Integrated Video Camera Module

Abstract

This application discloses a camera module that incorporates a camera portion, a wireless antenna, a wireless transceiver and one or more infrared light emitting diodes (IR LEDs). The camera portion is configured to capture video data. The wireless transceiver is coupled to the wireless antenna and configured to communicate in a local wireless network. The wireless transceiver is configured to communicate the video data captured by the camera portion to a client device via a remote server. The client device is remote from the camera module, and the remote server is remote from the camera module and the client device. The IR LEDs are configured to illuminate a field of view with infrared light. In some implementations, the wireless transceiver is further configured to communicate the video data captured by the camera portion while the one or more IR LEDs illuminate the field of view with infrared light.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A camera device, comprising:
 a housing;   a power adapter enclosed in the housing, wherein the power adapter is configured to convert an alternating current (AC) power input to a direct current (DC) power output;   a light port that is electrically coupled to the AC power input and configured to receive a light element and provide a light power output to power the light element; and   a camera portion coupled to the power adapter, wherein the camera portion is configured to receive and be powered by the DC power output and capture video data from a field of view of the camera portion.   
     
     
         3 . The camera device of  claim 2 , wherein the light port is coupled to the AC power input via the power adapter, and the power adapter is configured to generate the light power output from the AC power input. 
     
     
         4 . The camera device of  claim 2 , further comprising a microphone and a speaker configured to, while the camera portion captures the video data, exchange audio messages between a person remotely viewing the video data captured by the camera portion and a person in the field of view of the camera portion. 
     
     
         5 . The camera device of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a wireless antenna; and   a wireless transceiver coupled to the wireless antenna and configured to upload the video data captured by the camera portion to a remote server, and communicate, via the remote server, the video data captured by the camera portion to one or more client devices including a smart phone configured to execute a downloaded software application;   wherein the one or more client devices are remote from the camera portion, and the remote server is remote from the camera portion and the one or more client devices.   
     
     
         6 . The camera device of  claim 5 , wherein the wireless antenna and the wireless transceiver are concealed within the camera portion, and are not visible from an exterior of the camera portion. 
     
     
         7 . The camera device of  claim 5 , wherein the downloaded software application executed on the smart phone is configured to provide a notification in response to a determination that a characteristic of the video data exceeds a threshold value, the notification being indicative of the determination that the characteristic of the video data exceeds the threshold value. 
     
     
         8 . The camera device of  claim 2 , further comprising an ambient light sensor, wherein the outdoor camera device is configured to turn on and off the light element received by the light port automatically in accordance with a determination by the ambient light sensor that an ambient is bright or dark, respectively. 
     
     
         9 . The camera device of  claim 2 , wherein the camera portion further includes one or more infrared light emitting diodes configured to illuminate a field of view with infrared light in accordance with a determination that an ambient light level is low. 
     
     
         10 . The camera device of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more infrared light emitting diodes are enclosed in and not visible from an exterior of the camera portion, and the exterior of the camera portion is dark-colored, infrared-transparent. 
     
     
         11 . The camera device of  claim 2 , further comprising a battery configured to power the camera portion when the DC power output is not available. 
     
     
         12 . The camera device of  claim 2 , further comprising a light cover that is physical separated from the housing, wherein the light port is exposed from the housing, and the light cover is configured to cover the light element and the light port. 
     
     
         13 . The camera device of  claim 2 , further comprising a status light configured to provide indications indicating whether the camera portion is powered on, powered off, recording, and/or not recording. 
     
     
         14 . The camera device of  claim 2 , wherein the camera portion is coupled to the power adapter via at least a universal serial bus (USB) port configured to power the camera portion and/or to operate as an input/output interface for controlling the camera portion. 
     
     
         15 . The camera device of  claim 2 , wherein the camera portion is mechanically supported by the housing, and at least a front side of the camera portion is exposed from the housing to allow light from a field of view to enter a lens of the camera portion. 
     
     
         16 . An electronic device, comprising:
 a housing;   a power adapter enclosed in the housing, wherein the power adapter is configured to convert an alternating current (AC) power input to a direct current (DC) power output;   a light port that is electrically coupled to the AC power input and configured to receive a light element and provide a light power output to power the light element; and   a DC port coupled to the power adapter, wherein the DC port is configured to receive a power connector of a secondary device to power the secondary device with the DC power output via the power connector.   
     
     
         17 . The electronic device of  claim 16 , wherein the light port is a light bulb socket, and the AC power input is electrically coupled to a wall power. 
     
     
         18 . The electronic device of  claim 16 , wherein the captured video data is provided, via a remote server, to an Internet browser application executed by a computer for reviewing the captured video data remotely by a user of the computer. 
     
     
         19 . The electronic device of  claim 16 , wherein the DC port includes a USB port. 
     
     
         20 . The electronic device of  claim 16 , wherein the captured video data is provided, via a remote server, to a dedicated and/or downloaded application executed by a mobile phone for reviewing the captured video data remotely by a user of the mobile phone. 
     
     
         21 . The electronic device of  claim 20 , wherein the mobile phone is directly coupled to the camera portion via a local area network.