# US 11,910,085 B2 · Imaging device and camera having night vision mode

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- Number: US 11,910,085 B2
- Document ID: US11910085B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/542,288
- Filed: 2021-12-03
- Published: 2022-06-09
- Granted: 2024-02-20
- Earliest claimed: 2020-12-04
- Assignees: Savant Technologies LLC
- Applicants: Savant Technologies LLC
- Inventors: Fangru Tang; Yanlin Xu; Dong Xing; Hongbin Xu; Zhiyong Wang
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11910085B2

## CPC

- G03B 11/043: {Protective lens closures or lens caps built into cameras}
- H04N 23/667: Camera operation mode switching, e.g. between still and video, sport and normal or high- and low-resolution modes
- G03B 11/04: Hoods or caps for eliminating unwanted light from lenses, viewfinders or focusing aids
- G03B 17/12: with means for supporting objectives, supplementary lenses, filters, masks, or turrets
- H04N 23/20: for generating image signals from infrared radiation only
- H04N 23/50: Constructional details
- H04N 23/51: Housings
- H04N 23/55: Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof
- H04N 23/56: provided with illuminating means
- H04N 23/60: Control of cameras or camera modules
- H04R 1/028: {associated with devices performing functions other than acoustics, e.g. electric candles}
- H04R 1/08: Mouthpieces; {Microphones;} Attachments therefor
- H04R 3/00: Circuits for transducers (arrangements for producing a reverberation or echo sound G10K15/08; amplifiers H03F)
- H04R 2499/11: Transducers incorporated or for use in hand-held devices, e.g. mobile phones, PDA's, camera's
- G03B: APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR (optical parts of such apparatus G02B; photosensitive materials or processes for photographic purposes G03C; apparatus for processing exposed photographic materials G03D)
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04R: LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; ELECTRIC HEARING AIDS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS (producing sounds with frequency not determined by supply frequency G10K)

## Abstract

The present disclosure relates to an imaging device having a night vision mode. The imaging device has a lens being capable of perform imaging according to received light and an infrared LED being capable of emitting infrared light as a light source for the lens in a night vision mode, both being controlled by a control circuit. The lens is allowed to perform imaging when the control circuit is turned on, and the lens is prohibited from performing imaging when the control circuit is turned off. The imaging device also has a switch and a baffle, the position of which triggers the switch to turn on and off the control circuit. The imaging device provides privacy protection and avoids the reduction of the lifespan of the infrared LED.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An imaging device, comprising:
a main body, comprising a panel on a top side of the main body;
a lens housed in the top side of the main body and exposed from the panel and configured to perform imaging according to received light;
at least one infrared LED housed in the top side of the main body, being provided around the lens and exposed from the panel and configured to be capable of emitting infrared light to be used by the lens;
a control circuit configured to control imaging of the lens and light emission of the at least one infrared LED, wherein the lens is allowed to perform imaging when the control circuit is turned on, and the lens is prohibited from performing imaging when the control circuit is turned off, the at least one infrared LED is allowed to emit infrared light if the amount of visible light received by the lens is less than a predetermined value when the control circuit is turned on, and the at least one infrared LED is prohibited from emitting infrared light if the amount of visible light received by the lens is less than a predetermined value when the control circuit is turned off;
a switch provided in the control circuit and configured to turn on or turn off the control circuit; and
a baffle provided to cover at least a portion of the top side of the main body, the baffle being configured to move between a first position and a second position, wherein,
in the first position, the baffle is positioned to (1) expose the lens while allowing the transmission of the infrared light emitted from the at least one infrared LED and (2) trigger the switch to cause the switch to turn on the control circuit; and
in the second position, the baffle blocks the lens and triggers the switch to turn off the control circuit.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The imaging device according to claim 1, further comprising an audio acquisition device configured to acquire sound around the imaging device,
the control circuit is further configured to control the audio acquisition device to allow the audio acquisition device to acquire the sound when the control circuit is turned on, and prohibit the audio acquisition device from acquiring the sound when the control circuit is turned off, and
the control circuit allows the audio acquisition device to acquire the sound when the baffle is in the first position, and prohibits the audio acquisition device from acquiring the sound when the baffle is in the second position.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The imaging device according to claim 1, further comprising guide rails provided on two sides of the panel on the main body, and the baffle moves between the first position and the second position by means of the guide rails.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the panel is provided with an indicator light for indicating a working state of the imaging device, the baffle is provided with a central opening at the central portion and is provided with a through hole at the top,
when the baffle is in the first position, the lens is exposed from the central opening of the baffle, and the indicator light is exposed from the through hole, and
when the baffle is in the second position, the indicator light is exposed from the central opening of the baffle.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the panel is provided with an imaging device icon, and when the baffle is in the first position, the imaging device icon is blocked by the baffle, and when the baffle is in the second position, the imaging device icon is exposed to indicate that the imaging device stops working.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one infrared LED is configured to be capable of emitting infrared light if the amount of visible light received by the lens is less than a predetermined value.

