same CCTV system. The choice of transmission mediums depends on factors such as distance, environments, cost and facility layout. In addition nearly all methods of transmission suffer from various forms of interference or loss. The essence of good design is to minimize this impact. Examples of current video transmission include:

Coaxial Cable

    A coaxial cable is one that provides a continuous physical connection - or closed circuit - between the camera and the monitor. The cable is shielded to minimize interference from any nearby electronic devices or electrical wires. Copper braided coaxial cable is recommended to maximize conductivity and minimize potential interference. For traditional CCTV systems, as well as many applications today, this is the most common economical method of signal transmission over relatively short distances (few hundred feet). 

Fiber Optics

    Fiber optic technology changes an electronic video signal into pulsed or laser light and injects (transmits) it into one end of a glass rod (the fiber optic cable). At the other end, a receiver translates the pulsed light back into an electronic signal capable of being displayed on a monitor. The transmission is unaffected by any kind of interference, water in conduit or high voltage being run in the same conduit. Fiber optic capable have a large signal capacity (bandwidth) and no possibility of a spark from a broken fiber. Hence, there is no fire hazard to a facility even in the most flammable environment. Fiber optics offers a cost-effective method of sending large transmissions over long distances. 

Telephone line

    A telephone line is a standard twisted pair of wires that can transmit the image for distances up to one kilometer without signal boosting. The dedicated line connects the transmitter (camera end) with a receiver (monitor end). Through the use of specialized transmission and receiver equipment, it is possible to use standard telephone lines for video signal transmission (RSM). 

Microwave

    If already in place, microwave can be a very efficient and cost-effective method of delivering black and white or color video. Microwave turns the video and data signals into high radio frequency signals and transmits them from one point to another via free air and space. A receiver then converts the transmission back into the video and data signals and displays the scene on a monitor. Good quality transmission can be achieved over a line of sight path. Microwave technology offers a large bandwidth to carry video, however it can be affected by environmental conditions. It is a practical option when a wire path between the camera and the monitor locations cannot be established or is prohibitively expensive. Microwave transmissions are regulated by the FCC and a license is required.

Radio Frequency

    Radio frequency (RF) is a reliable, but short distance, line of sight video transmission technology. It is becoming increasingly popular where hardwiring methods are easier impossible or impractical, and has been used successfully to reduce cabling costs even within large buildings. Environment conditions or other RF in the area can affect it.

The monitor

    The monitor receives the transmitted electronic video signal from the camera from the paints it across a cathode ray tube (CRT) to display an image to a viewer. Although similar in function to a TV, a CCTV monitor provides higher lines of resolution (better picture quality) and accepts only video signals rather than RF/antenna signals.

    Lines of resolution refers to the total number of horizontal lines the camera or monitor is able to reproduce. The more lines on a screen, the better or sharper the video picture will appear. CCTV monitors can provide up to 1000 lines of resolution compared to an average of 300 lines provided by some TV sets.

    Several factors can affect the monitoring function: Size of the monitor, its positioning and angle relative to the viewer, and the quality (resolution) of the monitor itself. In all cases, sufficient growth must be factored into any console design. It's also important to note that all monitors generate heat. Whether on a table or enclosed in a console, be sure to provide adequate ventilation and air-conditioning.

    Most CCTV systems use both dedicated monitors and call-up (switchable) monitors. A dedicated monitor displays the video from only one camera. A call-up or switchable monitor enables the operator to call or switch different or multiple cameras into view. Generally call-up/switchable monitors are larger than dedicated monitors and give operators the ability to view multiple images simultaneously (multiplexed) as well as scrutinize the camera image more closely.

    There are many different monitor sizes available. When choosing the proper size of monitor, you must first determine the distance of the monitor in relationship to the user. Also determine the quantity of cameras to be displayed on a given monitor simultaneously (multiplexed).

The peripherals

    As the number of cameras and monitors increase, simple system design eventually gives way to more complex designs that require peripheral components. The peripheral components may include switchers, VCRs, Multiplexors, quads, video printers and time date generators.

