Video camera with temperature sensor

• US 9,307,145 B2
• Filed: 06/26/2013
• Issued: 04/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zhejiang Uniview Technologies Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Zhejiang Uniview Technologies Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Sheng, Hua, Sun, YiFei
• Primary Examiner(s): HSU, AMY R
• Application Number:
  US14/390,014
• Publication Number:
  US 20150062417A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,014 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 7/16 using resistive elements resistive elements per se H01C, H01L
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/55 with provision for heating or cooling, e.g. in aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/00 Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/65 Control of camera operation in relation to power supply

Abstract

A video camera includes a first temperature sensor, a control logic circuit, a main system, a heating module, a fan and a power supply. After the power supply supplies power to the video camera, the first temperature sensor comes to be active, when the temperature sensed by the first temperature sensor is less than T1, the first temperature sensor outputs a control signal to the control logic circuit, which activates the heating module and the fan and prevents the power supply from supplying to the main system; and when the temperature sensed by the first temperature sensor is greater than T1, the first temperature sensor outputs a control signal to the control logic circuit which enables the power supply to supply to the main system and inactivates the heating module and the fan, and therefore, a normal activation and stable operation of the video camera at low temperatures are ensured.

Claims

1. A video camera comprising:

a first temperature sensor;

a control logic circuit;

a main system;

a heating module;

a fan; and

a power supply,

wherein after the power supply supplies power to the video camera, the first temperature sensor comes to be active, when a temperature sensed by the first temperature sensor is less than T1, the first temperature sensor outputs a control signal to the control logic circuit, which activates the heating module and the fan and prevents the power supply from supplying to the main system, and when the temperature sensed by the first temperature sensor is greater than T1, the first temperature sensor outputs a control signal to the control logic circuit, which enables the power supply to supply to the main system,

wherein the control signal outputted by the first temperature sensor is a logic signal;

wherein the control logic circuit is built from discrete devices, or is achieved by single-chip microcomputers or logic chips.

2. The video camera of claim 1, further comprising a second temperature sensor, wherein the main system receives a temperature sensed by the second temperature sensor after being supplied by the power supply, when the temperature is greater than T1 and less than T2, the main system outputs a control signal to the control logic circuit, which activates the heating module and the fan.

3. The video camera of claim 2, wherein the heating module further comprises a first heating element and a second heating element, wherein when the received temperature sensed by the second temperature sensor is less than T2 and greater than T3, the main system outputs a control signal to the control logic circuit, which activates the first heating element and the fan, when the received temperature sensed by the second temperature sensor is less than T3 and greater than T1, the main system outputs a control signal to the control logic circuit, which activates the first heating element, the second heating element and the fan.

4. The video camera of claim 2, wherein when the heating module is out of control by the main system because of a software error and the temperature sensed by the first temperature sensor is less than T1, the first temperature sensor outputs the control signal to the control logic circuit, which activates the heating module and the fan and prevents the power supply from supplying to the main system.

5. The video camera of claim 1, wherein a temperature regulating resistance is connected with the first temperature sensor, wherein the value of T1 is determined by a resistance value of the temperature regulating resistance.

6. The video camera of claim 1, further comprising a second temperature sensor, wherein the main system receives a temperature sensed by the second temperature sensor after being supplied by the power supply, when the temperature is greater than T1 and less than or equal to T2, the main system outputs a control signal to the control logic circuit, which activates the heating module and the fan.

7. The video camera of claim 6, wherein the heating module further comprises a first heating element and a second heating element, wherein when the received temperature sensed by the second temperature sensor is less than or equal to T2 and greater than T3, the main system outputs a control signal to the control logic circuit, which activates the first heating element and the fan and inactivates the second heating element when the received temperature sensed by the second temperature sensor is less than or equal to T3 and greater than T1, the main system outputs a control signal to the control logic circuit, which activates the first heating element, the second heating element and the fan.

8. The video camera of claim 1, wherein the main system outputs a control signal to the control logic circuit, which activates the fan for dissipating heat when a temperature in the video camera gets too high.

9. The video camera of claim 1, wherein when the temperature sensed by the first temperature sensor is greater than T1, the first temperature sensor outputs the control signal to the control logic circuit, which inactivates the heating module and the fan.