Patent · US Expired

Deployable monitoring device having self-righting housing and associated method

US6831699B2 · kind B2 · utility

31Cited by
23References
51Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 11, 2001
Grant dateDec 14, 2004
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 14, 2023

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04N23/698
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A deployable monitoring apparatus is provided comprising an ovate housing and a video capturing device operably engaged therewith. The housing has a base and an opposed end disposed along an axis. The housing is further configured to have a center of gravity disposed about the base so as to be self-righting along the axis such that the opposed end extends substantially upwardly from the base. The video capturing device is operably engaged with the housing and is configured to capture video data of a scene external to the housing. In some instances, the video data of the scene may be transmitted by a transceiver module to a station disposed remotely from the scene, wherein the station is configured to process the video data so as to provide a remote visual depiction of the scene. The housing may also include other devices such as, for example, a light source, a motion sensor, an audio sensor, and a chemical sensor functioning independently of or in conjunction with the video capturing device. An associated method is also provided.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.