• 专利附录
  • 专利说明
  • 权利要求
  • 类似技术
  • 同族专利
  • 引用文献
  • 法律状态
  • 优先权
    • 专利摘要:
    The subject of the invention is an illumination and video recording device (100) comprising a housing (110) having a first port and a second port in a surface of the housing. A light source is placed in the housing and positioned to emit light through the first port. A camera (130) is placed inside the housing to record images through the second port. A power supply is placed inside the housing to operate the LED light source and the camera. The device can constitute a portable object of the wristwatch type and can be used in cooperation with a firearm (160).
    公开号:CH711876A2
    申请号:CH01578/16
    申请日:2016-12-01
    公开日:2017-06-15
    发明作者:W Teetzel James
    申请人:Wilcox Ind Corp A New Hampshire Corp；
    IPC主号:
    专利说明:

    Description
    CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
    This application claims the priority benefit on the provisional patent application no. 62 / 262,087 filed on December 2, 2015.
    TECHNICAL AREA
    The present disclosure relates to an illumination device and portable video recording that can be worn on the body of a user, particularly on the wrist of the user. The disclosure also relates to a system encompassing the portable video illumination and recording device for use in association with a firearm and methods of using the system and device described. Although the present disclosure will be illustrated and described herein primarily with reference to the preferred embodiment in which the portable video illumination and recording device is incorporated into a user's wrist-worn watch device, e.g. a wristwatch, it will be recognized that the present device can be configured as a portable wrist recording device without a watch. SUMMARY [0003] The invention describes an illumination and portable video recording device. The portable video illumination and recording device comprises a housing containing a port in a housing surface, an LED light source within the housing and positioned to emit light through the port, and a source of power supply inside the housing that can provide power for the operation of the LED light source. The device is designed to be portable on a user's wrist and can be integrated into a wristwatch.
    [0004] The invention also discloses a portable video illumination and recording system for use in conjunction with a handgun. The system includes a housing containing two or more ports in a housing surface, including a camera port and one or more illumination ports. An illumination source (e.g., an LED flashlight containing one or more LED elements) is positioned within the housing adjacent to each illumination port and is configured to emit light through the port aligned illumination. A camera module is received within the housing and includes a photosensitive array positioned to detect images through the camera port and a recording module. The recording module is placed inside the housing and includes processing electronics for receiving the output from the photosensitive network and for generating video data representative thereof. The recording module includes a storage medium coupled to the electronic processing components for storing the video data. A power supply is received at the housing to provide power to operate the illumination source, the camera module and the recording module, a radio frequency identification chip within the housing.
    In another aspect, a system is disclosed that includes a portable video illumination and recording device and a handgun that are configured to communicate over a two-way radio frequency (RF) communication link. A circuit, eg, a circuit board or other circuit substrate, may be attached to the firearm. The circuit may be of the type configured to control the operation of the firearm. In some embodiments, the circuit includes a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader. In some embodiments, the illumination and video recording device includes an RF tag that can operate to communicate with the RFID reader. The RF tag can be active, semi-active or passive. The RFID reader can operate to transmit signals to the RF tag and to receive signals therefrom. The RFID tag stores information that is transmitted to the RFID readers during the interrogation by the RFID reader. The information stored on the RF tag and transmitted to the RFID readers is encrypted to the firearm and unlock or otherwise allow the operation of the firearm when the RF tag is within communication range with respect to the RFID reader .
    BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
    The invention can be embodied in various components and arrangements of components, and in various steps and arrangements of steps. The drawings are intended only to illustrate the preferred embodiments and should not be construed as limiting the invention.
    Fig. 1 is an isometric view of an exemplary video recording and illumination device according to the present disclosure.
    Fig. 2 is an isometric view illustrating the device appearing in FIG. 1 illustrating the video recording and illumination device when worn by a user holding a firearm.
    Fig. 3 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the video recording and illumination device which comprises an RFID chip which is encrypted to an RFID interrogator in the handgun.
    Fig. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary embodiment.
    DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
    Referring now to the drawing, in particular to FIGS. 1,2 and 4, the present disclosure relates to a combined portable video illumination and video recording device, generally identified as 100. The device 100 is adapted to be portable to the body of a user. In the preferred embodiment illustrated, the device 100 is portable to the wrist of a user and is configured in the form of a wristwatch comprising a housing 110 enclosing a clock or a timing module 112. The watch module 112 may comprise an analog movement or a digital / electronic display, as will be understood by those skilled in the art. The watch module 112 may be mechanical or electronic. In the case of an electronic watch module 112, the watch module can be powered by a power supply 150 as described below. The device 100 comprises a band or a strap! 14 to fix the device 100 around the wrist 116L of the user. In alternative embodiments, the device 100 may be configured to be portable to the arm, leg, ankle, waist or head of a user, or elsewhere on the body.
    The illumination and portable video recording device 100 comprises a light source 120 located inside the housing. The light source is able to emit light through an illumination or flashlight port or opening 122 in the housing 110 to illuminate a field of view of the user. In preferred embodiments, means 124 for focusing or beam steering may be provided. The beam focusing means may be, for example, a reflector such as a parabolic reflector, a refractive or diffractive optical lens, a spherical lens, an aspheric lens, a collimating lens, and the like. Although diffuse light when emitted from the light source, the illumination field has a central point that defines an illumination axis from the light source. In some embodiments, focusing optical components, such as one or more optical refraction or diffraction elements, may be releasably positioned above port 122 to focus the angular dispersion of light rays emitted by the source of light. In some embodiments, when the focusing or orientation means 124 is a reflector, a non-focusing or neutral lens may be placed over the port 122 to protect the light source 120.
    The light source 120 may be one or more LED lights, even if other types of light elements are envisaged, such as incandescent lamps (including halogen), laser illumination devices, etc. In some embodiments, the light source 120 can provide light at different intensities. Thus, in some embodiments, the device could operate in different modes, each mode having a different intensity of light emitted from the light source. For example, the device may be adjustable so that the light source emits light at 1.3, 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 60, 100, 150, 180, 200, 250, 300, 400 or 500 lumens in different modes. In some embodiments, the light source emits visible light. On the other hand, the light element can emit in the infrared (IR) range, eg for use when the user is wearing a night vision device.
    The portable video recording and illumination device also comprises a camera module 130. The camera 130 comprises a lens system 132, a light detection network or medium 134, electronic processing components 136, and an electronic storage medium 138. The light detection network or medium may be a charge-coupled device (CCD), a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor image sensor (CMOS), a sensor N-oxide (NMOS) semiconductor image, etc. The lens system 132 includes one or more optical elements, such as one or more refractive and / or diffractive optical elements in optical communication with the light detection medium 134. The lens system 132 may have a fixed focal length or, moreover, may include a focusing mechanism, such as a self-focusing mechanism as will be understood by those skilled in the art. The lens system 132 is positioned to detect the images through an imaging port 140 in the housing 110. In some embodiments, the camera 130 may function as a pinhole in which there is no lens system. 132.
    The lens system 132 and a light source 120 are co-aligned so that the main axis 152 of the camera lens and the illumination axis 154 from the light source are generally parallel. . As used herein, the term "generally parallel" means that the axis 152 and the axis 154 are sufficiently parallel so that the rays of light emitted by the light source will hit the object or scene of which the image must be taken for the camera 130. This allows the camera 130 to capture images in a field illuminated by a light source, e.g., when recording the video images therein, the night, or in low light conditions.
    In some embodiments, the camera 130 may record video images continuously and still images. In some embodiments, the camera also includes a microphone 142 for recording an audio signal for digitization and storage in association with the video data, which can be stored in a known encoded format, such as MP3, WAV, etc. Unless otherwise specified, terms such as "video data", "video signal", "video recording", etc., are intended to include audiovisual data, audiovisual signals, audio-visual recordings, etc., except case of contrary indication.
    In some embodiments, the camera includes one or more output devices for outputting an operating state of the camera. For example, in some embodiments, a vibration mechanism may be provided to provide tactile feedback when a recording operation is started or stopped. In addition, one or more lights can be provided on the housing to provide a visual indication when the recording operation is started or stopped. In still other embodiments, an audio output device such as a loudspeaker or a piezoelectric element may be provided to provide an audible indication or alert when a recording operation is started or stopped.
