Video and flashlight camera

• US 20060125918A1
• Filed: 08/22/2005
• Published: 06/15/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/1994
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Camlite Corporation
• Original Assignee: Camlite Corporation
• Inventors: Sutton, Michael
• Application Number:
  US11/207,994
• Publication Number:
  US 20060125918A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/148
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

An improved security system incorporating a video flashlight for data acquisition (image data and audio data) by a security officer. The video flashlight includes a video camera, a transmitter and a power supply, in addition to the ordinary flashlight features. The camera converts an image or a series of real-time images into electronic form that is broadcast by the transmitter. A remote unit having a receiver and data capturing equipment receives the broadcast data and converts it back into electronic form. The capturing equipment includes one or more of the following: a repeater, a recorder or a monitor. In one embodiment, the security system is used by law enforcement personnel, with the remote units located in police stations and in police cars. The monitor is positioned in the passenger compartment of the police car, with the recorder locked in the trunk.

Claims

1. A security system, comprising:

a) a flashlight for selectively emitting a beam of light, said flashlight including;

1) a video camera, having an optical axis generally along said beam of light, for converting an image received along said optical axis into an electronic image;

2) a transmitter, coupled to said video camera, for broadcasting said electronic image as a broadcast image; and

3) a power cell, coupled to said video camera and to said transmitter, for providing operating power such that said flashlight is portable; and

b) a remote unit, including;

1) a receiver for receiving said broadcast image and converting it back to said electronic image; and

2) at least one of the following;

i) a monitor, coupled to said receiver, for displaying said electronic image as said image; and

ii) a recorder, coupled to said receiver, for recording said electronic image in a format suitable for recovery of said image at a later time.

2. The security system of claim 1 wherein said remote unit comprises only said recorder.

3. The security system of claim 1 wherein said remote unit is installed in a passenger vehicle.

4. The security system of claim 3 wherein said remote unit comprises said recorder, and said recorder is installed in a locked compartment of said passenger vehicle.

5. The security system of claim 1 wherein said flashlight includes an on/off switch and is operable independently of said video camera.

6. The security system of claim 1 wherein said video camera includes an on/off switch and is operable independently of said flashlight.

7. The security system of claim 1 wherein said flashlight further includes a microphone, coupled to said transmitter, for converting sounds from a region near said flashlight into audio signals,

wherein said transmitter broadcasts said audio signals as audio data and wherein said receiver converts said audio data into said audio signals and wherein said monitor audiblizes said audio signals.

8. The security system of claim 7 wherein said remote unit includes said monitor.

9. The security system of claim 8 wherein said monitor audiblizes said audio signals concurrent with display of said electronic image.

10. The security system of claim 7 wherein said remote unit includes a repeater, coupled to said receiver, for rebroadcasting said broadcast image and said audio data to other receivers.

11. A security system, comprising:

a) a flashlight, having an optical axis, for selectively emitting a beam of light along said optical axis, said flashlight including;

1) a video camera for converting an image along said optical axis into an electronic image;

2) a transmitter, coupled to said video camera, for broadcasting said electronic image as a broadcast image; and

3) a power cell, coupled to said video camera and to said transmitter, for providing operating power such that said flashlight is portable; and

b) a remote unit, including;

1) a receiver for receiving said broadcast image and converting it back to said electronic image; and

2) a recorder, coupled to said receiver, for recording said electronic image in a format suitable for recovery of said image at a later time.

12. A method for providing security to an area, comprising the steps of:

broadcasting a series of real-time images with accompanying audio signals, from a flashlight for emitting a flashlight beam, said flashlight having an integrated video camera and microphone coupled to a transmitter, said video camera defining an optical axis generally along said flashlight beam wherein said series of real-time images are captured by said integrated video camera;

receiving said series of real-time images and audio signals at a remote receiver; and

capturing said series of real-time images by selecting at least one of the following steps;

displaying said series of real-time images on a monitor coupled to said receiver while concurrently audiblizing said audio signals; and

recording said series of real-time images in a format suitable for recovery of said real-time images at a later time.

13. A method for providing security to an area, comprising the steps of:

equipping a security officer, associated with a security team, with a flashlight constructed for emitting a beam of light;

broadcasting a series of real-time images with accompanying audio signals from said flashlight, wherein said flashlight includes an integrated wireless video camera and microphone coupled to a transmitter, and wherein said series of real-time images are captured by said integrated video camera from a field-of-view along an optical axis oriented generally along said beam of light;

receiving said series of real-time images and audio signals at a receiver operated at a remote location wherein a team member of said security officer is located; and

capturing said series of real-time images by selecting at least one of the following steps;

1) displaying to said team member said series of real-time images by use of a monitor coupled to said receiver, and audiblizing said audio signals to said team member while displaying said series of real-time images; and

2) recording, by use of a recorder coupled to said receiver, said series of real-time images in a format for later recovery and display by said team member.

14. The security providing method of claim 13 further comprising the steps of:

rebroadcasting said series of real-time images and audio signals by use of a repeater coupled to said receiver;

receiving said rebroadcast series of real-time images and audio signals by use of a second receiver operated at a second remote wherein a second team member of said security officer is located;

displaying to said second team member said series of real-time images by use of a second monitor coupled to said second receiver; and

audiblizing said audio signals to said second team member while displaying said series of real-time images.

15. The security providing method of claim 13 further comprising the steps of:

narrating, by said security officer, said series of real-time images to provide a narration as part of said audio signals; and

recording, by use of a recorder coupled to said receiver, said series of real-time images and said narration.