Patent Document

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates to a mechanical device for mounting and positioning directionally sensitive apparatus. In an embodiment, the device is constructed for holding and positioning a small camera. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The field of remote image capture is growing rapidly. Remote image capture has been found to be useful in security applications, as well as for monitoring environmental, commercial, and industrial processes. In a typical remote imaging application, cameras are mounted in strategic positions in an area, and the cameras communicate image or video data to a central monitoring station. In one example, the remote imager is an Internet camera that communicates image data to a computer attached to the Internet. In another example, the remote imagers are miniature cameras that communicate on a private network. One such camera and camera network is described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,507,946, issued Mar. 24, 2009, which is hereby incorporated by reference. It will be understood that many other different types of sensors, imagers, and cameras may be used in a remote imaging application. 
         [0003]    In setting up a remote monitoring system, each camera is usually mounted to a stable support surface, with the camera&#39;s imager being directed toward an area of interest. To facilitate a more flexible installation, cameras are often mounted using a ball-and-joint or universal camera bracket. In using such a bracket, each camera is usually screwed or bolted to a first part of the bracket, and then the first part of the bracket is frictionally engaged to a second part of the bracket. In this way, initially attaching a camera to a bracket often requires the use of tools, and can be a time consuming and cumbersome process. For example, the camera is easily dropped and damaged during the installation process. In a similar manner, removing a camera from its mounting bracket suffers from the same deficiencies. After installation, these brackets allow the camera to be tilted and panned to a particular position, and then a mechanical locking mechanism secures the camera into that position. If the camera positioning needs to be adjusted, the locking mechanism is loosened, the camera is repositioned, and then the locking mechanism is tightened. In this way, repositioning cameras can also be a time consuming and cumbersome process. In addition, the locking mechanism or the ball-and-joint structure may interfere with positioning, thereby limiting how the camera can be positioned. 
         [0004]    Magnetic directional mounts have been disclosed, for example in US Publication No. 2005/0247345 by Li et al, generally configured similarly to the ball and joint bracket, but magnetically held. This configuration lacks ease and smoothness of adjustability of the mounted electronic device, and provides a relatively small area of magnetic field. 
         [0005]    US Patent publication No US-2009-0196597-A1, published Aug. 6, 2009 discloses a magnetic directional mount for mounting, positioning, and orienting an electronic device. US patent publication No US-2009-0196597-A1 is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. It discloses a housing for the electronic device that has a generally concave housing mounting surface, with a magnet positioned inside the housing and adjacent to the housing mounting surface. A base part has a base mounting surface that is constructed to be attracted to the magnet. The base part is mounted to a stable support. In the example cited and illustrated in the figures, the base mounting surface is dome-shaped, and in particular a hemispherical dome. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    Disclosed herein is an enhanced magnetic directional mount for mounting, positioning, and orienting an electronic device such as a camera. In this enhanced mount, the base mounting surface is configured to maximize the extent of adjustment and ease of adjustability of the electronic device, and the base mounting surface and housing mounting surface are designed to provide smooth and secure movement in the electronic device position. Additionally, the enhanced magnetic mount includes attachments designed to affix the magnetic mount to a horizontal or vertical flat surface such as a desk or a wall, and an attachment designed to effectively mount and use the electronic device from a window or other non-porous surface. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0007]      FIG. 1   a  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the inventive mount system, with an electronic device unattached. 
           [0008]      FIG. 1   b  is a side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , with an electronic device attached. 
           [0009]      FIG. 1   c  is a side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , with an electronic device unattached. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2   a  is a perspective front view of a second embodiment of the inventive mount system, with an electronic device attached. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2   b  is a perspective front view of the embodiment of  FIG. 2   a , with the electronic device unattached. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2   c  is a side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 2   a , with an electronic device attached. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0013]      FIGS. 1   a - 1   c  illustrate a first embodiment of an enhanced magnetic directional mount system.  FIG. 1   a  is a perspective view with an electronic device unattached,  FIG. 1   b  is a side view with an electronic device attached, and  FIG. 1   c  is a side view of the mount system with an electronic device unattached. The mount system in this figure is shown in the form of a camera mount, but it will be appreciated that other types of mounts may be constructed. For example, the directional mount may be used for other types of image or video sensors, or may be used to mount directionally sensitive electronic devices such as microwave, satellite, or RF antennas. Camera mount system  100  comprises a base portion  105  and a cooperating camera portion  110 . Base portion  105  has a convex base mounting surface  115  attached to a mounting base  120 . In the embodiment illustrated, a peg  122  connects portion  115  to mounting base  120  which is a planar mount for affixing to a desk or wall. Mounting base  120  is constructed to be securely attached to a stable flat horizontal or vertical surface such as a wall, desk, or other fixed object. Mounting base  120  may be adhesively or mechanically attached to the stable support, and may be permanently or removably fixed. In the embodiment illustrated, mounting base  120  includes openings  124  through which screws may be inserted to attach mounting base  120  to a horizontal or vertical flat surface. 
