Shading object, intelligent umbrella and intelligent shading charging system integrated camera and method of operation

• US 10,250,817 B2
• Filed: 07/26/2016
• Issued: 04/02/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ShadeCraft, Inc.
• Original Assignee: ShadeCraft, Inc.
• Inventors: Gharabegian, Armen Sevada
• Primary Examiner(s): Hess, Michael J
• Application Number:
  US15/219,292
• Publication Number:
  US 20170324908A1
• Time in Patent Office: 980 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 15/00 Umbrellas with detachable covers
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 17/00 Tiltable umbrellas
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 2017/005 with additional rotation about a vertical axis
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 2023/0012 Ground supported umbrellas or sunshades on a single post, e.g. resting in or on a surface there below
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 2025/003 Accessories not covered by groups A45B25/24 - A45B25/30
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 2200/1009 combined with other objects
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 2200/1018 with illuminating devices, e.g. electrical
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 2200/1027 with means for generating solar energy
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 2200/1036 with means for promoting air movement, e.g. ventilation holes, fans, ventilators, special shape for ventilation, suction means
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 2200/1045 with a misting device having at least one nozzle for spraying a fluid, e.g. water
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 23/00 Other umbrellas
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 25/02 Umbrella frames
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 25/14 Devices for opening and for closing umbrellas
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 25/143 automatic
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 25/18 Covers detachable A45B15/00; Means for fastening same
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 3/00 Sticks combined with other objects
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 3/04 electrical
• CPC Class Codes: A45B 3/08 with measuring or weighing appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00103 specially adapted for radio transmission, e.g. via satellites H04N1/00098 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0055 By radio
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 : Digital still camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/11 : for generating image signals from visible and infrared light wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/62 : Control of parameters via user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 : Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/69 : Control of means for changing angle of the field of view, e.g. optical zoom objectives or electronic zooming
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/90 : Arrangement of cameras or camera modules, e.g. multiple cameras in TV studios or sports stadiums

Abstract

An intelligent shading umbrella comprises a base assembly, a stem assembly coupled to a base assembly, and a center support assembly coupled to a stem assembly, the center support assembly comprising one or more arm support assemblies. The intelligent shading umbrella further comprises one or more blades, coupled to the arm support assemblies, a shading fabric, coupled to at least the one or more blades; and a camera, the camera to capture images of an area in proximity to the intelligent shading umbrella. The camera may be located in the center support assembly and the center support assembly may rotate with respect to the base assembly, allowing the camera to capture a variety of images of an area in proximity to the intelligent shading umbrella.

Claims

1. An intelligent shading umbrella, comprising:

a base assembly;

a stem assembly coupled to a base assembly;

a center support assembly coupled to a stem assembly, the center support assembly comprising one or more arm support assemblies;

one or more blades, coupled to the arm support assemblies;

a shading fabric, coupled to at least the one or more blades; and

a camera, the camera to capture images of an area in proximity to the intelligent shading umbrella, wherein the camera comprises multiple image resolution settings and the camera receives instructions identifying which of the image resolution settings at which the images are to be captured, and

wherein the center support assembly includes a hollow tubular section and the camera is located in the hollow tubular section of the center support assembly and wherein the camera captures the images through a hole in the center support assembly.

2. The intelligent shading umbrella of claim 1, the stem assembly rotating about a vertical axis with respect to the base assembly, the camera being located and the camera capturing a variety of images of an area in proximity to the intelligent shading umbrella.

3. The intelligent shading umbrella of claim 1, the center support assembly rotating with respect to the base assembly, the camera capturing a variety of images of an area in proximity to the intelligent shading umbrella.

4. The intelligent shading umbrella of claim 1, further comprising one or more additional cameras in the center support or the stem assembly to capture images of the area surrounding the intelligent shading umbrella.

5. The intelligent shading umbrella of claim 4, wherein the one or more additional cameras are positioned so that the camera is positioned on one side of the stem assembly or the center support assembly, the one or more additional cameras are positioned on other sides of the stem assembly or the center support assembly such that the camera and the one or more additional cameras capture images of a 360 degree view of the area surrounding the intelligent shading umbrella.

6. The intelligent shading umbrella of claim 4, further comprising an additional camera, the camera capturing images of a first elevation of the area around the intelligent shading umbrella and the additional camera capturing images of a second elevation of the area around the intelligent shading umbrella.

7. The intelligent shading umbrella of claim 1, further comprising an infrared detector, the infrared detector to detect movement of an object within the area around the intelligent shading umbrella, to communicate a signal identifying movement detection, wherein the camera is activated to capture images of the area around the intelligent shading umbrella in response to the camera receiving a signal identifying movement of the object within the area.

