PRIVACY ENSURING CAMERA ENCLOSURE

• US 20110103786A1
• Filed: 12/09/2010
• Published: 05/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seth Cirker
• Original Assignee: Seth Cirker
• Inventors: Cirker, Seth
• Granted Patent: US 8,137,009 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 396/427
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/02 Bodies
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/04 collapsible, foldable or extensible, e.g. book type
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19619 Details of casing
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1963 Arrangements allowing camera rotation to change view, e.g. pivoting camera, pan-tilt and zoom [PTZ]
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19632 Camera support structures, e.g. attachment means, poles
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19634 Electrical details of the system, e.g. component blocks for carrying out specific functions
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/50 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 Housings

Abstract

A privacy ensuring camera enclosure with a camera enclosing configuration and a surveillance configuration wherein the camera enclosing configuration entirely surrounds a surveillance camera such that it is visibly removed from a privacy sensitive area, thereby preserving the expected level of privacy in the privacy sensitive area; the enclosure is configured to dynamically change from the camera enclosing configuration to the surveillance configuration in response to a heightened threat level.

Claims

1. A privacy ensuring camera enclosure comprising:

a base,

a camera coupled to said base;

a sliding cover moveably coupled to said base, wherein said sliding cover is configured to selectively slide relative to said camera;

wherein said sliding cover is further configured to translate from a first position to a second position, wherein said first position orients said sliding cover over said camera to optically cover said camera to prevent operation of said camera; and

wherein said second position translates said sliding cover away from said camera to optically uncover said camera, visibly exposing said camera.

2. The privacy ensuring camera enclosure of claim 1 wherein said sliding cover is configured to envelop said camera when said sliding cover is in said first position.

3. The privacy ensuring camera enclosure of claim 2 wherein said sliding cover further comprises an aperture and wherein said sliding cover is configured to cover said aperture when said sliding cover is positioned to envelop said camera.

4. The privacy ensuring camera enclosure of claim 3 wherein said sliding cover retracts into said base to expose said camera.

5. The privacy ensuring camera enclosure of claim 4 wherein said sliding cover comprises a plurality of sliding panels slidably actuated to be selectively positioned in said base.

6. The privacy ensuring camera enclosure of claim 5 wherein said camera protrudes through said aperture when said sliding cover is in said second position.

7. A dynamic camera enclosure having a camera enclosing configuration and a surveillance configuration;

Wherein said dynamic camera enclosure includes a fixed base, a surveillance camera coupled to said base, and at least one optically opaque sliding panel disposed on said dynamic camera enclosure, said at least one sliding panel being configured to slideably translate around said camera to selectively cover said camera when in said camera enclosing configuration, and to slideably translate away from said camera, visibly showing said camera, when in said surveillance configuration.

8. The dynamic camera enclosure of claim 7 wherein said camera enclosing configuration entirely surrounds a surveillance camera with said at least one optically opaque sliding panel such that said surveillance camera is visibly removed from a privacy sensitive area.

9. The dynamic camera enclosure of claim 8 wherein said surveillance configuration includes sufficient translation of said at least one optically opaque sliding panel away from said camera to visibly expose said surveillance camera and enable said camera to acquire surveillance information.

10. The dynamic camera enclosure of claim 9 wherein said dynamic camera enclosure is configured to be remotely actuated between said camera enclosing configuration and said surveillance configuration in response to a change in a threat level.

11. The dynamic camera enclosure of claim 10 wherein said camera enclosing configuration comprises non-linearly sliding a section of said camera enclosure and covering an aperture.

12. The dynamic camera enclosure of claim 11 wherein said dynamic camera enclosure transitions from said enclosing position to said surveillance configuration by retracting said non-linearly sliding section and uncovering said aperture.

13. A method for selectively monitoring a privacy sensitive area, comprising:

obtaining a privacy ensuring camera enclosure and mounting said privacy ensuring camera enclosure in proximity to said privacy sensitive area;

placing a surveillance camera inside said privacy ensuring camera enclosure;

configuring said privacy ensuring camera enclosure in a first enclosing configuration;

assigning said privacy sensitive area a privacy threshold value;

receiving a threat level;

dynamically reconfiguring said privacy ensuring camera enclosure to a second surveillance configuration when said threat level exceeds said privacy threshold value.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said first enclosing configuration entirely encloses said surveillance camera such that said surveillance camera does not significantly impact the perception of privacy within said privacy sensitive area.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said dynamically reconfiguring said privacy ensuring camera enclosure to said second surveillance configuration comprises visibly protruding said surveillance camera into said privacy sensitive area such that individuals within said privacy sensitive area can perceive they are now under surveillance.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein said first enclosing configuration comprises extending a telescoping section of said privacy ensuring camera enclosure and covering an aperture.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein said second surveillance configuration comprises retracting said telescoping section and uncovering said aperture.

18. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of returning said privacy ensuring camera enclosure to said first enclosing configuration when said threat level is reduced below said privacy threshold value.

19. A privacy ensuring camera enclosure comprising:

a ceiling mounted support plate configured to define a ceiling plane;

a base coupled to said ceiling mounted support plate;

a camera coupled to said base, wherein said camera is mounted on said base below said ceiling mounted support plate;

a slideable cover moveably coupled to said base, wherein said slideable cover is configured to selectively slide relative to said ceiling mounted support plate and said camera;

wherein said slideable cover includes at least one sliding panel that is configured to selectively translate from a first position to a second position, wherein said first position orients said slideable cover around said camera to optically cover said camera; and

wherein said second position translates said at least one sliding panel to withdraw said sliding cover away from said camera to enable the operation of said camera.