Induction-powered camera

• US 10,250,804 B2
• Filed: 04/07/2015
• Issued: 04/02/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vivint Incorporated (NRG Energy, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Vivint Incorporated (NRG Energy, Inc.)
• Inventors: Robinson, Jared, Flint, Jason
• Primary Examiner(s): Torrente, Richard T
• Application Number:
  US14/680,793
• Publication Number:
  US 20160301867A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,456 Days
• Field of Search: 348143
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/00 Circuit arrangements or systems for wireless supply or distribution of electric power
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00045 Authentication, i.e. circuits for checking compatibility between one component, e.g. a battery or a battery charger, and another component, e.g. a power source
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/65 Control of camera operation in relation to power supply
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

An induction-powered camera capable of being installed external to a building without any building alterations is described. The induction-powered camera may include a continuous power source. The induction-powered camera may transmit one or more images to a control panel associated with security and/or automation systems. The induction-powered camera may be movable and/or removable with undue burden. An apparatus for a security and/or automation system is described. The apparatus may include a first half of the apparatus and an electricity transmission unit positioned within the first half. An electricity receiving unit may be positioned a predetermined distance away from the electricity transmission unit. The electricity receiving unit proximate a second half of the apparatus and a camera may be proximate the second half of the apparatus, the camera powered by the electricity receiving unit.

Claims

1. An apparatus for security and/or automation systems, comprising:

a first half of the apparatus, the first half of the apparatus comprising an internal half of the apparatus configured to be located inside a building;

an electricity transmission unit positioned within the first half;

a first light source included in the first half of the apparatus, wherein the first light source illuminates when the electricity transmission unit is activated;

a first rechargeable battery included in the first half of the apparatus, wherein the first rechargeable battery charges using a continuous power supply located inside the building;

a second half of the apparatus positioned on a divider configured to separate the inside of the building from the outside of the building, the second half of the apparatus comprising an external half of the apparatus configured to be located outside the building;

an electricity receiving unit included in the external half of the apparatus and positioned a predetermined distance away from the electricity transmission unit;

a second light source included in the second half of the apparatus, wherein the second light source illuminates when first half of the apparatus is in communication with the second half of the apparatus;

a camera included in the external half of the apparatus, the camera powered by a portion of power received by the electricity receiving unit; and

a second rechargeable battery included in the second half of the apparatus, wherein the second rechargeable battery stores a remaining portion of the power received by the electricity receiving unit.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a first magnet proximate the first half;

a second magnet proximate the second half;

wherein the first and second magnet are positioned to align the electricity transmission unit and the electricity receiving unit.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second light source illuminates when the electricity receiving unit is activated.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein activating the electricity receiving unit comprises transferring power from the electricity transmission unit to the electricity receiving unit.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

an antenna proximate the second half.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

an audio recording device proximate the second half, the audio recording device powered by the electricity receiving unit.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electricity transmission unit comprises:

a coil of wire;

a chip proximate the coil of wire, connecting to the coil of wire via a connecting wire; and

a continuous power supply proximate the coil of wire.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the electricity receiving unit comprises:

a second coil of wire;

a second chip proximate the second coil of wire, connecting to the second coil of wire via a second connecting wire; and

the camera proximate the second chip, positioned to receive a source of power from the second chip and the second coil of wire.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

an optical data transmission unit proximate the second half;

an optical data receiving unit proximate the first half,

where the optical data transmission unit and the optical data receiving unit are positioned to transmit data there between.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a speaker proximate the second half.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first half and second half transfer data via a near field communication protocol.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first half of the apparatus is positioned inside the building and the second half of the apparatus is positioned outside the building.

13. An apparatus for security and/or automation systems, further comprising:

a first half of the apparatus, the first half of the apparatus comprising an internal half of the apparatus configured to be located inside a building;

an electricity transmission unit positioned within the first half;

a first light source included in the first half of the apparatus, wherein the first light source illuminates when the electricity transmission unit is activated;

a first rechargeable battery included in the first half of the apparatus, wherein the first rechargeable battery charges using a continuous power supply located inside the building;

a second half of the apparatus positioned on a divider configured to separate the inside of the building from the outside of the building, the second half of the apparatus comprising an external half of the apparatus configured to be located outside the building;

an electricity receiving unit included in the external half of the apparatus and positioned a predetermined distance away from the electricity transmission unit;

a second light source included in the second half of the apparatus, wherein the second light source illuminates when first half of the apparatus is in communication with the second half of the apparatus;

a camera included in the external half of the apparatus, the camera powered by a portion of power received by the electricity receiving unit; and

a second rechargeable battery included in the second half of the apparatus, wherein the second rechargeable battery stores a remaining portion of the power received by the electricity receiving unit;

a processor;

memory in electronic communication with the processor; and

instructions stored in the memory, the instructions being executable by the processor to;

activate the camera based at least in part on one or more commands.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the instructions are further executable to:

stream image data to a control panel in response to the one or more commands.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the instructions are further executable to:

connect to a control panel associated with an automation system.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the instructions are further executable to:

rotate a viewing point of the camera.

17. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the first half of the apparatus is positioned inside the building and the second half of the apparatus is positioned outside the building.