Portable parent unit for video baby monitor system

• US 7,696,888 B2
• Filed: 04/05/2007
• Issued: 04/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Graco Children's Products, Inc. (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Graco Children's Products, Inc. (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Inventors: Swan, Jeffrey, Zhang, Fa-Yun, Desrosiers, Craig
• Primary Examiner(s): TRIEU, VAN THANH
• Application Number:
  US11/697,269
• Publication Number:
  US 20070241911A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,104 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.11, 340/539.15, 340/539.25, 340/539.3, 340/573.1, 340/573.4, 340/539.1, 348/14.02, 348/565, 348/E7.08, 358/523, 710/15
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19621 Portable camera
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19684 Portable terminal, e.g. mobile phone, used for viewing video remotely
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0208 Combination with audio or video communication, e.g. combination with "baby phone" function
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0476 Cameras to detect unsafe condition, e.g. video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/62 Control of parameters via user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

A video baby monitor system has a child unit and a receiver unit. The receiver unit has a housing assembly with a first section having a viewing surface and a second section. The first and second sections are movable relative to one another between an open position exposing the viewing surface and a closed position where the second section covers the viewing surface. A video screen is provided on the viewing surface of the first section. The first section can be moved from the closed position to the open position such that the video screen faces upward for viewing.

Claims

1. A video baby monitor system having a child unit and a receiver unit, the receiver unit comprising:

a housing assembly with a first section having a viewing surface and a second section, the first and second sections being movable relative to one another between an open position exposing the viewing surface and a closed position where the second section covers the viewing surface;

an attachment device configured for connection to the second section and further configured to allow the first section to be moved from the closed position to the open position while the receiver unit is worn by a user via the attachment device; and

a video screen on the viewing surface of the first section,

wherein the connection orients the housing assembly such that the video screen faces upward for viewing when the receiver unit is worn by the user via the attachment device with the first section in the open position.

2. A video baby monitor system according to claim 1, wherein the first and second sections are pivotally connected to one another along a joint end of the housing assembly.

3. A video baby monitor system according to claim 1, further comprising a speaker within a part of the housing assembly and a speaker opening positioned on an end surface of the housing assembly adjacent the speaker that is exposed in the closed position.

4. A video baby monitor system according to claim 1, further comprising a light bar positioned on an end surface of the housing assembly and configured to illuminate in a manner representative of a characteristic of audio signals received by the parent unit, the light bar visible on the end surface with the housing assembly in the closed position.

5. A video baby monitor system according to claim 1, further comprising a light positioned on an end surface of the housing assembly and that illuminates in a manner representative of a battery condition for batteries in the parent unit that provide power to operate the parent unit, the light visible on the end surface with the housing assembly in the closed position.

6. A video baby monitor system according to claim 1, wherein the housing assembly has an end surface on an end opposite a joint end along which the first and second sections are connected, the end surface oriented facing upward and the joint end facing downward when the receiver unit is worn by the user via the attachment device.

7. A video baby monitor system according to claim 1, wherein the attachment device is a belt clip with a clip part that opens facing in a downward direction opposite the upward direction that the video screen faces.

8. A video baby monitor system according to claim 7, wherein the first and second sections are pivotally connected to one another along a joint end of the housing assembly, and wherein an end surface on an end of the housing opposite the joint end is oriented facing upward and the joint end is oriented facing downward in the direction that the clip part opens, wherein the first section can be pivoted outward to expose the video screen in an upward facing direction.

9. A video baby monitor system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a hinge pivotally connecting the first and second sections to one another along a joint end of the housing assembly;

an end surface on an end of the housing assembly that is opposite the joint end; and

a sound light bar, a battery status light, and a speaker opening positioned on the end surface, the end surface and the sound light bar, the battery stats light and the speaker each being exposed when the housing assembly is in the closed position.

10. A video baby monitor system according to claim 1, wherein a transmitter of the child unit and the receiver of the parent unit are in direct communication with one another.

11. A video baby monitor system comprising:

a child unit having a video camera, a microphone, and a transmitter configured to transmit video signals representing images received from the camera and audio signals representing sound received from the microphone; and

a parent unit having a housing and a receiver for receiving the video and audio signals, the housing having a screen section, a base section, and a video screen on the screen section, the screen and base sections coupled to one another at a joint end of the housing and movable relative to one another between a closed configuration covering the video screen and an open configuration exposing the video screen for viewing,

wherein the housing has an end surface on an end that is positioned opposite the joint end on the housing, the end surface having a user interface light exposed and visible with the housing in the closed configuration.

12. A video baby monitor system according to claim 11, further comprising:

a light bar on the end surface and visible in the closed configuration, the light bar configured to illuminate to represent of a characteristic of the audio signals.

13. A video baby monitor system according to claim 11, further comprising:

a connection light on the end surface and visible in the closed configuration, the connection light configured to indicate whether the child unit and the parent unit are in communication with one another.

14. A video baby monitor system according to claim 11, further comprising:

a speaker within the housing and a speaker opening positioned on the end surface to emit sound emanating from the speaker representative of the received audio signals, the speaker opening being exposed in the closed configuration.

15. A video baby monitor system according to claim 11, further comprising:

a battery charge status light on the end surface and visible in the closed configuration, the battery charge status light configured to illuminate in a manner providing battery charge status information.

16. A video baby monitor system according to claim 11, wherein the screen section is a flip section coupled to the base section along a hinge on one end of each section and pivotable about the hinge.

17. A video baby monitor system according to claim 16, further comprising:

an attachment device connected to the base section and having a jaw that opens downward, wherein the end surface is oriented facing in a direction that is opposite to the direction that the jaws opens.

18. A video baby monitor system according to claim 17, wherein the flip section can be moved to the open configuration with the attachment device connected to a user, and wherein the video screen faces upward for viewing.

19. A video baby monitor system according to claim 17, wherein the attachment device is a belt clip.