Abstract:
A wireless communications system for transmitting and receiving images and audio information includes a receiver including a display for displaying received images and a speaker for producing audio signals, a processing unit for storing ID code signals for decoding the received images and audio signals and receives an RF signal containing images and audio information. The receiver is responsive to the ID code signal for extracting the received image and audio signals of the images and the audio information from the RF signal. An electronic camera has an image sensor for capturing one or more images of a scene and producing image signals, and receives audio signals to produce audio information signals. A second processing unit is provided for encoding and then superimposing the image and audio signals onto an RF carrier, and transmits the RF carrier and superimposed signals. First and second interconnects respectively included in the receiver and the electronic camera are adapted when interconnected to transfer the ID code signal from the camera to the receiver where it is stored, to thereby permit the electronic camera to communicate with the receiver.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Reference is made to commonly assigned U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/118,798 filed Feb. 5, 1999, entitled “Communicating In The Presence Of Periodic Microwave Noise” by Carlson et al; U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/120,613, filed Feb. 18, 1999, entitled “Dynamic Packet Sizing in an RF Communications System” by Allen et al; U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/120,621 filed Feb. 18, 1999, entitled “Dual Purpose Receiver” by Allen et al, and U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/122,235 filed Mar. 1, 1999, entitled “FSK Signal Detection in the Presence of Fading” by Grant B. Carlson, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to wireless communication systems which includes an electronic camera and a receiver. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Presently there are numerous electronic camera and receiver systems. For example, in security systems a designated camera typically takes motion pictures of a scene and produces video signals which are sent to a receiver. The receiver will either record the signals or display the signals or a combination thereof. In such systems the camera is typically in a dedicated position. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,179,446 to Hong, a system where video and audio signals are transferred from a video camera to a display unit. These signals are encoded and later decoded in the receiver. In this arrangement a decoding key is already provided in the receiver. This of course presents a possible security problem. 
     Thus there is a problem with prior art arrangements in that they often can be easily monitored by an unauthorized user. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide an electronic camera-receiver combination which prevents the unauthorized monitoring of RF signals. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a wireless communications system wherein a plurality of cameras can be enabled to operate with a receiver. 
     These objects are achieved by a wireless communications system for transmitting and receiving images and audio information, comprising: 
     a) a receiver including a display for displaying received images and a speaker for producing audio signals, a processing unit for storing ID code signals for decoding the received images and audio signals and means for receiving an RF signal containing images and audio information and means responsive to the ID code signal for extracting the received image and audio signals of the images and the audio information from the RF signal; 
     b) an electronic camera having an image sensor for capturing one or more images of a scene and producing image signals, and including means for receiving audio signals to produce audio information signals, a second processing unit for encoding and then superimposing the image and audio signals onto an RF carrier, and means for transmitting the RF carrier and superimposed signals; and 
     c) first and second interconnect means respectively included in the receiver and the electronic camera and being adapted when interconnected to transfer the ID code signal from the camera to the receiver where it is stored, to thereby permit the electronic camera to communicate with the receiver. 
     The advantage of the present invention is that a secure wireless communications system can be achieved without significant complexity. It is another advantage of the invention that a plurality of enabled cameras can be selectively monitored by a receiver. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 a  is a block diagram of a wireless system having a receiver and electronic camera; 
     FIG. 1 b  is a block diagram of a wireless system having a receiver and electronic camera that are electro-mechanically linked; 
     FIG. 1 c  is a block diagram of a wireless system having a receiver, electronic camera, and a sound and image storage module; 
     FIG. 1 d  is a block diagram of a wireless system having a receiver, electronic camera, and a sound and image storage module that are electro-mechanically linked; 
     FIG. 1 e  is a block diagram of a wireless system having a receiver, electronic camera, and a printer module; 
