Self articulating behind-wall camera

US 8,558,882 B1
Filed: 03/13/2009
Issued: 10/15/2013
Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2008
Status: Expired due to Fees

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1. A system for viewing partially or fully enclosed areas, comprising:

a camera coupled to a first end of an elongated member;

at least one interface for communicating with a viewing device via at least one wireless connection, wherein the viewing device includes a mobile device and is capable of being operatively coupled to the camera;

a controller coupled to a second end of the elongated member for controlling at least one of the member, the camera, or the viewing device;

wherein the elongated member has a cross sectional area of less than about one square inch at a point toward the first end of the elongated member.

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Abstract

In one general embodiment, a system for viewing partially or fully enclosed areas comprises a camera coupled to a first end of an elongated member and a viewing device operatively coupled to the camera. The system also includes a controller coupled to a second end of the elongated member for controlling at least one of the member, the camera, and the viewing device, wherein the elongated member has a cross sectional area of less than about one square inch at a point toward the first end of the elongated member. Additional systems and methods are also presented.

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40 Claims

1. A system for viewing partially or fully enclosed areas, comprising:
- a camera coupled to a first end of an elongated member;
  
  at least one interface for communicating with a viewing device via at least one wireless connection, wherein the viewing device includes a mobile device and is capable of being operatively coupled to the camera;
  
  a controller coupled to a second end of the elongated member for controlling at least one of the member, the camera, or the viewing device;
  
  wherein the elongated member has a cross sectional area of less than about one square inch at a point toward the first end of the elongated member.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 38, 39, 40)
- - 2. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the elongated member is rotatable about a longitudinal axis thereof relative to the viewing device.
  - 3. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the controller includes at least one of a control to toggle power to the camera, a control to rotate the elongated member, a control to zoom the camera, and a control to position the member.
  - 4. A system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a light source coupled towards the first end of the elongated member for illuminating a view of the camera.
  - 5. A system as recited in claim 4, wherein the controller includes a control to toggle power to the light source.
  - 6. A system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a clamping mechanism on the elongated member for coupling the elongated member to a wall.
  - 7. A system as recited in claim 6, wherein the clamping mechanism includes a first clamp for positioning on an exterior surface of a wall and a second clamp for positioning on an interior surface of the wall.
  - 8. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein a center of view of the camera is selectively positionable at an angle of between 0 and about 135 degrees relative to a longitudinal axis of the elongated member.
  - 9. A system as recited in claim 8, wherein the camera is selectively positionable at an angle of between 0 and about 90 degrees relative to the longitudinal axis of the elongated member.
  - 10. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein a center of view of the camera is oriented between about 45 degrees and about 135 degrees relative to a longitudinal axis of the elongated member.
  - 11. A system as recited in claim 1, further comprising storage media operatively coupled to the camera for storing images captured by the camera.
  - 12. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the elongated member is rigid.
  - 13. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the elongated member is semi-rigid.
  - 14. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the elongated member further comprises at least one of a motor, a flexible portion, a hinge, a joint, and a servomechanism for positioning of the elongated member.
  - 15. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the controller further comprises a connection to a power source.
  - 16. A system as recited in claim 15, wherein the connection is via USB to a computer, wherein the computer provides power to the system via the USB connection.
  - 17. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the camera includes an ultra-wide angle lens.
  - 18. A system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a distance estimating device for estimating a distance from a longitudinal axis of the elongated member to an object in a view of the camera.
  - 38. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one viewing device includes an external mobile device.
  - 39. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one viewing device includes a mobile phone or a tablet computer.
  - 40. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the wireless connection includes at least one of a Bluetooth connection or a Wi-Fi connection.

