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Marie Van Brittan Brown and Albert L. Brown AI simulator
(@Marie Van Brittan Brown and Albert L. Brown_simulator)
Hub AI
Marie Van Brittan Brown and Albert L. Brown AI simulator
(@Marie Van Brittan Brown and Albert L. Brown_simulator)
Marie Van Brittan Brown and Albert L. Brown
Marie Van Brittan Brown (October 30, 1922 – February 2, 1999) was an American nurse. Her husband Albert L. Brown, was an electronics technician. In 1966 they invented an audio-visual home security system ("Home Security System Utilizing Television Surveillance"). That same year they applied for a patent for their security system. It was granted three years later in 1969.
Marie Van Brittan Felton was born in Manhattan, New York. Her father, Theodore Felton, was born in North Carolina and her mother, Lillian Robinson was from Pennsylvania. Both were African-American.
Marie married Albert L. Brown, also African-American, in 1949. The couple lived at 151–158 and 135th Avenue in Jamaica, Queens, New York. Marie and Albert had two children. Their daughter also became a nurse and inventor.
Marie died in Queens on February 2, 1999, aged seventy-six.
On August 1, 1966, the Browns submitted a patent application for their invention. Their attorneys were Polacheck and Saulsbury, a New York firm.
The invention consisted, at the door, of an electrically controlled lock, several lensed peepholes with covers, a vertically sliding video scanner (camera) and controlling motors, loudspeaker and microphone as well as associated electronics, filters, power supply, radio receiver and transmitter. The camera could be remotely moved from peephole to peephole, mechanically uncovering and recovering them as it went. The camera was connected by radio to a television monitor mounted on a control panel inside the home. The television monitor allowed the occupant to see who was at the door without opening it while the microphones and loudspeakers allowed the occupant to communicate radiophonically with the visitor. A series of filters on the door receiver allowed commands from push buttons on the control panel to be transmitted by radio to control the position of the camera and operate the lock.
The patent also mentions the possibility of forwarding sound or vision to a security center, or recording them. A pushbutton alarm system to contact police or others is also included. The patent cited other inventors, including Edward D. Phinney and Thomas J. Reardon, as well as RCA's Closed Circuit Television Systems, Book I, pp. 182–186, 1958.
The patent was granted December 2, 1969. Four days later, the New York Times reported on the invention in the weekly patents report, including a photo of the Browns. Marie was quoted in the New York Times as saying that with her invention "a woman alone could set off an alarm immediately by pressing a button, or if the system were installed in a doctor's office, it might prevent holdups by drug addicts".
Marie Van Brittan Brown and Albert L. Brown
Marie Van Brittan Brown (October 30, 1922 – February 2, 1999) was an American nurse. Her husband Albert L. Brown, was an electronics technician. In 1966 they invented an audio-visual home security system ("Home Security System Utilizing Television Surveillance"). That same year they applied for a patent for their security system. It was granted three years later in 1969.
Marie Van Brittan Felton was born in Manhattan, New York. Her father, Theodore Felton, was born in North Carolina and her mother, Lillian Robinson was from Pennsylvania. Both were African-American.
Marie married Albert L. Brown, also African-American, in 1949. The couple lived at 151–158 and 135th Avenue in Jamaica, Queens, New York. Marie and Albert had two children. Their daughter also became a nurse and inventor.
Marie died in Queens on February 2, 1999, aged seventy-six.
On August 1, 1966, the Browns submitted a patent application for their invention. Their attorneys were Polacheck and Saulsbury, a New York firm.
The invention consisted, at the door, of an electrically controlled lock, several lensed peepholes with covers, a vertically sliding video scanner (camera) and controlling motors, loudspeaker and microphone as well as associated electronics, filters, power supply, radio receiver and transmitter. The camera could be remotely moved from peephole to peephole, mechanically uncovering and recovering them as it went. The camera was connected by radio to a television monitor mounted on a control panel inside the home. The television monitor allowed the occupant to see who was at the door without opening it while the microphones and loudspeakers allowed the occupant to communicate radiophonically with the visitor. A series of filters on the door receiver allowed commands from push buttons on the control panel to be transmitted by radio to control the position of the camera and operate the lock.
The patent also mentions the possibility of forwarding sound or vision to a security center, or recording them. A pushbutton alarm system to contact police or others is also included. The patent cited other inventors, including Edward D. Phinney and Thomas J. Reardon, as well as RCA's Closed Circuit Television Systems, Book I, pp. 182–186, 1958.
The patent was granted December 2, 1969. Four days later, the New York Times reported on the invention in the weekly patents report, including a photo of the Browns. Marie was quoted in the New York Times as saying that with her invention "a woman alone could set off an alarm immediately by pressing a button, or if the system were installed in a doctor's office, it might prevent holdups by drug addicts".