Camera device integrated with light source and method for capturing images

• US 10,367,980 B1
• Filed: 01/26/2018
• Issued: 07/30/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zheng Li
• Original Assignee: Zheng Li
• Inventors: Li, Zheng
• Primary Examiner(s): Henn, Timothy J
• Application Number:
  US15/880,572
• Publication Number:
  US 20190238734A1
• Time in Patent Office: 550 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/052 Li-accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/425 Structural combination with electronic components, e.g. electronic circuits integrated to the outside of the casing printed circuits H05K1/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/465 with solar battery as charging system
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/10 Batteries in stationary systems, e.g. emergency power source in plant
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/30 Batteries in portable systems, e.g. mobile phone, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/35 with light sensitive cells
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 40/38 Energy storage means, e.g. batteries, structurally associated with PV modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 Housings
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/55 Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/56 provided with illuminating means
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/57 Mechanical or electrical details of cameras or camera modules specially adapted for being embedded in other devices
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/181 associated with surface mounted components
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10037 Printed or non-printed battery
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10106 Light emitting diode [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10121 Optical component, e.g. opto-electronic component
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 70/30 Systems combining energy storage with energy generation of non-fossil origin

Abstract

A camera device includes a cover assembly, a battery, a solar panel, and a camera assembly. The cover assembly includes a lower cover, and an upper cover. The lower cover includes a lower housing and a lower securing board. The upper cover includes an upper housing and an upper securing board. The upper cover is coupled to the lower cover. The lower housing and the upper housing are assembled to a front housing, and the front housing defines an opening. The battery is located between the lower securing board and the upper securing board. The solar panel is located on an upper portion of the upper securing board, and is electrically coupled to the battery. The camera assembly is located in the front housing, and includes a printed circuit board (PCB), a proximity detector, a light source, a camera module, a memory card, a wireless module, and a lens.

Claims

1. A camera device, comprising:

a cover assembly, comprising a lower cover comprising a lower housing and a lower securing board; and

an upper cover, comprising an upper housing and an upper securing board, and coupled to said lower cover, wherein said lower housing and said upper housing are assembled to a front housing, and wherein said front housing defines an opening;

a battery located between said lower securing board and upper securing board;

a solar panel located upon an upper portion of said upper securing board and electrically coupled to said battery; and

a camera assembly, located within said front housing and comprising a printed circuit board (PCB) electrically coupled to said battery;

a proximity detector located upon a front side of said printed circuit board (PCB) toward said opening of said front housing for detecting objects proximate to said camera assembly;

a light source for emitting light, located upon a front side portion of said printed circuit board (PCB), and comprising a plurality of light emitting diode (LED) lamps arranged in a circular array;

a camera module for taking photographs, electrically coupled to said printed circuit board (PCB), and located upon a front side portion of said printed circuit board(PCB); and

a memory card for storing recording data from said camera module; and

a wireless module for transmitting data to other devices;

wherein said printed circuit board (PCB), said proximity detector, said light source, said camera module, said memory card, and said wireless module are all housed within said front housing of said cover assembly; and

a lens covering said opening defined within said front housing of said cover assembly so as to prevent light emitted from said light source from being scattered.

2. The camera device of claim 1, wherein an angle between two of an emitting direction of the light source, a shooting direction of the camera module, and a sensing direction of the proximity detector, is smaller than 180 degrees.

3. The camera device of claim 1, wherein the proximity detector comprises a single-chip microprocessor.

4. The camera device of claim 1, wherein the wireless module is one of a Bluetooth module, a wireless fidelity module, a 3G communication module, or a 4G communication module.

5. The camera device of claim 1, wherein the battery is a rechargeable lithium battery.

6. The camera device of claim 1, wherein the solar panel is electrically coupled to said printed circuit board (PCB).

7. The camera device of claim 1, wherein the light source is a white light source.

8. The camera device of claim 1, wherein said camera assembly is configured to be hung on a wall or located on the ground.

9. A method for capturing images by a camera device, comprising the steps of:

using a camera device comprising a cover assembly comprising a lower cover comprising a lower housing and a lower securing board, and an upper cover, comprising an upper housing and an upper securing board, and coupled to said lower cover, wherein said lower housing and said upper housing are assembled to a front housing, and wherein said front housing defines an opening;

a battery located between said lower securing board and upper securing board;

a solar panel located upon an upper portion of said upper securing board and electrically coupled to said battery; and

a camera assembly, located within said front housing and comprising a printed circuit board (PCB) electrically coupled to said battery;

a proximity detector located upon a front side of said printed circuit board (PCB) toward said opening of said front housing for detecting objects proximate to said camera assembly;

a light source for emitting light, located upon a front side portion of said printed circuit board (PCB), and comprising a plurality of light emitting diode (LED) lamps arranged in a circular array;

a camera module for taking photographs, electrically coupled to said printed circuit board (PCB), and located upon a front side portion of said printed circuit board (PCB); and

a memory card for storing recording data from said camera module; and

a wireless module for transmitting data to other devices;

wherein said printed circuit board (PCB), said proximity detector, said light source, said camera module, said memory card, and said wireless module are all housed within said front housing of said cover assembly; and

a lens covering said opening defined within said front housing of said cover assembly so as to prevent light emitted from said light source from being scattered;

generating electric power from solar power collected by said solar panel and storing said electric power within said battery;

using said proximity detector for detecting an object proximate to said camera device;

emitting light from said light source into a capture area, within which said object is disposed, when an ambient luminance value is smaller than a predetermined luminance value;

capturing images of said object from said capture area and storing image data to said memory card;

transmitting said image data from said memory card to a server through a wireless module; and

obtaining said image data from said server at at least one authorized terminal device.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said light source is controlled by at least one authorized terminal device.