Motion detector camera

• US 7,593,632 B2
• Filed: 12/06/2007
• Issued: 09/22/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Good Sportsman Marketing LLC
• Original Assignee: IP Holdings Incorporated (IP Holdings LLC)
• Inventors: Schnell, Tim
• Primary Examiner(s): PERKEY, WILLIAM B
• Application Number:
  US11/999,573
• Publication Number:
  US 20080145044A1
• Time in Patent Office: 656 Days
• Field of Search: 396/153, 396/263, 396/427
• US Class Current: 396/153
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/00 Details of cameras or camera bodies; Accessories therefor lens hoods or caps G03B11/04

Abstract

A motion detector camera includes a camera mechanism mounted inside a housing, a motion detector exposed on a surface of the housing, and a controller for controlling the camera mechanism in response to signals received from the motion detector. The camera can include an activity counter mounted to the housing. The controller activates the camera mechanism when the controller receives a triggering signal from the motion detector, or the controller activates the activity counter and does not activate the camera mechanism when a triggering activity occurs. The camera can include digital camera electronics. A camera support can be used to removably mount the camera to an object such as a tree.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

mounting a motion detector camera to a tree or post near a suspected game trail, the motion detector camera including;

a housing, a display screen located on a front surface of the housing with the back surface of the housing against the tree or post, a flash coupled to the front surface of the housing, a camera mechanism mounted inside a housing, a motion detector exposed on the front surface of the housing wherein the motion detector is adjustable to alternatively detect motion at up to two different distances, an actuating member on the housing configured to allow a user to control the effective distance of the motion detector, a controller to control the camera mechanism in response to triggering signals received from the motion detector, and a test indicator light located on the front surface of the housing, wherein the controller includes a test mode, wherein when put into the test mode, the controller causes the test indicator to activate but does not cause the camera mechanism to take a picture;

selectively setting the motion detector on the motion detector camera to alternatively detect motion occurring between the camera and a first distance away from the camera or occurring between the camera and a second, longer distance away from the camera, wherein selectively setting the motion detector camera includes actuating the actuating member on the housing to control the effective distance of the motion detector; and

activating a camera mechanism within the motion detector camera in response to signals received from the motion detector.

2. The method of claim 1, further including activating the flash in response to signals received from the motion detector.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the motion detector includes an infrared sensor.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the motion detector can be adjusted to detect a distance from 15 feet to 30 feet.

5. A motion detector camera comprising:

a housing,

a display screen located on a front surface of the housing, wherein the housing is configured to be mountable with a back surface of the housing against a supporting object such that the display screen is exposed on the front surface of the housing

a flash coupled to the front surface of the housing;

a camera mechanism mounted inside a housing;

a motion detector exposed on the front surface of the housing wherein the motion detector is adjustable to alternatively detect motion at up to two different distances;

an actuating member on the housing configured to allow a user to control the effective distance of the motion detector;

a controller to control the camera mechanism in response to triggering signals received from the motion detector; and

a test indicator light located on the front surface of the housing, wherein the controller includes a test mode, wherein when put into the test mode, the controller causes the test indicator to activate but does not cause the camera mechanism to take a picture.

6. The motion detector camera of claim 5, wherein the controller can vary the effective distance of the motion detector from 15 feet to 30 feet.

7. The motion detector camera of claim 5, wherein the controller is programmed to control the effective distance of the sensor in response to input by the user.

8. The motion detector camera of claim 5, wherein the display screen includes an LCD screen.

9. The motion detector camera of claim 5, wherein the camera mechanism includes digital camera electronics.

10. The motion detector camera of claim 5, wherein the display screen is configured to display a power level of a power source located within the housing.

11. The motion detector camera of claim 5, wherein the display screen includes an activity counter for displaying a number of triggering signals received by the controller from the motion detector.

12. The motion detector camera of claim 5, wherein the controller includes a pause state, wherein when put into the pause state, the controller does not activate the camera mechanism after receiving a triggering event signal from the motion detector.

13. The motion detector camera of claim 5, including a memory connected to the controller, wherein the controller can be programmed to store a number designating a total of the received triggering signals in the memory.

14. The motion detector camera of claim 5, including an indicator on a surface of the housing to indicate when a power source of the motion detector camera is low on power.