Wearable apparatus and peripheral devices for capturing image data

• US 10,810,865 B2
• Filed: 04/04/2019
• Issued: 10/20/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wearable Technologies Ltd. (Blackline Safety Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Wearable Technologies Ltd. (Blackline Safety Corp.)
• Inventors: Jurkuvenas, Mantas, Lynch, Michael John
• Primary Examiner(s): Burgdorf, Stephen R
• Application Number:
  US16/375,622
• Publication Number:
  US 20190228642A1
• Time in Patent Office: 565 Days
• Field of Search: 340509
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 1/005 with embedded cable or connector
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 27/205 Pockets adapted to receive a mobile phone or other electronic equipment
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 3/00 Overgarments fur garments A41D5/00; for children A41D11/00; professional or sporting protective garments A41D13/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0008 Clothing or clothing accessories, e.g. scarfs, gloves or belts
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/04 of lens shape
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0288 Attachment of child unit to child/article
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0453 worn on the body to detect health condition by physiological monitoring, e.g. electrocardiogram, temperature, breathing detecting, measuring or recording for diagnostic purposes A61B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0476 Cameras to detect unsafe condition, e.g. video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/14 Toxic gas alarms G08B21/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/181 due to failing power supply
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/36 using visible light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/385 Transceivers carried on the body, e.g. in helmets
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/26 at least one of which is mobile
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/88 Providing power supply at the sub-station
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission

Abstract

An apparatus for capturing image data, includes an item of clothing and an image-capturing peripheral device attachable thereto, the item of clothing including electrical conductors connected to a peripheral device connector, the peripheral device including a clothing connector to connect to the peripheral device connector, the image-capturing peripheral device producing still-image data when attached to the item of clothing and generating video data when detached from the item of clothing, the item of clothing including a first power source for supplying power to the image-capturing peripheral device, the image-capturing peripheral device includes a second power source, the image-capturing peripheral device selectively using power from the first power source when operating at a first power level and from the second power source when operating at a second power level, with the second power level higher than the first power level.

Claims

1. An apparatus for capturing image data, comprising an item of clothing and an image-capturing peripheral device attachable to said item of clothing, wherein said item of clothing comprises:

electrical conductors connected to a peripheral device connector; and

said peripheral device comprises;

a clothing connector configured to connect to said peripheral device connector, to electrically connect said image-capturing peripheral device to said electrical conductors;

wherein;

said image-capturing peripheral device is configured to provide a first functionality of producing still-image data when attached to said item of clothing; and

said peripheral device is configured to provide a second functionality of generating video data when detached from said item of clothing,

wherein;

said item of clothing includes a first power source and is configured to supply power to said image-capturing peripheral device,

said image-capturing peripheral device includes a second power source, and

said image-capturing peripheral device is configured to selectively use power from power sources comprising said first power source and said second power source,

said image-capturing peripheral device uses power from said first power source when operating at a first power level,

said peripheral device uses power from said second power source when operating at a second power level, and

said second power level is higher than said first power level.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said image-capturing peripheral device is configured to communicate wirelessly with an external device.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said peripheral device connector on the item of clothing and the clothing connector on the peripheral device include a physical data connection for providing data communication between said item of clothing and said peripheral device.

4. The apparatus of claim 3:

wherein said item of clothing includes a control unit;

further comprising a data communication cable connecting said control unit to said peripheral device connector; and

wherein said control unit is configured to relay configuration data between said image-capturing peripheral device and an external communication device, to configure said external communication device to communicate wirelessly with said image-capturing peripheral device.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said image-capturing peripheral device is configured to activate said second functionality upon detecting detachment from said item of clothing.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

said image-capturing peripheral device uses power from said first power source when attached to said item of clothing; and

said peripheral device uses power from said second source when detached from said item of clothing.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a switching device for switching to said second power source upon detection of the removal of said first power source.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said peripheral device remains attached to the item of clothing when operated at said second power level.

9. A method of capturing image data, comprising the steps of:

attaching an image-capturing peripheral device to an item of clothing, wherein said item of clothing comprises electrical conductors connected to a peripheral device connector; and

said image-capturing peripheral device comprises a clothing connector configured to connect to said peripheral device connector, to electrically connect said image-capturing peripheral device to said electrical conductors;

detaching said image-capturing peripheral device from said item of clothing;

wherein;

said image-capturing peripheral device produces still-image data when attached to said item of clothing, in accordance with a first functionality; and

said image-capturing peripheral device generates video data when detached from said item of clothing, in accordance with a second functionality;

wherein;

said item of clothing includes a first power source and is configured to supply power to said image-capturing peripheral device,

said image-capturing peripheral device includes a second power source, and

further comprising the step of;

configuring said image-capturing peripheral device to selectively use power from power sources comprising said first power source and said second power source, such that said image-capturing peripheral device uses power from said first power source when operating at a first power level, and said peripheral device uses power from said second power source when operating at a second power level, and said second power level is higher than said first power level.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said image-capturing peripheral device communicates wirelessly with an external device.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said peripheral device connector on the item of clothing and the clothing connector on the peripheral device include a physical data connection that provides data communication between said item of clothing and said peripheral device.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein:

said item of clothing includes a control unit;

a data communication cable connecting said control unit to said peripheral connector; and

said control unit relays configuration data between said peripheral device and said external communication device, to configure said external communication device to communicate wirelessly with said peripheral device.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein said peripheral device activates said second functionality upon detecting detachment from said item of clothing.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein:

said peripheral device uses power from said first power source when attached to said item of clothing; and

said peripheral device uses power from said second source when detached from said item of clothing.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of switching to said second power source upon detection of the removal of said first power source.