Patent Abstract:
A security camera with an adjustable lens aiming mechanism comprises a dome base, an eyeball camera, a dome cover, and a fastener for fastening the dome cover to the dome base. The dome base comprises a camera seat. The eyeball camera comprises a lens and is movably seated on the camera seat. The dome cover covers the eyeball camera and comprises a bottom opening for engaging the dome base, a circular contact ring with a diameter smaller than the camera diameter and defining an opening through which the lens and a portion of the camera protrudes; and a fastener removably fastening the dome cover to the dome base such that when fully fastened, the contact ring makes contact with the camera and applies a sufficient pressure to fix the camera in place on the seat, and when partially or completely unfastened, the pressure is reduced such that the camera is movable on the seat and the lens is movable within the contact ring.

Full Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present disclosure is directed at a security camera having an adjustable lens aiming mechanism. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    One application of security cameras is to conduct surreptitious surveillance. To conduct surveillance surreptitiously a security camera typically needs to remain hidden from the people on whom the surveillance is being conducted. Miniaturizing a camera is one way to help it remain hidden; the smaller the camera, the more locations in which the camera may be placed to conduct the surveillance and the harder it is for the camera to be discovered. A continued focus of the security industry is accordingly miniaturizing security cameras in a manner that is not detrimental to ease of use or installation. 
         [0003]    A challenge with miniaturizing security cameras is to maintain the functionality found in larger cameras. For example, adjusting the direction of a lens in the camera is a feature commonly found in security cameras but which presents an engineering challenge in miniaturized cameras. 
         [0004]    A challenge to both miniaturized and larger security cameras is adjusting the direction of a lens in the camera when the camera is mounted in a difficult to access location. Conventional cameras typically require a person to carry out several steps and require careful manipulation in order to adjust the direction of the lens; such adjustments can be easily performed when the camera is readily accessible, but can be much more difficult to perform when the camera is mounted in a difficult to access location. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a security camera apparatus comprising a base with a camera seat, an eyeball camera having a lens and being movably seated on the camera seat, a lens adjustment mechanism for adjusting the position of the camera lens relative to the base, and a fastener for removably fastening the lens adjustment mechanism to the base. The lens adjustment mechanism comprises a mount mountable to the base and a circular contact ring connected to the mount and having a diameter smaller than the camera diameter; this contact ring defines an opening through which the lens and a portion of the camera protrudes. The fastener removably fastens the lens adjustment mechanism to the dome base such that when fully fastened, the contact ring makes contact with the camera and applies a sufficient pressure to fix the camera in place on the seat, and when partially or completely unfastened, the pressure is reduced such that the camera is movable on the seat and the lens is movable within the contact ring. 
         [0006]    The lens aiming mechanism can further comprise a cover which partially or wholly covers the eyeball camera, in which case the mount is a bottom opening in the cover, the contact ring is located at a front part of the cover, and the fastener is connected to the cover. The cover can comprise a lens opening and a communications port that are both sealed to impede water from entering into the camera. The cover can be a dome cover and the base can be a circular dome base. 
         [0007]    The protruding portion of the camera can comprise markings indicating an imaging plane of camera. More particularly, the markings can be notches or protrusions on a rimmed opening encircling the lens and the indicated imaging plane can be the horizontal plane. 
         [0008]    The protruding portion of the camera can comprise at least one finger grip. More particularly, the camera can comprise multiple finger grips including one finger grip on a protruding portion of the camera located above the lens to indicate the top of an image taken by the camera. 
         [0009]    The camera can contain electro-optics and comprise a communications port; the apparatus in this case further comprises a processing module containing processing circuitry and a communications cable coupling the processing module to the communications port on the camera, and the dome base can further comprises a cable opening for routing the cable into the dome base. Alternatively, the dome base can contain the processing circuitry and comprise a communications port; the apparatus in this case further comprises a communications cable coupled to the communications ports of the camera and the dome base. In either case, the seat can be located in a forward portion of the dome base and the camera and dome cover are sized such that a space is provided inside the dome cover to receive a sufficient length of communications cable to allow the camera to be rotated about a defined range on the seat. Alternatively, the camera itself can contain the electro-optics and processing circuitry. 
