Wireless camera systems and methods

• US 9,628,707 B2
• Filed: 12/23/2015
• Issued: 04/18/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pogotec, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Pogotec, Inc.
• Inventors: Clompus, Richard, Pinazza, Massimo, Bauer, Stefan, Blum, Ronald D., Gupta, Amitava, Kokonaski, William, Dalla Longa, Claudio, Fehr, Jean-Noel, Dannhardt, Walter
• Primary Examiner(s): Velez, Roberto
• Assistant Examiner(s): COLEMAN, STEPHEN P
• Application Number:
  US14/757,753
• Publication Number:
  US 20160182826A1
• Time in Patent Office: 482 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/40 using two or more transmitting or receiving devices H02J50/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/50 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 Housings
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/65 Control of camera operation in relation to power supply
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/38 Transmitter circuitry for the transmission of television signals according to analogue transmission standards H04N5/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/44 Receiver circuitry for the reception of television signals according to analogue transmission standards H04N5/14 takes precedence

Abstract

Camera systems and methods configured to receive power wirelessly are described. A wireless energy transfer system according to some examples includes a transmitter of wireless energy located within a communication device, such as a mobile phone, or attached to the communication device and a distance separated receiver located within an electronic wearable device other than the communication device, such as a wearable camera.

Claims

1. A camera comprising:

an image capture device;

a receiver configured to receive power wirelessly from a distance separated transmitting coil of a wireless power transfer system which includes a base unit, wherein the receiver comprises a receiving coil having a magnetic core;

a rechargeable battery coupled to the receiver for storing wirelessly received power;

a memory configured to store images captured with the image capture device; and

wherein the camera is configured to transfer data including one or more images captured with the image capture device to another computing device;

wherein the camera comprises an aperture for engaging with a securing ring, and wherein the camera further comprises a guide configured to engage a temple guide of an eyewear frame, and wherein the aperture is in a plane which is parallel with a longitudinal direction of the guide.

2. The camera of claim 1, wherein the receiving coil is configured to receive power from the transmitting coil regardless of orientation between the receiving and transmitting coils.

3. The camera of claim 1, wherein the magnetic core comprises a ferrite core.

4. The camera of claim 1, wherein the camera is a wearable camera.

5. The camera of claim 1, wherein the camera is waterproof.

6. The camera of claim 1, wherein the another computing device is the base unit.

7. The camera of claim 1, further comprising a transmitter configured to transmit one or more of the images stored in the memory to the wireless power transfer system.

8. The camera of claim 1 further configured to broadcast a proximity signal for detecting the wireless power receiver in proximity.

9. The camera of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a first opening and an optically transparent material spanning the first opening, and wherein the housing further includes a second opening and an acoustically transparent material spanning the second opening.

10. The camera of claim 1 further comprising at least one user control for receiving user input.

11. The camera of claim 1, wherein the at least one user control comprises a capacitive switch.

12. The camera of claim 1 further comprising a status indicator, a privacy indicator, or combinations thereof.

13. The camera of claim 1, wherein the camera is devoid of a view finder.

14. The camera of claim 1, further comprising a processor, and wherein at least the image capture device, the receiving coil, the processor, and the memory are enclosed in a housing configured to be movably coupled to a wearable article.

15. The camera of claim 14, wherein the housing includes a guide comprising one or more magnets for magnetically attaching the wearable camera to eyewear.

16. The camera of claim 1 further comprising a microphone.

17. The camera of claim 16, wherein the camera is configured to detect an audible command and capture an image responsive to the audible command.

18. The camera of claim 1, further comprising the securing ring, wherein the securing ring is made of a plastic material.

19. The camera of claim 18, wherein the plastic material is an elastic material or a stretchable plastic material.

20. The camera of claim 1, further comprising the securing ring, wherein the securing ring comprises a core diameter greater than 0.01 mm and less than 2 mm.

21. The camera of claim 20, wherein the core diameter is less than 1 mm.

22. A system comprising:

a base unit comprising a transmitter configured for wireless power delivery and a battery coupled to the transmitter, wherein the transmitter comprises a transmitting coil having a magnetic core; and

a wearable camera separated from the base unit, the wearable camera comprising a receiver inductively coupled to the transmitter to receive power from the base unit while the wearable camera remains within a charging distance from the base unit, wherein the receiver comprises a receiving coil having a magnetic core, wherein a dimension of the transmitting coil is at least twice a dimension of the receiving coil, wherein the wearable camera comprises an aperture for engaging with a securing ring, and wherein the wearable camera further comprises a guide configured to engage a temple guide of an eyewear frame, and wherein the aperture is in a plane which is parallel with a longitudinal direction of the guide.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein:

the dimension of the transmitting coil is a diameter of the transmitting coil, a length or a diameter of a wire forming windings of the transmitting coil, a number of windings of the transmitting coil, or a length, a diameter or a surface area of the core of the transmitting coil; and

the dimension of the receiving coil is respectively a diameter of the receiving coil, a length or a diameter of a wire forming windings of the receiving coil, a number of windings of the receiving coil, or a length, a diameter or a surface area of the core of the receiving coil.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein the transmitter and receiver are configured for operation with a Q value less than 100.