     FIG. 1 f  is a block diagram of a wireless system having a receiver, electronic camera, and a printer module that are electro-mechanically linked; 
     FIG. 2 is a schematic showing an electronic camera physically connected to a receiver to transfer the ID code from the camera to the receiver; 
     FIGS. 3 a  and  3   b  respectively show perspectives of the electrical/mechanical interconnects on the receiver and the electronic camera of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing that a single receiver can selectively be in communications with any one of a number of enabled electronic camera; 
     FIG. 5 a  shows a front view of an electronic camera, receiver, Image/sound recording and playback module, and the printer module, none of which are electrically/mechanically linked; 
     FIG. 5 b  shows a side view of an electronic camera which is transmitting to the linked receiver, image/sound recording and playback module, and printer module; 
     FIG. 5 c  shows a side view of an electronic camera, receiver, image/sound recording and playback module, and the printer module, all of which are electrically/mechanically linked; 
     FIG. 6 a  shows a front view of an electronic camera, receiver, and a communication cradle as individual components and linked components; and 
     FIG. 6 b  shows a side view of an electronic camera, receiver, and a communication cradle as individual components and linked components. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Turning now to FIG. 1 a , a block diagram of a wireless system is shown to have a transmitting electronic camera  10  and a receiving electronic viewer  90 . Light enters lens  20  and is focused on a “Camera on Chip” sensor  30  such as a CMOS sensor. The camera includes integrated electronics, and a microprocessor  40 . The sensor  30  converts the image information into digital data which is transferred to microprocessor  40 . Microphone  50  converts sound to electronic signals with are transferred to A/D converter  60 . The electronic signals are converted to digital data and transferred to microprocessor  40 . The sound and image data are encoded by microprocessor  40 . These data can be optionally encrypted by standard encryption techniques such as a RSA type transform. The encoded sound and image data is transferred to radio transmitter  70 , such as described in commonly-assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 60/118,798, and broadcast via antenna  80 . 
     Digital Radio Frequency (RF) signals  170  are received by antenna  100  of a receiver  90 . The RF data is converted to digital data by digital radio receiver  110 . The digital data is transferred to microprocessor  120  and converted to separate sound data and image data and deciphered. The digital sound data is transferred to D/A converter  150  and converted to electrical signals with are converted to sound by speaker  160 . The digital image data is transferred to display driver  130  and converted to images which are viewable on display  140 . As will be subsequently discussed, a ID code which has been received by the receiver  90  by the electronic camera  10  is used to decode the image data and audio signals. Menu and function selections are made via keypad  260  on receiver  90 . Electro-mechanical connectors  180  and  270  allow the transmitting electronic camera  10  and receiver  90  to be physically and electronically linked. 
     FIG. 1 b , a block diagram of a wireless system is shown to have a transmitting electronic camera  10  and a receiver  90  that are physically and electronically linked  200 , by electro-mechanical connectors  180  and  270 . In this “linked mode” the RF signal is terminated and the transmitter microprocessor  40  and receiver microprocessor  120  are enabled for two way direct communications. This allows for wired operation and other applications which will be made clear later in the detailed description. 
     FIG. 1 c , a block diagram of a wireless system is shown to have a transmitting electronic camera  10 . In addition, receiving electronic viewer  90  and image/sound recording and playback module  320  are physically and electronically linked  360 , by electro mechanical junction  330  and connector  270 . In this “linked mode” the receiver microprocessor  120  and the image/sound recording and playback microprocessor  340  are enabled for two way direct communications. Random access memory  350  is available to store images and sound captured by transmitting electronic camera  10  and received by receiver  90  via RF signal  170 . Images and sounds from transmitting electronic camera  10  are stored in random access memory  350  and can be selected using keypad  260  and viewed and heard on display  140  and speaker  160 . 
     FIG. 1 d , a block diagram of a wireless system is shown to have a transmitting electronic camera  10 , receiving electronic viewer  90 , and image/sound recording and playback module  320 , all of which are physically and electronically linked  360  and  370 , by electro mechanical junction  330  and connectors  180  and  270 . In this “linked mode” the RF signal is terminated and the transmitter microprocessor  40  and receiver microprocessor  120  are enabled for two way direct communications. In this “linked mode” transmitting electronic camera  10 , receiver microprocessor  120 , and the image/sound recording and playback microprocessor  340  are enabled for two way direct communications. Random access memory  350  is available to store images and sound captured by transmitting electronic camera  10  and received by receiver  90 . Images and sounds from transmitting electronic camera  10  or stored in random access memory  350  can be selected using keypad  260  and viewed and heard on display  140  and speaker  160 . 