Switchers

    A video switcher enables different cameras to be switched to call-up monitors. In a smaller, cost-conscious applications, a manual switcher allows users to select the camera they want to see by pressing the appropriate button. The most popular type of switcher, a sequential switcher, contains circuitry that will switch one camera to another automatically. The operator can set the length of time (dwell time) that a scene remains on the monitor before sequencing automatically to the next camera. This allows operators to keep tabs on numerous cameras with only one monitor, but also creates a drawback know as "switcher dilemma".

    To illustrate switcher dilemma, imagine a system with eight cameras, each programmed to switch after dwelling on the monitor for 5 seconds. In this scenario, a considerable gap will occur between the time the first image is displayed and the time the eighth image is displayed. The situation worsens when recoding the video for review at a later time. On playback, you may see a door opening on camera 1, then suddenly the video switches to camera 2, followed by camera 3 and so on. By the time camera 1 appears again, the door is closed and you are left wondering who came through the door while camera 2 through 8 were flashing sequentially on the monitor.

Matrix Switcher

    A matrix switcher is a more complex design enabling the user to switch any video signal to any call-up monitor in a large-scale system. They normally incorporate PTZ control and other features such as preset and alarm inputs and outputs.

Multiplexers

    Unlike conventional recording systems, a video Multiplexors collects full-screen pictures from up to 16 cameras and displays them simultaneously on a monitor. Operators have the option of displaying any camera full screen or multiple cameras in reduced sizes. Multiplexors also can record all cameras in the system onto a single videotape. The cameras are recorded sequentially at a high rate of speed. As mentioned earlier, a standard video signal is comprised of 30 separate frames each second. In a video system containing 15 cameras, the Multiplexors selects two frames from each camera and records them to a single videotape. The result is an effective frame rate of 2 frames per second, instead of the standard 30.

    Most Multiplexors today contain motion detection features that enables the system to record more frames of video from cameras showing motion than from those not showing any motion. The Multiplexor does this by reallocating frames from one camera to another as needed. The net result is higher quality recordings of scenes that are more likely to be important to security personnel.

    When a time lapse VCR is used with a multiplexor, the recording mode should be as short as possible to reduce the number of seconds required to record all the cameras. This is why it is a great advantage to use hi-density or virtual real-time recorders when using Multiplexors. Virtual real-time VCRs record 4 times the frames per second of conventional time-lapse VCRs.

    One of the strongest advantages of using Multiplexors is that during playback the multiplexor decodes the tape allowing investigators to display only selected frames with the same address. This pullout feature saves investigators hours of time reviewing recorded actions. Another advantage is that during playback, any desired camera can be displayed full screen. (duplexing)

Quads

    The main feature of a quad is the ability to compress images from four separate cameras and simultaneously display them on a single monitor screen. When four cameras are displayed, each occupies a quarter of the screen. A single camera can be selected and displayed full screen as well. Unlike Multiplexors recording, quad recordings yield only what appears on the monitor at the time of recording. If the VCR is recording in quad mode, then the playback is in quad mode.

Recording CCTV

    Most CCTV systems use VCRs to record video images from the dedicated and/or call-up monitors. Recordings make it possible to view events that have gone unnoticed at the time the occurred or that may require close scrutiny later. Technological advances now make it possible to record images in digital form on a computer disk. While this technology shows great promise for the near future, VCR presently are the most prevalent recording systems.

    VCRs designed for CCTV can record video images in either real-time or time-lapsed modes. In the real-time recording mode, the tape moves at the same speed as a home VCR (2 to 6 hours) and capture 30 frames per second. This produces high quality recordings, but requires the operator to change tapes every 2 to 6 hours. The 24 hour real-time VCR will record 24 hours of video on a single tape at 20 frames per second. It is considered a real time recorder because 20 pictures per second approximates the ability of the human eye to easily distinguish moving images. Time-lapse recording makes it possible to record video over long periods of time on a relatively small amount of video tape. Time-lapse recording can capture from 12 to 960 hours of video on one T-120 tape. However, the number of pictures recorded per second in time-lapse mode decreases significantly as the recording time increases. As fewer pictures are recorded per second, critical images may not appear on tape, and movement may appear jerky.                

