Tunnel camera system

• US 10,015,453 B2
• Filed: 08/03/2015
• Issued: 07/03/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Michael T. Hobbs
• Original Assignee: Michael T. Hobbs
• Inventors: Hobbs, Michael T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Beasley, Deirdre
• Application Number:
  US14/817,017
• Publication Number:
  US 20170041573A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,065 Days
• Field of Search: 348 82
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 2003/007 Fencing and guiding systems for amphibia
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 29/005 Monitoring or measuring activity, e.g. detecting heat or mating
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/20 for generating image signals from infrared radiation only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/60 Control of cameras or camera modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/33 Transforming infrared radiation cameras or camera modules for generating image signals from infrared radiation H04N23/20; circuitry of SSIS for transforming infrared radiation into image signals H04N25/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/188 Capturing isolated or intermittent images triggered by the occurrence of a predetermined event, e.g. an object reaching a predetermined position signal generation from motion picture films H04N5/253

Abstract

An animal detection unit detects cold-blooded animals and small mammals traversing a tunnel or other constricted area. The animal detection unit includes an elevated threshold that extends across a width of the tunnel or other constricted area. A photo emitter generates a light beam. The photo emitter is located at a first end of the elevated threshold. A photoelectric receiver receives the light beam. The photoelectric receiver is located at a second end of the elevated threshold. The light beam is low enough with respect to the elevated threshold that cold-blooded animals and small mammals moving over the elevated threshold are raised in height sufficiently to block the light beam as the cold-blooded animals and small mammals move over the elevated threshold. A camera is mounted on the frame. The camera is aimed and focused to capture visual recordings of the cold-blooded animals and small mammals as they move over the elevated threshold. The photoelectric receiver sends a trigger signal when an animal blocks the light beam. The camera captures a first visual recording of the animal when the photoelectric receiver sends the trigger signal.

Claims

1. A tunnel camera system comprising

a frame sized to fit within a tunnel;

an animal detection unit that detects cold-blooded animals traversing the tunnel, the animal detection unit including;

an elevated threshold that extends across a width of the tunnel, the elevated threshold including;

a photo emitter that generates a light beam, the photo emitter being mounted at a first end of the elevated threshold, and

a photoelectric receiver that receives the light beam, the photoelectric receiver mounted at a second end of the elevated threshold, wherein the light beam is low enough with respect to a surface of the elevated threshold that cold-blooded animals moving over the surface of the elevated threshold are raised in height sufficiently to block the light beam as the cold-blooded animals move over the elevated threshold; and

,

a camera, mounted on the frame, the camera being aimed toward the surface of the elevated threshold and focused to capture visual recordings of the cold-blooded animals as they move over the elevated threshold;

wherein the photoelectric receiver sends a trigger signal when an animal blocks the light beam, the camera capturing a first visual recording of the animal when the photoelectric receiver sends the trigger signal;

wherein a top surface of the elevated threshold is solid and forms a ridge that is sloped downward from a peak height through-out the top surface at a sufficient angle that encourages debris to roll off the elevated threshold.

2. A tunnel camera system as in claim 1, wherein each visual recording is at least one of the following:

a picture;

a video.

3. A tunnel camera system as in claim 1, wherein the camera includes a passive infrared (PIR) motion sensor, the PIR motion sensor detecting when medium sized warm-blooded animals traverse the tunnel, the camera capturing visual recordings of the medium sized warm-blooded animals when the PIR motion sensor detects the medium sized warm-blooded animals traversing the tunnel.

4. A tunnel camera system as in claim 3, additionally comprising:

a controller, the controller receiving the trigger signal from the photoelectric receiver, the controller generating a capture signal on the PIR motion sensor when the controller receives the trigger signal from the photoelectric receiver, so that the photoelectric receiver triggers the capture signal on the PIR motion sensor even when the PIR motion sensor does not detect warmth from a warm-blooded animal.

5. A tunnel camera system as in claim 4, wherein the controller includes a relay, connected to a drain pin of a pyroelectric field effect transistor (FET) within the PIR motion sensor and connected through a resistor to a source pin of the pyroelectric FET, the relay completing a circuit from the drain pin through the resistor to the source pin when the controller receives the trigger signal from the photoelectric receiver.

17. A tunnel camera system as in claim 1 wherein the elevated threshold is shaped so that debris tends to fall off of the elevated threshold.

6. An animal detection unit that detects cold-blooded animals traversing a constricted area, the animal detection unit including:

an elevated threshold that extends across a width of the constricted area, the elevated threshold including;

a photo emitter that generates a light beam, the photo emitter being located at a first end of the elevated threshold, and

a photoelectric receiver that receives the light beam, the photoelectric receiver located at a second end of the elevated threshold, wherein the light beam is low enough with respect to the elevated threshold that cold-blooded animals moving over a surface of the elevated threshold are raised in height sufficiently to block the light beam as the cold-blooded animals move over the surface of the elevated threshold, wherein the photoelectric receiver sends a trigger signal whenever any cold-blooded animal blocks the light beam, the trigger signal used to trigger a camera aimed toward the surface of the elevated threshold to capture a visual recording;

wherein a top surface of the elevated threshold is solid and forms a ridge that is sloped downward from a peak height through-out the top surface at a sufficient angle that encourages debris to roll off the elevated threshold.