    The illumination and portable video recording device 100 also includes a power supply 150. The power supply is electrically coupled to the light source 120 and the camera 130 to provide power to these components. The power supply can be a battery or a battery pack, eg a disposable battery such as a lithium battery, or a rechargeable battery such as a lithium-ion battery, a nickel-cadmium battery, a battery nickel metal hydride, etc. In some embodiments, the battery may be enclosed in the housing and a charging circuit may be included to electrically charge the battery without removing the battery from the housing. In addition, the battery can be removed from the housing, eg for disposal or replacement when it is discharged or, in the case of a rechargeable battery, for charging with a battery charger. external battery. In some embodiments, when the battery is rechargeable, a solar cell (photovoltaic) may be placed on the housing in electrical communication with the battery. In addition, the battery can be recharged by charging contacts placed on the housing or through an induction circuit for charging the contactless battery.
    Since the preferred embodiments of the portable video illumination and recording device 100 are designed to be worn on the wrist, the device may have characteristics of a wristwatch. In the preferred embodiment illustrated, the device 100 incorporates the watch / timer device 112 as described above. The housing 110 of the portable video recording and illumination device 100 may be the case of a wristwatch or may have features similar to those of a case of a wristwatch. For example, in some embodiments, the housing 112 may include seals, gaskets, etc., around the openings to provide a watertight or watertight housing. Furthermore or additionally, the robustness of the housing can be increased, eg by using shock-absorbing materials to enable the unit 100 to withstand shocks. In some embodiments, the timer 112 is synchronized with the camera, the time information being stored electronically in association with the video recordings. In other embodiments, the electronic processing components may include a clock for recording time information with video image information that is independent of the time displayed on the watch 112.
    The portable video recording and illumination device 100 may also include a strip or strap 114 attached to the housing to permit easy attachment and removal, without danger, of the wrist device of the user 116L. While the present embodiment is illustrated with respect to a user wearing the device 100 on the left wrist 116L, it will be recognized that the present development may similarly be designed to be worn on the right wrist 116R. The band or strap 114 may be a band or strap similar to those used in wristwatches. The band or strap may contain nylon, rubber, canvas, plastic, leather, or any other material used for bands or straps of wristwatches. The closure of the band 114 may include a closure member 115 such as a buckle, a button, a snap, a snap closure, or any other means used to close the wristwatches.
    As for a wristwatch, the weight of the illumination device and portable video recording is low enough to allow a user to wear it with ease for extended periods of time. For example, the portable video illumination and recording device may weigh less than about 300, about 200, about 150, about 100, about 80, or about 50 grams.
    The illumination port 122 in the housing of the illumination device and portable video recording allows the light source to emit a cone of light to a subject. By analogy with the case of a wristwatch, the housing 112 has a rear face which is close to the wrist of the user and a front side or a face which is opposite to the rear face of the housing. In the embodiments incorporating a watch 112, the time is displayed on the face in viewable form for a human. Continuing the analogy, the housing 112 has a top and bottom side, both of which can be attached to a fastener, and right and left sides. The ports for the light source and the camera may be on the right or left side of the housing, to carry the portable video illumination and recording device on the right or left wrist, respectively. Furthermore, the device 100 can be configured with an electronic display that can be rotated 180 °, depending on whether the user wants to wear the device 100 on the left or right wrist. In some embodiments with a video display, the electronic processing components 136 may include an associated video codec for reading the video recordings stored in the memory 138. A data port 156, such as a parallel data port or in serial, a USB port, an IEEE 1394 (Fire Wire) port, etc., is provided for transferring the recorded video information to a computer information processing system. In alternative embodiments, an RF transmitter may be provided for transmitting video information to a computer information processing system in accordance with an enacted protocol such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, ZigBee, etc.
    In some embodiments, the "on" key 144 and the "off" key 146 are present on the slot 110 and operate to start and stop recording by the camera 130. In some embodiments, a sensor light 148 is present to detect the intensity of ambient light. The sensor 148 may be, for example, a photoresistor, a photodiode, a phototransistor, etc. When the intensity or brightness of the ambient light falls below a preselected threshold, the flashlight 120 is automatically activated when a recording operation begins. If the intensity or brightness is at or above a preselected threshold, the operation of the camera module 130 does not activate the flashlight 120.
