Abstract:
At least one aspect of present disclosure is directed towards a camera that includes a magnetic base and a removable main camera unit. The removable main camera unit may include an outer casing, a processor, a lens housing, a wireless communications interface, and an inner casing. The inner casing may reside within the outer casing and includes at least a metallic portion and a non-metallic portion. The non-metallic portion may form a non-metallic region that may extend from at least a first boundary of the metallic portion to a second boundary of the metallic portion through a central axis of the inner casing. The removable main camera unit may be configured to be removably coupled to the magnetic base based on a magnetic force between the magnetic base and the metallic portion of the inner casing.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/074,554 filed on Nov. 3, 2014 and entitled “FIXED VIEW MAGNETIC CAMERA,” which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    There is a near limitless amount of applications that call for monitoring activity that occurs, or activity that has previously occurred, at one or more particular locations. In such circumstances, a system of one or more cameras may be employed to capture still images and/or moving images (e.g., video) from each respective location. A team of technicians may install a camera system in a manner that captures specific features of a particular location which fall within the camera&#39;s line of sight at the time of camera installment. However, the line of sight of such camera systems may be inherently limited by the structure used to mount the camera. Alternatively, or in addition, dynamically changing locations, preferences, and/or circumstances may require a dynamic reconfiguration of cameras to capture still images and/or moving images. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    According to one aspect of the subject matter described in this specification, a camera is disclosed that comprises a magnetic base and a removable main camera unit. The removable main camera unit may include an outer casing, a processor, a lens housing, a wireless communications interface, and an inner casing. The inner casing may reside within the outer casing and may also include at least a metallic portion and a non-metallic portion. The non-metallic portion may form a non-metallic region that may extend from at least a first boundary of the metallic portion to a second boundary of the metallic portion through a central axis of the inner casing. The removable main camera unit of the camera may be removably coupled to the magnetic base based on a magnetic force between the magnetic base and the metallic portion of the inner casing. 
         [0004]    According to another aspect of the subject matter described by this specification, a device is disclosed that comprises a magnetic base and a removable main camera unit. The removable main camera unit of the device may include a processor, a lens housing, a wireless communication interface, and a casing that includes at least a metallic portion and a non-metallic portion. The non-metallic portion may form a non-metallic region that may extend from at least a first boundary of the metallic portion to a second boundary of the metallic portion through a central axis of the inner casing. The wireless communication interface may reside within the inner casing and may be configured to wirelessly transmit data away from the metallic portion of the inner casing and towards the non-metallic portion of the inner casing. The removable main camera unit of the device may be removably coupled to the magnetic base based on a magnetic force between the magnetic base and the metallic portion of the inner casing. 
         [0005]    According to yet another aspect of the subject matter described by this specification, a spherical camera unit is disclosed that comprises a magnetic base and a removable main camera unit. The removable main camera unit of the spherical camera unit may include a processor, a lens housing, a heat sink that may be configured to transfer heat away from the processor, a wireless communications interface that may be configured to wirelessly send or receive data, and an inner casing that may include a metallic portion and a non-metallic portion. The inner casing may also include an air gap between the metallic portion and non-metallic portion that may aid in the transfer of heat away from the processor. The spherical camera unit may also include an outer casing that provides a physical barrier between at least the metallic portion of the inner casing and the magnetic base. The removable main camera unit may be configured to be removably coupled to the magnetic base based on a magnetic force that binds the inner casing of the removable main camera unit to the magnetic base through the outer casing. 
         [0006]    Other implementations of the subject matter described by the present specification may be directed to a device that includes an outer casing that may be composed of at least plastic. Similarly, the non-metallic portion of the inner casing of the device may be composed of plastic. Alternatively, or in addition, the non-metallic portion of the inner casing may be an uncovered opening in the inner casing. 
         [0007]    Yet other implementations of the subject matter described by the present specification may include wherein the first boundary and the second boundary of the metallic portion each terminate within the range of 45° to 75° from the central axis of the inner casing. In at least one aspect of the subject matter described in this specification, the first boundary and the second boundary of the metallic portion may each terminate at 60° from the central axis of the inner casing. 
         [0008]    Alternatively, or in addition, other implementations of the subject matter described by the present specification may provide wherein the wireless communication interface may reside within the inner casing and may be configured to wirelessly transmit data away from the metallic portion of the inner casing and towards a non-metallic portion of the inner casing. 
