Floodlight controllers with wireless audio/video recording and communication features

• US 10,062,258 B2
• Filed: 07/20/2017
• Issued: 08/28/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: A9.com Incorporated (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Siminoff, James, Russell, Stephen Grant
• Primary Examiner(s): Perungavoor, Sathyanaraya V
• Assistant Examiner(s): Brown, Jr., Howard D
• Application Number:
  US15/655,871
• Publication Number:
  US 20180033273A1
• Time in Patent Office: 404 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19619 Details of casing
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19632 Camera support structures, e.g. attachment means, poles
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19691 Signalling events for better perception by user, e.g. indicating alarms by making display brighter, adding text, creating a sound
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19695 Arrangements wherein non-video detectors start video recording or forwarding but do not generate an alarm themselves
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 15/008 by simulating the existence of a security system, e.g. a mock video camera to scare thieves
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/56 provided with illuminating means
• 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 5/76 Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/77 between a recording apparatus and a television camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/802 involving processing of the sound signal H04N9/806, H04N9/835 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/028 associated with devices performing functions other than acoustics, e.g. electric candles
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/04 Structural association of microphone with electric circuitry therefor in deaf-aid sets H04R25/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 29/00 Monitoring arrangements; Testing arrangements for hearing aids H04R25/30; detection of loudspeaker connection H04R5/04; sound-field adaptation dependent on speaker detection H04S7/308
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/00 Circuits for transducers , loudspeakers or microphones
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

Floodlight controllers with wireless audio/video recording and communication features in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure are provided. In one embodiment, a floodlight controller for activating and deactivating a floodlight device may include a camera including an image sensor and having a field of view, a switch having an open condition and a closed condition, and a processor operatively connected to the camera and operatively connected to the switch, wherein the processor is configured to receive an input from the camera and produce an output to the switch to cause the switch to transition from the open condition to the closed condition.

Claims

1. A floodlight controller for activating and deactivating a floodlight device, the floodlight controller comprising:

a housing;

a camera including an image sensor and having a field of view;

at least one motion sensor, wherein the at least one motion sensor is positioned adjacent a tapered lower portion of the housing;

wherein the tapered lower portion of the housing includes an opening that allows the at least one motion sensor to be exposed to incoming infrared (IR) light;

wherein the opening lies in a plane P that is not perpendicular to a vertical axis A of the floodlight controller; and

wherein the plane P slopes upward in the direction from a rear wall of the housing toward a front wall of the housing.

2. The floodlight controller of claim 1, further comprising a Fresnel lens covering the opening, the Fresnel lens being configured to concentrate the incoming IR light onto the at least one motion sensor to thereby enhance the sensitivity of the at least one motion sensor to detect motion.

3. The floodlight controller of claim 1, wherein the at least one motion sensor comprises three passive infrared (PIR) sensors.

4. The floodlight controller of claim 3, further comprising an inverted pyramidal PIR sensor holder, wherein the PIR sensors are arranged about three surfaces of the inverted pyramidal PIR sensor holder.

5. The floodlight controller of claim 4, wherein the three surfaces of the inverted pyramidal PIR sensor holder are configured to point the PIR sensors at a downward angle.

6. The floodlight controller of claim 5, wherein the PIR sensors are configured to detect motion in an area of about 270 degrees around the front and sides of the floodlight controller.

7. The floodlight controller of claim 5, wherein the PIR sensors are arranged such that a first one of the PIR sensors is pointed toward the front of the floodlight controller.

8. The floodlight controller of claim 7, wherein the PIR sensors are arranged such that a second one of the PIR sensors is pointed toward the right side of the floodlight controller.

9. The floodlight controller of claim 8, wherein the PIR sensors are arranged such that a third one of the PIR sensors is pointed toward the left side of the floodlight controller.

10. The floodlight controller of claim 1, further comprising a floodlight device, wherein the floodlight controller is operatively connected to the floodlight device for activating and deactivating the floodlight device.

11. The floodlight controller of claim 1, wherein the housing further comprises a camera opening configured to expose the camera to the field of view.

12. The floodlight controller of claim 11, wherein the housing further comprises a microphone opening configured to expose a microphone of the floodlight controller to capture audio from an area about the floodlight controller.

13. The floodlight controller of claim 12, wherein the housing further comprises a speaker opening configured to expose a speaker of the floodlight controller to produce sound audible to the area about the floodlight controller.

14. The floodlight controller of claim 13, wherein the housing further comprises a fourth opening configured to expose at least one IR light-emitting component of the floodlight controller to illuminate the field of view to enable the image sensor to capture images under conditions of low ambient light.

15. The floodlight controller of claim 1, further comprising at least one light-emitting element.

16. The floodlight controller of claim 15, wherein the at least one light-emitting element comprises at least one light-emitting diode (LED).

17. The floodlight controller of claim 16, wherein the at least one light-emitting element comprises three LEDs.

18. The floodlight controller of claim 16, wherein the at least one LED is configured to emit light in a plurality of colors.