Device, system, and method of reduced-power imaging

• US 8,675,063 B2
• Filed: 02/05/2006
• Issued: 03/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pima Electronic Systems Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Pima Electronic Systems Ltd.
• Inventors: Bentkovski, Yakov
• Primary Examiner(s): YI, DAVID
• Application Number:
  US11/884,777
• Publication Number:
  US 20080278580A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,963 Days
• Field of Search: 348/143, 348/148
• US Class Current: 348/143
• 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

Devices, systems and methods of reduced-power imaging. For example, a device includes: an imager able to acquire one or more images; a triggering sensor able to sense a triggering event; and a receiver able to receive signals, wherein while the device is in a disarm mode the receiver is operational and the imager and the triggering sensor are not operational.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

an imager to acquire one or more images, associated with an integrated image signal processor;

a triggering sensor to sense a triggering event; and

a receiver to receive signals, from a control unit enabling user-selectable arm/disarm mode control of the imager and the triggering sensor operatively connected to the control unit, through a 2-way wireless communication link between the receiver and the control unit;

wherein the device, responsive to a disarm signal received by the control unit and transmitted to the receiver through the 2-way wireless communication link, is operative to enter a disarm mode, in which the receiver is operational and the imager and the triggering sensor are operative at reduced power, relative to a full mode of operation characterizing the imager and triggering sensor when the control unit is operating responsive to an arming signal, and, in response to the disarm signal, the processor is operational but has a status having less than full operational functionality.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the receiver is to receive a signal indicating a disarm command, and wherein in response to said signal the imager and the triggering sensor are to enter a non-operational mode.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the receiver is to receive a signal indicating an arm command, and wherein in response to said signal the imager is to enter a stand-by mode and the triggering sensor is to enter an operational mode.

4. The device of claim 2, wherein the signal comprises a wireless communication signal.

5. The device of claim 3, wherein the signal comprises a wireless communication signal.

6. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a transmitter to transmit data of one or more images acquired by the imager.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the transmitter comprises a wireless transmitter.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the transmitter is to transmit the data in response to a received signal indicating a command to transmit the data.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein a search interval of the receiver in said disarm mode is greater than a search interval of the receiver in an arm mode.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein while the device is in an arm mode and in response to a triggering event, the imager is to acquire a first image, to wait a pre-defined time period, and to acquire a second image.

11. The device of claim 1, further comprising a power source to provide power to the receiver when the device is in said disarm mode, and to provide power to the receiver, the imager and the triggering sensor when the device is in said arm mode.

21. The device of claim 1 wherein an illumination unit is associated with the imager, and wherein, in response to the disarm signal, the illumination unit is operational but has a status having less than full operational functionality.

22. The device of claim 1 wherein said status having less than full operational functionality comprises at least one of a power-saving mode, a “

sleep”

mode, and a stand-by mode.

23. The device of claim 1 wherein said status having less than full operational functionality comprises at least one of a power-saving mode, a “

sleep”

mode, and a stand-by mode.

12. A system comprising:

a control unit; and

a device comprising;

an imager to acquire one or more images, associated with an integrated image signal processor;

a triggering sensor to sense a triggering event for triggering the imager; and

a receiver to receive signals, from the control unit enabling user-selectable arm/disarm mode control of the imager and the triggering sensor operatively connected to the control unit, through a 2-way wireless communication link between the receiver and the control unit;

wherein the device, responsive to a disarm signal received by the control unit and transmitted to the receiver through the 2-way wireless communication link, is operative to enter a disarm mode, in which the receiver is operational and the imager and the triggering sensor are operative at reduced power, relative to a full mode of operation characterizing the imager and the triggering sensor when the control unit is operating responsive to an arming signal, and in response to the disarm signal, the processor is operational but has a status having less than full operational functionality.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the receiver is to receive a signal indicating a disarm command, and wherein in response to said signal the imager and the triggering sensor are to enter a non-operational mode.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the receiver is to receive a signal indicating an arm command, and wherein in response to said signal the imager is to enter a stand-by mode and the triggering sensor is to enter an operational mode.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein a search interval of the receiver in said disarm mode is greater than a search interval of the receiver in an arm mode.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein in response to a triggering event the imager is to acquire a first image, to wait a pre-defined time period, and to acquire a second image.

17. A method comprising:

providing an imager to acquire one or more images, associated with an integrated image signal processor, a triggering sensor to sense a triggering event, and a receiver to receive signals;

using the receiver for receiving a signal indicating an arm command; and

in response to the received signal, using the imager for acquiring a pre-event image,

wherein the receiver is able to receive signals from a control unit enabling user-selectable arm/disarm mode control of the imager and the triggering sensor operatively connected to the control unit, through a 2-way wireless communication link between the receiver and the control unit; and

wherein responsive to a disarm signal received by the control unit and transmitted to the receiver through the 2-way wireless communication link, a disarm mode is entered in which the receiver is operational and the imager and the triggering sensor are operative at reduced power, relative to a full mode of operation characterizing the imager and the triggering sensor when the control unit is operating responsive to an arming signal, and, in response to the disarm signal, the processor is operational but has a status having less than full operational functionality.

18. The method of claim 17, comprising:

in response to said signal, setting an imager to enter a stand-by mode and setting a triggering sensor to enter an operational mode.

19. The method of claim 18, comprising:

in response to said signal, decreasing a search interval of the receiver.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

in response to a signal indicating a disarm command, setting the receiver to enter an operational mode and setting the imager and a triggering sensor to enter a non-operational mode.

24. A security system comprising:

a control unit; and

a camera, including three or more components, the three or more components including an imager associated with an integrated image signal processor, a triggering sensor, and a receiver to receive signals from the control unit through a 2-way wireless communication link,

wherein the imager and the triggering sensor each has a plurality of selectable states including an armed mode or a disarmed mode, and wherein the imager and the triggering sensor are operatively connected to the control unit, through the two-way wireless communication link, and wherein the control unit allows a user to bring said imager and said triggering sensor into a selectable one of said armed and disarmed modes, and wherein, when in disarmed mode, said imager and said triggering sensor operate in a reduced-power mode, and, when in disarmed mode, the processor is operational but has a status having less than full operational functionality.