Wireless motion sensor using infrared illuminator and camera integrated with wireless telephone

• US 7,339,608 B2
• Filed: 03/25/2003
• Issued: 03/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: VTech Telecommunications Limited (VTech Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: VTech Telecommunications Limited (VTech Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Tischler, Ralph, Ryley, Gordon
• Primary Examiner(s): Deane, Jr.; William J.
• Application Number:
  US10/395,153
• Publication Number:
  US 20040130624A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,806 Days
• Field of Search: 455/556.1, 455/550.1, 455/462, 455/566, 340/539.1, 340/539.11, 340/539, 348152-155
• US Class Current: 348/155
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19621 Portable camera
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19658 Telephone systems used to communicate with a camera, e.g. PSTN, GSM, POTS
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1966 Wireless systems, other than telephone systems, used to communicate with a camera
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19684 Portable terminal, e.g. mobile phone, used for viewing video remotely
• 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: G08B 21/0208 Combination with audio or video communication, e.g. combination with "baby phone" function

Abstract

An integrated camera, motion detector and cordless telephone system. A wireless camera operates to detect motion and then alerts a user to the motion via a base station/cordless handset. In one embodiment, the camera then also transmits still or streaming video to the base station/cordless telephone. Accordingly, a user can monitor image(s) via a cordless telephone handset and/or be alerted of motion within the camera'"'"'s field of view.

Claims

1. A monitoring system, comprising:

a camera unit comprising a cordless radio transceiver operable at a first frequency and a video transmitter operable at a second frequency;

a video cordless telephone handset comprising a cordless radio transceiver operable at the first frequency and a video receiver operable at the second frequency; and

a base unit,

the base unit being operable at the first frequency to be in, at least periodic, communication using a cordless radio transceiver to communicate with the camera unit and the video handset unit, and the camera unit being operable to detect motion and automatically transmit an alert, the alert comprising one of (i) a signal to cause the video cordless telephone handset to indicate that motion has been detected and (ii) a still image to at least one of the base unit and video handset,

wherein the camera unit transmits streaming video only after receiving an activation signal from the video handset or the base unit, the activation signal being made in response to the alert.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the camera unit is configured to transmit an image in its field of view only when motion is detected.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the camera unit comprises a CMOS camera.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the camera unit further comprises a means for illuminating with non-visible radiation.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the camera unit further comprises an infrared illuminator.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the camera unit comprises a video processor for detecting motion.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the handset communicates directly with the camera unit wirelessly.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the handset comprises an auxiliary connector.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the auxiliary connector comprises a USB connector.

10. A monitoring system, comprising:

a camera unit including a video processor, the video processor being operable to compare successive images captured by the camera unit and determine whether motion has occurred, the camera unit further comprising

a cordless radio transceiver operable at a first frequency to communicate with a base unit of a cordless telephone system, and

a video transmitter operable at a second frequency; and

a cordless telephone handset comprising

a cordless radio transceiver operable at the first frequency to communicate with the base unit, and

a video receiver operable at the second frequency,

the handset further including a viewing screen being operable to receive an initial transmission from the camera unit subsequent to a determination by the camera unit that motion has occurred, wherein the initial transmission is in the form of at least one of (i) a notification alert and (ii) a still image, and

wherein the camera unit transmits streaming video only after receiving an activation signal from the cordless handset or the base unit, the activation signal being made in response to the initial transmission.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the camera unit comprises an illuminator that illuminates with non-visible light.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the camera unit is configured to transmit an image in its field of view only when motion is detected.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the camera unit comprises a CMOS camera.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the camera unit comprises a video processor for detecting motion.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the handset communicates directly with the camera unit wirelessly.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the handset comprises an auxiliary connector.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the auxiliary connector comprises a USB connector.

18. A monitoring system, comprising:

a wireless camera unit that includes an infrared illuminator and an imaging sensor capable of capturing infrared light, the wireless camera unit being operable to capture and transmit images and to detect motion, the wireless camera unit comprising a cordless radio transceiver operable at a first frequency and a video transmitter operable at a second frequency;

a base unit that is operable to wirelessly communicate with the wireless camera unit using a cordless radio transceiver at the first frequency; and

a cordless handset comprising

a cordless radio transceiver operable to wirelessly communicate at the first frequency with the base unit, and

a video receiver operable at the second frequency,

the handset capable of receiving images transmitted from at least one of the wireless camera unit and the base unit,

wherein the camera unit transmits streaming video only after receiving an activation signal from the cordless handset or the base unit, the activation signal being made in response to an indication that the camera unit has detected motion.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the camera unit is configured to transmit an image in its field of view only when motion is detected.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the camera unit comprises a CMOS camera.

21. The system of claim 18, wherein the camera unit comprises a video processor for detecting motion.

22. The system of claim 18, wherein the handset communicates directly with the camera unit wirelessly.

23. The system of claim 18, wherein the handset comprises an auxiliary connector.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the auxiliary connector comprises a USB connector.