This application claims benefit of the following patent application, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety: GB 1315696.3 filed Sep. 4, 2013.
The invention relates infant monitoring apparatus.
Infants, including babies, are often put to bed in one location while parents, or other carers, relax in another. In these circumstances it is desirable for the parent or carer to be able to monitor the condition of the infant without having to go the infant's bedside.
The invention provides a portable receiver of an infant monitoring apparatus as specified in claim 1.
The invention also includes an infant monitoring apparatus as specified in claim 10.
The invention also includes a method of operating a portable receiver of an infant monitoring apparatus as specified in claim 20.
In the disclosure that follows, reference will be made to the drawings in which:
Referring to
The infant monitoring device 14 comprises an image capturing device 38. The image capturing device 38 comprises a video camera having one or more lenses and a semi-conductor device that receives light via the lens(es) and records the received light electronically. The semi-conductor device may be a 1/6.5″ VGA CMOS image sensor. The image capturing device 38 is connected with the device controller 32. The device controller 32 comprises a processor 40 that is operable to process digital video data output by the image capturing device 38 into digital video frame data for transmission to the portable receiver 12. The processor 40 may be provided with an integral buffer memory to buffer the digital video frame data. Alternatively, a separate buffer memory may be provided. The buffer memory may comprise volatile RAM provided by an SRAM or DRAM module. The device controller 32 is connected with a signal transmitter/receiver 42 that is operable to convert the digital video frame data into a format suitable for wireless transmission to the portable receiver 12. In the illustrated example, the format used is a frequency hopping spread spectrum (FHSS) format. The transmission may be in the 2.4 GHz waveband.
The infant monitoring device 14 may further comprise a night vision unit 44. The night vision unit 44 may comprise a plurality of LEDs activated automatically by a light sensor. In some examples, the night vision unit 44 may be actuated by a clock signal from the device controller 32 or a signal issued by the device controller in response to a command signal issued by a user using a suitably equipped portable receiver 12 (these optional or alternative modes are indicated in
The infant monitoring device 14 may further comprise an audio capturing device, such as a microphone 46. The microphone 46 may be incorporated in the image capturing device 38. In example in which a microphone is included in the image capturing device 38, the image capturing device may be provided with an audio codec to encode analogue audio data as digital data for transmission to the portable receiver 12 with the digital video data.
The digital video frame data and, where obtained, digital audio data transmitted by the infant monitoring unit 14 comprises infant monitoring data that is received by the portable receiver 12 and output by the portable receiver 12 in a form a user can access so as to be able to monitor an infant's condition.
The infant monitoring device 14 may further comprise an audio output device 48, such as a loudspeaker housed by the housing 18. In examples provided with an audio output device 48, the device controller 32 may be provided with an audio codec and output interface so as to be able to output an analogue signal to the audio output device. The audio output device 48, when provided, can be used to output audio received from portable receivers 12 configured to transmit audio that is input contemporaneously by a user, or output soothing messages or other sounds stored in non-volatile memory accessible by the device controller 32.
Referring to
The display may comprise a TFT LCD screen 58(1) to display video images derived from infant monitoring data received from the infant monitoring unit 14. The display may additionally comprise an audio level indicator 58(2). The audio level indicator 58(2) may comprise an array of LEDs to provide a visual sound level indication for the audio output by the audio output device 62 or the audio signal captured by the audio capturing device 64. The array of LEDs may comprise a series of LEDs arranged in line.
The transmitter/receiver 66 is configured to receive infant monitoring data transmitted by the infant monitoring device 14 and communicate it to the device controller 68 in a form the processor 70 can process for display via the screen 58(1). In examples in which the infant monitoring device 14 is configured to transmit digital audio data to the portable receiver 12, the device controller 68 is provided with an audio codec and output interface for outputting an analogue signal to the audio output device 62. The audio output device 62 may be a loudspeaker housed by the housing 56. Additionally, or alternatively, the audio output device 62 may be an output jack that allows the portable receiver 12 to be connected to an earphone or external speaker.
The audio capturing device 64 may comprise a microphone housed by the housing 56. The audio capturing unit 64 may be connected with the device controller 68 to enable analogue audio data received from the microphone to be encoded as digital data for transmission by the receiver/transmitter 66 to the infant monitoring device 14. Providing the portable receiver 12 with this facility allows a user, to send soothing messages to the infant via an audio output device of the infant monitoring device 14.
Referring to
Referring to
The power supply 74 distributes electrical power received from a battery supply housed in a compartment housed by the housing 56 and accessible via a cover 94 (
In use, a user can situate the infant monitoring device 14 in a room or area in which an infant is to be left, typically to sleep and go to another room or area with the portable receiver 12. The portable receiver 12 can receive infant monitoring data transmitted by the infant monitoring device 14 allowing the user to view the infant via the screen 58(1) and hear sounds via the audio output device 62. By operation of the multi-function pad 92 the user can cause command signals to be transmitted to the infant monitoring device 14 to cause the image capturing device 38 to pan (pivot about the Y-Y axis), tilt (pivot about the X-X axis) or zoom in and out. The user can operate the button 90 to activate the audio capturing device 64 and send audio messages to the infant via the audio output device 48 of the infant monitoring device. Additionally, the user can take the portable receiver 12 to the infant and operate the button 88 to activate the non-contact temperature sensing device 60 and obtain a reading of the infant's temperature, which will be displayed on the screen 58(1). This has the advantage that the temperature reading can be obtained without disturbing the infant and even in cases in which the infant is awake, avoids having to obtain the infant's cooperation in using a contact temperature sensor such as a mercury thermometer. It s to be understood that while the temperature sensing device 60 is intended primarily for obtaining an infant's temperature, it can be used to obtain non-contact temperature readings of other things.
Thus, although there have been described particular embodiments of the present invention of new and useful infant monitoring apparatus and portable receivers of infant monitoring apparatus, it is not intended that such references be construed as limitations upon the scope of this invention except as set forth in the following claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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GB 1315696.3 | Sep 2013 | GB | national |