     FIG. 1 e , a block diagram of a wireless system is shown to have a transmitting electronic camera  10 . In addition, receiver  90  and printer module  380  are physically and electronically linked  420 , by electro mechanical junction  335  and connector  270 . In this “linked mode” the receiver microprocessor  120  and the printer module microprocessor  345  are enabled for two way direct communications. Printer module  380  could be any color or black and white inkjet, thermal dye transfer, impact ribbon, or equivalent digital printer. Printer driver  390  is used to control print head  400  which prints images on paper  410 , producing finished print  415 . Images captured by transmitting electronic camera  10  and received by receiving electronic viewer  90  via RF signal  170  are transferred from receiving microprocessor  120  to printing microprocessor  345  by instructions received by keypad  260 . 
     FIG. 1 f , a block diagram of a wireless system is shown to have a transmitting electronic camera  10 , receiving electronic viewer  90 , and printer module  380 , all of which are physically and electronically linked  420  and  430 , by electro mechanical junction  335  and connectors  180  and  270 . In this “linked mode” the RF signal is terminated and the transmitter microprocessor  40  and receiver microprocessor  120  are enabled for two way direct communications. Images captured by transmitting electronic camera  10  and received by receiving electronic viewer  90  are transferred from receiving microprocessor  120  to printing microprocessor  345  by instructions received by keypad  260 . In printer module  380  printer driver  390  is used to control print head  400  which prints images on paper  410 , producing finished print  415 . 
     In addition, not shown, image/sound recording and playback module  320  and printer module  380  may be physically and electronically linked to receiving electronic viewer  90  by means of image/sound recording electro-mechanical junction  330 , printer electro-mechanical junction  335 , and connector  270 . 
     Two way communications links described in FIGS. 1 b ,  1   d , and  1   f  are used to transfer unique codes from the transmitting electronic camera  10  to the receiving electronic viewer  90  to establish the proper ID code to decipher the RF signals between the units. In addition, in this linked mode images and sounds transferred in a direct wired mode. The communications links in FIGS. 1 c ,  1   d ,  1   e , and  1   f  are used to transfer images and sounds to the image/sound recording and playback module  320  or images to printer module  380 . In all cases when electro-mechanical links are established, information stored in the individual microprocessors is used to identify the type of components that are linked. 
     FIG. 2 depicts a perspective of the front of a receiver  90  and the back section of electronic camera  10  including the electro-mechanical connector  180 . The individual modules are electro-mechanically connected  200  by connector  180  on the back of electronic camera  10  and corresponding connector, not shown, on receiver  90 . The electro-mechanical connection transfers the ID code stored in computer memory in electronic camera  10  to computer memory in receiver  90 . After successful transfer of the ID code to receiver  90  it is visible on display  140  as ID code  210 . The digital sound and image data captured by the electronic camera  10  is now available as sound and images on receiver  90  through the electro-mechanical connection, if connected  200 , or through digital RF transmission, if separated  220 . 
     When a second electronic camera  230  is connected to receiver  90  via electro-mechanical connector  180  and corresponding connector, not shown, on receiver  90 , the electro-mechanical connection transfers the ID code stored in computer memory in electronic camera  230  to computer memory in receiver  90 . After successful transfer of the ID code to receiver  90  it is visible on display  140  as ID code  250 . The digital sound and image data captured by of electronic camera  230  is now available as sound and images on receiver  90  through the electro-mechanical connection, if connected  200 , or through digital RF transmission, if separated  220 . The display  140  now depicts two ID codes  210  and  250 . The user can select which image/sound feed appears on display  140  by using menu/feature selection buttons  260 . In addition the printed machine/human readable ID code  190  on electronic camera  10  can be manually input to receiver  90  via menu/feature selection buttons  260 . This procedure obviates the need to electro-mechanically link the electronic camera  10  and receiver  90  in order to exchange the ID code  190 . 