         [0010]    According to another aspect, there is provided a method for adjusting a camera lens position on above-reference security camera apparatus; the method comprises: partially or completely unfastening the fastener from the base such that the camera is movable on the seat and the lens is moveable within the contact ring; moving the lens to a desired position; and fully fastening the fastener to the base such that the lens adjustment mechanism applies sufficient pressure to fix the camera in place on the seat. The protruding portion of the camera can comprise markings indicating an imaging plane of camera, in which case the method further comprises moving the camera such that the markings are aligned with an imaging plane of interest. More particularly, the markings can be notches or protrusions on a rimmed opening encircling the lens and the indicated imaging plane is a horizontal plane, in which case the method further comprises moving the camera such that the indicated imaging plane is horizontally aligned with an external reference point. The protruding portion of the camera can further comprise at least one finger grip in which case the method comprises moving the lens by gripping the at least one finger grip. More particularly, the camera can comprise multiple finger grips including one finger grip on a protruding portion of the camera located above the lens to indicate the top of an image taken by the camera, in which case the method comprises moving the lens by gripping at least one of the finger grips such that the ginger grip located above the lens is vertically aligned with an external reference point. 
         [0011]    This summary does not necessarily describe the entire scope of all aspects. Other aspects, features and advantages will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon review of the following description of specific embodiments. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate one or more exemplary embodiments: 
           [0013]      FIGS. 1(   a ) to ( g ) are perspective, front elevation, rear elevation, right side elevation, left side elevation, top plan, and bottom plan views, respectively, of a security camera apparatus having an aiming mechanism for adjusting the aim of an eyeball camera in the apparatus, according to a first embodiment. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a security camera apparatus having an aiming mechanism for adjusting the aim of an eyeball camera in the apparatus, according to a second embodiment. 
           [0015]      FIGS. 3(   a ) and ( b ) are respective front and rear perspective views of a dome base of the apparatus for use in both the first and second embodiments. 
           [0016]      FIGS. 4(   a ) to ( d ) are perspective, front elevation, left side elevation and top plan views of an eyeball camera of the apparatus for use in both the first and second embodiments. 
           [0017]      FIGS. 5(   a ) and ( b ) are respective upper and lower perspective views of a dome cover of the apparatus for use in both the first and second embodiments. 
           [0018]      FIGS. 6(   a ) and ( b ) are front elevation and left side elevation views of the eyeball camera seated in the dome base for use in both the first and second embodiments, and  FIG. 6(   c ) is a side elevation view of the eyeball camera seated in the dome base with part of camera housing removed. 
           [0019]      FIGS. 7(   a )-( f ) are top plan and left side elevation views of the apparatus being manipulated to adjust the aim of the eyeball camera relative to the dome base, wherein  FIGS. 7(   a ) and ( b ) show the dome cover in a loosened position,  FIGS. 7(   c ) and ( d ) show the eyeball camera moved to a desired position and the dome cover in a partially tightened position, and 
           [0020]      FIGS. 7(   e ) and ( f ) show the dome cover in a fully tightened position and the eyeball camera fixed in place in the desired position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0021]    Directional terms such as “top,” “bottom,” “upwards,” “downwards,” “vertically,” and “laterally” are used in the following description for the purpose of providing relative reference only, and are not intended to suggest any limitations on how any article is to be positioned during use, or to be mounted in an assembly or relative to an environment. 
