Patent Application
20120327242
The present invention relates to cameras that are used to scout or surveil areas for wildlife, security, people, etc.
Cameras can be used to scout or surveil wildlife. For example, a camera is set up near a game trail, feeder, watering hole or other area where wildlife pass or gather on a frequent basis. The camera is mounted to a tree, post, etc. It has a sensor to detect the presence of wildlife. Thus, the camera automatically takes pictures when wildlife are detected. The automatic operation of the camera is useful because a human operator need not monitor the camera for long periods of time in order to operate it. Also, there is no human operator present which might repel wildlife.
These cameras are known as game scouting cameras or trail cameras. The cameras can be film or digital and can take still pictures or movies (video). The cameras can also be equipped with a flash. The flash can be of white light, infrared light or a camera may have both types of flashes.
The earliest cameras used to scout wildlife were believed to be conventional cameras mounted in housings to protect the camera from the weather. As scouting cameras have evolved, the cameras are specifically designed units for the particular task.
Surveillance or security cameras are used to observe an area. For example, on a construction site, cameras may be used to deter theft of equipment. Also, a surveillance camera can be used to monitor people, such as a baby or a baby sitter.
Surveillance cameras that use a sensor to detect motion and trigger the camera encounter lag times from when the sensor detects something to when the camera shutter is activated to take a picture. It is desirable to shorten this lag time.
A surveillance camera comprises a lens, a memory, an image sensor and a processor that processes information from the image sensor. The processor operates in a sleep mode, wherein the processor cannot process information from the image sensor, and a wake mode, wherein the processor can process information from the image sensor. First and second triggering sensors each have a detection area. The first triggering sensor detection area is located in front of the lens. The second triggering sensor detection area is located adjacent to the first triggering sensor detection area. When the second triggering sensors senses an object moving in its detection area it causes the processor to enter the wake mode. When the first triggering sensor senses an object moving in its detection area, it causes the processor to capture and process an image.
In accordance with one aspect, the second triggering sensor detection area is located to a side of the first triggering sensor detection area.
In accordance with another aspect, a third triggering sensor has a third detection area located to another side of the first triggering sensor detection area. When the third triggering sensors senses an object moving in its respective detection area, the third triggering sensor causes the processor to enter the wake mode.
In accordance with still another aspect, the first, second, and third triggering sensors are each passive infrared sensors.
There is also provided a method of taking images with a surveillance camera. First and second triggering sensors are provided, with each having a respective detection area. A processor is provided that can process images. The processor is operated in a sleep mode. An object entering the second triggering sensor detection area is detected, where upon the operation of the processor is changed from the sleep mode to a wake mode. The object is detected entering the first triggering sensor detection area, where upon an image is taken and the image is processed with the processor.
Once the camera 11 is installed, it typically is left in place, and the picture or image data is removed from the camera for viewing. The camera is kept in place and operational so as to continue to take pictures. The picture or image data can be removed from the camera 11 by various techniques such as storing the images on a memory card and removing the card from the camera to be read by another device (such as a handheld camera, a personal computer, etc.)
The components of the camera 11 will now be described. Referring to
The camera can take pictures in daylight and also in lowlight conditions, such as night, using the flash 27. In the preferred embodiment, the flash is an infrared flash, a white light flash, or a combination of the two. The flash 27 is provided by a series of LED's, which are powered by a flash driver 47. The flash driver is connected to the CPU 39. A light sensor 33, typically located on the outside of the camera, provides measurement of ambient light so as to all the CPU 39 to determine which flash (IR or white light) to use.