Time Date Generator

    A time date generator can annotate the video scene (overlay) with chronological information. Also, a camera identifier is placed on the monitor screen to identify the camera scene being displayed. Today, most VCRs, Multiplexors and camera controllers have this function built into the product.

TERMS AND DEFINITIONS

ALC (Automatic Level Control)     On AL lenses, aka peak/average control. Adjusting this control allows the auto iris circuitry to either take bright spots

Activity Detection     A feature of the generation 3 multiplexor range that uses video motion detection techniques to improve camera update

Alarming    The ability of CCTV equipment to respond to an input signal, normally a simple switch closure. The response varies

Analog    A signal in which any level is represented by a directly proportional voltage; not digital.

Angle of View    The maximum scene angle that can be seen through a lens.

Aperture    The lens opening that controls the amount of light reaching the pickup device (imager)

Aspherical Lens    A lens designed with a non spherical shape so that it refracts the light passing through it either lower the lens aperture so that it passes more light or decreases barrel distortion on wide angle lenses.

Attenuation    A decrease or loss in a signal. Reduction of signal magnitude (loss) normally measured in decibels

Auto White Balance    Feature on color cameras whereby the camera constantly monitors the light and adjusts its color to maintain white areas.

Automatic Frequency Control (AFC)    An electronic circuit used whereby the frequencies of an oscillator is automatically maintained within specific units,

Automatic Gain Control (AGC)    An electronic circuit used whereby the gain of a signal is automatically adjusted as a function of its input or other specified parameter.

Automatic Iris Lens    A lens in which the aperture automatically opens or closes to maintain proper light levels on the cameras imager.

Auto-Terminating    Feature whereby equipment automatically selects the correct termination depending on whether the video output is connected to

Back Lighting Compensation (BLC)    A feature of modern CCD camera which electronically compensates for high background lighting to give detail which would normally be silhouetted.

Back Focus    The mechanical aligning of the imaging device with the focal point of the lens. Most important on a zoom lens to ensure the image stays in focus throughout the zoom range.

Balanced Signal    Method of transmitting video, usual over twisted pair cable, that consists of two equal but opposite signals being sent down two semiconductors.

Bandwidth    The frequency range of a signal. The span that the information-bearing signal occupies or requires or the difference between the lowest and highest frequency of a band.

Base-Band Video    Unmodulated video signal suitable for display on a monitor, but not a domestic TV

Black Level    The level of the video signal that corresponds to the maximum limits of the black areas of the picture

Blanking (Field and line fly back blanking)    The operation of turning of the monitor display, or pick-up device, during sync pulses to avoid thin white lines that appear in the picture

Blooming    The halation and defocusing effect that occurs around the bright areas of the picture (highlight) whenever there is an increase in the brightness intensity.

BNC    Video connector, the most commonly used video connector in the CCTV industry

Bridging    A term indicating that a high impedance video line is paralleled, usually through a switch, to a source of video. A separate overall video output.

C Mount / CS Mount     The two industry standards for mounting a lens on a camera. The C-Mount lens has a 17.5 mm flange back distance. The CS-Mount lens has a 12.5 mm flange back distance.

CCIR    The European TV standard 625 lines 50 fields

Camera    A device that translates light into a video image and transmits that image to a monitor for viewing. It contains the image sensor and other electronic circuitry to create a video signal.

Cathode Ray Tube (CRT)    The picture tube in a monitor that can reproduce the picture image seen by the camera.

CATV (Cable Access Television)    The method for distributing RF signals via coaxial cable rather than radiated through the air.

CCD (Charged Coupled Device)    This is a solid state semi-conductor imaging device often referred to as an integrated circuit, chip or imager. Solid state cameras are sometimes referred to as CCD cameras.

CCTV     The common abbreviation for Closed Circuit Television. A private or closed television system.