         [0022]    Embodiments described herein and shown in the Figures relate to a security camera apparatus having an eyeball camera, a dome base on which the camera is seated, and a dome cover covering the eyeball camera and having an contact ring defining an opening through which a lens of the eyeball camera protrudes. The apparatus comprises an aiming mechanism which allows the aiming direction of the eyeball camera to be adjusted relative to the dome base and cover. More particularly, the dome base comprises a seat capable of seating the eyeball camera in multiple orientations, and the contact ring is sized and positioned to contact the eyeball camera and apply sufficient pressure onto the camera to fix it in place when a fastener fastening the dome cover to the base is fully tightened. The aiming direction of the eyeball camera can be changed by partially unfastening the fastener to loosen the dome cover relative to the dome base such that the eyeball camera is rotatable relative to the seat. Once the eyeball camera has been moved into a new position, the fastener is tightened until the eyeball camera is generally secured in place (relative to the dome cover and base). Such an aiming mechanism provides a relatively simple and effective way of adjusting the aiming direction of the eyeball camera, and is expected to be particularly advantageous when the apparatus is very small and/or is in a location that is difficult to access. 
         [0023]      FIG. 1  illustrates a first embodiment of a security camera apparatus  100  wherein electro-optics and imaging processing circuitry are separated, with the electro-optics housed in a camera head and the processing circuitry housed in a separate processing module and connected to the camera head by a communications cable.  FIG. 2  illustrates a second embodiment of a security camera  200  wherein the electro-optics and imaging processing circuitry are integrated into single unit. As will be discussed below and as shown in  FIGS. 3 to 7 , both embodiments  100 ,  200  include an aiming mechanism that enables the aim of an eyeball camera to be adjusted relative to the rest of the camera apparatus. 
         [0024]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1(   a )-( g ), there are shown perspective, front elevation, rear elevation, right side elevation, left side elevation, top plan, and bottom plan views, respectively, of the first embodiment of the security camera  100 . This camera  100  has a camera head  104  and a cable assembly  102 . The cable assembly  102  includes a processing module  103  and a communications cable  106  that connects the processing module  103  and the camera head  104 . The security camera  100  depicted herein comprises an eyeball camera  110  that is mounted within a dome housing (commonly referred to as a “dome camera”); however, the camera  100  can comprise an eyeball camera  110  mounted in other types of housings. 
         [0025]    The dome housing comprises a dome base  124  and a dome cover  108  attached to the top of the dome base  124 . A front opening in the dome cover  108  allows the eyeball camera  110 , which rests on the base  124 , to partially protrude out the front of the dome cover  108 . At the front of the eyeball camera  110  is the camera&#39;s lens  112 . The lens  112  focuses light on to an image sensor  126  mounted within the eyeball camera  110 . A micro-coaxial communications cable  106  connects the eyeball camera  110  to the processing module  103 , which processes the video signal that the image sensor  126  outputs. 
         [0026]    In  FIGS. 1(   a )-( g ) only the exterior of the processing module  103  is visible. The top, bottom, left, and right sides of the processing module  103  are defined by a module housing  114 , while front and rear end plates  115  cap the ends of the processing module  103 . The micro-coaxial communications cable  106  is connected to the processing module  103 &#39;s rear end plate  115 . A waterproof grommet  122  circumscribes the end of the micro-coaxial cable  106  that terminates at the processing module  103  and is screwed into the rear end plate  115  to ensure a water tight seal. The processing module  103 &#39;s front end plate  115  has a network jack such as an RJ45 (Ethernet) jack  118  to receive a plug, such as an RJ45 plug, that connects the camera  100  to the IP network. Power over Ethernet (PoE) technology may be to also power the camera  100  via the RJ45 jack. A pair of LEDs  120  indicating connection and link status and a memory card slot  116  are also present on the front end plate  115 . 
