Apparatus and method for remote viewing system

• US 7,928,842 B2
• Filed: 09/05/2009
• Issued: 04/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Arlo Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Andrew W. Knight, Scott Jezierski
• Inventors: Jezierski, Scott, Knight, Andrew W
• Primary Examiner(s): TWEEL JR, JOHN ALEXANDER
• Application Number:
  US12/584,403
• Publication Number:
  US 20100045795A1
• Time in Patent Office: 591 Days
• Field of Search: 340/540, 340/569, 340/570, 340/568.1, 232/17, 232/34, 396/56, 348/152, 348/E5.042
• US Class Current: 340/540
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/651 for reducing power consumption by affecting camera operations, e.g. sleep mode, hibernation mode or power off of selective parts of the camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/66 Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet

Abstract

An energy conserving remote viewing system comprising an instantaneous analog video transmission camera, an analog video receiver that receives and transmits a video image to a video monitor and a remote transmitter that activates the analog video transmission camera. The remote camera device is normally in a low power, sleep mode that has a minimal power drain. The system includes a battery powered camera requiring a first voltage to operate and an RF transmitter to send an activation signal to the camera. The activation signal has a duration. A camera power circuit includes a normally sleeping signal receiving circuit and a first timer. The first timer periodically activates the signal receiving circuit to check for the presence of the activation signal and turns off the signal receiving circuit if the activation signal is not present and turns on the camera if the activation signal is present, and wherein the time the signal receiving circuit sleeps is less than the activation signal duration.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a remote viewing system, comprising:

powering a remote viewing system using battery power;

operating the viewing system in a sleep mode;

receiving an interrupt while the viewing system is in sleep mode;

activating the viewing system responsive to the interrupt;

entering a listen mode;

waiting a period of time in the listen mode; and

returning to the sleep mode after waiting in the listen mode.

2. The method for controlling a remote viewing system according to claim 1, wherein the interrupt is received from a sensor.

3. The method for controlling a remote viewing system according to claim 1, wherein the interrupt is received from a timer.

4. The method for controlling a remote viewing system according to claim 3, wherein the interrupt is received from the timer at a rate less than about every 1 minute.

5. The method for controlling a remote viewing system according to claim 3, wherein the interrupt is received from the low power time at a rate less than about every 10 minutes.

6. The method for controlling a remote viewing system according to claim 1, wherein the listen period is less than one second.

7. The method for controlling a wireless imager according to claim 1, further including receiving an camera activation signal during the listen period.

8. The method for controlling a wireless imager according to claim 7, further including the steps of:

receiving an instruction from a control; and

transmitting video signals from said camera.

9. A method for controlling a wireless camera, comprising:

operating a timer while the wireless camera is in a sleep mode;

receiving an interrupt from the timer;

activating the wireless camera;

entering a listen mode for no longer than a defined period of time;

waiting for a communication signal;

transmitting one or more images responsive to the communication signal; and

placing the wireless camera in sleep mode after transmission is completed.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the interrupts are received randomly.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein the interrupts are received at a predetermined time.

12. The method according to claim 9, wherein the interrupts are received on a periodic basis.

13. The method according to claim 9, wherein the interrupts are received according to a programmable time period.

14. A method for controlling a wireless device, comprising:

operating a timer while the wireless device is in a sleep mode;

receiving an interrupt from the timer;

activating the wireless devices receiver;

entering a listen mode for a defined duration;

activating said device responsive to an activation signal;

said activation signal having a duration greater than said listen mode duration; and

placing the wireless device in sleep mode after devices primary function is completed.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein wireless device is battery powered.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein a booster increases a voltage supplied by a battery to power said wireless device.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the timer is provided by a processor.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the timer is provided by a separate circuit.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the listen duration is less than 1 second.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein power is progressively consumed as necessary;

ultra low power timer, low power receiver, higher power device.