         [0014]    In the embodiment illustrated, base mounting surface  115  is a convex surface in the shape of a substantially complete sphere. This shape allows for maximum movement and adjustability of camera portion  110 . Having the surface  115  be a complete or nearly complete sphere allows the camera position to sweep across a range greater than 180 degrees both vertically and horizontally. The approximate extent  117  of the vertical sweep angle θ (wherein θ is defined relative to a horizontal mounting surface) is indicated on  FIG. 1   b , and the horizontal sweep angle may be 360 degrees if there are no external interruptions. It will be appreciated that the size and exact shape of the sphere may be adjusted according to specific mounting and directional requirements. Typically, the sphere will have a substantially smooth surface, although protrusions may be added for providing particular stop positions. The sphere may have a slightly tacky surface or other type of surface designed to provide some physical (as opposed to magnetic) friction with the mounting surface of the camera portion. The slight friction, sufficient to prevent the camera from sliding relative to the base, allows finer adjustment of the camera position than would be the case for a substantially frictionless coupling. In an embodiment, the sphere  115  is typically constructed of a material that is attracted by magnetic force, such as a ferrous or metallic material. The sphere may be entirely constructed of such magnetic material, or it may have a coating or layer on its inner or outer surface for providing such attraction. It will also be appreciated that sphere  115  and mounting base  120  may be integrally formed, or may be made of separate pieces. 
         [0015]    The camera portion  110  includes a camera, and may have a camera housing  125  for holding an image sensor  130  and supporting electronic and communication circuitry. Also, the housing  125  may hold a battery for providing power for sensor  130  and the electronic circuitry. Housing  125  includes a concave portion  135  called the “housing mounting surface”. Housing mounting surface  135  is shaped and sized to cooperatively mate with the surface  115  of the sphere. The housing mounting surface has a length that extends a substantial portion of the length of one side of the housing. Note that surface  115  of the sphere is considerably larger than housing mounting surface  135 , which increases the area of the magnetic field, and also provides for smooth movement of the camera across the sphere, and makes it less likely for the camera to be knocked off the sphere during positioning. A magnet  140  is mounted in the housing adjacent to or near mounting surface  135 . It will be appreciated that magnet  140  may be a button magnet, strip magnet, or other shaped magnetic device. Although magnet  140  is contemplated to be a permanent magnet, in some cases an electromagnet or other temporary magnet may also be used. Alternatively, the magnet may be positioned in the base portion and the housing mounting surface may be constructed of a material that is attracted by magnetic force. Alternatively, there may be magnets in both the base portion and the housing portion. Although the various alternative positions of the magnet are possible, the preferred magnet position is in the housing, since the housing mounting surface is much smaller than the base mounting surface, and therefore only a small region of high magnetic field is required if the magnet is in the housing. 
         [0016]    To position and orient a camera, base portion  105  is securely attached to a stable surface such as a desk or a wall. The camera portion  110  is brought near to base portion  105 , so that surface  115  of the sphere is brought into contact with housing mounting surface  135  as illustrated in  FIG. 1   c . In this arrangement, the magnet acts to pull housing mounting surface  135  toward surface  115  of the sphere, since in the embodiment shown, surface  115  is attracted by magnetic force. Magnet  140  is large enough and powerful enough to hold camera  110  securely to surface  115 . However, due to the complementary shapes of the sphere and the housing mounting surface  135 , the camera is continuously adjustable, i.e., may be moved into an infinite number of positions relative to the sphere. 
