Wearable camera

• US 8,979,398 B2
• Filed: 04/16/2013
• Issued: 03/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Han, Amy Aimei, Williams, Jason
• Primary Examiner(s): FULLER, RODNEY EVAN
• Application Number:
  US13/863,998
• Publication Number:
  US 20140308031A1
• Time in Patent Office: 700 Days
• Field of Search: 396/424
• US Class Current: 396/424
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/561 Support related camera accessories
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 Housings
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/55 Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof

Abstract

A garment clip is disclosed. The garment clip houses a camera and comprising a first portion housing operational circuitry and a second portion supporting an image capture component. The second portion has a mass which is less than the first portion. The first and second portions are connected in a configuration such that, when the clip is secured to the garment, the image capture component faces outwardly and the first portion is at least partially concealed by the garment.

Claims

1. A garment clip housing a camera, the clip comprising:

a first portion housing operational circuitry of the camera; and

a second portion supporting an image capture component of the camera, the image capture component connected to the operational circuitry and the second portion having a mass which is less than the first portion, the first and second portions connected in a configuration such that when the clip is secured to the garment the image capture component faces outwardly and the first portion is at least partially concealed by the garment.

2. A garment clip according to claim 1, the image capture element comprising at least one lens and at least one sensor for converting light into electrical signals, the sensor connected to the operational circuitry.

3. A garment clip according to claim 2, the second portion having an opening in an outwardly facing surface thereof and an inwardly extending connection part housing the lens such that the lens faces outwardly through the opening.

4. A garment clip according to claim 3, the second portion having a transparent element which covers the opening, thereby forming a transparent window through which the lens can capture an image.

5. A garment clip according to claim 4, wherein the transparent element and/or the lens are set back into the outward facing surface of the second portion.

6. A garment clip according to claim 5, wherein the transparent element is set back by a distance sufficient to prevent fingers touching the lens when the clip is attached to a garment.

7. A garment clip according to claim 5, in combination with a front plate attached to the attachment means.

8. A garment clip according to claim 3, wherein the connecting part is received by a receiving component of the first portion such that the connecting part is capable of pivoting movement about a pivot location of the clip to alter the disposition of the clip between an open and closed position.

9. A garment clip according to claim 2, wherein the operational circuitry includes processing circuitry connected to receive sensed image data from the image sensor.

10. A garment clip according to claim 1, wherein an inwardly facing surface of the second portion has a first mating region adapted to engage with a second mating region of an opposing surface of the first portion when the clip is in a closed position.

11. A garment clip according to claim 10, wherein the first and second mating regions engage at a clip point and wherein the centre of mass of the clip is located in the vicinity of the clip point to resist a tendency to rotate.

12. A garment clip according to claim 1, wherein the second portion comprises attachment means for supporting a detachable front-plate.

13. A garment clip according to claim 1, the first portion and the second portion being connected such that the second portion can be rotated towards and/or away from the first portion.

14. A garment clip according to claim 1, the first portion having a volume which is larger than the second portion and the first portion having a surface area which is larger than the second portion.

15. A garment clip according to claim 1, the first portion being heavier than the second portion.

16. A camera having a camera module housed in a clip portion of a garment clip, wherein the camera module has a lens for capturing an image, the lens facing through an opening of the clip portion, and wherein the clip portion is pivotably mounted to a body portion which houses operational circuitry connected to the camera module, the camera module configured to pivot with the clip portion.

17. A camera according to claim 16, comprising a detachable front piece attached to an outer surface of the clip portion and covering the outer surface of the clip portion, exposing the opening.

18. A camera according to claim 17 wherein the clip portion overlies only a part of the body portion in a clip position, the body portion intended to be concealed by a garment when the camera is secured to the garment.

19. A camera according to claim 16, wherein the clip portion is forward of the body portion such that the camera has a centre of gravity behind the clip portion to prevent the camera from tilting forwards when the camera is secured to a garment.

20. A camera comprising:

a camera module housed in a clip portion of a garment clip, the camera module comprising a lens for capturing an image, the lens facing through an opening of the clip portion, and the clip portion pivotably mounted to a body portion which houses operational circuitry connected to the camera module, wherein the clip portion overlies only a part of the body portion in a clip position, the body portion intended to be concealed by a garment when the camera is secured to the garment, the camera module configured to pivot with the clip portion.