Patent Abstract:
A game scouting camera including a processing system having an operating system and a memory device and a user interface operably connected to the processing system that has (a) a visual display, (b) at least one operation key for inputting user commands, and (c) a multiple-stage manual switch movable to multiple alignment positions to control multiple camera functions during a camera setup procedure.

Full Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of provisional application Ser. No. 61/221,963 filed on Jun. 30, 2009. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The invention relates to game animal scouting cameras and, more particularly, to user interfaces and corresponding methods of programming that are incorporated into game animal scouting cameras. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Game animal observation for recreation and/or for scouting in association with hunting activities is growing increasingly popular. Game animal observation or scouting activities can include implementation of scouting cameras for taking photographs, video footage, or other recordings. Use of scouting cameras for game animal observation or scouting is generally known. 
         [0004]    Scouting cameras for scouting potential hunting areas and determining game patterns, particularly without disturbing animal activity, are generally well known in the art. Typically, the apparatus includes a film, digital or video camera and a passive infrared sensor (e.g., a motion/heat sensor) that is adapted to sense movement and, in response, activate the camera focused on the area in which the sensor detects movement. Oftentimes, these devices include a delay timer with multiple settings to match specific conditions or locations, thus eliminating unwanted multiple exposures or other non-desired events. Moreover, such apparatus preferably includes high/low sensitivity settings to allow adjustment of the camera&#39;s effective range in order to photograph or record game at a desired distance. 
         [0005]    Known scouting cameras are set up or programmed by the user, typically, using relatively complex user interfaces and/or complex procedures. Many such scouting camera user interfaces include keypads that have five or more keys which are used to navigate through menus shown on a display and then set or define various operational parameters or values. With numerous menus to navigate through and numerous parameters or values to define, setting up and programming known scouting cameras can be confusing and can take a substantial amount of time. Setting up and programming some known scouting cameras is so complex that users take their operator&#39;s or instruction manuals with them to the field to use as references to guide them through such procedures. If such users are, for whatever reason, without their manuals, then they may experience great difficulty in setting up or programming their scouting cameras. 
       OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    It is the object of the present invention to provide a scouting camera user interface which addresses these shortcomings by overcoming the aforesaid problems of the prior art. It is an object of the present invention to provide a scouting camera user interface which is easy to use, compared to known scouting cameras, even in the field. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a scouting camera user interface which requires relatively few manipulations to program, activate, and control a scouting camera. Another object of the innovative scouting camera user interface is to enable a scouting camera to be fully programmable for numerous functions without requiring extensive keypad manipulation or manipulating numerous DIP (dual in-line package) switches. Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a scouting camera user interface with a multiple-stage switch, e.g., a rotary switch, and one or more operation keys. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The present invention is a scouting camera which includes (i) a processing system having an operating system and a memory device and (ii) a user interface operably connected to the processing system and including: a visual display; at least one operation key for inputting user commands; and a multiple-stage manual switch that is moved to multiple alignment positions to control multiple camera functions during a camera setup procedure. 
         [0008]    In some preferred embodiments of the innovative scouting camera, the multiple-stage manual switch defines a first range controlling a first category of camera functions and a second range controlling a second, different category of camera functions. In some such embodiments, the at least one operation key is used in combination with the multiple-stage manual switch to define a value that corresponds to a setting within one of the first and second categories of camera functions. 
         [0009]    In some preferred embodiments, the multiple-stage manual switch alone is used to define a value that corresponds to a setting within the other one of the first and second categories of camera functions. 
         [0010]    In other preferred embodiments, the first category of camera functions includes at least one of time and date settings, and the second category of camera functions includes picture-taking frequency settings. In some of these embodiments, the multiple-stage manual switch further defines a switch position corresponding to at least one of a test mode and a power-off setting. 
         [0011]    In additional preferred embodiments of the innovative scouting camera, the at least one operation key includes a first operation key and a second operation key and the multiple-stage manual switch defines (a) a time position for setting a time value, (b) a date position for setting month and day values, and (c) a year position for setting a year value, at least one position of which is displayable on the visual display. 
         [0012]    In other preferred embodiments, when the multiple-stage manual switch is located at the time position, the first operation key manipulates an hour value and the second operation key manipulates a minute value. In other such embodiments, when the multiple-stage manual switch is located at the date position, the first operation key manipulates a month value and the second operation key manipulates a day value. And yet other such embodiments, when the multiple-stage manual switch is located at the year position, manipulating the first operation key increases a year value displayed on the visual display and manipulating the second operation key decreases a year value. 
         [0013]    In highly-preferred embodiments of the innovative scouting camera, the manual switch is a rotary switch. 
