Lightweight cordless security camera

• US 8,131,145 B2
• Filed: 07/28/2008
• Issued: 03/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Karl Frederick Scheucher
• Original Assignee: Karl Frederick Scheucher
• Inventors: Scheucher, Karl Frederick
• Primary Examiner(s): Muralidar, Richard V
• Application Number:
  US12/181,300
• Publication Number:
  US 20090086043A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,317 Days
• Field of Search: 396/277, 396/278, 396/422, 396/427, 396/539, 396/419, 348/372, 348/373
• US Class Current: 396/278
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0063 with circuits adapted for supplying loads from the battery
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

The present invention is a lightweight, cordless security camera comprising a lightweight stand or tripod, a video camera with pan, tilt, and zoom articulation and an audio microphone, a wireless networking interface enabling wireless access to the camera controls, video, and audio data streams, an antenna enabling transmission and reception of the aforementioned data via the aforementioned wireless networking interface, and a lightweight, battery power supply providing power to the video camera and wireless networking system. The lightweight, battery power supply includes one or more quickly coupled and uncoupled lightweight batteries which can be easily and quickly interchanged to provide continuous power to the security camera. This enables security forces such as police and military forces to safely and continuously monitor and surveil areas including crime scenes and combat theaters.

Claims

1. A portable video camera system, comprising:

a video camera;

said video camera includes a video camera controller;

said video camera includes wireless communication means;

a first mount and a second mount;

a shaft, said shaft supports said video camera;

said first and second mounts are affixed to said shaft and said first and second mounts are supported by said shaft;

a light-weight quick-disconnect modular power supply removably affixed to said first mount;

a power conversion and control module removably affixed to said second mount;

said power conversion and control module includes wireless controller means for monitoring said light-weight quick-disconnect modular power supply;

said light-weight quick-disconnect modular power supply electrically communicating with said power conversion and control module;

said power conversion and control module electrically communicating with said video camera;

said video camera articulates three dimensional tilting, zooming, and panning;

a remote controller;

said remote controller includes a wireless communication system integral with said remote controller, said wireless remote controller communicating with said wireless video camera controller and said wireless controller of said power conversion and control module, said communication between said wireless remote controller, said wireless video camera controller, and said wireless controller of said power conversion and control module, occurring over an IP wireless network;

said remote controller, wirelessly, by said IP network, positioning and articulating said video camera by tilting, zooming and panning said video camera;

said wireless remote controller managing said power conversion and control module and the supply of power to said video camera;

said wireless remote controller sends command information to said video camera controller wirelessly over said IP network; and

,

said command information includes pan, tilt, zoom, turn on-off, and set color mode.

2. A portable video camera system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said light-weight quick-disconnect modular power supply is a battery.

3. A portable video camera system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first mount includes first and second male electrical contacts and said modular power supply includes first and second female electrical receptacles, and said first and second male electrical contacts engage said first and second female electrical receptacles.

4. A portable video camera system as claimed in claim 2 wherein said battery is a lithium ion battery.

5. A portable video camera system as claimed in claim 3 wherein said modular power supply is a lithium ion battery.

6. A portable video camera system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a shroud for covering said tight-weight quick-disconnect modular power supply and said power conversion and control module to protect same from undesirable atmospheric conditions.

7. A portable video camera system as claimed in claim 2 further comprising a plurality of hot-swappable batteries having different battery chemistries removably coupled to a plurality of first mounts.

8. A portable video camera system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a plurality of hot-swappable modular power supplies a d said plurality of modular power supplies have different voltages.

9. A portable video camera system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said camera controller transmits information regarding the status of said video camera to said remote controller wirelessly over said IP network.

10. A portable video camera system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said camera controller transmits media information from said video camera to said remote controller wirelessly over said IP network.

11. A portable video camera system as claimed in claim 10 wherein said media information is video information.

12. A portable video camera system as claimed in claim 10 wherein said media information is audio information.

13. A portable video camera system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said shaft includes a first portion and a second portion, said second portion of said shaft being separable from said first portion;

said second portion of said shaft includes said first and second mounts a d said video camera; and

, said second portion of said shaft adapted to be secured in the ground.

14. A portable video camera system, comprising:

a video camera;

said video camera includes a video camera controller;

said video camera includes communication means;

a first mount and a second mount;

a shaft, said shaft supports said video camera;

said first and second mounts are affixed to said shaft and said first am second mounts are supported by said shaft;

a light-weight quick-disconnect modular power supply removably affixed to said first mount;

a power conversion and control module removably affixed to said second mount;

said power conversion and control module includes a controller means for monitoring said light-weight quick-disconnect modular power supply;

said light-weight quick-disconnect modular power supply electrically communicating with said power conversion and control module;

said power conversion and control module electrically communicating with said video camera;

said video camera articulates three dimensional tilting, zooming, and panning;

a remote controller;

said remote controller includes a communication system integral with said remote controller, said remote controller communicating with said video camera controller and said controller of said power conversion and control module, said communication between said remote controller, said video camera controller, and said controller of said power conversion and control module, occurring over an IP network;

said remote controller, by said IP network, positioning and articulating said video camera by tilting, zooming and panning said video camera;

said remote controller managing said power conversion and control module and the supply of power to said video camera;

said remote controller sends command information to said video camera controller over said IP network; and

,

said command information includes pan, tilt, zoom, turn on-off, and set color mode.