         [0027]    The processing module  103  includes a system on a chip (SoC) that comprises a processor, an image signal processor (ISP), a Media Access Controller (MAC), and an I 2 C interface (all not shown). The I 2 C interface is used to control camera parameters such as gain, exposure, and frame rate. The SoC comprises part of the camera  100 &#39;s image processing circuitry, which comprises part of and is laid out on an image processing printed circuit board (PCB) (not shown). In addition to the SoC, on the image processing PCB are a physical layer integrated circuit (PHY) that is communicative with the MAC; flash memory, which is an exemplary non-transitory computer readable medium that is non-volatile and that stores statements and instructions to cause the SoC to perform tasks such as image processing; and RAM, which is another exemplary non-transitory computer readable medium, but which is volatile and which the SoC uses to temporarily store information and for working space while performing tasks. Also located within the processing module  103  is power circuitry (not shown), which comprises part of and is laid out on a power PCB (not shown). On the power PCB is the RJ45 jack; Ethernet magnetics, which are communicative with the RJ45 jack and the PHY; and a DC to DC converter, electrically coupled to the Ethernet magnetics, that output a 3.3 V signal to power the image processing circuitry and the camera head  104 . The camera  100  is powered using PoE technology, although in alternative embodiments (not depicted) the camera  100  may be powered using, for example, an AC adapter or with batteries. 
         [0028]    While the SoC is used in the foregoing embodiments, in alternative embodiments (not depicted) the SoC may instead be, for example, a microprocessor, microcontroller, programmable logic controller, field programmable gate array, or an application-specific integrated circuit. Examples of computer readable media are non-transitory and include disc-based media such as CD-ROMs and DVDs, magnetic media such as hard drives and other forms of magnetic disk storage, and semiconductor based media such as flash media, random access memory, and read only memory. 
         [0029]    Referring now to  FIGS. 3(   a ) and  3 ( b ) the dome base  124  comprises a generally circular floor  126  and a generally cylindrical wall  128  that extends upwards from the floor  126 , with a shallow cutout  130  at the front to receive the bottom part of the dome cover  108 . The rim of the wall  128  features an annular ridge that engages with a corresponding annular ridge in the dome cover  108  thereby precisely locating the dome cover  108  on the dome base  124 . A concave seat  132  is located near the front of the dome base  124  and has a curvature generally corresponding to the curvature of the eyeball camera  110 ; because of the generally spherical nature of the eyeball camera  110 , the camera  110  can be seated on this seat  132  at multiple different orientations. The dome base  124  is further provided with a threaded screw hole  134  at the back and a tab hole  136  at the front; the dome cover  108  is secured to the dome base  124  by a locking tab on the cover  108  which engages the tab hole  136 , and by a screw  138  which engages the threaded screw hole  134 . Also, the dome base  124  is provided with a rear opening (not shown) through which the communications cable  106  extends into the dome base  124  and a bracket  139  which guides the cable  106  upwards into the rear portion of the dome base  124 . 
         [0030]    Referring now to  FIGS. 4(   a ) to  4 ( d ) and  FIGS. 6(   b ) and  6 ( c ), the eyeball camera  110  has a generally spherical shell comprised of a generally hemispherical front shell portion  140  and a generally hemispherical rear shell portion  142 . The front shell portion comprises a rimmed circular lens opening  144  through which the lens  112  protrudes, as well as five dimples serving as finger grips  148  that allow a user to grasp and manipulate the eyeball camera  110 . The rear shell portion comprises insets  141  for receiving screws (not shown) that connect to screw holes  143  securing the front and back shell portions together, and a communications port  150 . The communications port  150  allows the communications cable  106  to connect to and communicate with electronics inside the eyeball camera  110 . The communications port  150  is located on the upper part of the rear shell portion  140  to allow the cable  106  to be routed inside the dome cover  108  without interfering with movement of the eyeball camera  110 . The front and rear shell portions  140 ,  142  connect to form a weather seal (e.g. with an o-ring) that impedes the entry of liquid, and the lens opening and communications port  150  are similarly sealed such that the electronics inside the eyeball camera  110  are protected and “weatherproofed”. 