         [0014]    The present invention also includes a method of operating a scouting camera, and such method includes performing an initial setup of the scouting camera by (a) determining a setting to define a value therefor, (b) aligning a multiple-stage rotary switch to a position that corresponds to the setting, (c) manipulating an operation key to define the value; and (d) activating the scouting camera. In some preferred embodiments of the innovative method, the scouting camera is automatically activated after performing the initial setup. Other preferred embodiments of the operation of a scouting camera further include determining a second setting to define a second value therefor and defining the second value by aligning the multiple-stage rotary switch to a position that corresponds to a desired value. In some such preferred embodiments, the second value is defined without manipulating the operation key. 
         [0015]    Other preferred embodiments of the innovative method of operating a scouting camera comprise (a) rotating a multiple-stage rotary switch from a position corresponding to a power-off setting to a position within a first rotational range for controlling a first category of camera functions; (b) defining a first setting value within the first category of camera functions by manipulating an operation key; and (c) defining a second setting value within a second category of camera functions by rotating the multiple-stage rotary switch to a position within a second rotational range. In some of these preferred embodiments, the first category of camera functions includes time and date settings and the second category of camera functions includes picture-taking frequency settings. Other such embodiments further include (i) moving the multiple-stage rotary switch to a first discrete position within the first rotational range; (ii) manipulating the operation key to set a first time and/or date value; (iii) moving the multiple-stage rotary switch to a second discrete position within the first rotational range; (iv) manipulating the operation key to set a second time and/or date value; and (v) moving the multiple-stage rotary switch to a discrete position within the second rotational range to set a picture-taking frequency value. 
         [0016]    In yet other preferred embodiments of the innovative method for operating a scouting camera, setting the picture-taking frequency value is performed without manipulating the operation key. 
         [0017]    In additional embodiments of the innovative method, the scouting camera includes first and second operation keys and the multiple-stage rotary switch defining (a) a time position for setting a time value, (b) a date position for setting month and day values, and (c) a year position for setting a year value, at least one position of which is displayable on the visual display. In some of these preferred embodiments, the method further includes moving the multiple-stage rotary switch to a time position, manipulating the first operation key to set an hour value, and manipulating the second operation key to set a minute value. In other of these preferred embodiments, the method includes moving the multiple-stage rotary switch to a date position, manipulating the first operation key to set a month value, and manipulating the second operation key to set a day value. And in yet other of these embodiments, the method includes moving the multiple-stage rotary switch to a year position, manipulating the first operation key to increase a year value, and manipulating the second operation key to decrease a year value. 
         [0018]    These and other aspects and objects of the present invention will be better appreciated and understood when considered in conjunction with the following description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the following description, while indicating preferred embodiments of the present invention, is given by way of illustration and not of limitation. Many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the present invention without departing from the spirit thereof, and the invention includes all such modifications. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0019]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a scouting camera. 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  is a front elevational view of a programming interface of the scouting camera of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  is a close-up front elevational view of the user interface of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  is a flowchart illustrating a method of using the programming interface of the preferred embodiments. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0023]    With initial reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a scouting camera  5  is shown. Scouting camera  5  includes a processing system  7  that includes various known system resources such as, for example, a memory device, a processor, and an operating system (not shown specifically but in general) communicating with each other and configured to perform the desired functions of scouting camera  5 . The scouting camera  5  further includes a main body  10  and a cover  30  that are joined together with a hinge  40  at a top portion of the main body  10 . At a bottom portion of the main body  10 , a lock assembly  50  is provided which includes a thumbscrew for temporarily holding the cover  30  against the main body  10  and a lock receptacle to receive a lock when securing the cover  30  against the main body  10 . 
         [0024]    Main body  10  is a box-like enclosure that has a back wall  11 , multiple sidewalls  12 ,  13  extending therefrom, and a front wall  15 . Front wall  15  holds an infrared illuminator  14 , a camera window  16 , and a sensor, such as a heat-in-motion sensor  18 , vertically aligned with each other and extending down the middle of the front wall  15 . Multiple LEDs (light emitting diodes)  20 ,  22  can be provided on the front wall  15  and can be configured to indicate feature or other statuses of scouting camera  5  or convey various other information to a user. A pair of battery bays  24 ,  26  are parallel to each other sitting adjacent the sidewalls  12 ,  13  and open into the main body  10  so that the back wall  11  serves as the back of the battery bays  24 ,  26  and the sidewalls  12 ,  13  define outer lateral walls of the battery bays  24 ,  26 . Each of the battery bays  24 ,  26  has a pair of flanges  25  that extend outwardly from the front wall and across part of the opening of the bays  24 ,  26  to capture and retain batteries therein. A memory card slot  28  communicates with the processing system  7  and is provided near one of the battery bays  24 ,  26 . 
