Micro camera and multi-purpose mounting base

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016127643-A1
Application number	US-201514921920-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 23, 2015
Priority date	Oct 31, 2014
Publication date	May 5, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A power connector facilitates mounting and repositioning an electronic device via a magnetic field. The power connector can include a receptacle surface comprising a curved surface operable to mate with a curved contact surface of an electronic device, and a device-coupling mechanism operable to hold the curved contact surface of the electronic device pressed against the curved surface of the power connector device, while an angle of the electronic device changes with respect to the power connector. The power connector can also include a power-transfer mechanism operable to transfer at least power to the electronic device, without an electrical wire between power connector and the electronic device, while the angle of the electronic device changes with respect to the power connector.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An apparatus, comprising:
a power connector comprising a curved receptacle surface that forms a semi-sphere; an electronic device comprising a curved contact surface that forms a semi-sphere and is operable to mate with the curved receptacle surface of the power connector; a device-coupling mechanism operable to maintain the curved contact surface of the electronic device detachably coupled to the curved receptacle surface of the power connector apparatus, with three degrees of freedom, via a magnetic field; and a power-transfer mechanism operable to maintain continuous transfer of power from the power connector to the electronic device through two or more contact points between the curved contact surface of the electronic device and the curved receptacle surface of the power connector, while the electronic device is reoriented with respect to the power connector.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the device-coupling mechanism comprises a ball-and-socket joint.

3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein device-coupling mechanism comprises a magnet or an electromagnet in the power connector that emits a magnetic field; and
wherein the device-coupling mechanism further comprises a magnetically sensitive material on the electronic device, wherein the magnetically sensitive material is attracted to the magnetic field emitted by the magnet or electromagnet on the power connector.

4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the curved receptacle surface of the power connector forms a concave semi-sphere; and
wherein the curved contact surface of the electronic device forms a convex semi-sphere.

5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the two or more contact points comprise:
at least two conduction surfaces on the receptacle surface, which when in contact with at least two corresponding conduction surfaces on the contact surface of the electronic device, are operable to transfer at least the power to the electronic device over the at least two corresponding contact pins.

6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the power-transfer mechanism is further operable to exchange data signals with the electronic device via one or more of:
at least two power conduction surfaces that are operable to transmit and receive data signals on top of a power signal; and one or more conduction surfaces on the curved receptacle surface operable to exchange standalone data signals with the electronic device.

7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising an actuator operable to adjust an orientation of the electronic device relative to the power connector.

8 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the actuator includes a wheel on the curved receptacle surface of the power connector, and wherein when the electronic device is mounted on the power connector, the wheel is in contact with the curved contact surface of the electronic device.

9 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the actuator comprises a receptacle-side magnet on the power connector, wherein the receptacle-side magnet emits a magnetic field to attract a device-side magnet of the electronic device.

10 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the electronic device comprises one or more of:
a camera; a microphone; a sound reproduction mechanism; and a light source.

11 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the electronic device comprises one or more of:
a wireless radio; a curved antenna for the wireless radio, wherein the curved antenna contours a perimeter of the curved contact surface of the electronic device; and a heat sink at least partially surrounded by the curved contact surface of the electronic device.

12 . A method, comprising:
detachably coupling an electronic device to a curved receptacle surface of a power connector, wherein the electronic device is operable to be rotated with respect to the power connector with at least three degrees of freedom; maintaining a continuous power supply from the power connector to the electronic device the electronic device is reoriented with respect to the power connector; establishing a wireless network connection using a transceiver located in the electronic device; capturing a video stream using an image sensor located in the electronic device; and transmitting the video stream using the transceiver through the wireless network to a remotely located device.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the electronic device is detachably coupled to the power connector through a ball-and-socket joint.

14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein detachably coupling the electronic device to the power connector involves placing the curved contact surface of the electronic device sufficiently close to the curved receptacle surface of the power connector to allow a magnetic field from the power connector to attract a magnetically sensitive element of the electronic device.

15 . The method of claim 12 , wherein maintaining the continuous power supply to the electronic device involves:
providing power, via at least two electrically isolated contact points between the curved receptacle surface of the power connector and the curved contact surface of the electronic device, while the electronic device is rotated relative to the power connector via three degrees of freedom.

16 . The method of claim 12 , wherein transmitting the video stream comprises:
transmitting a radio frequency (RF) signal through a curved antenna embedded in the electronic device, wherein the radio frequency carries an uninterrupted video stream to the remotely located device over the wireless network connection while the electronic device is rotated relative to the power connector via three degrees of freedom.

17 . An apparatus, comprising:
a power connector comprising a curved receptacle surface; an electronic device comprising a curved contact surface operable to mate with the curved receptacle surface of the power connector; an actuator operable to adjust an orientation of the electronic device relative to the power connector, with three degrees of freedom, while the curved contact surface of the electronic device is in contact with the curved receptacle surface of the power connector; and a power-transfer mechanism operable to maintain a continuous transfer of power from the power connector to the electronic device, while a mounting angle of the electronic device is adjusted with respect to the power connector.

18 . The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the power connector further comprises a device-coupling mechanism that emits a magnetic field to maintain the curved contact surface of the electronic device pressed against the curved receptacle surface of the power connector apparatus, while an angle of the electronic device changes with respect to the power connector; and
wherein the electronic device further comprises a magnetically-sensitive material that is attracted to the magnetic field emitted by the power connector.

19 . The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the device-coupling mechanism comprises one or more of:
a magnet; and an electromagnet.

20 . The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the curved receptacle surface of the power connector and the curved contact surface of the electronic device each forms a semi-sphere.

21 . The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the actuator includes a wheel on the curved receptacle surface of the power connector, and wherein when the electronic device is mounted on the power connector, the wheel is in contact with the curved contact surf

Assignees

• Ubiquiti Networks Inc

Inventors

• Huerta Gerardo G
• Su Ming-Tsung

Classifications

• H04N23/51

  Housings · CPC title

• H04N23/54

  Mounting of pick-up tubes, electronic image sensors, deviation or focusing coils · CPC title

• H01R13/6205

  Two-part coupling devices held in engagement by a magnet · CPC title

• H04N5/23241 Primary

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H01R39/643

  through ball or roller bearing · CPC title