Chrominance (C)     The part of the video signal corresponding to the color information.

Coaxial Cable     A type of shielded cable of carrying a wide range of frequencies (video and radio) with very low signal loss.

Composite Video    The complete video signal consisting of the video information, the sync pulse and the threshold reference.

Contrast    The range of light and dark values in a picture or the ratio between the maximum and minimum brightness values.

Cross talk    An undesired signal that interferes with the desired signal

Decibel (Db)    A measure of the power ratio of two signals. It is equal to ten times the logarithm of the ratio of the two signals.

DC Type Lens    An auto-iris lens with internal circuit which receives voltage and a video signal from the camera to adjust the lens.

Depth of Field    The area in focus in front of and behind the subject.

Digital    A signal that levels are represented by binary numbers. These can be kept in a store.

Digital Recording    Recording images on digital mediums such as optical or hard drives instead of analog tapes.

Distribution Amplifier    A device that accepts a video signal and sends it out over a number of independent outputs.

Duplex Multiplexor    A multiplexor with two frame stores allowing it to show multi-screen pictures while performing time multiplex recordings.

Dwell Time    The length of time a switcher displays a camera before moving on to the next one in the sequence.

EI (Electronic Iris) Shutter    The ability of the camera to compensate for moderate light changes in indoor applications without the use of an auto iris lens.

EIA (Electronic Industry Association)    US TV standard 525 lines 60 fields.

Equalization    The process of correcting losses of certain components in a signal.

External Sync    The ability of CCTV equipment to accept one or more of the standard sync formats so as to align itself to the rest of the system

Fiber Optic    The process of transmitting light through a long, flexible fiber such as glass or plastic, for the purpose of transmitting video, audio, or data over long distances.

Field    One half of a frame of video (262.5 scan lines)

Field of View    The maximum viewed image a lens "sees". The horizontal or vertical scene size at a given distance from the camera.

Flange Back    The distance from the flange of the lens to the focal plane. 

Focal Length     The distance (in millimeters) from the lens to the surface of the imager. The shorted the distance, the wider the view, the longer the distance, the narrower the view.

Focus    The focal point. An adjustment  to the lens optics to improve the images clarity.

Foot Candle (FC)    A measurement of light. 1 lumen per square foot.

Format    The size of the cameras imager. Current standards are 1/2, 1/3, 1/4 inches.

Frame    A complete picture. 2 fields of video information.

F-Stop    The speed of a lens. The smaller the f-number, the greater amount of light passing through the lens.

Gen. Lock (See External Sync)    To synchronize one piece of equipment to the sync pulses of another.

Ghost    A shadowy or weak image in the received picture, offset to either the right or to the left of the primary image.

Grey Scale    The number of variations from white to grey to black.

Ground    An electrical connection point that is common to either a metal chassis, a terminal, or a ground bus.

Ground Loop    Affects video pictures in the form of a black shadow bar across the screen or as tearing in the top corner of the picture. Caused by different earth potentials in the system.

Hardwired    Method of controlling camera points using multi-core cables.

Horizontal Resolution    The maximum number of individual picture elements that can be distinguished in a single scanning line.

Hertz (Hz)    Cycles per second

IR (Infrared)    A range of frequencies lower than visible red light used for covert surveillance or as a low cost wireless video link.

ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network)    Digital phone lines from which allow transmissions of video signals via fast scan at speeds of 128Kb / sec; used with terminal adapters.

Image Burn (Retained Image)     A change produced or in or on a target pickup device (monitor) which remains after the removal of a previously stationary light source.

Image Device (Imager)    The detector in the camera, either a tube or CCD solid state device.

Impedance    The effective resistance of an electronic circuit to an AC signal.

Insertion Loss    The signal strength loss that occurs when a piece of equipment is inserted into a line.

Intensifier    An electronic device that creates an output image brighter than the input (original) image.

Interlace    A scanning process where every other horizontal line is scanned in one field while the alternate lines are scanned into the next field to produce a complete picture frame.