         [0017]    In this way, camera mount system  100  provides a universal positioning mechanism for camera  110 . Camera  110  may be easily attached or detached from base part  105 . Camera  110  may be easily and smoothly adjusted for optimum positioning and orientation. Because camera mount system  100  has no ball or joint structure, camera  110  may be freely moved into any position on the sphere. 
         [0018]      FIGS. 2   a - 2   c  illustrate a second embodiment of an enhanced magnetic directional mount system  200 .  FIG. 2   a  is a perspective front view of the electronic device mount with an electronic device attached,  FIG. 2   b  is a perspective front view with the electronic device unattached, and  FIG. 2   c  is a side view with an electronic device attached. 
         [0019]    Note that this second embodiment of the enhanced magnetic directional mount system includes base portion  205  with spherical base mounting surface  210  for mounting an electronic device thereon. The embodiment is illustrated with a camera device  212 , although the directional mount may be used for other types of image or video sensors. Spherical base mounting surface  210  is substantially similar to surface  115  of the first embodiment, and the positioning and mounting of an electronic device on the spherical base mounting surface is substantially the same as for the first embodiment. However, the second embodiment is configured for mounting on a window or other non-porous surface. It includes a suction cup for attaching the directional mount to the non-porous surface, and includes an arm which may be curved connecting the suction cup to the magnetic mounting surface. When used against a glass surface, it is designed to position an electronic device such as a camera relative to the window glass to achieve one of several goals: A first possible configuration places the camera in a position far enough from the glass to minimize glare from the window. This may be accomplished, for example, by positioning the camera below the window glass. A second possible configuration places the camera lens touching the window glass to minimize reflected images while pointing the camera through the window. This configuration is illustrated in  FIG. 2   c , where lens  215  touches window glass  220 . Other potential uses of this embodiment include: a) using a smooth desk top as the surface to which the directional mount is attached, and using the curved arm to place the camera at a more appropriate height, and b) attaching the directional mount to a computer screen or computer screen casing, allowing for greater adjustability than is provided in currently available devices. 
         [0020]    In this embodiment, base portion  205  includes rigid curved arm  225  attaching sphere  210  to suction cup assembly  230 . Suction cup assembly  230  may comprise a suction cup connector  232  attached to arm  225 , having an orifice  233  therein. Suction cup  235  may comprise a suction disk portion  236  attached to slightly flexible connecting protrusion  237 . Connecting protrusion  237  is firmly mated to orifice  233 , thereby attaching arm  225  and suction cup connector  232  to suction cup  235 . Base portion  205  is affixed to window glass  220  by firmly pressing suction cup  235  to glass  220 . In this embodiment, base portion  205  is positioned below suction cup  235 . In one configuration, a camera is magnetically held against sphere  210  in a position such that camera lens  215  touches window glass  220 . In this configuration, the curvature of arm  225  is designed according to the dimensions of camera  212  to result in the positioning of camera lens  215  against window  220 . Due to the slight flexibility of connecting protrusion  237 , suction cup assembly  230  may be designed to enable some rotation of arm  225  relative to suction cup  235  while maintaining suction. This allows for slight deviations from the exact curvature of arm  225 , while still positioning the camera lens  215  against window glass  220 . For the embodiment described where base portion  205  is positioned below suction cup  235 , gravitational force tends to urge the camera lens into position against the window glass. 
         [0021]    In an embodiment, arm  225  attaching sphere  210  to suction cup assembly  230  may be semi-rigid. The term semi-rigid as applied to arm  225  is defined herein as arm  225  being movable into different positions, and stable enough to hold the position. Having a semi-rigid arm  225  would enable optimizing the position of the camera, e.g., adjusting the distance from the glass to minimize glare. 
         [0022]    In an alternate configuration, the camera is placed against sphere  210  in a position such that the lens  215  faces into the room. For this configuration, the suction cup  235  may be placed such that the camera at the end of arm  225  is positioned off the window glass, and far enough from the glass to minimize glare from the window. 
         [0023]    It is not expected that the invention be constrained to the exact embodiments disclosed herein. Those skilled in the art will recognize that changes and modifications can be made without departing from the inventive concept. For example, the electronic device is not constrained to be a camera. Other types of image or video sensors may be used, or directionally sensitive electronic devices such as microwave, satellite, or RF antennas. The scope of the invention should be construed in view of the claims.

Technology Category: 2