Security camera having a body orientation sensor and method of use

• US 9,628,688 B2
• Filed: 09/25/2014
• Issued: 04/18/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Johnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLP (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Sensormatic Electronics LLC (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Martin, Walter, McMurray, Stephen
• Primary Examiner(s): Nazrul, Shahbaz
• Application Number:
  US14/496,901
• Publication Number:
  US 20160094764A1
• Time in Patent Office: 936 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/00 Measuring acceleration; Measuring deceleration; Measuring shock, i.e. sudden change of acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/02 Bodies
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/18 Signals indicating condition of a camera member or suitability of light indicating depth of field G03B13/30
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19636 pertaining to the camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/58 Means for changing the camera field of view without moving the camera body, e.g. nutating or panning of optics or image sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

A security camera includes a camera body and a body orientation sensor for detecting an orientation of the camera body. The security camera can include an orientation feedback system used with the body orientation sensor to adjust a position of the security camera to true camera. This orientation feedback system indicates degree to which the camera body is off horizontal/vertical. The security camera is part of a video security system that has an image processing unit for de-warping and/or rotating (e.g., 90 degrees) a raw image based on the orientation detected by the body orientation sensor.

Claims

1. A security camera, comprising:

a camera body mounted to a wall or ceiling;

a body orientation accelerometer for detecting an orientation of the camera body;

a controller for determining whether camera body is in a ceiling mounted orientation or is in a wall mounted orientation; and

an orientation feedback system, controlled by the controller, providing an indication to an installer to level the camera body based on whether the camera body is in the ceiling mounted orientation or is in the wall mounted orientation.

2. The security camera according to claim 1, wherein the body orientation accelerometer is mounted to an external surface or an internal surface of the camera body.

3. The security camera according to claim 1, wherein the accelerometer is at least a two-axis accelerometer.

4. The security camera according to claim 1, further comprising a lens and imager system for capturing a raw image, wherein the raw image is de-warped and/or rotated based on the orientation detected by the body orientation accelerometer.

5. The security camera according to claim 4, wherein the lens and imager system is adjustable with respect to the camera body.

6. The security camera according to claim 5, further comprising a lens orientation accelerometer for detecting an orientation of the adjustable lens and imager system.

7. The security camera according to claim 1, wherein the orientation feedback system indicates a degree to which the camera body is off horizontal orientation or vertical orientation based on the orientation detected by the body orientation accelerometer and whether the controller determined that the camera body is in the ceiling mounted orientation or the wall mounted orientation, respectively.

8. The security camera according to claim 7, wherein the orientation feedback system generates light, sound, or web content for indicating degree to which the camera body is off horizontal and/or vertical orientation.

9. An installation method for a security camera, the method comprising:

a body orientation accelerometer detecting an orientation of a camera body of the security camera after being mounted;

a camera controller determining whether the camera body is ceiling mounted or wall mounted and a degree to which the camera body is off horizontal or vertical orientation based on the detected orientation from the body orientation accelerometer; and

an orientation feedback system indicating degree to which the camera body is off horizontal or vertical orientation.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the orientation feedback system is a light emitting diode (LED) that indicates the horizontal/vertical orientation by generating light.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein the orientation feedback system is a speaker that indicates the horizontal/vertical orientation by generating sound.

12. The method according to claim 9, wherein the orientation feedback system is a web server that indicates the horizontal/vertical orientation by generating web content.