8. The intelligent shading umbrella of claim 1, further comprising a motion detector, the motion detector to detect movement of an object within the area around the intelligent shading umbrella and to communicate a signal identifying movement detection, wherein the camera is activated to capture images of the area around the intelligent shading umbrella in response to the camera receiving a signal identifying movement of the object within the area.

9. The intelligent shading umbrella of claim 8, further comprising a lighting assembly, wherein the lighting assembly is activated to project light into the area around the intelligent shading umbrella in response to receiving a signal identifying movement within the area around the intelligent shading umbrella.

11. The intelligent shading umbrella of claim 1, further comprising a computing device, the computing device comprising a processor, memory and computer-readable instructions,

the camera to communicate captured images to the computing device,

the computer-readable instructions to be loaded into the memory and executable by the processor to store the captured images communicated from the camera in the memory.

12. The intelligent shading umbrella of claim 1, further comprising a wireless communication transceiver, the computing device in the intelligent shading umbrella to communicate the captured images, utilizing the wireless communication transceiver, to an external computing device.

13. The intelligent shading umbrella of claim 1, further comprising a wireless communication transceiver, the wireless communication transceiver to receive a signal from an authorized emergency provider indicating an emergency situation, the camera to communicate the captured images to the wireless communication transceiver and the wireless communication transceiver to communicate the captured images to the authorize previously presented d emergency provider.

14. The intelligent shading umbrella of claim 1, further comprising a swiveling assembly, the camera being coupled to the swiveling or hinging assembly, wherein the swiveling assembly is adjustable to change an orientation of the camera to cause the camera to capture a different orientation of the area around the intelligent shading object.

16. The intelligent shading umbrella of claim 1, further comprising an additional camera and one or more hinging assemblies coupled to the one or more cameras, the one or more hinging assemblies to cause the camera and the additional camera to move, orient itself or rotate to capture images from one or more orientations, wherein the camera and the additional camera are adjustable to different orientations.

17. The shading object umbrella of claim 1, further comprising a sensor module to obtain sensor measurements, communicate sensor measurements, identify out of range sensor measurements and communicate a signal to activate the camera, wherein the camera is activated in response to receiving a signal identifying out-of-range sensor measurements.

18. The intelligent shading umbrella of claim 16, the sensor module to obtain sensor measurements, communicate sensor measurements, identify out of range sensor measurements sensors and communicate a signal to activate the camera, wherein the camera is activated in response to receiving a signal identifying out-of-range sensor measurements.

10. An intelligent shading umbrella, comprising:

a base assembly;

a stem assembly coupled to a base assembly;

a center support assembly coupled to a stem assembly, the center support assembly comprising one or more arm support assemblies, wherein the center support assembly includes a hollow tubular section;

one or more blades, coupled to the arm support assemblies;

a shading fabric, coupled to at least the one or more blades;

a camera, the camera wherein the camera is located in the hollow tubular section of the center support assembly, wherein the camera captures the images through a hole in the center support assembly, and the camera is to capture images of an area in proximity to the intelligent shading umbrella; and

a proximity detector, the proximity detector to detect a presence of an object within an area around the shading umbrella and to communicate a signal identifying presence of the object, wherein the camera is activated to capture images of the area around the intelligent shading umbrella in response to the camera receiving a signal identifying presence of the object within the area.

15. An intelligent shading umbrella, comprising:

a base assembly;

a center support assembly coupled to a stem assembly, the center support assembly comprising one or more arm support assemblies, wherein the center support assembly includes a hollow tubular section;

one or more blades, coupled to the arm support assemblies;

a shading fabric, coupled to at least the one or more blades;

a camera, the camera wherein the camera is located in the hollow tubular section of the center support assembly, wherein the camera captures the images through a hole in the center support assembly and the camera is to to capture images of an area in proximity to the intelligent shading umbrella; and

a sensor module, the sensor module housing at least one environmental sensor, a GPS transceiver, or a digital compass and housing an additional camera, the additional camera capturing elevated images above the shading fabric.

19. An intelligent shading charging system comprising:

a support housing and/or enclosure;

a lower support assembly coupled to the support housing;

an upper support assembly coupled to the lower support assembly, the upper support assembly comprising one or more arm support assemblies;

one or more blades, coupled to the arm support assemblies;

a shading fabric, coupled to at least the one or more blades;

a camera, wherein the lower support assembly includes a hollow tubular section and the camera is located in the hollow tubular section of the lower support assembly, wherein the camera captures the images through a hole in the lower support assembly, and the camera to capture images of an area in proximity to the intelligent shading charging system;

one or more solar cells, the one or more solar cells converting sun energy into electrical power; and

a rechargeable battery and an electric vehicle charging port, the electrical power from the one or more solar cells charging the rechargeable battery, the rechargeable battery supplying power to the electric vehicle charging port to charge a renewable power source in an electric vehicle.