Device, System, and Method of Reduced-Power Imaging

• US 20080278580A1
• Filed: 02/05/2006
• Published: 11/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pima Electronic Systems Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Pima Electronic Systems Ltd.
• Inventors: Bentkovski, Yakov
• Granted Patent: US 8,675,063 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/143
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/651 for reducing power consumption by affecting camera operations, e.g. sleep mode, hibernation mode or power off of selective parts of the camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/66 Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet

Abstract

Devices, systems and methods of reduced-power imaging. For example, a device includes: an imager able to acquire one or more images; a triggering sensor able to sense a triggering event; and a receiver able to receive signals, wherein while the device is in a disarm mode the receiver is operational and the imager and the triggering sensor are not operational.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

an imager able to acquire one or more images;

a triggering sensor able to sense a triggering event; and

a receiver able to receive signals,

wherein while the device is in a disarm mode the receiver is operational and the imager and the triggering sensor are not operational.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the receiver is to receive a signal indicating a disarm command, and wherein in response to said signal the imager and the triggering sensor are to enter a non-operational mode.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the receiver is to receive a signal indicating an arm command, and wherein in response to said signal the imager is to enter a stand-by mode and the triggering sensor is to enter an operational mode.

4. The device of claim 2, wherein the signal comprises a wireless communication signal.

5. The device of claim 3, wherein the signal comprises a wireless communication signal.

6. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a transmitter to transmit data of one or more images acquired by the imager.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the transmitter comprises a wireless transmitter.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the transmitter is to transmit the data in response to a received signal indicating a command to transmit the data.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein a search interval of the receiver in said disarm mode is greater than a search interval of the receiver in an arm mode.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein while the device is in an arm mode and in response to a triggering event, the imager is to acquire a first image, to wait a pre-defined time period, and to acquire a second image.

11. The device of claim 1, further comprising a power source to provide power to the receiver when the device is in said disarm mode, and to provide power to the receiver, the imager and the triggering sensor when the device is in said arm mode.

12. A system comprising:

a device comprising;

an imager able to acquire one or more images;

a triggering sensor able to sense a triggering event; and

a receiver able to receive signals,

wherein while the device is in a disarm mode the receiver is operational and the imager and the triggering sensor are not operational,

and

a control unit able to transmit to said device a signal indicating a command to enter said disarm mode.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the receiver is to receive a signal indicating a disarm command, and wherein in response to said signal the imager and the triggering sensor are to enter a non-operational mode.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the receiver is to receive a signal indicating an arm command, and wherein in response to said signal the imager is to enter a stand-by mode and the triggering sensor is to enter an operational mode.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein a search interval of the receiver in said disarm mode is greater than a search interval of the receiver in an arm mode.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein in response to a triggering event the imager is to acquire a first image, to wait a pre-defined time period, and to acquire a second image.

17. A method comprising:

receiving a signal indicating an arm command; and

in response to the received signal, acquiring a pre-event image.

18. The method of claim 17, comprising:

in response to said signal, setting an imager to enter a stand-by mode and setting a triggering sensor to enter an operational mode.

19. The method of claim 18, comprising:

in response to said signal, decreasing a search interval of the receiver.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

in response to a signal indicating a disarm command, setting a receiver to enter an operational mode and setting an imager and a triggering sensor to enter a non-operational mode.