         [0009]    Alternatively, or in addition, other implementations of the subject matter described by the present specification provide wherein the device may include a heat sink that may be configured to transfer heat away from the processor to a thermally conductive metal strip that is located around the circumference of the removable main camera unit. Alternatively, or in addition, an air gap may exist between the metallic portion and the non-metallic portion of the inner casing that may be used to dissipate heat. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C and 1D  are images of an example fixed view magnetic camera from different orientations. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2A  illustrates example fields of view of the example fixed view magnetic camera. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2B  is a cross-sectional image of an example spherical main camera unit. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the example fixed view magnetic camera. 
           [0014]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  are images that show the example fixed view magnetic camera assembled without any outer cosmetic plastics. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0015]    A device and technique are described for a fixed view magnetic camera. In some implementations, the fixed view magnetic camera (or the camera) can be used for monitoring and surveillance purposes. For example, the camera can be used as a surveillance camera at a home, a business, a vacation location, or any other property. 
         [0016]      FIGS. 1A-1D  are images of an example fixed view magnetic camera  100  from different orientations. The fixed view magnetic camera (or the camera)  100  includes a spherical main camera unit  110  and a magnetic base  130 . The spherical main camera unit  110  includes a metal casing within the outer plastic casing (as shown in  FIG. 2 ) and is attached to the base  130  magnetically, while maintaining a desired cosmetic appearance. The metal casing is attracted to the magnet in the base  130  sufficiently to maintain a substantially constant angle of the view of the camera  100  in a variety of mounting positions. The spherical main camera unit  110  also includes a lens housing  115  (see  FIG. 1A ) that can house one or multiple components enabling the fixed view magnetic camera  100  to perform monitoring activities. For example, the lens housing  115  can feature one or more camera devices  160 , such as, for example, one or more video cameras, still cameras, infrared cameras, night vision cameras, or other devices capable of capturing static images and/or video from the environment surrounding the fixed view magnetic camera  100 . In some instances, the lens housing  115  can feature other electronics and circuitry required to operate the one or more camera devices. Furthermore, in some implementations, the lens housing  115  can also feature one or more other sensors, such as one or more microphones, motion sensors, contact sensors, light sensors, environmental or monitoring sensors, and/or the like. Given the magnetic connection between the main camera unit  110  and the base  130  and the spherical shape of the main camera unit  110 , a view of the fixed view magnetic camera  100  may be easily set by orienting the main camera unit  110  with the desired field of view and placing on the base  130  to secure through the magnetic force between the main camera unit  110  and the base  130 . To change the field of view, a user may lift the main camera unit  110  off the base  130  by overcoming the magnetic connection, reorient, and then place the main camera unit  110  back on the base  130  to reattach through the magnetic force between the main camera unit  110  and the base  130 . 
         [0017]      FIG. 2A  illustrates example fields of view of the fixed view magnetic camera. While these illustrations generally describe the capabilities of the fixed view magnetic camera  100  to monitor various fields of view, the specific fields of view available to the fixed view magnetic camera  100  according to this description may be dependent upon certain design characteristics of the fixed view magnetic camera  100 . For instance, by changing the angle at which spherical main camera unit  110  is mounted on the magnetic base  130  or by changing the shape of the base  130 , the range of available positions for the lens housing  115  of the camera housing can be adjusted. As an example,  FIG. 2  provides an illustration that describes the example fields of view of the fixed view magnetic camera  100 . The range of possible fields of view of the fixed view magnetic camera  100  may be described by a modified hemisphere  140 , such that the possible fields of view of the fixed view magnetic camera  100  range from the zenith  142  of the modified hemisphere (e.g., along the vertical axis represented by the line GG′ passing through the fixed view magnetic camera  100 ) to a point  146  below the horizon  144  of the modified hemisphere (e.g., a point below the horizontal axis that is perpendicular to the vertical axis). The fixed view magnetic camera  100  is capable of performing imaging at any point along this range from the zenith  140  to the point near or below the horizon  144  and in any direction around the vertical axis GG.′ That is, depending on the orientation of the main camera unit  110  on the base  130 , the fixed view magnetic camera  100  may be capable of performing imaging throughout the modified hemisphere. 
         [0018]    The fixed view magnetic camera  100  can use one or multiple wireless technologies to communicate with user devices, such as, for example, servers, desktop computers, laptop computers, tablets, smart phones, cellular phones, web-enabled appliances, vehicles with internet capabilities, and/or the like. The fixed view magnetic camera  100  can include wireless port(s) in a communication interface to send and/or receive data units (e.g., data packets) via a variety of wireless communication protocols such as, for example, a Wi-Fi® protocol, a Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) protocol, a cellular protocol (e.g., a third generation mobile telecommunications (3G), a fourth generation mobile telecommunications (4G) protocol, or a 4G long term evolution (4G LTE) protocol), and/or the like. 
