Security camera and monitor system activated by motion sensor and body heat sensor for homes or offices

• US 7,339,607 B2
• Filed: 03/25/2005
• Issued: 03/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Yongyouth Damabhorn
• Original Assignee: Yongyouth Damabhorn
• Inventors: Damabhorn, Yongyouth
• Primary Examiner(s): Ometz; David
• Assistant Examiner(s): Désir; Jean W.
• Application Number:
  US10/907,254
• Publication Number:
  US 20060215022A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,075 Days
• Field of Search: 348/143, 348/142, 348/153, 348/154, 348/155, 348/159, 348/156, 348/152, 725/109, 725/10, 725/12, 340/541, 340/539.22, 340/545.2
• US Class Current: 348/143
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19645 Multiple cameras, each having view on one of a plurality of scenes, e.g. multiple cameras for multi-room surveillance or for tracking an object by view hand-over
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19691 Signalling events for better perception by user, e.g. indicating alarms by making display brighter, adding text, creating a sound
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19695 Arrangements wherein non-video detectors start video recording or forwarding but do not generate an alarm themselves
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

A security camera and monitor system activated by motion sensor and body heat sensor for homes or offices that utilizes home VCR, or other household A/V recordation equipment, as a recording means and recordation only occurs when motion is detected, achieving great simplicity and economy in the installation and use of the security system. Present invention also provides status information allowing users to check the status of any security breach before entering the premises, greatly enhancing the safety of home residents or office personnel.

Claims

1. A security camera and monitor system for homes or offices, comprising:

a. a plurality of motion detectors situated at predetermined spots having timing control logic that allows a user-selectable Sustained Detection Period, in which audio/video signals are transmitted to recording and display means;

b. a plurality of body heat sensors situated at predetermined spots powered on by battery and having codes generator means and wireless transmitting means for said codes;

c. a plurality of video cameras, having microphone intake units either integrated in the camera units or housed separately, situated at predetermined spots to capture visual images and audio signals for transmitting and recording;

d. means for displaying captured images;

e. means for recording captured images;

f. a Video Controller and a Audio Controller with each said camera unit that controls separate switches to transmit audio/video signals to recording and display means;

g. a plurality of lamps powered by a relay which is further controlled by the motion detector of said camera;

h. a plurality of infrared lights situated at predetermined spots, corresponding to and controlled by said plurality of motion detectors to illuminate the spots when activated by said motion detectors;

i. a Micro System Controller (“

MSC”

) unit consisting of modern CPU together with memory IC, and connection to a variety of signal and code detectors, data keypad and serial and parallel I/O port, as well as ports to phone lines and other forms of network/Internet connection, and connection to remote control unit;

j. a body heat receiver for receiving wireless transmission of codes from said body heat sensors and an associated code detector that transmitted received codes to MSC;

k. a Logic Auto Switch, whereby said Logic Auto Switch controls the display of captured images in a single or four-image-per-Quad format, depending on the numbers of cameras activated;

l. a Universal Remote Control (“

URC”

) unit, having on/off electronic switches allowing normal press-release on/off action, and further having additional parabola reflector around the infrared emitter for better focusing, hooked up to said MSC unit;

m. an Auto Switch Off microprocessor timing switch, electronically placed between said URC and said MSC, providing bias to a plurality of the electronic switches on said URC for roughly 0.5 second on and staying off until receiving next command;

n. a Video Detector to detect the existence of video signal from said Logic Auto Switch output and will cause recording means to start/pause recording when command is issued by MSC, via said URC hotwired to MSC;

o. a status display means connected to and controlled by said MSC via a driver unit;

p. a telephone interface having touch-tone recognition, status recording and voicing means utilized to set or reset said system and for responding to status inquiries corresponding to the conditions represented by defined status;

q. an IC BUS serving as preprogrammed memory IC for storing user greetings, commands and status information as represented by said colored lights or other forms of status representation;

r. an Internet unit connected to MSC for data communication of information stored on IC BUS or for receiving commands from Internet;

s. video transmitter connected to said MSC for wireless transmission of video signal out upon command from telephone connection; and

,

t. power supply means to supply the necessary power wattage by converting household AC voltage (110v or 220v) to the proper voltage suitable for the consumption of all the elements.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said motion detectors further having timing control logic or circuitry that allows a user-selectable Sustained Detection Period of between 1 to 60 seconds, after motion is detected, in which audio/video signals are transmitted to recording and display means.

3. The system of claim 2, whereby said status display means comprising external lights in the colors of red, green, orange and yellow, to show the status of security breach in a Security Monitor Session (SM Session), which is defined as the period between a user arming present system and disarming present system, so that:

a. Red light will be on whenever motion is detected, and resulting in activation of audio/video recordation, during a SM Session;

b. Green light will be on to show existence of audio/video recordation during a SM Session;

c. Orange light will be on whenever body heat is detected by body heat sensor(s), during a SM Session; and

d. Yellow light will be on to show existence of detection of body heat sensing during a SM Session.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said means of recordation is a household VCR machine, or any image recordation equipment, that can be activated by said URC unit after said unit has been calibrated to the reception channel of said means of recordation.

5. The system of claim 4, whereby said Logic Auto Switch will fill up the viewable surface of a display means, usually a TV monitor, by a Single or Quad-image format for maximum of 4 captured images per Quad-image format from 4 video cameras and will activate the Quad-image switching function to alternate the display of first-Quad, second-Quad, third-Quad, etc. when more than 4 of said video cameras are capturing and transmitting images.

6. The system of claim 5, whereby said an Auto Off Switch unit connected to said MSC will effectuate an “

off position”

on the REC/PAUSE switches on said Universal Remote Control, after said motion detectors activated said Micro System Controller which commands the recording means to engage in REC/PAUSE action.

7. The system of claim 6, whereby said body heat sensors, when detecting body heat, will send signals to said body heat receiver, and code detector will detect code that will be sent to said MSC, which will further cause said external status lights to show orange and/or yellow and record the status on the IC Bus.

8. The system of claim 7, whereby said MSC further having built-in microphone and preamplifier for recording user greetings on said IC BUS.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein a remote signal detector is connected to MSC to detect code signal from telephone interface, having codes defined as follows:

Code 01;

turn video transmitter power on

Code 02;

turn video transmitter power off

Code 03;

turn Internet unit 84 power on or enabled

Code 04;

turn Internet unit 84 power off or disabled

Code 05;

play VCR 54, or equivalent recording equipment 54

Code 06;

stop VCR 54, or equivalent recording equipment 54

Code 07;

fast-forward VCR 54, or equivalent recording equipment 54

Code 08;

rewind VCR 54, or equivalent recording equipment 54

Code 09;

pause VCR 54, or equivalent recording equipment 54

Code 10;

VCR 54 input selection (for VCR having multiple line-ins)

Code 11;

TV/VCR selection switch

Code 12;

check status recorded on IC BUS 91

Code 13;

check outgoing message

Code 14;

fast-forward/skip of recorded message on IC BUS 91

Code 15;

rewind of recorded message on IC BUS 91

Code 16;

DVD/VCR switch control

Code 17;

DVD/DVD/R switch control

Code 18;

Power On/Off VCR.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said telephone interface further having a plurality of push-buttons for operation by user fingers that will provide voiced status information corresponding to said status lights.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein said the range of temperature detection for said body heat detector is set for normal human temperature of between 86 and 99 degrees Fahrenheit, unless overwritten by users.