Wearable camera system

• US 10,887,516 B2
• Filed: 06/24/2019
• Issued: 01/05/2021
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• 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:
  US16/450,752
• Publication Number:
  US 20190313025A1
• Time in Patent Office: 561 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 wearable 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 body comprises a privacy indicator configured to illuminate a light perceivable by an observer to indicate that an image is being captured, wherein the wearable camera and the wearable camera body are devoid of a camera flash, wherein the wearable camera is magnetically attachable directly to an outer side of an eyewear frame, and wherein the magnetic attachment is created using a plurality of spaced apart magnets integrated with the wearable camera.

2. 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.

3. 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.

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 wearable camera is configured to be charged by a direct wired connection.

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

7. The wearable camera system of claim 1, wherein the wearable camera comprises a manual switch or 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.

8. The wearable camera system of claim 1, wherein the mobile charging unit is configured to transmit the image received from the wearable camera to a smart phone or computer.

9. The wearable camera system of claim 1, 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, which is configured to transfer the image captured by the wearable camera to another computing device.

10. 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.

11. The wearable camera system of claim 10, wherein the additional wearable camera is configured to be charged by the mobile charging unit wirelessly or inductively.

12. 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 wearable camera is releasably magnetically attachable to eyewear by way of a plurality of spaced-apart magnets integrated with the wearable camera, wherein the wearable camera is capable of being magnetically attached directly to an outside temple portion of an eyewear frame, wherein the wearable camera is attachable to a plurality of different articles besides eyewear, wherein the wearable camera is configured to download an image comprising a photo or a video captured by the wearable camera to another computing device.

13. The wearable camera system of claim 12, wherein the mobile charging unit is configured to recharge the wearable camera when the mobile charging unit is not connected to a power source.

14. The wearable camera system of claim 12, wherein the wearable camera is configured to be charged inductively or wirelessly.

15. The wearable camera system of claim 12, wherein the computing device is a smart phone.

16. The wearable camera system of claim 12, wherein the wearable camera is configured to be charged by a direct wired connection.

17. The wearable camera system of claim 12, wherein the wearable camera is water resistant.

18. The wearable camera system of claim 12, 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.

19. The wearable camera system of claim 12, 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.

20. The wearable camera system of claim 19, wherein the additional wearable camera is configured to be charged by the mobile charging unit wirelessly or inductively.

21. A wearable camera system comprising a wearable camera and a mobile charging unit, wherein the wearable 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 to a back end of the camera body, wherein the camera body comprises a sensor or a switch configured to trigger image capture, wherein the wearable camera is attachable to and detachable from a plurality of different articles, wherein the wearable camera is capable of being attached directly to a temple portion of an eyewear frame using a plurality of spaced apart magnets integrated with the wearable camera, and wherein the wearable camera of the plurality is configured to download an image comprising a photo or video captured by the wearable camera to the mobile charging unit, which is configured to transfer the image to another computing device, and wherein the mobile charging unit is further configured to concurrently charge the wearable camera.

22. The wearable camera system of claim 21, wherein the wearable camera can be charged inductively or wirelessly.

23. The wearable camera system of claim 21, wherein the wearable camera can be charged by a wired connection.

24. The wearable camera system of claim 21, wherein the wearable camera is water resistant.

25. The wearable camera system of claim 21, wherein the sensor is a motion sensor or a capacitance switch.

26. The wearable camera system of claim 21, wherein the wearable camera has a volume of 9,000 cubic mm or less.

27. The wearable camera system of claim 21, wherein the wearable camera includes a privacy light configured to inform an observer whose image is being captured whenever an image is being captured by the wearable camera.

28. The wearable camera system of claim 21, wherein the wearable camera is devoid of a view finder.