         [0019]      FIG. 2B  is a cross-sectional image of the spherical main camera unit  110 . The wireless communication capabilities of the fixed view magnetic camera  100  described above can be impeded by the metal casing of the spherical main camera unit  110  that essentially forms a Faraday cage, and thereby severely impedes (or blocks) the wireless transmission of (radio frequency) signals. To overcome these limitations, and to maintain the mounting objectives of the fixed view magnetic camera  100 , the fixed view magnetic camera  100  includes an accommodation that is suited to both the metal enclosure and to the design of an antennae for wireless communications. In the implementation of the fixed view magnetic camera  100  shown in  FIGS. 1A-1D  and  FIG. 2B , a location for wireless antenna (or transceiver) coverage may be on top of the unit. In such implementation, a metal shell  150  of the spherical main camera unit  110  does not cover the entire internal surface of the spherical main camera unit  110 . Instead, the metal shell  150  stops approximately 60° from the zenith of the spherical main camera unit  110  on each side, thus providing a 120° opening in the metal shell  150 , which defines a non-metallic zone  116  (metal free area) and a metallic zone  117  in  FIG. 2B . This allows for the wireless antennae to be placed in the top of the spherical main camera unit  110  in such a way that the transmission pattern of the wireless antennae are directed away from the metal shell  150 . The features of the fixed view magnetic camera  100  described above that includes a combination of a spherical main camera unit  110  that is mounted on the magnetic base  130  may provide significant advantages, namely: (i) a substantially unlimited number of viewing angles and mounting positions, and (ii) is coupled with the wireless antennae design and absence of the metal shell approximately 60° from the zenith of the metal casing in the spherical main camera unit  110  in such a way as to neither interfere with mounting nor wireless antennae performance. 
         [0020]    Additionally, a feature of the fixed view magnetic camera  100  is a small size that does not include any visible ventilation openings in the spherical main camera unit  110 . Cameras may have very high thermal characteristics due to the video codec processor, multipoint control unit (MCU), night vision infra-red light emitting diodes (IR LEDs), one or more motors in the body of the camera, one or more sensors and their supporting electronics, and/or other electrical components, etc. This can generate a significant amount of heat and has to be dissipated to avoid the fixed view magnetic camera  100  from overheating and becoming non-functional (e.g., by the camera entering a safety mode to avoid overheating, or by one or more components of the camera failing due to the overheating). 
         [0021]      FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the fixed view magnetic camera  100 . The exploded view shows the different components of the fixed view magnetic camera  100 , such as the magnetic base  130  and the spherical main camera unit  110 . In order to maintain the small size and resulting close proximity of the different components within the spherical main camera unit  110 , heat may be adequately removed from the spherical main camera unit  110  without any ventilation holes. Hence, the fixed view magnetic camera  100  may include a thermally conductive metal strip that plays a significant role in heat dissipation from the different components of the spherical main camera unit  110 , and primarily from the codec processor. The codec processor encodes a data stream or signal for transmission, storage or encryption, or decodes it for playback or editing. Codecs can be used in videoconferencing, streaming media and video editing applications. The fixed view magnetic camera  100  can also include an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) that can convert analog signals into digital signals, which are then passed through a video compressor for digital transmission or storage. Such processing of signals is computationally very intensive and leads to significant heat generation by the codec processor and/or ADC. Hence, the fixed view magnetic camera  100  includes a heat sink (e.g., heat sink  154  as shown in  FIG. 3 ) that can be comprised of, for example, a thermally conductive metal strip  152  that is in contact with the different components housed within lens housing  115  where a main circuit board of the camera may be located (e.g., circuit board  165  shown in  FIG. 3 ). Such a circuit board may feature components associated with one or more camera devices  160  (such as, for example, the codec processor), image sensors, or other sensors, and may therefore generate considerable heat under operation. The metal band  152  may enable dissipation of this heat. For example, the metal band  152  may dissipate heat by being directly connected to the high heat generating components on the main circuit board, thereby serving as a heat sink. 