         [0031]    Inside the eyeball camera  110  is a lens mount that is connected to an image sensor (both not shown). The communications cable  106  is electrically coupled to the image sensor via a connector, such as an I-PEX 20373-series connector, which is also used to couple the micro-coaxial cable  106  to the processing module  103  in the first embodiment (and to processing circuitry in the dome base  124  in the second embodiment). The image sensor, such as an Aptina™ AR0330 sensor, outputs a high-speed serial data stream along the micro-coaxial cable  106  using a data protocol such as the MIPI™ protocol. The micro-coaxial cable  106  is jacketed with thermoplastic polyurethane and includes fourteen conductors to facilitate high-speed serial communication. In alternative embodiments (not depicted), the micro-coaxial cable  106  may be manufactured using a different number of conductors or a different jacket material so long as communication between the processing module  103  and camera head  104  can be performed sufficiently quickly to transfer the video signal that the image sensor  126  outputs. 
         [0032]    A pair of notches  146  are located on the rimmed opening  144  and provide an indication of the horizontal orientation of the eyeball camera; instead of notches, other markings can be provided such as protrusions, and instead of an indicated horizontal plane, notches or other markings can be provided to indicate any plane of the camera  110 . Further, the five finger grips  148  are arranged equidistant around the front cover portion and such that one finger grip  148  is located directly above the lens  112  (“top finger grip”) and provides an indicator of the top of the eyeball camera  110 . These notches  146  and the top finger grip  148  are intended to provide the user with a relatively easy way to determine the orientation of the eyeball camera  110  when adjusting its aim. 
         [0033]    Referring now to  FIGS. 5(   a ) and  5 ( b ), the dome cover  108  has a generally spherically curved shell, with a circular bottom opening  152  that is configured to mount to the rim of the dome base wall  128 , and a circular contact ring  154  defining a front opening having a diameter that is less than the eyeball camera diameter thus allowing the eyeball camera  110  to only partially protrude there-through. The bottom of the contact ring  154  protrudes slightly below the plane of the bottom opening  152  and the protruding portion is configured to seat within the curved cutout  130  in the wall  128  of the dome base  124 . A locking tab  156  protrudes downwardly from the bottom of the contact ring  154  and is configured to engage the tab opening  136  of the dome base  124 . A screw hole  158  is provided at the back of the shell  151  and is configured to receive the screw  138  and align with the screw hole  134  in the dome base  124  when the locking tab  156  engages the tab opening  136 . 
         [0034]    The diameter of the contact ring  154  and its position on the dome cover  108  are selected such that an upper part of the contact ring  154  contacts the eyeball camera  110  when the dome cover  108  is mounted on the dome base  124  and is secured by the tab  156  and screw  138  and when the eyeball camera  110  is seated in the concave seat  132 . The contact by the contact ring  154  exerts enough pressure on the eyeball camera  110  that it is fixed in place relatively securely inside the apparatus  100 . As can be seen in  FIGS. 6(   a ) and  6 ( b ), the eyeball camera  110  when seated on the dome base  124  can be slideably rotated into different orientations, such that the lens  112  can be aimed in multiple different directions relative to the dome base  124 . In this embodiment, the lens can be rotated within a range of about 86°; however, this rotational range can be changed by changing the dimensions of the eyeball camera  110  relative to the contact ring  154  and seat  132 . Once a suitable orientation is selected, the dome cover  108  is mounted onto the dome base  124  and the eyeball camera  110  partially protrudes through the contact ring  154  until contact is made; when the dome cover  108  is secured in place via the tab  156  and screw  138 , the eyeball camera  110  is also secured in place. In this sense, the cooperation of the contact ring  154  and the dome cover  108  with the concave seat  132  and the dome base  124  serves as an adjustable aiming mechanism for the eyeball camera  110 . This aiming mechanism is external to the eyeball camera  110 , i.e. the eyeball camera shell  140 ,  142  does not need to be breached to accommodate an aiming mechanism. This allows the eyeball camera  110  to maintain a weather seal to impede liquid from entering inside the camera, thus avoiding the expense and complication of engineering the dome cover  108  and dome base  124  to provide such a seal. 