25. The system of claim 22, wherein the transmitter and receiver are configured to operate at a frequency within the range of 50 kHz or 500 kHz, wherein the transmitter and receiver are configured to operate in weak resonance, and wherein the system is configured to operate using an amount of guided flux.

26. The system of claim 22, wherein the base unit is configured to be mechanically coupled to a portable communication device.

27. The system of claim 22, wherein the transmitter comprises an omnidirectional antenna configured to transmit power to one or more electronic devices including the wearable camera regardless of orientation of the electronic devices with respect to the base unit.

28. The system of claim 22, wherein the wearable camera is configured to be magnetically attached to the eyewear frame.

29. A method comprising:

placing a base unit proximate a wearable camera, the base unit comprising a transmitting coil configured to inductively couple with a receiving coil in the wearable camera to wirelessly transmit power to the wearable camera, wherein the transmitting coil and the receiving coil, each comprise a magnetic core, and wherein the wearable camera comprises an aperture for engaging with a securing ring, and wherein the wearable camera further comprises a guide configured to engage a temple guide of an eyewear frame, and wherein the aperture is in a plane which is parallel with a longitudinal direction of the guide;

detecting the wearable camera with the base unit; and

wirelessly transmitting power from the base unit to the wearable camera while the electronic device remains within a charging range of the base unit or until a charge state signal of the wearable camera corresponds to a fully charged state of the wearable camera.

30. The method of claim 29 further comprising capturing an image responsive to an audible command detected by the wearable camera.

31. The method of claim 29 further comprising wirelessly transmitting an image captured by the camera to the base unit.

32. The method of claim 29, wherein the detecting the wearable camera comprises automatically detecting a signal from the wearable camera, the signal broadcast by the wearable camera or transmitted to the base unit responsive to an interrogation signal from the base unit.

33. The method of claim 29, wherein wirelessly transmitting power from the base unit comprises broadcasting power signals at a body-safe level.

34. The method of claim 29, wherein wirelessly transmitting power from the base unit comprises broadcasting power signals at a frequency within the range of 50 kHz or 500 kHz.

35. A camera comprising an image sensor, a battery, and a memory, wherein the camera is devoid of a view finder and wherein the camera is configured to be attachable to and detachable from eyewear, the camera further comprising a safety feature for preventing loss of the camera in the event of accidental detachment of the camera from the eyewear, wherein the camera comprises an aperture for engaging with a securing ring, and wherein the camera comprises a guide configured to engage a temple guide of the eyewear, and wherein the aperture is in a plane which is parallel with a longitudinal direction of the guide.

36. The camera of claim 35, wherein the battery is a rechargeable battery, the camera further comprising a receiver operatively coupled to the battery and configured to receive power signals wirelessly for charging the battery.

37. The camera of claim 35, further comprising the securing ring, and wherein a diameter of a core of the securing ring is 1 mm or less.

38. The camera of claim 35, further comprising the securing ring, wherein the securing ring is made of a plastic material.

39. The camera of claim 38, wherein the plastic material is an elastic material or a stretchable plastic material.

40. The camera of claim 35, further comprising the securing ring, wherein the securing ring comprises a core diameter greater than 0.01 mm and less than 2 mm.

41. The camera of claim 40, wherein the core diameter is less than 1 mm.

42. A method comprising:

capturing a first image with a camera;

transmitting the first image to a computing system;

displaying the first image on a display of the computing system;

receiving an indication of an adjustment to a location of a center of the first image or an orientation of the first image;

generating a configuration parameter corresponding to the adjustment to the location of the center of the first image or the orientation of the first image;

storing the configuration parameter in memory of the computing device;

retrieving the configuration parameter following receipt of a second image from the camera; and

automatically adjusting the second image in accordance with the configuration parameter.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein automatically modifying the second image includes automatically cropping the second image based on the configuration parameter.

44. The method of claim 42, wherein capturing the first image includes capturing the first image with a camera devoid of a view finder.

45. The method of claim 42, wherein the first image is transmitted wirelessly from the camera to the computing system.

46. The method of claim 42, wherein automatically modifying the second image includes automatically rotating the second image based on the configuration parameter.

47. A method comprising:

capturing an image with a camera devoid of a view finder;

transmitting the image to a computing system;

identifying, using the computing system, a number of objects in the image;

determining a middle object from the number of objects;

automatically centering the image on the middle object to generate a modified image; and

storing the modified image.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein the objects are human heads.

49. The method of claim 47, wherein the image is transmitted wirelessly from the camera to the computing system.