         [0022]    The spherical main camera unit  110  includes the metal shells  150 , the lens housing  115 , the camera device and accompanying circuitry  160 , and the metal band or ring  152  that is in contact with the heat sink  154  (the heat sink  154  is in contact with the codec processor (or the codec chip)). Referring to  FIG. 2B  and  FIG. 3 , the fixed view magnetic camera  100  includes a heat sink  154  that is composed of a thermally conductive metal strip and plays a significant role in heat dissipation from the different components of the spherical main camera unit  110 , and primarily from the codec processor. The thermally conductive metal strip of the heat sink  154  is connected to an external metal band (e.g. metal band  152  as shown in  FIG. 3 ) that is located around the circumference of the spherical main camera unit  110 . The metal shells  150 , however, does not go completely around the circumference of the spherical main camera unit due to the wireless signal interference problems described above. Instead, the metal shells  150  stop approximately 60° from the zenith  142  on either side of the spherical main camera unit  110 , thus providing a 120° non-metallic zone  116  (metal free area) so as not to interfere with the wireless antenna performance. The portion of the spherical main camera unit  110  in the non-metallic zone  116  (metal free area) can include a band made of plastic and is placed and designed to maintain a consistent appearance to the metallic zone  117  of the spherical main camera unit  110 . Such a design can also incorporate a substantially invisible air gap around the metal/plastic band to provide for convective cooling. 
         [0023]      FIGS. 4A-4B  are images that show the fixed view magnetic camera  100  assembled without outer cosmetic plastics. In  FIG. 4A , the fixed view magnetic camera  100  is shown without the metal shells (e.g., metal shells  150  as shown in  FIG. 3 ). In  FIG. 4B , the fixed view magnetic camera  100  is shown with the metal shells (e.g., metal shells  150  as shown in  FIG. 3 ). The opening in the metal shells  150  that creates the non-metallic zone  116  (metal free area) allows for the placement and orientation of a wireless antennae to allow for wireless communication of the fixed view magnetic camera  100  with external user devices. The non-metallic region  116  shown in  FIG. 4B  corresponds to the cross-sectional diagram of the non-metallic zone  116  (metal free area) shown and discussed in relation to  FIG. 2B . 
         [0024]    The fixed view magnetic camera  100  may be configured for mounting to any number of surfaces, such as a wall, ceiling, roof, window sill, or other surface. Generally, the fixed view magnetic camera  100  may be mounted such that the magnetic base  130  is fixed to the surface, with the spherical main camera unit  110  generally being capable of mounting in any orientation. Mounting orientations of the spherical main camera unit  110  may be such that the magnetic base  130  is mounted to a surface parallel to the horizontal, for example, a ceiling or floor. The camera may also be mounted to other surfaces that are vertical, such as a wall, or at an angle, such as on a slanted roof. In some instances, mounting of the fixed view magnetic camera  100  can utilize a mounting bracket. Mounting of the fixed view magnetic camera  100  can utilize a method similar to a drywall anchor, a wood screw, a concrete anchor, or other types of anchors. In some implementations, mounting of the fixed view magnetic camera  100  can utilize a unique type of mounting screw to enable the installation and subsequent removal of the camera. 
         [0025]    The described device and techniques may be implemented in any material and using any process capable of forming the described structures and of performing the described actions. The described systems, methods, and techniques may be implemented in digital electronic circuitry, computer hardware, firmware, software, or in combinations of these elements. Apparatus implementing these techniques can include appropriate input and output devices, a computer processor, and a computer program product tangibly embodied in a machine-readable storage device for execution by a programmable processor. A process implementing these techniques can be performed by a programmable processor executing a program of instructions to perform desired functions by operating on input data and generating appropriate output. The techniques can be implemented in one or more computer programs that are executable on a programmable system including at least one programmable processor coupled to receive data and instructions from, and to transmit data and instructions to, a data storage system, at least one input device, and at least one output device. Each computer program can be implemented in a high-level procedural or object-oriented programming language, or in assembly or machine language if desired; and in any case, the language can be a compiled or interpreted language. Suitable processors include, by way of example, both general and special purpose microprocessors. Generally, a processor will receive instructions and data from a read-only memory and/or a random access memory. Storage devices suitable for tangibly embodying computer program instructions and data include all forms of nonvolatile memory, including by way of example semiconductor memory devices, such as Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EPROM), Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EEPROM), and flash memory devices; magnetic disks such as internal hard disks and removable disks; magneto-optical disks; and Compact Disc Read-Only Memory (CD-ROM). Any of the foregoing can be supplemented by, or incorporated in, specially designed application specific integrated circuits (ASICs). 
         [0026]    It will be understood that various modifications can be made. For example, other useful implementations could be achieved if steps of the disclosed techniques were performed in a different order and/or if components in the disclosed systems were combined in a different manner and/or replaced or supplemented by other components. Accordingly, other implementations are within the scope of the disclosure.