DK201400149U3 - Infrared surveillance camera - Google Patents

Abstract

An infrared surveillance camera is disclosed comprising a camera body, the camera body comprising: a first infrared detection module (101) for detecting a monitored area, a recording module (102) for taking images from the monitored area, and a first processing module (104) ) for controlling the recording module for taking pictures according to the first trigger signal; the camera further comprises: an oblong insert (105) having a sharp end and the other end firmly connected to the camera body. By inserting the elongated insert into an object, the camera body can be attached to the attached object, such as a tree trunk or a branch, thereby facilitating camera mounting.

Description

Infrared surveillance camera

Technical area

The present invention relates to a camera, more specifically, an infrared surveillance camera.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

An infrared surveillance camera has a wide range of applications, for example for outdoor surveillance and hunting surveillance. When an infrared surveillance camera is in use, it is usually attached to a selected location by means of a separate mounting bracket, such as on a tree trunk or branch. It is not particularly suitable for mounting the camera.

Summary of the Invention

An infrared surveillance camera according to an embodiment of the present invention, comprising a camera body, comprising: a first infrared detection module within a monitored area and generating a first trigger signal when induced by the infrared radiation; a recording module for taking pictures within the monitored area; a first processing module connected to the first detection module and the recording module and configured to obtain the first trigger signal, and controlling the recording module to take pictures according to the first trigger signal; the infrared surveillance camera further comprising: an oblong insert with a sharp end and the other end firmly connected to the camera body.

With the infrared surveillance camera provided in the present invention, the camera body may be attached to an object, such as a tree trunk or a branch, by inserting the elongated insert into the attached object; so that it is easy to mount the camera and as it is well suited to conceal it after attaching the elongated insert and protection by means of the attached object.

Embodiments of the infrared surveillance camera of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Brief description of the drawings

FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing the external structure of Example 1 of the present origin;

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram schematically showing Example 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing the external structure of Example 2 of the present origin;

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram schematically showing Example 2 of the present origin;

FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram schematically showing Example 3 of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically showing the external structure of Example 4 of the present origin;

FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram schematically showing Example 4 of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a diagram schematically showing the infrared surveillance camera of Example 4 of the present invention mounted on a tree;

FIG. 9 is a functional block diagram schematically showing the remote control provided in Example 5 of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a diagram schematically showing the communication between the camera body and the remote control (eg, a mobile phone) provided in Example 5 of the present origin;

FIG. 11 is a functional block diagram schematically showing the satellite sensor provided in Example 6 of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a diagram schematically showing the communication between the camera body and the satellite sensor provided in Example 6 of the present invention.

Detailed description

Example 1

Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, an infrared surveillance camera according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises a first detection module 101, a recording module 102, a lighting module 103, a first processing module 104, an elongated insert 105 and a camouflage housing 106. Furthermore, according to a general configuration of a conventional camera, the camera comprises further, a power supply module 11 for supplying power to each unit of the camera and a storage module 12 for storing the recorded data. These two conventional modules can be used as detachable parts that can be independently manufactured and sold. The serial numbers of the components herein, such as "first", "second", etc., are only used to distinguish the object described and have no significance in relation to sequence or technology.

The first detection module 101 is configured to detect infrared radiation within a monitored area and generate a first trigger signal when induced by the infrared radiation. The first detection module typically includes a Fresnel lens 1011 and an infrared sensor (not shown), where the infrared sensor, for example, may be a passive infrared (PIR) sensor. It can be readily understood, based on configurations of various sensors, that the first generated trigger signal may be a digital signal or an analog signal and may be sent directly to a suitable interface for the first processing module 104 or after being processed by a conventional software / hardware device such as analogue / digital conversion, amplification, shaping and filtering.

The recording module 102 is configured to take pictures within the monitored area. The recording module typically includes a lens 1021 and a photosensitive chip (not shown). For good shooting, the camera's coverage of the recording module can be configured to be consistent with the area monitored by the first detection module, for example, the field of view of the lens in the recording module may be consistent with the limit of the detection range of the Fresnel lens in the first detection module. Depending on the type of imaging desired, the spectral detection range of the photosensitive chip may be visible or infrared, or both.

The lighting module 103 may be an infrared LED light, or a gas-filled flash lamp, or a combination of an infrared LED light and a gas-filled flash lamp. The type of illumination module may be selected by the spectral detection range of the light sensitive in the recording module 102, for example, if the detection area is visible light, a gas-filled flash lamp may be selected over the lighting module. In this embodiment, the illumination module comprises a plurality of infrared LEDs located around Fresnel lens 1011 and lens 1021 for illumination. For better shooting under low light or at night, the lighting module is selected in this embodiment; however, the lighting module may be omitted in other embodiments.

The first processing module 104 configured to obtain the first triggering signal and controlling the recording module 102 to capture images according to the first triggering signal is connected to the first detection module 101, the recording module 102 and the lighting module 103. The first processing module 104 is also configured to controlling the lighting module 103 to illuminate when the recording module 102 is in operation. The first machining module selected as a logical machining element to achieve the camera control function controls the associated components by executing instructions. The first processing module may be a microcontroller, a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or a CPU (central processor unit). The orders executed by the first processing module 104 may be stored in a local cache, or a memory separate from the processing module, such as a memory module 12. In other embodiments, it is of course unnecessary for the first processing module to control the lighting module, if there is no lighting module.

