Wireless camera system and methods

Abstract

Camera systems and methods configured to receive power wirelessly are described. A wireless energy transfer system according to some examples includes a transmitter of wireless energy located within a communication device, such as a mobile phone, or attached to the communication device and a distance separated receiver located within an electronic wearable device other than the communication device, such as a wearable camera.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A camera comprising:
 an image capture device;   a receiver configured to receive power wirelessly from a distance separated transmitting coil of a wireless power transfer system which includes a base unit, wherein the receiver comprises a receiving coil having a magnetic core;   a rechargeable battery coupled to the receiver for storing wirelessly received power;   a memory configured to store images captured with the image capture device; and   wherein the camera is configured to transfer data including one or more images captured with the image capture device to another computing device.   
     
     
         2 . The camera of  claim 1 , wherein the receiving coil is configured to receive power form the transmitting coil regardless of orientation between the receiving and transmitting coils. 
     
     
         3 . The camera of  claim 1 , wherein the magnetic core comprises a ferrite core. 
     
     
         4 . The camera of  claim 1 , wherein at least the image capture device, the receiving coil, the processor, and the memory are enclosed in a housing configured to be movably coupled to a wearable article. 
     
     
         5 . The camera of claim I, wherein the housing includes a guide comprising one or more magnets for magnetically attaching the camera to a wearable article. 
     
     
         6 . The camera of  claim 5 , wherein the wearable article is eyewear. 
     
     
         7 . The camera of  claim 1 , wherein the another computing device is the base unit. 
     
     
         8 . The camera of  claim 1  further configured to broadcast a proximity signal for detecting the wireless power receiver in proximity. 
     
     
         9 . The camera of  claim 1  further comprising a status indicator, a privacy indicator, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The camera of  claim 1 , wherein the camera is configured to be magnetically attached to eyewear, and wherein the camera is connected to a securing ring configured to be attached to the eyewear. 
     
     
         11 . The camera of  claim 10 , wherein the securing ring is made of a plastic material. 
     
     
         12 . . The camera of  claim 11 , wherein the securing ring comprises a core diameter greater than 0.01 mm and less than 2 mm. 
     
     
         13 . The camera of  claim 12 , wherein the core diameter is less than 1 mm. 
     
     
         14 . The camera of  claim 1 , wherein the camera is devoid of a view finder. 
     
     
         15 . The camera of  claim 1 , wherein a dimension of the transmitting coil is two times that of the receiving coil. 
     
     
         16 . A system comprising:
 a base unit comprising a transmitter configured for wireless power delivery and a battery coupled to the transmitter, wherein the transmitter comprises a transmitting coil having a magnetic core; and   a wearable camera separated from the base unit, the wearable camera comprising a receiver inductively coupled to the transmitter to receive power from the base unit while the wearable camera remains within a charging distance from the base unit; wherein the receiver comprises a receiving coil having a magnetic core, wherein a dimension of the transmitting coil is at least twice a dimension of the receiving coil.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the dimension of the transmitting coil is a diameter of the transmitting coil, a length or a diameter of a wire forming windings of the transmitting coil, a number of windings of the transmitting coil, or a length, a diameter or a surface area of the core of the transmitting coil; and   the dimension of the receiving coil is respectively a diameter of the receiving coil, a length or a diameter of a wire forming windings of the receiving coil, a number of windings of the receiving coil, or a length, a diameter or a surface area of the core of the receiving coil.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein xe transmitter and receiver and configured for operation with a Q value less than 100. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the transmitter and receiver and configured are configured to operate at a frequency within the range of 50 kHz or 500 kHz, wherein the transmitter and receiver are configured to operate in weak resonance, and wherein the system is configured to operate using an amount of guided flux. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the base unit is mechanically coupled to a portable communication device. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the transmitter comprises an omnidirectional antenna configured to transmit power to one or more electronic devices including the wearable camera regardless of orientation of the electronic devices with respect to the base unit. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the wearable camera is configured to be magnetically attached to eyewear. 
     
     
         23 . A camera comprising an image sensor, a battery, and a memory, wherein the camera is devoid of a view finder and wherein the camera is configured to be attachable to and detachable from eyewear, the camera further comprising a safety feature for preventing loss of the camera in the event of accidental detachment of the camera from the eyewear, wherein the safety feature comprises a safely ring attached to a portion of the camera and configured to be attached to a temple of the eyewear. 
     
     
         24 . The camera of  claim 23 , wherein the battery is a rechargeable battery, the camera further comprising a receiver operatively coupled to the battery and configured to receive power signals wirelessly for charging the battery. 
     
     
         25 . The camera of  claim 24 , wherein the camera is configured to be magnetically attached to the eyewear.