Motion detector camera

• US 20050151851A1
• Filed: 08/19/2004
• Published: 07/14/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Good Sportsman Marketing LLC
• Original Assignee: IP Holdings Incorporated (IP Holdings LLC)
• Inventors: Schnell, Tim
• Granted Patent: US 7,710,457 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/208.400
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/42 using electric radiation detectors optical or mechanical part G01J1/04; by comparison with a reference light or electric value G01J1/10
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/00 Details of cameras or camera bodies; Accessories therefor lens hoods or caps G03B11/04

Abstract

A motion detector camera includes a housing, a camera mechanism located within the housing, a motion detector exposed on a surface of the housing. The camera can include a solar panel coupled to the housing to provide power to the camera mechanism. The camera can include an information display exposed on an outer surface of the housing. The camera can include digital camera electronics and an image display screen.

Claims

1. A motion detector camera comprising:

a housing;

a camera mechanism located within the housing;

a motion detector exposed on a surface of the housing and in communication with the camera mechanism to activate the camera mechanism when the motion detector detects a motion; and

a solar panel operatively coupled to the housing to provide power to the camera mechanism.

2. The motion detector camera of claim 1, wherein the solar panel is attached to the housing.

3. The motion detector camera of claim 1, wherein the solar panel is a separate device which is plugged into the housing.

4. The motion detector camera of claim 1, wherein the solar panel includes rechargeable batteries.

5. The motion detector camera of claim 1, wherein the camera mechanism includes a digital camera mechanism.

6. The motion detector camera of claim 1, including a battery pack external to the housing and connected between the solar panel and the housing.

7. The motion detector camera of claim 1, wherein the camera includes rechargeable batteries that are chargeable by the solar panel.

8. The motion detector camera of claim 1, wherein the solar panel includes a 12 volt solar panel.

9. A motion detector camera comprising:

a camera mechanism mounted inside a housing;

a motion detector exposed on a front surface of the housing;

a controller for controlling the camera mechanism in response to signals received from the motion detector; and

an information display exposed on the front surface of the housing.

10. The motion detector camera of claim 9, wherein the information display includes an LCD display.

11. The motion detector camera of claim 9, wherein the information display is adapted to display the number of pictures taken by the motion detector camera.

12. The motion detector camera of claim 9, wherein the information display is adapted to display one or more settings of the motion detector camera.

13. The motion detector camera of claim 9, wherein the information display is adapted to display a number of triggering activities of the camera.

14. The motion detector camera of claim 9, wherein the information display is adapted to display a battery level for the motion detector camera.

15. The motion detector camera of claim 9, wherein the camera mechanism includes digital camera electronics.

16. A motion detector camera comprising:

a housing;

digital camera electronics mounted within the housing;

a flash exposed on a surface of the housing;

a motion detector exposed on a surface of the housing;

a controller operatively coupled to the digital camera, the flash, and the motion detector, wherein the controller is adapted to send an activation signal to the flash and to the digital camera when the controller receives a triggering signal from the motion detector; and

an LCD information display to display information concerning the motion detector camera.

17. The motion detector camera of claim 16, wherein the LCD information display includes a display area of at least 2 square inches.

18. The motion detector camera of claim 16, wherein the LCD information display includes a display area of at least 3 square inches.

19. The motion detector camera of claim 16, wherein the LCD information display is adapted to display an operating mode of the motion detector camera.

20. The motion detector camera of claim 16, further including a memory connected to the controller to store information about a triggering activity when the controller receives a triggering signal from the motion detector.

21. A motion detector camera comprising:

a housing;

digital camera electronics mounted within the housing;

a flash exposed on a surface of the housing;

a motion detector exposed on a surface of the housing; and

a controller operatively coupled to the digital camera electronics, the flash, and the motion detector, wherein the controller is adapted to send an activation signal to the flash and to the digital camera electronics when the controller receives a triggering signal from the motion detector; and

an image display screen coupled to the digital camera electronics to display images captured by the digital camera electronics.

22. The motion detector camera of claim 21, wherein the camera further includes a user interface for controlling the succession of images on the screen.

23. The motion detector camera of claim 22, wherein the user interface includes a step forward button and a step backward button.

24. The motion detector camera of claim 21, wherein the motion detector camera further includes a viewfinder coupled to the housing and a button coupled to the housing to allow the camera to be manually operated.

25. The motion detector camera of claim 21, wherein the camera includes digital video components to allow videos to be taken when the controller receives a triggering signal from the motion detector.

26. The motion detector camera of claim 21, wherein the camera includes a 16 Mbyte or greater built-in flash memory coupled to the digital camera electronics.

27. The motion detector camera of claim 21, wherein the camera includes a slot for removable digital media cards.

28. A motion detector apparatus comprising:

a housing;

viewing electronics mounted within the housing;

an IR emitter exposed on a surface of the housing;

a motion detector exposed on a surface of the housing; and

a controller operatively coupled to the viewing electronics, the IR emitter, and the motion detector, wherein the controller is adapted to send an activation signal to the IR emitter and to the viewing electronics when the controller receives a triggering signal from the motion detector.

29. The motion detector apparatus of claim 28, wherein the motion detector includes a passive IR detector.

30. The motion detector apparatus of claim 28, wherein the housing includes an input for power input to the motion detector apparatus.

31. The motion detector apparatus of claim 28, wherein the viewing electronics includes a camera mechanism.

32. The motion detector of claim 28, wherein the viewing electronics include digital camera electronics.

33. The motion detector camera of claim 28, wherein the viewing electronics includes digital video recording electronics.

34. An apparatus comprising:

a housing;

a camera mechanism located within the housing;

a motion detector exposed on a surface of the housing and in communication with the camera mechanism to activate the camera mechanism when the motion detector detects a motion; and

an external DC power source operatively coupled to the housing to provide power to the camera mechanism.

35. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the external DC power source includes a battery located within a battery pack.

36. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the battery pack includes slots to mount the battery pack to a support.

37. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the battery pack includes an indicator to display a condition of a battery within the battery pack.

38. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the camera includes rechargeable batteries located within the housing that are chargeable by the external power source.