     FIG. 3 a  and  3   b  respectively show perspectives of the electrical/mechanical interconnects on the receiver and the electronic camera of FIG.  1 . FIG. 3 a  is a plan view of the back portion of electronic camera  10  showing a female electro-mechanical connector  180  and receiver  90  showing male electro-mechanical connector  270 . FIG. 3 b  is a side phantom view of electronic camera  10  and receiver  90  prior to connection and then connected. Male and female connectors  270  and  180  are used to provide electrical and/or mechanical connection between modules. 
     FIG. 4 depicts a side view of two imaging subjects  280  and  290 . First imaging subject  280  is being captured by electronic camera  10  and second imaging subject  290  is being captured by electronic camera  230 . Both electronic cameras had been previously connected to receiver  90  in order to transfer ID codes and are now transmitting RF signals  170  to receiver  90 . The image from electronic camera  10  is displayed on viewer  140  as split screen image  300  with display of ID code  210  of the first electronic camera  10 . The image from second electronic camera  230  is displayed on viewer  140  as split screen image  310  with display of ID code  250 . 
     The receiver  90  can display images and play sound from any of the selected electronic cameras one at a time or the display can be used to show multiple images simultaneously by making the individual images smaller. Menu/feature selection buttons  260  can be used to highlight an individual image on a multiple image display to hear the sound captured by that individual electronic camera. 
     An additional method of providing ID codes to enable digital RF communication is by reading the printed machine/human readable ID code and manually entering the read ID code into the microprocessor  120  of the receiver  90  using menu/feature selection buttons  260  (FIG.  2 ). Additional electronic cameras can be added and selected in the same manner. 
     FIG. 5 a  depicts a front view of an electronic camera  10 , receiver  90 , image/sound recording and playback module  320 , and the printer module  380 . Printer  380  is shown with part of the electro-mechanical connector junction  335  visible on the front surface and the remaining part on the back surface, not shown. Image/sound recording and playback module  320  is shown with part of the electro-mechanical connector junction  330  visible on the front surface and the remaining part on the back surface, not shown. 
     FIG. 5 b  depicts a side view of an electronic camera  10 , which is transmitting to the receiver  90  via RF signal  170 . Receiver  90  is linked to image/sound recording and playback module  320  and the printer module  380  via electro-mechanical connector junctions  335  and  330  and electro-mechanical connector  270 . Image and sound information transmitted from electronic camera  10  and received by receiver  90  can be stored in image/sound recording and playback module  320  and/or images can be printed on printer module  380 . These choices are made via keypad  260  shown in FIG. 5 a.    
     FIG. 5 c  depicts a side view of an electronic camera  10 , receiver  90 , image/sound recording and playback module  320 , and the printer module  380 , all of which are electrically and mechanically linked via electro-mechanical connector junctions  335  and  330  and electro-mechanical connectors  270  and  180 . This linked configuration enables ID codes to be exchanged between all modules and provides for wired operation. 
     FIG. 6 a  depicts a front view of an electronic camera  10 , receiver  90 , and communication cradle  440  as individual and linked modules. Communication cradle  440  provides a means for audio visual communication by mounting the electronic camera  10  in an orientation to capture the image and sounds produced by a user viewing receiver  90 . In one implementation, Communication cradle  440  may only be used for mechanical connections to provide an ergonomic arrangement of modules or in another implementation it may contain electro-mechanical connections to provide access to extra batteries or a larger antennae stored within the unit, not shown. 
     Electronic camera  10  had been previously electro-mechanically linked to a second receiver, not shown, in order to exchange ID codes. A second electronic camera, not shown, had been previously electro-mechanically linked to a receiver  90 , in order to exchange ID codes. Once this set up procedure has been accomplished electronic camera  10  and receiver  90  are plugged into cradle  440  via connector  270  and  180 . The second electronic camera and receiver are plugged into a second communication cradle, not shown by similar means. In operation the sounds and images from electronic camera  10 , are transmitted to the second receiver, not shown, and second electronic camera, not shown, transmits sounds and images to receiver  90 . In this configuration the modules can be used as two way “video phones”. 
     FIG. 6 b  is a side view of an electronic camera  10  receiver  90 , and communication cradle  440  as individual modules and linked modules and depicts the details of the connection means. Female electro-mechanical connector  180  on electronic camera  10  plugs into male connector  270  on cradle  440  and female connector  270  on receiver  90  plugs into male connector  180  on cradle  440 . 
     The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention. 
     PARTS LIST 
     
