System and method for wireless power transfer of an infrared illuminator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2019166300-A1
Application number	US-201715827811-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 30, 2017
Priority date	Nov 30, 2017
Publication date	May 30, 2019
Grant date	—

Abstract

A camera system comprising a camera, a wireless power transmitter, a wireless power receiver, and an infrared illuminator. The camera and wireless power transmitter are powered by a power source. The wireless power transmitter wirelessly transmits power to the wireless power transmitter to power the infrared illuminator. The infrared illuminator generates infrared light.

First claim

1 . A system comprising:
a power source; at least one camera coupled to the power source; a wireless power transmitter coupled to the camera, the wireless power transmitter being configured to wirelessly transmit power from the power source, the camera comprising a wireless power controller configured to control the wireless power transmitter; a wireless power receiver configured to receive power from the wireless power transmitter; and an infrared illuminator coupled to the wireless power receiver, the infrared illuminator being powered by the wireless power receiver and being configured to generate infrared light.

2 . The camera system of claim 1 , wherein the camera further comprises:
one or more hardware processors configured to operate the camera in an infrared mode; and a communication interface configured to communicate with a server.

3 . The camera system of claim 2 , wherein the camera is configured to receive a communication from the server via the communication interface, the communication indicating an infrared mode setting of the camera, the infrared mode setting identifying a night time setting,
wherein the wireless power controller is configured to enable the wireless power transmitter to wirelessly transmit power to the wireless power receiver in response to identifying the night time setting.

4 . The camera system of claim 3 , wherein the camera further comprises:
a switch coupled between the wireless power transmitter and the power source, the switch being controlled by the wireless power controller, wherein enabling the wireless power transmitter further comprises triggering the switch to connect the wireless power transmitter to the power source.

5 . The camera system of claim 2 , wherein the camera is configured to receive a communication from the server via the communication interface, the communication indicating an infrared mode setting of the camera, the infrared mode setting identifying a day time setting,
wherein the wireless power controller is configured to disable the wireless power transmitter in response to identifying the day time setting.

6 . The camera system of claim 5 , wherein the camera further comprises:
a switch coupled between the wireless power transmitter and the power source, the switch being controlled by the wireless power controller, wherein disabling the wireless power transmitter further comprises triggering the switch to disconnect the wireless power transmitter from the power source.

7 . The camera system of claim 1 , wherein the infrared illuminator further comprises:
a battery coupled to the wireless power receiver; and a wireless communication interface configured to receive a communication from the camera, the communication indicating an infrared mode setting of the camera, wherein the infrared illuminator is configured to generate the infrared light in response to identifying the infrared mode setting.

8 . The camera system of claim 1 , wherein the infrared illuminator further comprises:
a battery coupled to the wireless power receiver; and one or more hardware processors comprising an infrared mode module, the infrared mode module indicating an infrared mode setting, wherein the infrared illuminator is configured to generate the infrared light based on the infrared mode setting.

9 . The camera system of claim 1 , wherein the camera and the wireless power transmitter are both disposed adjacent to a first side of a glass medium, wherein the wireless power receiver and the infrared illuminator are both disposed on a second opposite side of the glass medium, the first side being opposite to the second side.

10 . The camera system of claim 1 , wherein the camera and the infrared illuminator are aimed in a common direction.

11 . A method comprising:
wirelessly transmitting power from a wireless power transmitter of a camera that is powered by a power source, the camera comprising a wireless power controller configured to control the wireless power transmitter; receiving the power from the wireless power transmitter at a wireless power receiver of an infrared illuminator; and generating infrared light with the infrared illuminator.

12 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
communicating with a server; and determining an infrared mode setting based on a communication with the server; and controlling the wireless power transmitter based on the infrared mode setting.

13 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
identifying a night time setting; and enabling the wireless power transmitter to wirelessly transmit power to the wireless power receiver in response to identifying the night time setting.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the camera further comprises a switch coupled between the wireless power transmitter and the power source, the switch being controlled by the wireless power controller, and further comprising:
enabling the wireless power transmitter by turning on the switch and connecting the wireless power transmitter to the power source.

15 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the infrared mode identifies a day time setting, and further comprising disabling the wireless power transmitter in response to identifying the day time setting.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein disabling the wireless power transmitter further comprises turning off a switch that disconnects the wireless power transmitter from the power source.

17 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
connecting the wireless power receiver to a battery; receiving a communication from the camera, at the infrared illuminator, the communication indicating an infrared mode setting of the camera; and generating the infrared light in response to identifying the infrared mode setting.

18 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
connecting the wireless power receiver to a battery; identifying an infrared mode setting at the infrared illuminator; and generating the infrared light in response to identifying the infrared mode setting.

19 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the camera and the wireless power transmitter are both disposed adjacent to a first side of a glass medium, wherein the wireless power receiver and the infrared illuminator are both disposed on a second side opposite of the glass medium, the first side being opposite to the second side,
wherein the camera and the infrared illuminator are aimed at a common space.

20 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a set of instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations, comprising:
communicating with a server; determining an infrared mode setting of a camera based on a communication with the server; and causing a wireless power transmitter of the camera that is powered by a power source to wirelessly transmit power to a wireless power receiver of an infrared illuminator.

Assignees

• Nortek Security & Control Llc

Inventors

• Bunker Philip Alan
• Tristan Joshua Luis
• Ehlers Bruce James

Classifications

• H04N23/56

  provided with illuminating means · CPC title

• H04N23/65

  Control of camera operation in relation to power supply · CPC title

• H04N23/661 Primary

  Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet · CPC title

• H04N5/38

  Transmitter circuitry {for the transmission of television signals according to analogue transmission standards} (H04N5/14 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H04N5/2256

  Electricity · mapped topic