CCTV Cameras 1960-1992

Let’s define CCTV camera:

The words CCTV stands for Closed Circuit Television.

Why was this term identified, and why did it become a logical and formidable trademark of the typical camera?

The term closed circuit was used to narrow its purpose to that of a closed system that could not be used to broadcast throughout the public domain in an Orwellian atmosphere.

So transfixed were people on the fact that their private lives would be jeopardized with the advent of camera systems, the marketers decided to circumvent unpopular opinion to their generic and popular use by coining it “closed circuit.” This meant that somehow the information was safeguarded and only viewed on a private basis – in a closed circuit.

In fact, the closed circuit television systems of casinos, justice centers, prisons, and even banks are confined as the circuitry is intended, but can now be transmitted through digital communication techniques like never before.

A camera that is connected to a network can be as “open circuit” as a person having the IP address available to call-up to the network, whether they will be in London, Bangkok, or within the same building.

So, while the closed circuit camera using a giant “vidicron” tube (that was essentially a very expensive vacuum tube that needed replacement every two years), the cameras of today are only as “closed circuit” as the operators running the system.

The use of these cameras up until the early 90’s was limited due to expense, installation costs, wiring, management costs, and the impressive headends, or amount of electronics, needed to process and manipulate signals.

Even with as few as 100 cameras, the early 1990’s would dictate the use of a $250,000 switcher to manipulate and switch the cameras to the right locations.

Today that same switcher can be purchased for a little over $30,000 and provide a multitude of enhanced features to the user.

By 1992, CCD, or Charge Coupled Devices, were used for the newest digital cameras and consisted of a 1/2” chip to provide a fairly clear picture.

Its price was already beating its commodity competitor, The Vidicron Tube, and it was only in its first generation.

By the end of 1992, the first 1/3” chips were being developed in Japan and ready for the market to explode the resolution barrier to over 320 x 240 lines of resolution, full color, a small package and only somewhat past the cost of an old Vidicron black and white camera with lackluster performance.

Here is some very interesting history about CCD chips.