    In preferred embodiments, when a user wears the device on his wrist and his arm is completely stretched, such as to aim or prepare to fire with a handgun, the device 100 is positioned so that ports 122 and 140 face outward and the illumination axis 154 and the main axis 152 of the camera lens are substantially parallel to the user's arm. Fig. 2 illustrates a typical way of holding and aiming with a handgun 160, wherein the handgun is held in the right hand of the shooter, the right arm being stretched in front of the body, eg, towards a target. The left hand in turn is placed on the other side of the handgun 160 and is used to support the right hand. The positions of the flashlight module 120 and the camera module 130 on the device 100 are such that the optical axis 152 of the camera 130 and the optical axis 154 of the light source 170 will also be generally aligned with the axis longitudinal axis of the handgun barrel, thereby enabling the device 100 to acquire a video record of the target area.
    Referring now to FIG. 3, the portable video recording and illumination device 100 may comprise an optional RF tag 210 within the housing 110 and an optional circuit 220 including an RFID reader 222 placed on or within the 160 fist for communication with the RF tag 210. The RF tag 210 may be active, semi-active or passive. The circuit 220 comprising the RFID reader 222 may be implemented on a separate circuit board which may be attached to the handgun, or may include a module or component incorporated within a control, security system. or the management of the firearm. The RF tag 210 and the RFID reader 222 can send and receive electromagnetic signals 224 to and from each other, thereby allowing the portable video recording and illumination device 100 to be coupled without wire to the gun 160.
    In embodiments using a passive RF tag 210, the passive RF tag 210 may not be suitable for initiating communications with the RFID reader 222, but should be read, i.e. wherein the RF tag 210 is powered by the RF waves transmitted by the RF reader 222 to read the RF tag 210. The tag RF210 stores information that is read by the RF reader 222. In preferred embodiments, The range of communication between the RF reader 222 and the RF tag 210 is short, in which the RF tag 210 functions as a proximity token to prevent operation of the handgun 160 unless the RF tag 210 is within range of the RFID reader 222. In preferred embodiments, the range of the communication is in the range of 0 to 1 m, preferably 0 to 80 cm and ideally 0 to 50 cm.
    In some embodiments, the RF tag 210 cooperates with the RFID reader 220 to control the operation of the handgun 160. For example, in some embodiments, the RFID circuit 220 is coupled to a system. 226 or another mechanism for locking or securing the firearm 160, wherein the firearm 160 remains locked unless it receives a signal such as a signal transmitting identification data stored from the RF tag 210 in response to a query signal from the RFID reader 220. In such embodiments, the firearm 160 unlocks only when the RF tag 222 to the The interior of the portable video recording and illumination device is at a distance defined by the range of communication between the RF tag 210 and the RF reader 222. This decreases the probability that someone one who is not wearing the device 100 will be able to fire with the 160 handgun. Therefore, this functions as a safety feature to minimize the possibility that the firearm will be used by someone else. than the officer to whom it was assigned.
    In some embodiments, when the RFID tag 210 is in the transmission range of the handgun 160 and an interrogation signal from the reader 222 is received by the RF tag 222, the processor 136 automatically turns on the camera module 130 and the flashlight module 120 under a preprogrammed command. In some embodiments incorporating a light sensor 148, the processor 136 is configured to turn on the camera module 130 only when the ambient light is above the threshold level of the predetermined brightness or brightness.
    In some embodiments, the camera module 130 and possibly the flashlight 120 are configured to be automatically lit, e.g., when the handgun 160 and the recording device 100 are brought into the range. of the reader 222 and the RF tag 210, and the camera 130 continue to record until the recording function is manually turned off by the user. In alternative embodiments in which the camera (and possibly the flashlight) is automatically turned on, the RFID reader 222 continues to interrogate the RF tag at periodic intervals and the camera 130 continues to record video data to that the recording device 100 is moved out of the communication range of the RFID reader 222.
