Portable device

• US 20040247161A1
• Filed: 06/29/2004
• Published: 12/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mason Ricardo Storm
• Original Assignee: Mason Ricardo Storm
• Inventors: Storm, Mason Ricardo
• Granted Patent: US 7,432,978 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/117
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/5838 using colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/5866 using information manually generated, e.g. tags, keywords, comments, manually generated location and time information
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/12 Fingerprints or palmprints
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19619 Details of casing
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19621 Portable camera
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19658 Telephone systems used to communicate with a camera, e.g. PSTN, GSM, POTS
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1966 Wireless systems, other than telephone systems, used to communicate with a camera
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19673 Addition of time stamp, i.e. time metadata, to video stream
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19684 Portable terminal, e.g. mobile phone, used for viewing video remotely
• 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: H04N 1/442 using a biometric data reading device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/185 from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control

Abstract

A torch casing (10) with a reflector (46) and a bulb (44) incorporates camera (48, 50, 52) taking pictures through front face (64) and employs flash tube (58) behind the camera chip (50) reflecting off reflector (46) and reflected onto reflector (46) by mirrored surface (60) on the back of camera chip (50). Captured images, still or video, are exported by radio frequency unit (22) to, for example, secure and supervised store (124). Ultraviolet unit (65) causes fluorescence which is photographed by camera (48, 50, 52). Display screen (70) shows camera (48, 50, 52) images or received images. The apparatus continuously sends its position determined by GPS navigation. Sounds can be recorded, sent and received. Iris patterns and fingerprints can be recognised from an updated store.

Claims

1. A portable apparatus comprising;

a torch, said torch comprising a transparent front face;

illumination means for providing illumination through said front face;

camera means, contained within said torch and selectably operable to capture images through said front face; and

export means, operative to export images, captured by said camera means, to a remote recipient.

2. An apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein:

said torch comprises a bulb and a reflector for directing light from said bulb through said front face; and

said camera means comprises an optical portion, said optical portion looking out through said front face and said optical portion being situated in front of said bulb.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

said camera means comprises a flash unit;

said flash unit being operative to provide light from a point between the camera and the bulb; and

said reflector being operative to direct light from said flash unit through said front face.

4. An apparatus, according to claim 3, wherein:

the face of said optical unit which faces said bulb comprises a reflective surface, said reflective surface being operative to reflect light from the flash unit and light from the bulb onto the reflector.

5. An apparatus, according to claim 4, comprising ultraviolet illumination means;

said ultraviolet illumination means being contained within said torch;

said ultraviolet illumination means being operative to provide ultraviolet light through said front face;

said ultraviolet light being operative to render fluorescent materials visible in visible light; and

said camera means being operative to capture an image of said fluorescent materials in said visible light.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising audio recording means;

said audio recording means being operative to capturing a record of sounds; and

said export means being further operative to export said record of sounds.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said export means is operative to export images, captured by said camera means, to secure memory means, said secure memory means having supervised access.

13. An apparatus according to claim 1, comprising an intermediate station;

said intermediate station being operative to receive a signal from said export means and to relay said signal from said export means.

14. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said intermediate station is housed within a motorised vehicle.

15. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a viewing screen, said viewing screen being operative to view images captured by said camera means.

16. An apparatus according to claim 15, comprising image reception means, said viewing screen being operative to view images received by said image reception means.

17. An apparatus according to claim 1, comprising satellite position determination means, operative to interpret satellite signals to determine the position, on the surface of the earth, of said apparatus, said export means being further operative to export indication of said position of said apparatus.

18. An apparatus according to claim 1, comprising identification means, operative automatically to recognise human identification characteristics from a captured image.

19. An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said human identification characteristic comprises at least one of human eye iris patterns and human fingerprint patterns.

21. An apparatus according to claim 18, comprising;

identification memory means, operative to store a plurality of said human identification characteristics; and

comparison means, operative to compare a captured image with each of said plurality of said human identification characteristics and operative to indicate any match.

22. An apparatus according to claim 21, comprising identification data reception means, operative to receive human identification characteristics data records and to store said human identification characteristics data records in said identification memory means.

23. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said captured images comprise at least one of still images and video images.

49. An apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising at least one of the following features:

a. said export means can comprise a radio link,

b. said radio link comprises cellular telephone means operating in cooperation with a cellular telephone network;

c. said cellular telephone network is operative to carry both image and audio information; and

d. said radio link comprises a satellite radio link.

8-12. -12. (Cancelled)

20. (Cancelled)

24. (Cancelled)

25. A method for capturing images, comprising the steps of;

providing a torch comprising a transparent front face;

providing illumination, through said front face by employing illumination means;

capturing visual images by employing camera means, contained within said torch and selectably operable to capture images through said front face; and

exporting captured images by employing export means, operative to export images, captured by said camera means, to a remote recipient.

26. A method, according to claim 25, including the steps of:

employing, in said torch, a bulb and a reflector for directing light, from said bulb, through said front face; and

employing, in said camera means, an optical portion, said optical portion looking out through said front face and said optical portion being situated in front of said bulb.

28. An apparatus, according to claim 26, including the steps of:

employing, as said face of said optical unit which faces said bulb, a reflective surface; and

reflecting light from said flash unit and light from said bulb from said reflective surface onto said reflector.

29. A method according to claim 25, including the steps of:

employing comprising ultraviolet illumination means, contained within said torch, to provide ultraviolet light through said front face, to render fluorescent materials visible in visible light; and

employing said camera means to capture an image of said fluorescent materials in said visible light.

31. A method, according to claim 25, including the step of employing said export means to export images, captured by said camera means, to secure memory means, where said secure memory means has supervised access.

50. The method according to claim 25 wherein said images captured are identification means operative automatically to recognize human identification characteristics comprising human fingerprint patterns or human eye iris patterns from a captured image and comparing said human identification characteristic with data stored in identification data reception means, operative to receive human identification characteristics data records and to store said human identification characteristics data records in said identification memory means.

27. (Cancelled)

30. (Cancelled)

32-48. -48. (Cancelled)