FLEXIBLE CAMERA DEVICE

• US 20150172517A1
• Filed: 12/16/2013
• Published: 06/18/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Innova Electronics Corporation (Innova Telematics Solutions)
• Original Assignee: Innova Electronics Corporation (Innova Telematics Solutions)
• Inventors: Chen, Ieon C.
• Granted Patent: US 9,769,359 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 9/00 Accessories or details specially adapted for children's carriages or perambulators providing for travelling on snow B62B19/00
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 45/10 Arrangement of audio equipment; Supports therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/40 by means of coilable or bendable legs or spiral shaped legs
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/022 repositionable

Abstract

A flexible camera device is provided including an elongate flexible member and at least one camera connected to and supported by the elongate flexible member. A recording device is also connected to and supported by the elongate flexible member. The recording device is in electrical communication with the camera(s) for electrically communicating camera recorded images to the recording. The flexible member may be connected to a variety of different support member to allow hands free recording of different events, as seen from multiple views.

Claims

1. A flexible camera device comprising:

an elongate flexible member;

at least one camera connected to the elongate flexible member; and

a recording device connected to and supported by the elongate flexible member, the recording device being in electrical communication with the camera(s), for communicating the camera recorded images to the recording device.

2. The device as recited in claim 1 wherein the recording device comprises a data storage device.

3. The device as recited in claim 2 wherein the recording device includes a display and a cellular communications systems.

4. The device as recited in claim 1 wherein the camera(s) is in wired electrical communication with the recording device.

5. The device as recited in claim 1 wherein the camera(s) is in wireless communication with the recording device.

6. The device as recited in claim 1 wherein the flexible member is deformably engageable to a support member.

7. The device as recited in claim 1 wherein the flexible member is deformable to adjust a field of view of the camera(s).

8. The device as recited in claim 1 wherein the support member is a bicycle handlebar.

9. The device as recited in claim 1 wherein the support member is a user'"'"'s body portion.

10. The device as recited in claim 6 wherein the flexible member is deformable to wrap around a support member to maintain the orientation of the camera(s).

11. The device as recited in claim 10 wherein the flexible member is formed of a plurality of beaded members, each beaded member being deformably connected to an adjacent beaded member.

12. The device as recited in claim 3 wherein the recording device further includes program instructions to simultaneously record and display camera recorded data from a plurality of cameras.

13. The device as recited in claim 12 wherein the recording device includes program instructions to communicate the camera recorded data to a remote location.

14. The device as recited in claim 3 wherein the recording device is in communication with a vehicle diagnostic system, for accessing and storing vehicle diagnostic data.

15. The device as recited in claim 14 wherein the recording device includes program instructions to receive and store the vehicle diagnostic data and camera recorded data.

16. The device as recited in claim 15 wherein the support member is a vehicle interior surface.

17. The device as recited in claim 16 further including a clip engaged to the flexible member and engageable to a support surface to secure the flexible member and the camera(s) in a desired orientation.

18. The device as recited in claim 15 wherein the recording device includes program instructions to simultaneously display the camera recorded data and the diagnostic data.

19. The device as recited in claim 14 wherein the recording device includes program instructions to communicate the camera recorded data and the diagnostic data to a remote location.

20. The device as recited in claim 1 wherein the camera includes a rechargeable battery.

21. The device as recited in claim 1 wherein the camera receives power from the recording device.

22. The device as recited in claim 2 wherein data storage device is connectable to a display device, for displaying images recorded by camera(s) 13, to insure proper orientation of the camera(s)

23. A flexible camera device comprising of:

an elongate flexible member;

at least one camera connected to the elongate flexible member; and

the camera(s) including a wireless communication circuit for communicating camera recorded images to a remote recording device.

24. A flexible camera device as recited in claim 23 further including a smartphone recording device, in electrical communication with the camera(s), the smartphone including program instructions to record and display camera recorded data received from the camera(s).