Internal Sync (Crystal Controlled)    A camera that generates its sync pulses without reference to any other sources. Normally using a crystal controlled oscillator.

Iris    The adjustable opening through which light can pass and is regulated.

Lens    A transparent optical component that converges light rays to forma two dimensional image of that object.

Level Control    Main iris control. Used to set the auto-iris circuit to a video level desired by the user. After set-up, the circuit will adjust the iris to maintain this video level in changing lighting conditions. Turning this control towards high will open the iris, towards low will close the iris.

Line Amplifier (Video Line Corrector)    A device to make good the loss of a signal strength and quality due to long cable runs.

Line Lock    Used to synchronize the field sync pulses of an AC powered camera to the frequency of the voltage input (line voltage).

Looping    A term indicating that a high impedance device has been permanently connected in a parallel to a video source. Individual balanced video outputs for each video input.

Luminance (Y)    The part of the video signal that consists of the monochromatic data.

Lux    A unit of measurement for the intensity of light. One foot-candle (FC) = 10 Lux.

Manual Iris Lens    A lens with a manual adjustment for the iris opening in a fixed position. Generally used for fixed lighting applications.

MATV    Multiple Access Television. The method of distributing RF TV signals by broadcasting them through the air.

Mechanical focus (Back Focus, Racking)    lenses that ensure the image stays in focus throughout the zoom range.

Microwave    Radio frequencies between 1 and 30 Ghz.

Minimum Object Distance (MOD)    The closest distance a given lens will able to focus upon.

Modulate    to change or vary some parameter such as varying the amplitude of a signal. A modulator is the circuit that modulates the signal.

Monitor    A device that converts electronic signals into the video image that was generate by a camera and lens. The picture end of a CCTV system.

Multiplex (Time Multiplex)    Using one carrier to send more than one signal. In video Multiplexors this achieved by sending a different camera output in each successive field or frame of a video signal.

Mux    A Multiplexor.

NTSC (National Television Standards Committee, see EIA)    Color TV system used in the United States.

N/D (Neutral Density)    A filter that attenuates light equally over the whole visible spectrum.

Noise Undesired signal(s) that corrupts the original video signal and may reduce image quality.

PAL (Phase Alternate Line, see CCIR)    Color TV system used in the United Kingdom.

PTSN (Public switched Telephone Network)    Standard phone lines used to transmit fast scan pictures via modems.

Pan    Side-to-side movement of a camera (horizontal axis).

Passive    A non-powered element of a system.

Peak to Peak    The amplitude difference between the most positive and the most negative incursions of a signal.

Peripheral    An optional device that can enhance a CCTV system. (i.e. quad, VCR, multiplexor, etc...)

Phase Adjustment (See Line Lock)    The ability to delay the line locking process so as to align cameras fed from AC voltages on a different phase.

Photocell    Automatically switches on the infrared (IR) if ambient light levels fall below a preset level.

Pinhole Lens    lens used for applications where the camera must be hidden. A 1/32 or 1/16 inch lens mounted on a camera that is capable of viewing an entire room.

PIP    Picture in Picture

Pixel    The smallest cell or area in a picture. The greater number of pixels, the higher the resolution of the scene.

Presets    The pre-positioning of a pan, tilt, zoom camera by the use of its potentiometer. 

Quad    A device that compresses up to 4 video signals and simultaneously displays them on a monitor.

Rack Mount    An industrial standard housing 19" wide, its height is measure in units of U (1.75 inches ea)

RF (Radio Frequency)    Signals with a repetition rate above audible hearing, but lowed than frequencies associated with heat and light.

Random Interlace    A scanning technique in which there is no external control over the scanning process. There is no fixed relationship between adjacent lines and successive fields.

Range Finder    Used to determine the focal length needed and what the picture will look like on a monitor.

Raster    The rectangular patter of scanning lines upon which the picture is produced. The illuminated face of the TV monitor without the information present.

Reflected Light    The scene brightness or the light being reflected from a scene.

