Portable device having a torch and a camera located between the bulb and the front face

• US 7,432,978 B2
• Filed: 07/17/2002
• Issued: 10/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mason Ricardo Storm
• Original Assignee: Mason Ricardo Storm
• Inventors: Storm, Mason Ricardo
• Primary Examiner(s): Villecco; John M
• Application Number:
  US10/483,626
• Publication Number:
  US 20040247161A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,274 Days
• Field of Search: 348/78, 348/151, 348/158, 348/161, 348/211.2, 348/211.3, 348/376, 348/552, 396/15, 396/18, 396/429, 396/433, 362/7, 362/8
• US Class Current: 348/376
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/5838 using colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/5866 using information manually generated, e.g. tags, keywords, comments, manually generated location and time information
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/12 Fingerprints or palmprints
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19619 Details of casing
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19621 Portable camera
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19658 Telephone systems used to communicate with a camera, e.g. PSTN, GSM, POTS
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1966 Wireless systems, other than telephone systems, used to communicate with a camera
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19673 Addition of time stamp, i.e. time metadata, to video stream
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19684 Portable terminal, e.g. mobile phone, used for viewing video remotely
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19695 Arrangements wherein non-video detectors start video recording or forwarding but do not generate an alarm themselves
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/442 using a biometric data reading device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/185 from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control

Abstract

A torch casing (10) with a reflector (46) and a bulb (44) incorporates camera (48, 50, 52) taking pictures through front face (64) and employs flash tube (58) behind the camera chip (50) reflecting off reflector (46) and reflected onto reflector (46) by mirrored surface (60) on the back of camera chip (50). Captured images, still or video, are exported by radio frequency unit (22) to, for example, secure and supervised store (124). Ultraviolet unit (65) causes fluorescence which is photographed by camera (48, 50, 52). Display screen (70) shows camera (48, 50, 52) images or received images. The apparatus continuously sends its position determined by GPS navigation. Sounds can be recorded, sent and received. Iris patterns and fingerprints can be recognized from an updated store.

Claims

1. A portable apparatus comprising:

a torch, said torch having

a bulb,

a reflector for directing light from said bulb,

a transparent front face, through which said bulb provides illumination, and

an optical portion, said optical portion being situated between said front face and said bulb,

a camera means, contained within said optical portion, and selectably operable to capture images through said front face; and

a transport means adapted to transmit images, captured by said camera means, to a remote recipient,

wherein said camera means comprises a flash unit;

said flash unit being operative to provide light from a point between the camera means and the bulb; and

said reflector being operative to direct light from said flash unit through said front face.

2. An apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein:

said optical portion comprises a reflective surface facing said bulb, said reflective surface being operative to reflect light from the flash unit and light from the bulb onto the reflector.

3. An apparatus, according to claim 2, comprising ultraviolet illumination means;

said ultraviolet illumination means being contained within said torch;

said ultraviolet illumination means being operative to provide ultraviolet light through said front face;

said ultraviolet light being operative to render fluorescent materials visible in visible light; and

said camera means being operative to capture an image of said fluorescent materials in said visible light.

4. A method for capturing images, comprising the steps of:

providing a torch comprising a transparent front face;

providing illumination, through said front face by employing illumination means;

capturing visual images by selectively operating a camera means contained within an optical portion, and selectably operable to capture images through said front face, the optical portion being situated between said front face and said illumination means;

exporting captured images by employing export means, operative to export images, captured by said camera means, to a remote recipient, whereby, in use, a reflector directs light from said illumination means through said front face;

employing, in said torch, a flash unit;

employing said flash unit to provide light from a point between the camera means and the illumination means; and

directing light from said flash unit through said front face by means of said reflector.

5. A method according to claim 4, including the steps of:

employing, as a face of said optical portion which faces said illumination means, a reflective surface; and

reflecting light from said flash unit and light from said bulb from said reflective surface onto said reflector.