19. A system, comprising:
- a photo lens coupled to a first end of an elongated member;
  
  an image capture device operatively coupled to the photo lens;
  
  a viewing device operatively coupled to the image capture device;
  
  wherein the elongated member has a cross sectional area of less than about one square inch at a point toward the first end of the elongated member, and is flexible or resiliently deformable.
- View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
- - 20. A system as recited in claim 19, further comprising a light source coupled to the first end of the elongated member for illuminating a view of the photo lens.
  - 21. A system as recited in claim 20, further comprising a controller coupled to a second end of the elongated member for controlling at least one of the light source, the photo lens, the image capture device, and the viewing device.
  - 22. A system as recited in claim 19, wherein the elongated member is rotatable about a longitudinal axis thereof relative to the viewing device.
  - 23. A system as recited in claim 19, further comprising a light guide operatively coupling the image capture device to the photo lens.
  - 24. A system as recited in claim 19, wherein the elongated member further comprises at least one of a motor, a flexible portion, a hinge, a joint, and a servomechanism for positioning at least one of the elongated member, the viewing device, and the photo lens.
  - 25. A system as recited in claim 19, wherein the photo lens is an ultra-wide angle lens.
  - 26. A system as recited in claim 19, further comprising a distance estimating device for estimating a distance from a longitudinal axis of the elongated member to an object in a view of the photo lens.

27. A method for viewing a fully or partially enclosed area comprising:
- drilling a hole through a wall;
  
  inserting a first end of an elongated member through the hole in the wall, wherein the first end of the elongated member is coupled to a photo lens; and
  
  positioning the photo lens such that an image capture device operatively coupled to the photo lens captures a desired view behind the wall.
- View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
- - 28. A method as recited in claim 27, wherein an interior diameter of the hole is about the same as or slightly larger than an exterior diameter of a cross section of the elongated member.
  - 29. A method as recited in claim 27, wherein the elongated member further comprises at least one of a motor, a flexible portion, a hinge, a joint, and a servomechanism for positioning of at least one of the elongated member and the photo lens.
  - 30. A method as recited in claim 29, further comprising positioning at least one of the elongated member and the photo lens using a controller, wherein the controller is coupled to a second end of the elongated member.
  - 31. A method as recited in claim 27, wherein the elongated member has a cross sectional area at a point passing through the wall of less than about one square inch.
  - 32. A method as recited in claim 27, wherein the image capture device is coupled to the first end of the elongated member.
  - 33. A method as recited in claim 27, wherein the photo lens is an ultra-wide angle lens.
  - 34. A method as recited in claim 27, wherein the elongated member further comprises a distance estimating device for estimating a distance from a longitudinal axis of the elongated member to an object in a view of the photo lens.

35. A method for viewing a fully or partially enclosed area comprising:
- capturing at least one image from behind an obstruction using an image capture device operatively coupled to a photo lens coupled to a first end of an elongated member; and
  
  outputting the at least one image captured by the image capture device to a viewing device,wherein a center of view of the photo lens is between about 45 degrees and about 135 degrees relative to a longitudinal axis of the elongated member,wherein the elongated member has a cross sectional area at a point toward the first end of the elongated member of less than about one square inch.
- View Dependent Claims (36, 37)
- - 36. A method as recited in claim 35, wherein the image capture device is coupled to a first end of the elongated member.
  - 37. A method as recited in claim 35, wherein the first end of the elongated member is inserted through a hole in the obstruction, and further comprising illuminating a view of the photo lens.

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Current Assignee
2S Ventures, LLC
Original Assignee
Dominic M. Kotab
Inventors
Kotab, Dominic M., Hicks, Jarrod
Primary Examiner(s)
Nguyen, Tammy

Application Number

US12/404,116
Time in Patent Office

1,677 Days
Field of Search

348/82, 348/83, 395/1
US Class Current

348/82
CPC Class Codes

G03B 37/005   Photographing internal surf...

H04N 23/51   Housings

H04N 23/55   Optical parts specially ada...

H04N 23/555   for picking-up images in si...

H04N 23/56   provided with illuminating ...

H04N 23/66   Remote control of cameras o...

H04N 23/661   Transmitting camera control...

H04N 23/69   Control of means for changi...

H04N 7/18   Closed-circuit television [...

Self articulating behind-wall camera

First Claim

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Abstract

17 Citations

40 Claims

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Self articulating behind-wall camera

First Claim

3 Assignments

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Accused Products

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Abstract

17 Citations

40 Claims

Specification

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