One end of the elongated insert 105 is sharp and the other end is firmly connected to the camera body. The camera body can be attached to an object by inserting elongated insert 105 into the attached object. In this embodiment, the elongated insert is provided with a thread 1051 on the surface thereof, for example a screw such as the elongated insert, so that it can be inserted into the attached object such as a tree trunk, branch or ground, thereby facilitating mounting of the camera. In other embodiments, the surface of the elongate insert may also be provided with another shape which facilitates insertion, for example the long insert is provided with sharp ribs in the longitudinal direction on the surface thereof. The end at which the elongated insert is connected to the camera body may appear with various possible attachment modes, such as welding, plugs, one-piece molding or a screw connection.

In order to obtain a better concealment, in this embodiment, the camera body further comprises a camouflage housing 106 with the appearance of a living body or a part of a living body which the housing mimics. This embodiment illustrates an example of imitation of a branch, the surface thereof being provided with bark and leaves as camouflage. The lens 1021 for the recording module 102 and the lens (Fresnel lens 1011) for the first detection module 101 are embedded at the surface of the camouflage housing 106. The elongated insert 105 can be fixed to the camouflage housing. Most commonly used infrared surveillance cameras appear in a relatively regular form, some of them coated with camouflage on the surface; however, they are easily recognizable because of their forms. The camouflage housing in this embodiment can be concealed well; The camera may, of course, in other embodiments have the conventional shape without such a camouflage housing.

The infrared surveillance camera power supply module of the present invention may comprise a battery and / or interface connected to another power supply module, for example, the camera may further comprise a solar power supply module and / or an external power supply module supplied to the solar power supply module. With solar power, the external power supply module is used to supply power to the camera body with an external power supply. The power supply used herein includes direct power supply to a charging module or charging the power module battery.

Example 2

FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 shows an infrared surveillance camera according to another embodiment of the present invention (to make it simple, a component of successive embodiments having a function similar to that of Example 1 is labeled with a number identical to the number of Example 1). The difference between the embodiment and Example 1 is that the camera body further comprises a microphone 107 and a speaker 108 respectively connected to the first processing module 104. The first processing module is similarly also configured to control the microphone to record when the recording module 102 is in function, and to control the speaker to play audio. If the camouflage housing 106 is selected, a microphone input 1071 and a speaker input 1081 are required on the surface of the housing so as to ensure the effect of recording and audio playback. One use of the infrared surveillance camera according to this embodiment is to play animal sounds to entice a second-sex animal (wild call) into forests to enrich the camera's auxiliary functions.

Example 3

FIG. 5 shows an infrared surveillance camera according to another embodiment of the present invention. The difference between the embodiment and the preceding embodiments is that the camera body further comprises a screen 109 and a function button 110 (Fig. 5 shows a variation with respect to Example 1, however, this embodiment can be combined with Example 2) which are respectively connected to the first one. processing module 104. The screen 109 is used to display a control interface; the function button 110 is used to load an instruction to facilitate a user's operation and control. For better hiding, the screen and function button can be placed in the camera body without being visible from the outside and can be viewed and operated by opening the camera body shell, such as the camouflage housing. The screen may be a touch screen; in this case, the function button may be a virtual button displayed on the touch screen.

Example 4

FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 shows an infrared surveillance camera according to another embodiment of the present invention. Compared to the previous embodiments, the difference is that the camera body further comprises a first communication module 111 and an antenna 112 (Figures 6 and 7 show a variation from Example 1, but the embodiment can also be combined with the previous embodiments). The antenna 112 is connected to the first communication module 111 connected to the first processing module 104. The first processing module is similarly further configured to control the first communication module to communicate wirelessly with an external device via the antenna, for example, to control it. first communication module to send the images or videos captured / recorded using the recording module to an external memory for remote storage.

The first communication module can adopt various possible ways of wireless communication, including but not limited to infrared, 2G / GPRS / 3G / 4G, WiFi, Bluetooth, 2.4G and Wimax. For better concealment, the antenna can mimic a thin branch. Referring to FIG. 8, the infrared surveillance camera having a wireless communication function in this embodiment is attached to a tree, thereby providing easy communication over a wireless network and a good hiding place.

Example 5

FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 shows an infrared surveillance camera according to another embodiment of the present invention. The difference compared to Example 4 is that the camera further comprises a remote control 200 including a screen 201, a function button 202, a third communication module 203, and a third processing module 204, wherein the screen is used to display a control interface, the function button being used to input a screen. instruction, the third processing module associated with the display, the function button, and the third communication module are used to control the display and to control the first processing module depending on the instruction loaded by the function button via the communication between the third communication module and the first processing module .

