Modular camera system

• US 9,071,740 B1
• Filed: 09/05/2012
• Issued: 06/30/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Duffy, Gregory R., McLean, Melissa D., Virani, Aamir S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Sinh
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wang, Xi
• Application Number:
  US13/604,399
• Time in Patent Office: 1,028 Days
• Field of Search: 248/231.71, 248/688, 361/679, 348/14.01, 348/14.02, 348/211.1, 348/211.2, 348/211.3, 348/207.1, 348/143, 348/373, 396535-541
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19619 Details of casing
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1963 Arrangements allowing camera rotation to change view, e.g. pivoting camera, pan-tilt and zoom [PTZ]
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19656 Network used to communicate with a camera, e.g. WAN, LAN, Internet
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19658 Telephone systems used to communicate with a camera, e.g. PSTN, GSM, POTS
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/50 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 Housings
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/33 Transforming infrared radiation cameras or camera modules for generating image signals from infrared radiation H04N23/20; circuitry of SSIS for transforming infrared radiation into image signals H04N25/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/77 between a recording apparatus and a television camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

What is described herein is a system which includes an arm where the arm includes a cutout which is a same shape as at least some part of a video camera and which is configured to hold the video camera. The system further includes a base which is configured to be placed on a surface. The system further includes a joint which is configured to be connected to the arm and the base.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

an integrated video camera module that includes a high definition camera portion, an antenna, a wireless transceiver, a microphone and a speaker;

an arm formed from substantially flat material, wherein the arm includes a cutout opening that has a substantially flat circular shape that conforms to a contour of the video camera module and is configured to entirely surround and hold the video camera module when the video camera module is inserted within the cutout opening in the arm;

a base that is configured to be placed on a surface; and

a joint that connects the arm and the base and that provides at least one degree of motion of the arm and video camera module mounted therein with respect to the base.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the joint is adjustable, at least in a forwards direction.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the video camera module further includes one or more of a reset pin, a status light, and one or more infrared light emitting diodes.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the video camera module includes one or more of the following:

a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port, a Power over Ethernet (POE) port, or an Ethernet port.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the video camera module is powered via an electrical connection external to the arm, the base, and the joint.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the video camera module includes a wireless transceiver.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein video data is exchanged between the video camera module and a server using the wireless transceiver.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a tripod which is configured to be connected to the base.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the joint is configured to adjust the field of view direction of the camera module by changing angle of a substantially flat surface of the arm with respect to the base.

10. A system, comprising:

an integrated video camera module that includes a high definition camera portion, an antenna, a wireless transceiver, a microphone and a speaker;

an arm formed from substantially flat material, wherein the arm includes a cutout opening that has a substantially flat circular shape that conforms to a contour of the video camera module, and is configured to entirely enclose and hold the video camera module when the video camera module is inserted within the cutout opening in the arm;

a plug, included in the opening, which is configured to be coupled to a port of the video camera module when the video camera module is inserted in the opening, wherein the plug and the port of the video camera module are decoupled when the video camera module is not inserted in the opening;

a wire which is coupled to the plug and which is configured to electrically connect the video camera module and a power supply when the video camera module is inserted in the opening, wherein the video camera module and the power supply are electrically disconnected when the video camera module is not inserted in the opening; and

a surface mount which is configured to, at least temporarily, connect to a surface.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the video camera module further includes one or more of a reset pin, a status light and one or more infrared light emitting diodes.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the plug includes one or more of the following a Universal Serial Bus (USB) plug, a Power over Ethernet (POE) plug, or an Ethernet plug.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the power supply includes a battery and the system further includes the battery.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the power supply includes one or more of the following:

an AC power supply, a battery, a solar power supply, or a power supply associated with a television.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein video data is exchanged between the video camera module and a server using the wire.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the video data is exchanged using one or more of the following:

a Universal Serial Bus (USB) connection, an Ethernet connection, a High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) connection, a television, or a cable modulator-demodulator (modem).

17. The system of claim 10, wherein the surface mount includes an AC power plug.

18. The system of claim 10, wherein the surface mount includes a light bulb outlet plug.

19. The system of claim 10, wherein the surface mount includes wall mounting hardware.

20. The system of claim 10, wherein the surface mount includes side grippers.

21. The system of claim 10, wherein the surface mount includes a hook and loop connector.

22. The system of claim 10, wherein the surface mount includes a clip.

23. The system of claim 10, wherein the power supply includes a lighting fixture, and the surface mount is configured to match the lighting fixture.