Digital video recording flashlight

• US 20060028811A1
• Filed: 08/05/2005
• Published: 02/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Digital Ally Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Digital Ally Incorporated
• Inventors: Ross, Charles Andrew Jr., Haler, Robert Dale
• Application Number:
  US11/198,699
• Publication Number:
  US 20060028811A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/157
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 4/027 the light sources being a LED
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0052 Audio or video equipment, e.g. televisions, telephones, cameras or computers; Remote control devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19619 Details of casing
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19621 Portable camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 Housings
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/56 provided with illuminating means
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/33 Transforming infrared radiation cameras or camera modules for generating image signals from infrared radiation H04N23/20; circuitry of SSIS for transforming infrared radiation into image signals H04N25/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/772 the recording apparatus and the television camera being placed in the same enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/907 using static stores, e.g. storage tubes or semiconductor memories H04N5/91 takes precedence

Abstract

The present invention encompasses a flashlight device (10) that is capable of recording, storing, and replaying video images. The flashlight (10) comprises a light source (70) adapted to emit minimal levels of infrared light and a video sensor (80) adapted to convert images into an electronic signal. The flashlight device (10) also includes a control module (210) adapted to receive the electronic signal from the video sensor (80) and to store the images in a memory (280). A system that includes a monitor 370 or a computer 380 for utilizing such a flashlight device (10) is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A flashlight device comprising:

a light source adapted to emit minimal levels of infrared light;

a video sensor adapted to convert images into an electronic signal; and

an control module adapted to receive the electronic signal from the video sensor and to store the images.

2. The flashlight device of claim 1 wherein the light source is a solid state emitter.

3. The flashlight device of claim 1 wherein the control module further includes an infrared filter.

4. The flashlight device of claim 1 wherein the control module includes memory for storing the images.

5. The flashlight device of claim 4 wherein the memory is removable.

6. The flashlight device of claim 1 further including a microphone for recording audio signals and wherein the control module is adapted to receive the electronic signals from the microphone and to store the audio signals.

7. The flashlight device of claim 1 wherein the control module include a digital signal processor.

8. The flashlight device of claim 1 further including a power supply.

9. The flashlight device of claim 8 wherein the power supply is rechargeable.

10. A system for recording and displaying video images, the system comprising:

a handheld flashlight having a light source adapted to emit minimal levels of infrared light, a video sensor adapted to convert images into an electronic signal, and a control module adapted to receive the electronic signal from the video sensor, to store the images, and to produce an electronic signal representing the stored images; and

a computer operable to communicate with the control module, to receive the electronic signal produce by the control module, and to display the images represented by that electronic signal.

11. The system of claim 10 further including a cradle shaped to receive the handheld flashlight, the cradle adapted to allow the control module to communicate with the computer.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein the flashlight further comprises a power supply and cradle is further adapted to allow charging of the flashlight power supply.

13. The system of claim 10 wherein the control module includes memory.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the memory of the control module contains a password required from a user before the user is allowed access to the memory.

15. The system of claim 10 wherein the computer is operable to direct the control module to download image from the control module to the computer.

16. The system of claim 10 wherein the flashlight light source is a solid state emitter.

17. A system for recording and displaying video, the system comprising:

a handheld flashlight having a light source adapted to emit minimal levels of infrared light, a video sensor adapted to convert images into an electronic signal, and a control module adapted to receive the electronic signal from the video sensor, to store the images, and to produce an electronic signal representing the stored images; and

a monitor operable to receive the electronic signal produced by the control module and to display the images represented by that electronic signal.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the control module includes memory containing programming instructions for producing a menu on the monitor.

19. The system of claim 18 further including a plurality of push buttons coupled to the control module and wherein the control module interprets the state of the push buttons to navigate through the menu.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein the flashlight light source is a solid state emitter.