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VIDEO SURVEILLANCE FOR TOMORROW'S STADIA WITH AUTOTEX
Wöhr employs 50 staff and has more that 30 years of expertise in the production and processing of user interface surface elements. They have focussed during the last 12 years on the design and production of facia panels and membrane switch keyboards. Their brief was to develop a control device to direct the CCTV cameras used to ensure the safety of fans in sports stadia. This includes monitoring the flow of visitors into and out of the stadium, as well as observing the visitor areas in the stadium during the match. The key requirement was that it should be possible to make each camera zoom in on a particular spot through a simple push of a button. It should be just as easy to start recording the CCTV images if the need arises. In close collaboration with Autotype International, Wöhr chose Autotex Velvet 150 film to form the surface layer of the membrane keypad for the control device. Graphics representing the entire stadium and its access routes are reverse printed on the transparent film. Over 90 membrane switches are incorporated into the 500 x 400 mm facia panel. The image of the stadium is subdivided into sectors. The membrane switches are placed under each sector to activate cameras and observe the corresponding area. Wöhr developed the layout, the keyboard and the electronics. They also developed peripheral elements to this system, for example the custom programmable keyboard controller, which can be adapted precisely to the requirements of each customer and application. Far from being a simple application of techniques developed for conventional membrane switches, this design is pioneering in a number of respects. The developers made extensive use of the unique properties of Autotype polyester films, which bring advantages during manufacture and processing, as well as during the lifetime of the finished product. Autotex is unusually tough and chemically resistant. It easily stands up to rough handling, as well as solvents and household cleaners, even along the edges of the film. The second surface of Autotex is primed with a special coating that guarantees excellent adhesion of graphic inks. Stefan Wöhr, one of the company's directors, explains: 'Our versatile manufacturing methods enable us to offer individualised solutions for our customers. All production sectors in our company are closely integrated to ensure the success of these customised designs. Our membrane switch panels satisfy the highest standards, with respect to optics and functionality as well as safety and reliability. In close collaboration with our customers and suppliers like Autotype, we have created a control system that already meets standards that manufacturers and users will specify for the controls of tomorrow's computers, cameras and devices.'
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