7. An animal detection unit as in claim 6, wherein the visual recording is at least one of the following:

a picture;

a video.

8. An animal detection unit as in claim 6, wherein the camera includes a passive infrared (PIR) motion sensor, the PIR motion sensor detect motion of medium sized warm-blooded animals, the camera capturing visual recordings of the medium sized warm-blooded animals when the PIR motion sensor detects the motion of the medium sized warm-blooded animals.

9. An animal detection unit as in claim 8, wherein a controller receives the trigger signal from the photoelectric receiver, the controller generating a capture signal on the PIR motion sensor when the controller receives the trigger signal from the photoelectric receiver, so that the photoelectric receiver triggers the capture signal on the PIR motion sensor even when the PIR motion sensor does not detect warmth from a warm-blooded animal.

10. An animal detection unit as in claim 9, wherein the controller includes a relay connected to a drain pin of a pyroelectric field effect transistor (FET) within the PIR motion sensor and connected through a resistor to a source pin of the pyroelectric FET, the relay completing a circuit from the drain pin through the resistor to the source pin when the controller receives the trigger signal from the photoelectric receiver.

18. An animal detection unit as in claim 6 wherein the elevated threshold is shaped so that debris tends to fall off of the elevated threshold.

11. A method for detecting cold-blooded animals traversing a constricted area, the method comprising:

placing an elevated threshold across a width of the constricted region;

generating a light beam from a first end of the elevated threshold that travels across the width of the constricted region over the elevated threshold, the light beam being low enough with respect to the elevated threshold that cold-blooded animals moving over the elevated threshold are raised in height sufficiently to block the light beam as the cold-blooded animals move over the elevated threshold;

detecting when the light beam is blocked;

generating a trigger signal upon detecting the light beam is blocked; and

,

capturing a visual recording when the trigger signal is generating, the visual recording capturing any cold-blooded animal moving over the elevated threshold;

wherein a top surface of the elevated threshold is solid and forms a ridge that is sloped downward from a peak height through-out the top surface at a sufficient angle that encourages debris to roll off the elevated threshold;

using a passive infrared (PIR) motion sensor to detect when medium sized warm-blooded animals traverse the constricted region; and

,

capturing visual recordings of the medium sized warm-blooded animals when the PIR motion sensor detects the medium sized warm-blooded animals traverses the constricted region,

a controller to receive the trigger signal; and

,

generating, by the controller, a capture signal on the PIR motion sensor when the controller receives the trigger signal, so that the capture signal on the PIR motion sensor is triggered even when the PIR motion sensor does not detect warmth from a warm-blooded animal.

12. A method as in claim 11, wherein the visual recording is at least one of the following:

a picture;

a video.

13. A method as in claim 11, wherein generating the capture signal includes:

using a relay within the controller to complete a circuit from a drain pin of a pyroelectric field effect transistor (FET) within the PIR motion sensor, through a resistor, to a source pin of the pyroelectric FET when the controller receives the trigger signal.

14. An animal detection unit that detects cold-blooded animals traversing a constricted area, the animal detection unit comprising:

an elevated threshold that extends across a width of the constricted area, the elevated threshold including;

a photo emitter that generates a light beam, the photo emitter being located at a first end of the elevated threshold, and

a photoelectric receiver that receives the light beam, the photoelectric receiver located at a second end of the elevated threshold, wherein the light beam is low enough with respect to the elevated threshold that cold-blooded animals moving over a surface of the elevated threshold are raised in height sufficiently to block the light beam as the cold-blooded animals move over the surface of the elevated threshold, wherein the photoelectric receiver sends a trigger signal whenever any cold-blooded animal blocks the light beam, the trigger signal used to trigger a camera;

a camera system aimed toward the surface of the elevated threshold to capture a visual recording, the camera system comprising;

a passive infrared (PIR) motion sensor, the PIR motion sensor including,

pyroelectric field effect transistor (FET) having a source pin and a drain pin; and

,

a relay and a resistor connected in series with the source pin and the drain pin so that the relay, in response to the trigger signal, completes a circuit from the drain pin of the pyroelectric FET through the resistor to the source pin of the pyroelectric FET to generate a capture signal on the PIR motion sensor, and so that the photoelectric receiver triggers a capture signal on the PIR motion sensor even when the PIR motion sensor does not detect warmth from a warm-blooded animal.

15. An animal detection unit as in claim 14 wherein the resistor is connected between the source pin and the relay.

16. An animal detection unit as in claim 14 wherein the resistor is connected between the drain pin and the relay.