Outdoor camera assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12167112-B2
Application number	US-202318490280-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 19, 2023
Priority date	Sep 19, 2017
Publication date	Dec 10, 2024
Grant date	Dec 10, 2024

Abstract

The various implementations described herein include a video camera assembly that includes: (1) a housing; (2) an image sensor encased in the housing and configured to capture activity of the smart home environment; (3) a wireless radio configured to transmit video frames captured by the image sensor to an electronic device via a remote server; (4) at least one infrared transmitter configured to selectively illuminate the smart home environment; (5) one or more circuit boards encased in the housing, the one or more circuit boards including at least one processor mounted thereon; and (6) a heating component coupled to the image sensor, the heating component configured to continuously maintain the image sensor at a temperature above a threshold temperature while the image sensor is capturing the activity of the smart home environment.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A camera assembly comprising:
a housing having a front face and a body, the body physically connected to the front face, and wherein:
the front face defines a front plane at its periphery and includes at least one axis of symmetry, the front face comprising: a first portion that is transparent to visible light, a second portion that is partially transparent to at least one of visible or infrared light, and a third portion that is not transparent to visible light; and
the body and the front face enclose an interior portion of the camera assembly comprising:
an image sensor connected behind the first portion of the front face;
an illuminator assembly located behind at least one of the first portion or the second portion; and
one or more infrared (IR) illuminators located behind the front face to selectively project IR light outside of the camera assembly via at least one of the first portion or the second portion of the front face.

2. The camera assembly of claim 1 , wherein the body comprises a central axis extending from a center of the front face to a center of a rear portion of the body.

3. The camera assembly of claim 1 , wherein the illuminator assembly extends onto at least one of a bottom, top, or sides of the body.

4. The camera assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the interior portion further comprises one or more speakers; and
the one or more speakers are disposed within the housing at one or more speaker apertures defined by the housing.

5. The camera assembly of claim 4 , wherein the camera assembly further comprises one or more speaker membranes that separate the one or more speakers from the one or more speaker apertures, the one or more speaker membranes configured to:
prevent water from entering the interior portion of the camera assembly, or
equalize an internal pressure of the interior portion of the camera assembly and an external pressure surrounding the camera assembly.

6. The camera assembly of claim 4 , wherein:
the speaker apertures are defined by an elliptical outer surface; and
the speaker apertures are defined by the body of the housing.

7. The camera assembly of claim 4 , further comprising:
a controller, the controller configured to cause sound to be projected from the one or more speakers.

8. The camera assembly of claim 1 , wherein the illuminator assembly is configured to project visible light outside the camera assembly.

9. The camera assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a base assembly integral to the body; and
an attachment mechanism, the attachment mechanism configured to secure the base assembly onto a mounting plate.

10. The camera assembly of claim 1 , wherein the third portion surrounds at least sections the first portion and the second portion.

11. The camera assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
hinge assembly having a ball assembly about which the body and front face are configured to rotate in two or more degrees of freedom.

12. The camera assembly of claim 1 , wherein the interior portion further comprises one or more microphones.

13. The camera assembly of claim 12 , wherein the one or more microphones are disposed within the housing at one or more microphone apertures defined by the housing.

14. The camera assembly of claim 13 , wherein the camera assembly further comprises one or more microphone membranes that separate the one or more microphones from the one or more microphone apertures, the one or more microphone membranes configured to:
prevent water from entering the interior portion of the camera assembly, or
equalize an internal pressure of the interior portion of the camera assembly and an external pressure surrounding the camera assembly.

15. The camera assembly of claim 13 , wherein the microphone apertures are defined by the front face of the housing.

16. The camera assembly of claim 1 , wherein the body of the housing comprises a plastic exterior configured to resist water damage or sun damage.

17. The camera assembly of claim 1 , wherein the body of the housing comprises a metal shield configured to resist impacts.

18. The camera assembly of claim 1 , wherein the interior portion further comprises a plurality of antennas.

19. The camera assembly of claim 1 , wherein the interior portion further comprises a heating component.

20. The camera assembly of claim 1 , wherein the interior portion further comprises insulation between one or more components enclosed within the interior portion of the camera assembly.

Assignees

• Google Llc

Inventors

• Rukes Jason
• Wilson Tyler
• Volmering Amber
• Dong William
• Law Jeffrey
• Goulden Jason
• Liao Guangxun
• Booth Kevin Edward
• Ho Dietrich
• Foran Daniel Patrick
• Mueller Oliver
• Kraz Mark

Classifications

• H04N23/20

  for generating image signals from infrared radiation only · CPC title

• H04N23/52

  Elements optimising image sensor operation, e.g. for electromagnetic interference [EMI] protection or temperature control by heat transfer or cooling elements · CPC title

• G03B2206/00

  Systems for exchange of information between different pieces of apparatus, e.g. for exchanging trimming information, for photo finishing · CPC title

• G03B17/08

  Waterproof bodies or housings · CPC title

• G08B13/19626

  optical details, e.g. lenses, mirrors or multiple lenses · CPC title