### Claim 7

A camera having a night vision mode, comprising
a housing having an opening,
a lens housed in the opening of the housing configured to acquire an image of an object within an imaging range of the camera;
at least one infrared LED housed in the opening of the housing close to the lens, the at least one infrared LED being configured to be capable of emitting infrared light in a night vision mode, the infrared light being received by the lens after being reflected by the object;
a main control circuit configured to control acquisition of the image by the lens and light emission of the at least one infrared LED;
a switch provided in the main control circuit and configured to turn on or turn off the main control circuit, so that the main control circuit allows the lens to acquire the image and allows the at least one infrared LED in a night vision mode to emit infrared light when the main control circuit is turned on, and prohibits the lens from acquiring the image and prohibits the at least one infrared LED in a night vision mode from emitting infrared light when the main control circuit is turned off;
and
a baffle made of an infrared transmitting material, engaged with the opening of the housing and movable over the opening of the housing to cover or expose the opening, wherein a switch triggering component is provided on a face of the baffle on which the baffle is engaged with the opening, and when the baffle moves over the opening of the housing to cover the opening and expose the lens, the switch triggering component triggers the switch to turn on the main control circuit, and when the baffle moves over the opening of the housing to expose the opening and block the lens, the switch triggering component triggers the switch to turn off the main control circuit,
wherein the housing is configured to accommodate the main control circuit and the switch.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The camera of claim 7, wherein the camera further comprises an audio capturing device configured to capture sound around the camera,
wherein the main control circuit is further configured to control capturing of the sound by the audio capturing device,
the main control circuit allows the audio capturing device to capture the sound when the main control circuit is turned on, and prohibits the audio capturing device from capturing the sound when the main control circuit is turned off, and
the audio capturing device is accommodated in the housing.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The camera of claim 7, wherein the camera further comprises a panel, the lens, the switch and the at least one infrared LED are exposed from the panel, the panel is provided with an indicator light, the indicator light is used for indicating a working state of the camera, and
the baffle is provided with a central opening at the central portion and is provided with a through hole at the top, and when the baffle moves over the opening of the housing to completely cover the opening of the housing, the lens is exposed from the central opening of the baffle, and the indicator light is exposed from the through hole.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The camera of claim 9, wherein the camera further comprises guide rails provided on two sides of the housing along the opening, and the baffle moving over the opening of the housing comprises: the baffle sliding along the guide rails over the opening of the housing.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The camera of claim 10, wherein the panel is provided with a camera icon, and when the baffle slides along the guide rails to block the lens, the switch triggering component triggers the switch to turn off the main control circuit, and the camera icon is exposed from the opening to indicate that the camera stops working.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The camera of claim 11, wherein the panel is yellow-orange or has another color having a warning function.

### Claim 13 (depends on 7)

The camera of claim 7, wherein the switch has a protruding portion, the switch triggering component has a recessed portion fitting the protruding portion, and when the recessed portion is engaged with the protruding portion, the switch triggering component drives the switch to move along with the movement of the baffle, so as to turn on or turn off the main control circuit.

### Claim 14

A camera having a night vision mode, comprising
a lens, an infrared emitting part configured to be capable of emitting infrared light to be used by the lens, and a switch triggering component; and
a baffle having an opening, the baffle being configured to move between a first position, a second position, and a third position,
wherein when the baffle is in the first position, the baffle covers the infrared emitting part, and the lens is exposed from the opening,
when the baffle is in the second position, the baffle covers the infrared emitting part and the lens, and
when the baffle is in the third position, the baffle covers the infrared emitting part and the lens, and triggers the switch triggering component to enable the camera to be in an electrically turned-off state.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The camera of claim 14, wherein the infrared emitting part is at least one infrared LED, and the baffle is capable of transmitting infrared light.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The camera of claim 15, wherein the baffle is a slider mounted on the camera, and the slider is configured to slide between the first position, the second position and the third position.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The camera of claim 16, wherein when the baffle is in the first position, the lens is configured to receive visible or infrared light.

### Claim 18 (depends on 16)

The camera of claim 16, wherein when the baffle is in the second position, the infrared emitting part emits infrared light, and the lens is configured to receive the reflected infrared light transmitted through the baffle, so that the camera enters a night vision mode.