Marie Van Brittan Brown

1922–1999

What Marie contributed

Co-invented a home-security system using a camera, monitors, two-way audio, remote door control, and an alarm.

The story

Brown, a nurse, designed the system with her husband Albert Brown because she wanted a safer way to identify visitors and contact assistance from inside her home.

Why it matters

The patent anticipated features found in modern home-security and video-doorbell systems.

Patent record
U.S. Patent 3,482,037