       
         
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 10 
                 Electronic 
               
               
                 20 
                 Lens 
               
               
                 30 
                 “Camera on Chip” image sensor 
               
               
                 40 
                 Microprocessor 
               
               
                 50 
                 Microphone 
               
               
                 60 
                 A/D converter 
               
               
                 70 
                 Radio transmitter 
               
               
                 80 
                 Antenna (transmitting) 
               
               
                 90 
                 Receiver 
               
               
                 100 
                 Antenna (receiving) 
               
               
                 110 
                 Radio receiver 
               
               
                 120 
                 Microprocessor 
               
               
                 130 
                 Display driver 
               
               
                 140 
                 Display 
               
               
                 150 
                 D/A converter 
               
               
                 160 
                 Speaker 
               
               
                 170 
                 Radio Signal 
               
               
                 180 
                 Electro-Mechanical connector (female) 
               
               
                 190 
                 Printed Machine/Human readable ID code 
               
               
                 200 
                 Camera/transmitter &amp; Receivers electro-mechanically linked 
               
               
                 210 
                 Display of ID code of 1st Camera/transmitter 
               
               
                 220 
                 Camera/transmitter &amp; Receivers digital RF linked 
               
               
                 230 
                 second Electronic camera 
               
               
                 240 
                 second Printed Machine/Human readable ID code 
               
               
                 250 
                 Display of ID code of second Camera/transmitter 
               
               
                 260 
                 Menu/feature selection buttons (keypad) 
               
               
                 270 
                 Electro-Mechanical connector (male) 
               
               
                 280 
                 First Imaging subject 
               
               
                 290 
                 Second Imaging subject 
               
               
                 300 
                 Split screen image from 1st Electronic camera 
               
               
                 310 
                 Split screen image from second Electronic camera 
               
               
                 320 
                 Image/sound recording and playback module 
               
               
                 330 
                 Image/sound recording Electro-Mechanical connector (male/female 
               
               
                   
                 junction) 
               
               
                 335 
                 Printer Electro-Mechanical connector (male/female junction) 
               
               
                 340 
                 Image/sound recording Microprocessor 
               
               
                 345 
                 Printer Microprocessor 
               
               
                 350 
                 Random access memory 
               
               
                 360 
                 Receiver and Image/sound module electro-mechanically linked 
               
               
                 370 
                 Camera/transmitter and Image/sound module electro-mechanically 
               
               
                   
                 linked 
               
               
                 380 
                 Printer module 
               
               
                 390 
                 Printer driver 
               
               
                 400 
                 Print head 
               
               
                 410 
                 Printer paper 
               
               
                 415 
                 Finished print 
               
               
                 420 
                 Receiver and Printer module electro-mechanically linked 
               
               
                 430 
                 Camera/transmitter and Printer module electro-mechanically 
               
               
                   
                 linked 
               
               
                 440 
                 Communication cradle