An infrared filter 49 is removably provided between the lens 25 and the image sensor 41. In daylight conditions, the infrared filter 49 is located in front of the image sensor 41. Thus, light passes through the infrared filter to reach the image sensor. In low light conditions, the infrared filter 49 is moved out of the light path of the image sensor so as to be out of the way. (In
The camera, and if needed the flash 27, is triggered by the triggering, or trigger, sensors 29. In the preferred embodiment, the triggering sensors are motion sensors. A motion sensor senses an object moving in proximity to the camera. For example, an animal may move across the field of view of the camera, from one side to the other side. Motion sensors can be active or passive. Types of active motion sensors include ultrasonic and microwave sensors. One type of passive motion sensor is a passive infrared (PIR) sensor. In the preferred embodiment, the motion sensors are each a passive infrared (PIR) sensor, which are conventional and commercially available. A PIR sensor senses change in infrared light, which change is indicative of movement of an animal or person. Other types of motion sensors, for example ultrasonic, do not rely on infrared. Each PIR sensor is located behind a cover that is transparent to infrared. (
The camera has a display 35 for providing information. In the preferred embodiment, the display is a liquid crystal display (LCD). The LCD 35 is connected to the CPU 39 by way of an LCD driver 57. In the preferred embodiment, the display shows information such as the strength of the battery charge, the date and time, the number of pictures taken and the number of pictures remaining that can be stored with the available memory 43, 45. A power on button turns the display 35 on. The camera has a user input 59 in the form of several buttons for an operator to program the camera. The user can program various camera settings such as the clock time (including a 12 or 24 hour clock), the date, whether to take still pictures or video, number of still pictures to take after the camera is triggered, resolution of images taken, video length after triggering the camera, data and time, flash type (white light or infrared), sensitivity of the triggering sensor 29, operation times (all day, daylight or night), name of camera, etc. Many cameras provide default settings which the user can change. Other settings may include aperture, shutter speed, etc. These are all commands provided by, or revised by, the user, whether through the user interface or through the remote device 15. A temperature sensor 50 is also provided. A power supply, typically batteries, along with power control electronics, are also provided.
The camera 17 is mounted to support structure 13 (see
The camera has fast shutter activation. Digital cameras, such as manually operated cameras, have a time lag from when the shutter button is pressed to when the picture is taken. This time lag becomes apparent when taking a picture of fast changing or moving images. Although automatic cameras do not rely on a user pressing a shutter button to initiate camera operation, they nevertheless experience a time lag in taking pictures from when the triggering sensor detects a moving object to when the image is taken or captured and processed by the CPU 39. Part of the time lag can be attributed to power conservation measures. In order to conserve power, the CPU 39 is put into a “sleep” mode when not in use. When an image is to be taken, the CPU is “woken” so as to be ready to process the image data. In the sleep mode, the CPU consumes less power and is unable to process images. The sleep mode CPU however can process other inputs such as inputs from the triggering sensors 29. In the wake mode, the CPU can process images.
Referring to
As shown in
The main sensor 29A is oriented so as to have its detection area 191A correspond to the preferred orientation of the camera lens. This would typically be directly in front of the camera lens 25. The secondary sensors 29B are oriented so as to have their respective detection areas 191B at some angle α relative to the main sensor so as to sense a different area than the main sensor. For example, as shown in
The detection areas 191A, 191B of the sensors are oriented so that the time lag for a typical object to cross from the secondary sensor detection area 191B to the main sensor detection area 191A is the same as or longer than the wake up period for the CPU. For example, if the camera is designed to detect wildlife at a feeder, such wildlife typically walks. However, if the objects move faster than walking speed, such as running, then the secondary sensor or sensors 29B can be oriented at a greater angle α. The angle α can be chosen for a “worst case”, such as a fast moving or running object.
As an object 201 (for example an animal, a person, etc.) moves across the area in front of the camera, it enters a detection area 191B and is first sensed by a secondary sensor 29B. As the object 201 (shown by dashed lines in
Following some period of time after a picture has been taken, the CPU 39 (see
Referring to the example shown in
The fast shutter feature allows the camera to capture pictures of wildlife or other objects that move rapidly across the detection area of the camera. The fast shutter feature can be used on any type of camera that has a slow-starting processor or other slow starting component that adds delay in taking an image. Thus, the fast shutter feature allows the use of power conservation techniques without sacrificing camera performance in capturing moving objects. In addition, the fast shutter feature also allows the use of less expensive camera electronics while maintaining performance in capturing moving objects.
The foregoing disclosure and showings made in the drawings are merely illustrative of the principles of this invention and are not to be interpreted in a limiting sense.
