Wearable camera system

• US 10,348,965 B2
• Filed: 04/27/2018
• Issued: 07/09/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2014
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pogotec, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Pogotec, Inc.
• Inventors: Blum, Ronald D., Gupta, Amitava, Kokonaski, William, Clompus, Richard, Pinazza, Massimo, Dalla Longa, Claudio, Bauer, Stefan, Fehr, Jean-Noel, Dannhardt, Walter
• Primary Examiner(s): Coleman, Stephen P
• Application Number:
  US15/965,396
• Publication Number:
  US 20180249079A1
• Time in Patent Office: 438 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

A wearable camera systems according to examples of the present disclosure may include a camera and a mobile charging unit. The camera may include onboard power, memory and control for capturing and storing an image without being connected to the mobile charging unit and the camera body may have a width or a height that is smaller than the length of the camera body. The camera body may include a trigger for initiating image capture. The wearable camera may be attachable to an eyewear temple and the mobile charging unit is configured to recharge the wearable camera without being connected to an external power source.

Claims

1. A wearable camera system, wherein the wearable camera system includes a wearable camera and a mobile charging unit, wherein the camera has a camera body having a width or a height that is smaller than a length of the camera body, the length of the camera body being measured from a front end of the camera body, which includes a camera lens, to an opposite back end of the camera body, wherein the camera body comprises on board power and control for capturing an image without being connected to the mobile charging unit, wherein the wearable camera comprises a privacy indicator configured to illuminate a light perceivable by an observer when an image is being captured to indicate that an image is being captured, wherein the wearable camera is releasably attachable to a plurality of different articles, wherein the wearable camera is configured to download an image comprising a photo or a video captured by the wearable camera to the mobile charging unit and wherein the mobile charging unit is configured to alter the image captured by the wearable camera prior to transmitting the altered image to another computing device.

2. The wearable camera system of claim 1, wherein the mobile charging unit is configured to recharge the wearable camera while the camera is received at least partially within the mobile charging unit.

3. The wearable camera system of claim 1, wherein the mobile charging unit is configured to recharge the wearable camera when the mobile charging unit is not connected to a power source.

4. The wearable camera system of claim 1, wherein the wearable camera is configured to be charged inductively or wirelessly.

5. The wearable camera system of claim 1, wherein the computing device is a smart phone.

6. The wearable camera system of claim 1 wherein the wearable camera is configured to be charged by a direct wired connection.

7. The wearable camera system of claim 1, wherein the wearable camera is resistant.

8. The wearable camera system of claim 1, wherein the mobile charging unit is configured to alter the image by enhancing the image.

9. The wearable camera system of claim 1, wherein the wearable camera is configured to be attached to at least one of the plurality of different articles.

10. The wearable camera system of claim 1, wherein the wearable camera comprises a motion sensor configured to detect movement of the camera responsive to a tap in proximity to the camera, and wherein the motion sensor is configured to trigger image capture responsive to the tap.

11. The wearable camera system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of different articles include two of the group consisting of eyewear, ring, necklace, band, bracelet, belt, headgear, hat, holster, and purse.

12. The wearable camera system of claim 1, wherein the on board power of the wearable camera has less capacity than a battery of the mobile charging unit.

13. The wearable camera system of claim 1, wherein the mobile charging unit is configured to transmit the enhanced images to a smart phone.

14. The wearable camera system of claim 1, wherein the mobile charging unit is configured to concurrently charge a plurality of wearable cameras.

15. The wearable camera system of claim 1, wherein the wearable camera is a first wearable camera, the system further comprising an additional wearable camera configured to be communicatively coupled to at least one of the first wearable camera or the mobile charging unit and charged by the mobile charging unit along with the first wearable camera.

16. The wearable camera system of claim 15, wherein the additional wearable camera is configured to be charged by the mobile charging unit wirelessly or inductively.

17. A wearable camera system comprising a plurality of wearable cameras and a mobile charging unit configured to charge each of the plurality of wearable cameras without being connected to an external power source, wherein each of the wearable cameras of the plurality has a camera body having a width or a height that is smaller than a length of the camera body, the length of the camera body being measured from a front end of the camera body to a back end of the camera body, wherein the camera body comprises on board power and control for capturing an image comprising a photo or video, wherein the camera body comprises a sensor or a switch configured to trigger image capture, wherein each of the wearable cameras of the plurality is attachable to and detachable from a plurality of different articles including being magnetically attachable to eyewear, and wherein each of the plurality of wearable is configured to download an image comprising a photo or video captured by the respective wearable camera to the mobile charging unit, which is configured to transmit the image to another computing device, and wherein the mobile charging unit is further configured to concurrently charge the plurality of wearable cameras.

18. The wearable camera system of claim 17, wherein each of the wearable cameras of the plurality can be charged inductively or wirelessly.

19. The wearable camera system of claim 17, wherein the mobile charging unit is configured to alter the image received from the camera.

20. The wearable camera system of claim 17, wherein at least one of the wearable cameras of the plurality can be charged by a wired connection.

21. The wearable camera system of claim 17, wherein at least one of the wearable cameras of the plurality is water resistant.

22. The wearable camera system of claim 17, wherein at least one of the plurality of the wearable cameras can be attached magnetically.

23. The wearable camera system of claim 17, wherein each of the wearable cameras of the plurality has a volume of 9,000 cubic mm or less.

24. The wearable camera system of claim 17, wherein the plurality of different articles include two of the group consisting of eyewear, ring, necklace, band, bracelet, belt, headgear, hat, holster, and purse.

25. The wearable camera system of claim 17, wherein at least one of the wearable cameras of the plurality includes a privacy light configured to illuminate and inform an observer whose image is being captured whenever such image is being captured by the at least one of the wearable cameras of the plurality.

26. The wearable camera system of claim 17, wherein each of the wearable cameras of the plurality is configured to wirelessly download the images captured by the respective wearable camera to the mobile charging unit.

27. The wearable camera system of claim 17, wherein each of the wearable cameras of the plurality is devoid of a view finder.

28. The wearable camera system of claim 19, wherein the mobile charging unit is configured to transfer the altered image to at least one other computing device including a smart phone.

29. The wearable camera system of claim 17, wherein the sensor is a motion sensor or a capacitance switch.

30. The wearable camera system of claim 29, wherein the motion sensor is an accelerometer.