Resolution    A measure of the ability of a camera or a television system to reproduce details.

Roll    A loss of vertical sync which causes the picture to move up and down on a TV screen.

RS232    A commonly used computer serial interface.

SECAM (see CCIR)    Color TV system used in France.

SVHS (Super Video Home System)    New format high resolution VHS recorders. VHS compatible.

S/N (Signal to Noise Ratio)    Measure of the noise levels of a video signal. The higher the number, the better.

Saturation (Color)    The measure of the vividness of color. The amplitude of chrominance.

Scanner    A panning only unit.

Scanning    The rapid movement of an electronic beam in a pickup device of a camera or in the CRT of a television receiver. When referring to a video surveillance field, it is the horizontal panning camera motion.

Sensitivity    A camera's ability to reproduce a given scene with a given light level. Usually expressed in Lux or foot-candles.

Sequential Switchers    A video device that alternates the displayed video image from one camera to the next. A video device that sequentially steps through and displays all connected camera signals.

Simplex (Multiplexor)    A Mux with 1 frame store that can either multiplex record or show multi-screen pictures in live or play back mode. It cannot record multiplexed images while showing a multiplexed mode.

Spot Filter    A small insert used in a lens to increase the F-Stop range of the lens.

Switcher    See sequential Switchers above.

Sync    Abbreviation for synchronization. Electronic pulses that are inserted into video signal for the purpose of assembling the picture in the correct position.

TVL (Television Lines Resolution)    The maximum number of changes between light and dark pictures across 3/4 the width. Dictates the resolution of a CCTV product.

Tearing    A picture condition in which the horizontal lines are displaced in a irregular manner.

Telemetry    A system utilizing control code transmitters and receivers. These use the video cable or a simple twisted pair cable to send their information.

Telephoto    A lens used to produce a larger image of a distant object.

Terminated (75 Ohm Terminated)    Video Input of a piece of CCTV equipment, wired to be the last in a particular video line.

Tilt    The up and down (vertical) movement of a camera.

Time Zone    Time intervals during which activity is permitted. Used digital motion setup.

TBC (Time Base Corrector)    Electronic circuit that aligns the unsynced video signal before signal processing. Used in Muxs and quads.

Time-Lapse VCR    Video recorder that can record frames with pauses between them thereby extending the time that a standard cassette will hold.

Triplex (Triplex Multiplexor)    Mux feature that gives you the ability to simultaneously view both playback and live cameras within the same multiscreen while still recording.

Twisted Pair    A cable, often screened, that consist of two conductors twisted together along their length.

UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply)    Equipment that supplies power to a system in the event of a primary power loss. It may consist of batteries or an auxiliary generator.

Unterminated (Hi-Z)    Video input of a piece of CCTV equipment wired so as to allow the video signal to be fed to further equipment. Does not necessarily include extra sockets for external coaxial cables.

Varifocal Lens    See Zoom lens. Usually not motorized (manual)

VCR    a device that records video information to a tape.

Vertical Interval Switching    Sequential switchers waiting until the current field has finished before displaying the next camera even though the dwell time has elapsed.

Vext    A Mux feature that uses a pulse generated by the VCR so that the MUX automatically adjusts to the VCR time lapse speed.

Video Motion Detection (VMD)    A system that uses the video signal from a camera to determine if there is any movement in the picture and set of an alarm.

Video Printer    A device that prints a hard copy of images from a video signal.

Visible Light    Wavelengths of light visible to the human eye.

White Light    The entire spectrum of visible light.

Y/C    A method of sending video pictures in 2 separate parts down 2 separate cables. The component parts are Y and C

Zoom    The ability to change the magnification of a scene.

Zoom Lens    A lens with a variable focal length. This lens may be effectively used as a wide angle, standard, or telephoto lens by varying the focal length of the lens. A varifocal lens.

Zoom Ratio    The ratio of starting focal length (wide position) to the ending focal length (telephoto position) of a zoom lens. Usually represented as a multiplier (i.e. 32x)

-copied from the VSS catalog