By: Arthur Cooper
Submitted: 2011-05-23 14:56:28 | Word Count: 664
One way to give yourself peace of mind in regard to your newborn child is to get a baby security monitor. Of course, a baby security monitor isn’t restricted for use with just babies, but may be used with young children at varying ages and even adults that are sick and are not ambulatory.
There are several types of baby security monitors that are available. Basically, most baby security monitors are exactly that; a system that monitors, but doesn’t record. In other words baby monitors usually don’t have Digital Video Recorders or DVRs because the primary function of the system is to show the cameras field of view in real-time (live).
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Another common characteristic for baby security monitors is to utilize the camera’s ability to capture infrared illumination as well. This allows highly detailed resolution real time video to be produced of the baby without disturbing the infant at all. This is possible because the human eye cannot see the infrared illumination that is used to “light up” the field of view.
This would be a good time to take a closer look at how a digital video camera actually works to understand how it can be used for a baby monitor. A baby security monitor camera works by converting light that is reflected off images in its field of view into electronic video images.
It does this by using a lens (fixed or varifocal) to focus the field of view onto a sensor chip that ranges in size from about 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch square. There are bigger sized sensor chips available but generally there are two sizes that seem to be the most common size used in digital video security cameras today, the 1/4″ and 1/3″ square size.
These sensor chips produce a small, measurable electric charge when light strikes their surface. There are two different sensor chips that are used for this purpose, each producing the same electronic data needed to create the video image but created in different ways unique to that sensor chip. Only one of the two sensor chips is needed for any one camera. They are called the Charged Coupled Device or CCD and the Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor or CMOS.
Not only can the CCD and the CMOS sense visible light but they are inherently capable of sensing infrared illumination in the near infrared spectrum. Since this “light” is infrared, there is no color to it per se, so the images produced may be described as either black and white or monochromatic.
To enhance the infrared mode of video capture for the baby security monitor, the cameras usually contain on-board InfraRed producing Light Emitting Diodes or IR LEDs. These LEDs are normally configured in an array that surrounds the camera lens as to ensure they are aimed in the correct location. Once again, the human eye cannot detect this “illumination” but the camera sensors can. Therefore, a baby security monitor can remain on all night long and never disturb a sleeping infant, yet produce a detailed, crystal clear image continuously.
If you currently own a digital video security system you can use one of your channels to create your baby monitor without the need to purchase a whole new system. Make sure the camera you are going to use for the baby monitor has on-board IR LEDs to “light up” the infant’s area. Next, depending on your specific system, you can run a video transmission cable from the camera to the DVR or directly to a spot monitor placed in the location which is most acceptable for you.
Another way to monitor your baby or child’s room is to use a baby monitor system specifically designed for that purpose. Security Camera King offers a wireless baby security monitor system (Product# HC-BBMNT-GC) with the camera and microphone ingeniously hidden within a stuffed toy dog. Although this system does not include infrared mode monitoring, it does include a wireless, handheld audio and video monitor that can be carried about the house (the monitor has a 300 foot range).
For suggestions on additional types of cameras and baby security monitor systems that would best fit your specific needs, contact one of our security experts either by on-line “Live Chat” or by telephoning 866-573-8878 Monday through Friday from 9AM to 6PM EST.
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