    权利要求:
    Claims (19)
    [1]
    claims
    A portable video illumination and recording device, comprising: a housing comprising a first port and a second port in a surface of the housing; a light source placed in the housing and positioned to emit light through the first port; a camera placed inside the housing and configured to record images through the second port; and a power supply within the housing and configured to operate the LED light source and the camera.
    [2]
    2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a lens positioned in the second port.
    [3]
    The device of claim 1, further comprising one or more straps for attaching the device to a wrist of a user.
    [4]
    4. Device of claim 1, also comprising a timer module inside the housing.
    [5]
    The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the timer module comprises one or both of an analog motion and an electronic display.
    [6]
    6. The device of claim 1, comprising one or more optical elements for focusing and / or orienting the light emitted by the light source.
    [7]
    The device of claim 1, wherein the light source comprises one or more light-emitting diodes.
    [8]
    The device of claim 1, wherein the light source emits light in a selected range of a visible range and an infrared range.
    [9]
    The device of claim 1, configured to be worn on a user's wrist, and wherein the first port and the second port are positioned on the housing to face a target area when the user is wearing the device and the user's arms are fully stretched as when aiming or preparing to fire with a handgun at the target area.
    [10]
    A portable video illumination and recording system for use in combination with a handgun, the system comprising: a housing comprising first and second ports in a surface of the housing; an LED light source placed in the housing and positioned to emit light through the first port; a camera module positioned within the housing and positioned to detect images through the second port; a recording module placed inside the housing and capable of receiving a video signal from the camera and storing data representative of the video signal; a power supply placed inside the housing and capable of supplying electricity to operate the LED light source, the camera and the recording module; an RF tag placed inside the housing; and a circuit comprising an RFID reader associated with the handgun, the RFID reader being configured to transmit a signal to the RF tag and to receive signals from the RF tag, the circuit being configured to control the operation of the RFID tag the handgun.
    [11]
    The system of claim 10, further comprising the firearm.
    [12]
    The system of claim 11, wherein the firearm comprises a security mechanism configured to prevent operation of the handgun in the absence of a signal transmitted by the RF tag.
    [13]
    The system of claim 10, wherein the circuit is associated with a firearms management system.
    [14]
    The system of claim 10, wherein the RF tag is selected from the group consisting of a passive RF tag, an active RF tag or a semi-active RF tag.
    [15]
    The system of claim 10, wherein the communication range between the RF tag and the RFID reader is in the range of 0 to 1 m.
    [16]
    16. A method of controlling the operation of a firearm, comprising: providing a firearm having a firearm control mechanism having a lock mode that prevents discharge of the firearm fire and an unlocked mode that allows the discharge of the firearm; providing an RFID reader coupled to the control mechanism of the firearm; providing a portable device having an RF tag that can transmit a signal to an RFID reader in response to an interrogation signal from the RFID reader, the RF tag and the RF reader having a communication range; the use of an RF tag to transmit a signal that can work to change the control mechanism of the locked mode gun to the unlocked mode when the RF tag is the RFID reader are within the scope of communication; and the use of an RF tag to transmit a signal that can work to change the control mechanism of the gun from non-locked mode to locked mode when the RF tag is the RFID reader are not in the communication range.
    [17]
    The method of claim 16, wherein the portable device comprises: a housing comprising a first port and a second port in a housing surface; a light source placed in the housing and positioned to emit light through the first port; a camera placed inside the housing and configured to record images through the second port; and a power supply within the housing and configured to operate the LED light source and the camera.
    [18]
    A method of controlling the operation of a video recording device, comprising: using a firearm having an RFID reader; providing a portable video recording device having an RF tag which can transmit a signal to an RFID reader in response to an interrogation signal from the RFID reader, the RF tag and the RF reader having a communication range ; using an RFID reader to transmit a signal to the RF tag that can operate to activate the video recording device when the RF tag and the RFID reader are in the communication range.
    [19]
    The method of claim 18, wherein the portable device comprises: a housing comprising a first port and a second port in a housing surface; a light source placed in the housing and positioned to emit light through the first port; a camera placed inside the housing and configured to record images through the second port; and a power supply within the housing and configured to operate the LED light source and the camera.
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    法律状态:
    优先权:
    申请号 | 申请日 | 专利标题
    US201562262087P| true| 2015-12-02|2015-12-02|
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