Wireless camera system

• US 20030137588A1
• Filed: 11/22/2002
• Published: 07/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Micro Mobio Corporation
• Original Assignee: Guan-Wu Wang, Weiping Wang
• Inventors: Wang, Weiping, Wang, Guan-Wu
• Granted Patent: US 7,129,986 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/207.99
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 Housings

Abstract

A wireless camera including an enclosure having a lens opening; an imaging sensor positioned toward the lens opening; memory coupled to the camera to receive image data from the imaging sensor; and a wireless transmitter coupled to the camera.

Claims

1. A wireless camera, comprising:

a. an enclosure having a lens opening at a first end of the enclosure;

b. a cap adapted to be received at a second end of the enclosure during operation;

c. an imaging sensor positioned toward the lens opening;

d. memory coupled to the camera to receive image data from the imaging sensor; and

e. a wireless transmitter coupled to the camera.

2. The wireless camera of claim 1, further comprising a pen-clip mounted on the enclosure and adapted to be electrically connected to the wireless transmitter to act as an antenna.

3. The wireless camera of claim 2, wherein the pen-clip is mounted on the cap.

4. The wireless camera of claim 1, wherein the enclosure is tubular shaped.

5. The wireless camera of claim 1, wherein the imaging sensor is a CCD sensor.

6. The wireless camera of claim 1, wherein the memory is non-volatile memory.

7. The wireless camera of claim 1, wherein the transmitter is Bluetooth or 802.11 compatible.

8. The wireless camera of claim 1, wherein the transmitter communicates over a cellular channel.

9. The wireless camera of claim 1, further comprising an antenna coupled to the transmitter.

10. The wireless camera of claim 9, wherein the antenna is internal to the enclosure.

11. The wireless camera of claim 1, wherein the antenna is external to the enclosure.

12. The wireless camera of claim 1, further comprising a lens positioned between the opening and the imaging sensor.

13. The wireless camera of claim 1, wherein the transmitter compresses the data prior to transmission.

14. The wireless camera of claim 13, wherein the data is JPEG compressed.

15. The wireless camera of claim 13, wherein the data is MPEG compressed.

16. The wireless camera of claim 1, wherein the cap is cylindrical.

17. The wireless camera of claim 1, wherein when the camera is in use, the cap is removed from the first end and attached to the second end of the enclosure.

18. The wireless camera of claim 17, wherein when the cap is attached to the second end of the enclosure, the antenna is electrically coupled to the transmitter for radio signal transmission.

19. The wireless camera of claim 1, further comprising a processor coupled to the memory for processing image data.

20. The wireless camera of claim 1, further comprising a battery holder positioned in the enclosure adapted to receive a battery.