         [0025]    Cover  30  flips open and closed by pivoting about a hinge pin of the hinge  40 , which is preferably configured to selectively hold the cover  30  in one or more open positions. The cover  30  has various openings that align with the IR illuminator  14 , camera window  16 , and heat-in-motion sensor  18  allowing such components to operate when the cover  30  is in the closed position, overlying the main body  10 . When the cover  30  is in an open position, a user interface  100  is readily accessible to a user. 
         [0026]    Referring now to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , user interface  100  is configured to perform numerous setup and programming functions by way of few user input devices and by using few steps. For example, the user interface  100  includes a visual display  110 , a multiple-stage manually operable switch, such as a rotary switch  120 , and a pair of operation keys “A” and “B”. (In  FIG. 3 , the labels “A” and “B” are associated with the two square keys located directly above such labels, respectively.) Visual display  110  can be an LCD (liquid crystal display) or other suitable known display device that communicates with the processing system  7  and conveys system status and/or other use-related information to the user. 
         [0027]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , multiple-stage rotary switch  120  has a base  122  and an arm  124  that visually indicates where the multiple-stage rotary switch  120  is pointing or what it is aligned with at any given time. Multiple stage rotary switch  120  is rotatable about an entire 360-degree range of circular movement. Within the full range of circular or rotational movement, the multiple-stage rotary switch  120  defines multiple rotational ranges that account for portions of the full rotational range. For example, a SET-range  130  defines a first rotational range for controlling a first category of camera functions, and an ARMED-range  140  defines a second rotational range for controlling a second category of camera functions. 
         [0028]    SET-range  130  provides a control mechanism for a clock or calendar feature, allowing processing system  7  to, for example, time and date stamp photos when they are taken. SET-range  130  includes three distinct positions, namely, Time position  132 , Date position  134 , and Year position  136 . ARMED-range  140  provides a control mechanism for picture-taking frequency, by controlling the scouting camera&#39;s five dwell times or periods of time that it waits or delays before taking another picture. ARMED-range  140  includes five distinct positions, namely, 30 s position  142 , 1 m position  143 , 5 m position  144 , 15 m position  145 , and 30 m position  146  which correspond to dwell times of thirty seconds, one minute, 5 minutes, fifteen minutes, and thirty minutes, respectively. The particular positions, number of positions, and types of camera functions that correspond to such positions are merely exemplary and non-limiting, noting that other camera functions can be controlled by way of multiple-stage rotary switch  120 , depending on the particular desired end-use configuration of scouting camera  5 . 
         [0029]    Still referring to  FIG. 3 , in addition to the SET-range  130  and ARMED-range  140 , multiple-stage rotary switch  120  can have other positions defined within its full rotational range. For example, Test position  150  and Off position  155  can be provided between the SET-range  130  and ARMED-range  140 , optionally elsewhere within the full rotational range of the multiple-stage rotary switch  120 . Operation keys “A” and “B” cooperate with the multiple-stage rotary switch  120  for controlling at least some of the functions of scouting camera  5  and/or inputting and defining various values; this portion of operation is described in greater detail elsewhere herein. 
         [0030]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1-3 , in light of the above, to use the scouting camera  5 , it is first mounted to a tree or other mounting substrate by way of a screw, strap, or other suitable hardware. Preferably, scouting camera  5  is mounted about three feet above the ground and about ten feet to fifteen feet, optionally up to about 50 feet, from a particular area where games animals are expected to be found. The multiple-stage rotary switch  120  is turned to the Off position  155 , and batteries are installed into the battery bays  24 ,  26 . Scouting camera  5  senses a charge or power value of the batteries and, if the batteries are low on power, then the same is conveyed to the user by, for example, showing a low-battery icon (not shown) on the visual display  110 . In some embodiments, after batteries are installed in scouting camera  5 , a series of numbers is shown on the visual display  110 , revealing product and software information such as hardware and software version numbers, and then the visual display  110  powers down and scouting camera  5  remains off. A memory card (not shown) is inserted into the memory card slot  28  of scouting camera  5 , and a setup procedure can begin by way of the user interface  100 . 
         [0031]    Referring again to  FIG. 3 , as part of the setup procedure, a preliminary test can be performed to check or confirm a detection zone of the scouting camera  5 . The multiple-stage rotary switch  120  is moved to the Test position  150 . Cover  30  is closed and then secured shut with the thumbscrew of the lock assembly  50 . The user walks back and forth in front of scouting camera  5 , and an LED  20  is illuminated, visible through an opening of the cover  30 , when the user is detected by the scouting camera  5 . 
