Privacy ensuring covert camera

• US 9,229,298 B2
• Filed: 11/18/2014
• Issued: 01/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Seth Cirker
• Original Assignee: Seth Cirker
• Inventors: Cirker, Seth
• Primary Examiner(s): FULLER, RODNEY EVAN
• Application Number:
  US14/546,174
• Publication Number:
  US 20150341601A1
• Time in Patent Office: 413 Days
• Field of Search: 396/427
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 11/00 Filters or other obturators specially adapted for photographic purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/02 Bodies
• 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 13/19632 Camera support structures, e.g. attachment means, poles
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19634 Electrical details of the system, e.g. component blocks for carrying out specific functions
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/50 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 Housings

Abstract

A device for monitoring a privacy sensitive area, includes an image receiving device, such as a camera, disposed inside a housing chassis. The image receiving device includes a camera lens. Additionally, a movable obstruction member configured to selectively obstruct a camera lens is disposed on the device and is configured to change a position to selectively obstruct or expose the camera lens. The position of the movable obstruction member is dependent upon a threat level received by the device.

Claims

1. A device for monitoring an area, the device comprising;

an exterior surface having an external appearance of a non-image-receiving device;

an image receiving device, said image receiving device including a camera lens;

a movable obstruction member having a masking element obstructing and disguising the existence of said image receiving device when said movable obstruction member is in a first position, said masking element preserving said external appearance in said first position, wherein said masking element defines a hole in said movable obstruction member, said hole preserving said external appearance;

wherein said movable obstruction member is configured to move to a second position in relation to said camera lens in response to a monitoring status signal, said movable obstruction member exposing said camera lens when in said second position.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said monitoring status signal comprises one of an active signal or an inactive signal;

wherein said movable obstruction member is positioned to obstruct said camera lens in response to an inactive signal; and

wherein said movable obstruction member is positioned not to obstruct said camera lens in response to an active signal.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein said movable obstruction member is a disc having a center axis, said disc rotating about the center axis between the first position and the second position.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein said wherein said exterior surface further comprises an opening for a fastener.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein said movable obstruction member comprises a rotatable cylindrical member protruding from said exterior surface, the rotatable cylindrical member having a first side and a second side;

wherein said first side of said rotatable cylindrical member defines a transparent section, said transparent section comprising an opening or a transparent material;

wherein said second side obscures said camera lens when said rotatable cylindrical member is in said first position; and

wherein said transparent section is configured to be selectively aligned with said camera lens when said rotatable cylindrical member is in said second position.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein said movable member comprises a sliding member configured to selectively slide relative to said camera lens between said first and second positions.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein said sliding member includes an optically transparent section configured to selectively expose said camera lens when said sliding member is selectively positioned.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein said hole comprises a transparent window in said movable obstruction member.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein said hole comprises an electrochromatic window in said movable obstruction member configured to become transparent in response to application of an electrical current.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein said non-image-receiving device is a foreign substance detector.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein said non-image-receiving device is a motion detector of a security system.

12. A method for selectively masking a camera lens, the method comprising;

disposing an image receiving device inside a housing chassis, said housing chassis having an external appearance of a non-image-receiving device, said image receiving device including a camera lens and a movable member having a masking element obstructing and disguising the existence of said image receiving device while said movable member is in a first position, said masking element preserving said external appearance in said first position, wherein said masking element defines a hole in said movable member, said hole preserving said external appearance;

receiving a monitoring status signal indicating an inactive mode or an active mode;

selectively positioning said movable member within said housing chassis to obscure and disguise said camera lens and preserve said external appearance in response to said monitoring status signal indicating an inactive mode, and

selectively positioning said movable member within said housing chassis to expose said camera lens in response to said monitoring status signal indicating an active mode.

13. A security system for a facility, the system comprising:

an at least partially private area of the facility;

at least one masked camera positioned at the facility, said masked camera comprising;

a housing;

a camera sensor disposed within said housing; and

a movable member with a masking element selectively positionable between an obstructing position and an exposing position, said movable member exposing said camera sensor for surveillance of said at least partially private area when in said exposing position, wherein said masking element defines a hole in said movable member, said hole preserving an external appearance; and

a computing module configured to;

receive a monitoring status signal;

compare said monitoring status signal to a threshold level;

in response to said monitoring status signal not exceeding said threshold level, send a control signal indicating positioning of said movable member in said obstructing position; and

in response to said monitoring status signal exceeding said threshold level, send a control signal indicating positioning of said movable member in said exposing position.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said housing has an external appearance of a non-image-receiving device.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein said monitoring status signal is sent from a remote transmitter.

16. The system of claim 14, further comprising at least one threat sensor at the facility, wherein said monitoring status signal sent from said threat sensor.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein said threat sensor is selected from the group consisting of:

a motion detector, a foreign substance detector, and an alarm input device.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein said threshold level is determined based on a degree of privacy desired for the at least partially private area.