Internet protocol security camera connected light bulb/system

• US 9,143,741 B1
• Filed: 01/27/2014
• Issued: 09/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kuna systems corporation
• Original Assignee: Kuna systems corporation
• Inventors: Fu, Sai-Wai, Huang, Haomiao
• Primary Examiner(s): SELBY, GEVELL V
• Application Number:
  US14/164,540
• Time in Patent Office: 603 Days
• Field of Search: 348/211.2
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/23 Retrofit light sources for lighting devices with a single fitting for each light source, e.g. for substitution of incandescent lamps with bayonet or threaded fittings
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0435 activated by remote control means
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/045 the sensor receiving a signal from a remote controller
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/06 the elements being coupling devices , e.g. connectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0056 Audio equipment, e.g. music instruments, radios or speakers
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0076 Safety or security signalisation, e.g. smoke or burglar alarms, earthquake detectors; Self-defence devices
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 11/045 Lens hoods or shields
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/16 Sound input; Sound output speech processing G10L
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/337 involving reference images or patches
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/50 Depth or shape recovery
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19619 Details of casing
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19632 Camera support structures, e.g. attachment means, poles
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19636 pertaining to the camera
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19656 Network used to communicate with a camera, e.g. WAN, LAN, Internet
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19695 Arrangements wherein non-video detectors start video recording or forwarding but do not generate an alarm themselves
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 15/002 with occupancy simulation
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/046 prevention of tampering with detection circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/50 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 Housings
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/54 : Mounting of pick-up tubes, electronic image sensors, deviation or focusing coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/55 : Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/56 : provided with illuminating means
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 : Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/698 : for achieving an enlarged field of view, e.g. panoramic image capture
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 : Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 : for receiving images from a single remote source
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/00 : Circuit arrangements for operating light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/125 : by using cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 : via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 : Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

The present invention concerns an apparatus comprising an antenna module and a control module. The antenna module may be configured to connect and send data to a local network and a mobile handheld device through a wireless connection. The control module may be configured to provide (i) a physical connection to the antenna module, (ii) a power source to an external device, and (iii) a camera sensor to capture still and motion pictures and sounds of a surrounding environment of the apparatus. The pictures may be sent as the data through the wireless connection or through a mobile handheld device.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a module comprising (a) an antenna module configured to connect and send data to a local network through a wireless connection and (b) a camera sensor configured to capture pictures of a surrounding environment of said apparatus; and

a processor sub-module configured to provide (i) a physical connection to said module, (ii) a connection between a power source and an external device, and (iii) control signals for activation of (a) said external device and (b) components of said processor sub-module, wherein (A) said pictures are sent as said data through said wireless connection, (B) said processor sub-module is fully enclosed within a base of a light fixture and (C) said module is integrated in a bottom part of said base that extends below a shade of said light fixture.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein (a) said components of said processor sub-module comprise sensors configured to detect fields generated by sources in a range of the apparatus and (b) disturbances in said fields detected by said sensors are used to detect potential visitors.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said fields comprise at least one of (a) electromagnetic fields and (b) acoustic fields.

4. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein (a) said antenna is further configured to register said disturbances and (b) said processor sub-module is configured to generate said control signals for at least one of turning on a light, creating sound from one or more speakers and sending alerts to users.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein (a) said antenna module is further configured to (i) connect to one or more mobile devices and (ii) send/receive audio signals and (b) said processor sub-module is further configured to stream said audio signals from a built in speaker component of said apparatus.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein (a) said external device is one or more doors and (b) said control signals are configured to control access to said one or more doors.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein (a) said control signals are generated in response to input signals received from said components of said processor sub-module and (b) said input signals comprise at least one of a voice password, a gesture password detected by said camera sensor and facial recognition.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein (i) one of said components of said processor sub-module is a speaker, (ii) said processor sub-module is configured to play sounds from said speaker to attract animals, (iii) said camera sensor is configured to record images of said animals and (iv) said recorded images of said animals are sent with an alert signal to a user.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein (i) one of said components of said processor sub-module is a speaker, (ii) said processor sub-module is configured to play sounds from said speaker, (iii) said sounds from said speaker are configured to chase away undesirable outdoor animals detected by said camera sensor, (iv) said camera sensor is configured to record images of said undesirable outdoor animals and (v) said antenna module is further configured to send an alert signal to a user.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein (a) said external device comprises a light bulb and (b) said components of said processor sub-module comprise one or more interchangeable environmental sensors.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein (a) said one or more sensors are configured to present input signals to said processor sub-module, (b) said control signals are configured to control said light bulb in response to said input signals and (c) said one or more sensors obtain a power supply from (i) said light bulb when operating in a first mode and (ii) from said base of said light fixture when operating in a second mode.

12. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said control signals comprise information to control at least one of an intensity, a color and a frequency of light from said light bulb.

13. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said light bulb comprises an LED light bulb.

14. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one of said components of said processor sub-module comprise speakers.

15. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said sensors comprise at least one of:

a smart IP camera;

a passive IR motion detector configured to detect at least one of (a) people and (b) animals;

a photodiode to determine daytime and nighttime;

a weather sensor configured to detect at least one of (a) temperature, (b) humidity and (c) atmospheric pressure; and

a microphone configured to capture sounds from the surrounding environment.

16. A method for controlling a a light bulb, comprising the steps of:

a) automatically providing control signals from a processor sub-module of a camera, said control signals configured to perform at least one of (a) turning on and (b) increasing a light intensity of an integrated light bulb when (A) there is insufficient light for the camera to perform and (B) a sound is detected by a component of said processor sub-module, wherein said processor sub-module (i) provides a physical connection to a module of the camera, (ii) provides a connection between a power source and the integrated light bulb and (iii) is fully enclosed within a base of a light fixture;

b) implementing an IR light source in the light bulb of said light fixture;

c) verifying potential visitors based on pictures of a surrounding environment, wherein said module (A) comprises (i) an antenna module configured to connect and send data to a local network through a wireless connection and (ii) a camera sensor configured to capture said pictures of said surrounding environment and (B) is integrated in a bottom part of the base of the light fixture that extends below a shade of the light fixture; and

d) if the verification is negative, said control signals turn off the light integrated bulb.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein said method is implemented to eliminate a need for said IR light in said camera.

18. The method according to claim 16, wherein said method is implemented to control said light bulb during night time operation.

19. The method according to claim 16, wherein said camera is configured to control said light bulb.