         [0032]    Still referring to  FIG. 3 , the setup continues by using the SET-range  130  for setting various time and date values. Namely, multiple-stage rotary switch  120  is moved to the Time position  132 . When switch  120  is in the Time position  132 , pressing the “A” operation key manipulates or sets an hour value and pressing the “B” operation key manipulates or sets a minute value. Next, multiple-stage rotary switch  120  is moved to the Date position  134 . When switch  120  is in the Date position  134 , pressing the “A” operation key manipulates or sets a month value and pressing the “B” operation key manipulates or sets a day value. Multiple-stage rotary switch  120  is then moved to the Year position  136 . When switch  120  is in the Year position  136 , pressing the “A” operation key decreases the year value and pressing the “B” operation key increases the year value. 
         [0033]    Still referring to  FIG. 3 , the setup continues by using ARMED-range  140  for setting a picture-taking frequency or dwell time value for scouting camera  5 . This can be done without manipulating the operation keys “A” and “B”, but instead by only using the multiple-stage rotary switch  120 . The user decides which dwell time to implement and then moves multiple-stage rotary switch  120  to the corresponding one of the “30 s” position  142 , “1 m” position  143 , “5 m” position  144 , and “15 m” position  145 , and “30 m” position  146 . 
         [0034]    The dwell times can be selected based on the particular environment or habitat in which scouting camera  5  is installed and the type of animal activity that is expected at such location, in order to minimize a likelihood of taking multiple pictures of the same game animal(s). For example, 30 s position  142  establishes a relatively short dwell time of thirty seconds before the scouting camera  5  can take a subsequent picture after taking a first picture. A short dwell time of 30 seconds can be appropriate for a game animal trail location since an animal on such a trail is likely to quickly traverse it without loitering about 1 m position  143  establishes a somewhat longer dwell time of one minute, which can be appropriate for a game animal scrape location since, for example, a buck deer typically spends a relatively short amount of time making a scrape on the ground. The longer dwell times of five, fifteen, and thirty minutes of 5 m position  144 , 15 m position  145 , and 30 m position  146 , respectively, can be appropriate for food plot or feed station locations where the game animals will likely remain for a relatively longer period of time. 
         [0035]    After scouting camera  5  has been in use for a period of time, a user can check its picture status in the following way. Cover  30  is lifted open and the user can push either one of the operation keys “A” and “B” to temporarily suspend picture-taking function of the scouting camera  5 . When operation key “A” or “B” is released, the number of images that are stored on the memory card is shown on the visual display  110 . In some embodiments, pressing operation key “A” or “B” subsequent times will show the user yet other information on visual display  110 . Such other information includes, but is not limited to, available storage space on the memory card, time, date and year. In some embodiments, after conveying all such information to the user, pressing operation key “A” or “B” another time will put scouting camera  5  into test mode, as though multiple-stage rotary switch  120  was moved to the Test position  150 . Then after a period of inactivity, in other words, of not detecting anything in the test mode, scouting camera  5  automatically arms itself, returning it to picture-taking mode. Such period of inactivity is predetermined and can be, for example, two minutes, four minutes, five minutes, or some other time period. In some embodiments, after pressing operation key “A” or “B” a certain number of times, for example, four, five, or six times, optionally, two times in a rapid sequence, then scouting camera  5  again arms itself, returning to picture-taking mode. 
         [0036]    Turning to  FIG. 4 , a method  200  of programming a scouting camera using the above-described user interface is shown. Beginning with the switch of the user interface in Off position  155 , the user can first actuate the manually operable switch to a first position in Block  202  of  FIG. 4 , and possibly to multiple positions, to set the current year, date and time. Once set, switch  120  can be used to turn scouting camera  5  off, as described above, or to arm camera  5 . To arm scouting camera  5 , the user manipulates switch  120  to a second position to define a parameter associated with scouting camera  5  use in Block  204 . For instance, camera  5  can be armed for a range of “dwell” times. As described previously, the user may want to minimize the number of shots of the same animal and can do so by making sure that scouting camera  5  cannot re-arm itself for a period of time (the dwell time). For instance, if the user selects one minute, once a subject is identified and a picture is taken, another picture cannot be taken for another minute. In sum, once the year, date and time are set on the user&#39;s camera, the user simply needs to arm scouting camera  5  with a particular dwell time to place the camera into action. This simple one-step programming of scouting camera  5  with a manually-operable switch provides far superior ease-of-use over all known scouting cameras. 
         [0037]    While the principles of this invention have been described in connection with specific embodiments, it should be understood clearly that these descriptions are made only by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

Technology Classification (CPC): 7