The remote control in this example may be a device dedicated to controlling the infrared surveillance camera of the present origin. The remote control can also be an electronic device with wireless communication capability installed with software plug-in. For example, by installing a suitable software in a smartphone with an operating system, that smartphone will be converted to the remote control, in this case the screen of the smartphone is the screen, the physical button or virtual button displayed on the touch screen, the function button and the camera can be operated via the smartphone, such as to change the setup, display status, etc. When an animal passes the monitored area, the surveillance camera is released and begins to take pictures / record; the first processing module can send the images taken to a user's mobile phone via the first communication module.

With the remote control or embodiment, the camera body may be equipped with or without a screen and function button.

Example 6

FIG. 11 and FIG. 12 shows an infrared surveillance camera according to another embodiment of the present invention. The difference is compared with Examples 4 or 5, that the camera further comprises at least one satellite sensor 300 (Figures 6 and 7 show a variation over Example 4, however, the embodiment can also be combined with Example 5). The satellite sensor 300 comprises a second detection module 301, a second communication module 302 and a second processing module 303, wherein the second detection module having a structure corresponding to the first detection module is used for detecting infrared radiation within an extended range and generating a second triggering signal , when induced by the infrared radiation; the second processing module is connected to the second detection module and the second communication module is used to obtain the second trigger and control of the second communication module to send trigger information according to the second trigger signal. The first processing module is similarly further configured to receive the trigger information sent by the second communication module via the first communication module and enable the recording module to be ready to record based on the trigger information.

By positioning the satellite sensor according to the embodiment around the body of the surveillance camera, the monitored area of the surveillance camera can be effectively expanded and the startup speed of the surveillance camera can be improved. For example, when it is detected that an animal is approaching, the satellite sensor sends trigger information to the body of the surveillance camera, the first processing module activates in advance upon receipt of the trigger signal (before this the recording module may be standby or off) as the animal continues to approach the body of the surveillance camera. triggering the first detection module, the recording module will immediately begin taking pictures / recording. In other embodiments, the first processing module can be configured, upon receipt of the trigger signal transmitted via the satellite sensor, to process information such as satellite identification and time as text, can be registered and sent to the user via SMS, so that the user can learn more about the monitored area.

It should be noted that the embodiments described above serve only to help understand the present disclosure and do not limit the scope of protection of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and variations may be made without exceeding the scope or spirit of the present disclosure.

Claims (10)

An infrared surveillance camera, comprising a camera body, comprising: a first infrared detection module (101) for detecting infrared radiation and generating a first trigger signal when induced by the infrared radiation; a recording module (102) for taking pictures within the monitored area; a first processing module (104) connected to the first detection module and the recording module and configured to obtain the first trigger signal and to control the recording module to take pictures according to the first trigger signal; the infrared surveillance camera further comprising: a long insert (105) having a sharp end and the other end firmly connected to the camera body. The camera of claim 1, wherein the surface of the long insert (105) is provided with screw threads (1051) or the surface of the long insert is provided with a sharp rib in the longitudinal direction. The camera of claim 1, wherein the camera body further comprises a camouflage housing (106) appearing as a living body or a part of a living body which the camouflage housing mimics, the lens (1021) of the recording module (102) and the first detection module (101) ) lens (1011) is embedded at the surface of the camouflage housing. The camera of claim 1, wherein the camera body further comprises a lighting module (103) connected to the first processing module (104), the lighting module being an infrared LED lamp, or a gas-filled flash lamp, or a combination thereof, the first processing module being further configured to control the illumination module to illuminate when the recording module (102) is in operation. The camera of claim 1, wherein the camera body further comprises a microphone (107) and a speaker (108), respectively connected to the first processing module (104), the first processing module being further configured to control the microphone for recording when the recording module (102) is operative and for controlling the speaker to play audio. The camera of claim 1, wherein the camera body further comprises a screen (109) and a function button (110), respectively connected to the first processing module (104), the screen configured to display a control interface; the function button is configured to load an instruction. A camera according to any one of claims 1-5, wherein the camera body further comprises a first communication module (111) connected to the first processing module (104) and an antenna (112) connected to the first communication module , the first processing module is further configured to control the first communication module to communicate with an external device via the antenna. The camera of claim 7, further comprising at least one satellite sensor (300), wherein the satellite sensor comprises: a second detection module (301) for detecting the infrared radiation within an extended range and generating a second trigger signal when induced by the infrared radiation; a second communication module (302); a second processing module (303) associated with said second detection module and said second communication module and configured to obtain said second trigger signal and control of said second communication module for transmitting trigger information according to said second trigger signal; which first processing module (104) is further configured to receive the trigger information via the first communication module and enable the recording module to be ready to take pictures. The camera of claim 7, further comprising a remote control (200), wherein the remote control comprises: a screen (201) for displaying a control interface and a function button (202) for loading an instruction; a third communication module (203); a third processing module (204) associated with the display, the function button and the third communication module, configured to control the display screen and to control the first processing module relative to the instruction loaded by the function button during communication between it third communication module and the first communication module. A camera according to any one of claims 1-6, further comprising a solar power supply module for supplying power to the camera body with solar energy, and / or for connecting to an external power supply for supplying power to the camera body by means of the connected external power supply.