Wireless Surface Illuminators

• US 20140267894A1
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GoPro, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Woodman Labs Inc (GoPro, Inc.)
• Inventors: Campbell, Scott Patrick
• Granted Patent: US 9,030,606 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/374
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/08 Waterproof bodies or housings
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/18 Signals indicating condition of a camera member or suitability of light indicating depth of field G03B13/30
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/55 Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/44 Receiver circuitry for the reception of television signals according to analogue transmission standards H04N5/14 takes precedence

Abstract

A camera system includes a wireless indicator that emits light to provide signals to a user. This wireless indicator is attached to a lens casing that covers the front face of the camera to protect components of the camera such as the lens. A wireless signal interface on the front face of the camera is configured to emit ultraviolet light in response to control circuitry within the camera. The ultraviolet light is transmitted through the lens casing to an excitable element. The excitable element produces visible light in response to the ultraviolet light. Any re-emitted visible light that travels back towards the camera lens and image sensor is reflected by a reflective layer, which is configured to transmit ultraviolet light while reflecting visible light. Therefore, the wireless indicator does not cause light artifacts or image flaws to appear in images captured by the image sensor.

Claims

1. A camera system, comprising:

a camera comprising;

a camera body having a camera lens structured on a front surface of the camera body;

a wireless signal interface structured on a front surface of the camera body, the wireless signal interface configured to produce wireless control signals for an indicator;

electronics internal to the camera body, the electronics for capturing images via the camera lens and producing wireless control signals via the wireless signal interface; and

a camera housing coupled to the camera, comprising;

an enclosure structured to at least partially enclose the camera;

a lens window structured to substantially cover the camera lens of the camera when the camera is enclosed within the enclosure; and

an indicator structured to substantially align with the wireless signal interface when the camera is enclosed within the enclosure and configured to produce visible light in response to receiving wireless control signals from the wireless signal signal interface.

2. The camera system of claim 1, wherein the enclosure comprises a flat front surface configured to substantially align with the front surface of the camera body when the camera is enclosed within the enclosure, and wherein the indicator is coupled to the flat front surface of the enclosure.

3. The camera system of claim 1, wherein the indicator comprises:

a reflective layer coupled to the enclosure and configured to substantially align with the wireless signal interface when the camera is enclosed within the enclosure, and to reflect visible light incident upon the reflective layer; and

an excitable element coupled to the reflective layer and configured to produce visible light in response to wireless control signals transmitted through the reflective layer and incident upon the excitable element.

4. The camera system of claim 3, wherein the reflective layer comprises a dielectric mirror configured to reflect light within the visible spectrum.

5. The camera system of claim 3, wherein the wireless signal interface comprises an ultra-violet (UV) lamp, and wherein the wireless control signals comprise UV light.

6. The camera system of claim 5, wherein the excitable element comprises a phosphor configured to produce visible light in response to UV light incident upon the phosphor.

7. A camera housing, comprising:

an enclosure structured to at least partially enclose a camera;

a lens window structured to substantially cover the camera lens of the camera when the camera is enclosed within the enclosure;

a reflective layer coupled to the enclosure and configured to substantially align with a wireless signal interface of the camera when the camera is enclosed within the enclosure, and to reflect visible light incident upon the reflective layer; and

an excitable element coupled to the reflective layer and configured to produce a visible notification in response to wireless control signals transmitted through the reflective layer and incident upon the excitable element.

8. The camera housing of claim 7, wherein the reflective layer comprises a dielectric mirror configured to reflect light within the visible spectrum.

9. The camera housing of claim 7, wherein the wireless signal interface comprises an ultra-violet (UV) lamp, and wherein the wireless control signals comprise UV light.

10. The camera housing of claim 7, wherein the excitable element comprises a phosphor configured to produce visible light in response to UV light incident upon the phosphor.

11. A method of producing a visible notification, comprising:

identifying a visible notification signal for display to a camera user;

transmitting, from a camera at least partially enclosed by a camera housing, a wireless notification signal representative of the identified visible notification signal;

receiving, by an indicator coupled to a camera housing side opposite the camera, the wireless notification signal; and

producing, by the indicator, the visible notification signal in response to receiving the wireless notification signal.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the camera housing comprises a flat front surface configured to substantially align with a front surface of the camera when the camera is enclosed within the camera housing, and wherein the indicator is coupled to the flat front surface of the camera housing.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the indicator comprises:

a reflective layer coupled to the camera housing and configured to reflect visible light incident upon the reflective layer; and

an excitable element coupled to the reflective layer and configured to produce visible light in response to receiving wireless notification signals.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the reflective layer comprises a dielectric mirror configured to reflect light within the visible spectrum.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the wireless notification signal comprises UV light.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the excitable element comprises a phosphor configured to produce visible light in response to UV light incident upon the phosphor.