         [0035]    As can be seen in  FIG. 6(   b ), the eyeball camera  110  is seated forward of the center of the dome floor  126  in order to provide enough room to accommodate a portion of the communications cable  106  inside the dome cover  108 ; this portion is long enough to provide enough slack in the communications cable  106  to allow the eyeball camera to rotate within the concave seat  132 . 
         [0036]    Referring now to  FIGS. 7(   a ) to  7 ( f ), the position (aiming) of the eyeball camera  110  relative to the rest of the apparatus  100  can be easily adjusted by a person. As can be seen in  FIGS. 7(   a ) and  7 ( b ), the dome cover  108  is loosened from the dome base  124  by partially unscrewing the screw  138 . This will cause the rear of the dome cover to separate from the rim of the dome base  124  (the front of the dome cover  108  is still secured in place by the locking tab  154  engaged with the tab opening  136 ). The dome cover  108  is loosened enough that the eyeball camera  110  can be rotated relative to the rest of the apparatus  100  by the person grasping the dimples  148 . As can be seen in  FIGS. 7(   c ) and  7 ( d ), the person moves the eyeball camera  110  into a desired position, then screws the screw  138  to tighten the dome cover  108  against the dome base  124 . As can be seen in  FIGS. 7(   e ) and  7 ( f ), the screw is tightened until the dome cover  108  is fully seated on the dome base rim, and sufficient pressure is applied to the eyeball camera  100  that is fixed securely in place. Thus, the dome cover serves as an easily adjustable lens aiming mechanism for the eyeball camera  110 . 
         [0037]    As previously noted, the processing circuitry and electro-optics of a security camera apparatus can be located together inside a single unit instead of in a separate module  103  and camera head  104 . Such an integrated camera apparatus  200  is shown in  FIG. 2 . In this second embodiment, the processing circuitry is located in the dome base  224 . A communications cable (not shown) is coupled to the electro optics via the communications port on the camera  110  and to the electronics in the dome base  124  via a communications port on the dome base (not shown); this cable can be the same coaxial cable  106  used in the first embodiment, or a different cable. Except for the dome base being configured to receive the processing circuitry, the design of the integrated camera apparatus  200  is essentially the same as the camera head  104  of the first embodiment. In particular, the design of the concave seat (not shown), dome cover  208 , eyeball camera  220  with dimples  248 , and contact ring  244  are the same as the counterpart components in the first embodiment. It thus follows that the means for securing the eyeball camera  220  in place relative to the rest of the camera apparatus  200 , and the method of adjusting the aim of the eyeball camera  200  is also the same as in the first embodiment. 
         [0038]    In another embodiment (not shown), both the electro-optics and processing circuitry is housed in the camera  110  in which case there is no need for a separate communications cable. 
         [0039]    In yet another embodiment (not shown), the security camera  100  features a housing having a cover and/or base with a different shape than a dome. The housing still comprises the circular contact ring  154  having a diameter that is less than that the diameter of the eyeball camera  110  and which allows the housing to serve as an adjustable lens aiming mechanism for the eyeball camera  110 . The housing can partially or fully enclose the eyeball camera  110 . The housing also has a bottom opening through allows the eyeball camera  110  to be seated on the base; this bottom opening can be circular like the embodiments shown in the Figures, or be another shape. 
         [0040]    In yet another embodiment (not shown), the security camera  100  features an adjustable lens aiming mechanism (not shown) that does not enclose the eyeball camera  110 , but still features the circular contact ring  154  having a diameter that is less than the diameter of the eyeball camera  110 . The lens aiming mechanism further comprises a mount for attaching the contact ring to the base; this mount can be a ring that has an opening large enough for the eyeball camera  110  to be seated on the base. 
         [0041]    It is contemplated that any part of any aspect or embodiment discussed in this specification can be implemented or combined with any part of any other aspect or embodiment discussed in this specification. 
         [0042]    While particular embodiments have been described in the foregoing, it is to be understood that other embodiments are possible and are intended to be included herein. It will be clear to any person skilled in the art that modifications of and adjustments to the foregoing embodiments, not shown, are possible.

Technology Classification (CPC): 7