# US 12,111,044 B2 · Modular floodlight system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,111,044 B2 - Document ID: US12111044B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/263,864 - Filed: 2021-08-02 - Published: 2024-06-20 - Granted: 2024-10-08 - Earliest claimed: 2021-02-18 - Assignees: Google Inc. - Applicants: Google LLC - Inventors: Poll Shih; Che-Wei Liu; Chia-Chi Liu; Wen-Pin Chou - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12111044B2 ## CPC - F21S 8/036: {by means of a rigid support, e.g. bracket or arm} - F21V 23/0471: {the sensor detecting the proximity, the presence or the movement of an object or a person} - F16M 11/041: {Allowing quick release of the apparatus} - F16M 11/14: with ball-joint (ball-jointed hinges F16C11/06 {; adjustable mountings employing universal joints for lighting devices F21V21/26 - F21V21/30}) - F16M 13/02: for supporting on, or attaching to, an object, e.g. tree, gate, window-frame, cycle - F21S 8/033: {the surface being a wall or like vertical structure, e.g. building facade} - F21V 17/105: {using magnets} - F21V 21/29: employing universal joints - F21V 23/02: the elements being transformers, impedances {or power supply units, e.g. a transformer with a rectifier} - F21V 29/70: characterised by passive heat-dissipating elements, e.g. heat-sinks - F21V 29/87: Organic material, e.g. filled polymer composites; Thermo-conductive additives or coatings therefor - F21V 33/0052: {Audio or video equipment, e.g. televisions, telephones, cameras or computers; Remote control devices therefor} - G08B 13/19: using infrared-radiation detection systems {(G08B13/194 takes precedence)} - G08B 13/19632: {Camera support structures, e.g. attachment means, poles} - G08B 13/19695: {Arrangements wherein non-video detectors start video recording or forwarding but do not generate an alarm themselves} - H05B 47/125: by using cameras - H05B 47/13: by using passive infrared detectors - F21V 31/005: {Sealing arrangements therefor} - F21W 2131/10: Outdoor lighting - F21Y 2105/10: comprising a two-dimensional [2D] array of point-like light-generating elements - F21Y 2113/00: Combination of light sources - F21Y 2115/10: Light-emitting diodes [LED] - F21S: NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS - F21V: FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - F16M: FRAMES, CASINGS OR BEDS OF ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS, NOT SPECIFIC TO ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE; STANDS; SUPPORTS - G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS - H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL - F21W: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO USES OR APPLICATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS - F21Y: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO THE FORM OR THE KIND OF THE LIGHT SOURCES OR OF THE COLOUR OF THE LIGHT EMITTED ## Abstract This document describes techniques directed to a modular floodlight system. The modular floodlight system includes a floodlight device having a main housing that supports multiple floodlights and a modular camera device. The main housing includes a magnetic mount that magnetically secures the camera device to a mounting surface and enables 3-axis articulation of the camera device relative to the main housing. The main housing also includes a power supply unit that supplies electrical power to the camera device and the floodlights. In aspects, the floodlights are assembled to opposing sides of the main housing. In addition, the main housing includes passive infrared sensors that expand and supplement motion-detection capabilities of the camera device. The modular aspect of the modular floodlight system enables the camera device to be easily replaced with another modular device, simplifies installation for consumers, and increases an ability of the modular floodlight system to be reworked. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A modular floodlight system comprising: a floodlight device comprising: a main housing having a generally cylindrical shell with a central axis intersecting opposing first and second ends of the main housing; first and second light subassemblies connected to the main housing at lateral sides of the shell that are substantially parallel to the central axis, the main housing positioned between the first and second light subassemblies, each of the first and second light subassemblies including a light housing having a general cylindrical shell with a rounded cap; a passive infrared, PIR, lens positioned on a side of the main housing and between the first and second light subassemblies, the PIR lens having a dome shape that protrudes from the side of the main housing and houses multiple PIR sensors configured to detect motion of an object within a field of view of the multiple PIR sensors; a magnet mount assembly attached to the first end of the main housing, the magnet mount assembly including: a front surface defining a plane that is non-orthogonal to the central axis of the main housing; and a magnet providing a magnetic force configured to act on a metal part of a modular camera device to magnetically secure the camera device to the magnet mount. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The modular floodlight system of claim 1, wherein: the floodlight device further comprises a mounting component having a flexible material that forms a contact surface for mounting a camera device; the mounting component is positioned between the magnet and the front surface; and the contact surface is a concave surface that is complementary to an exterior convex surface of the camera device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The modular floodlight system of claim 1, wherein the plane defined by the front surface is tilted relative to the central axis by a tilt angle that is a non-zero angle up to approximately 45 degrees. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The modular floodlight system of claim 1, further comprising the camera device, wherein: the camera device includes a housing having a general cup shape with a rounded closed end; the rounded closed end has a convex exterior surface; and the camera device, when assembled to the magnet mount assembly, includes 3-axis articulation relative to the main housing. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The modular floodlight system of claim 4, wherein the camera device includes the metal part inside of the housing. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The modular floodlight system of claim 4, wherein the 3-axis articulation of the camera device is pivoted at a center of curvature of the convex exterior surface of the camera device. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The modular floodlight system of claim 4, wherein the 3-axis articulation of the camera device includes slidable movement of the exterior convex surface of the housing of the camera device on the magnet mount assembly. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The modular floodlight system of claim 1, further comprising a power supply unit positioned within the main housing, wherein the power supply unit is configured to provide electrical power to the first and second light subassemblies and the multiple PIR sensors. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The modular floodlight system of claim 8, further comprising a cable configured to connect the power supply unit to the camera device to enable the power supply unit to provide electrical power to the camera device. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The modular floodlight system of claim 9, wherein: the cable has a length sufficient to enable the camera device to have a range of tilt substantially between zero degrees and 60 degrees relative to the central axis of the main housing; the camera device is aligned with the central axis when the tilt angle is zero degrees; and the camera device is facing a direction between the central axis and the multiple PIR sensors when the tilt angle is 60 degrees. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The modular floodlight system of claim 1, wherein the magnet mount assembly enables the camera device to have 3-axis articulation. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The modular floodlight system of claim 11, wherein the 3-axis articulation includes a range of pan of substantially 35 degrees to −35 degrees relative to the central axis of the main housing. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The modular floodlight system of claim 1, further comprising a wallplate configured to mount to a surface, wherein the first end of the main housing is assembled to the wallplate via a twist lock mechanism formed via protrusions mating with apertures or channels based on a twist motion of the main housing about the central axis and relative to the wallplate. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The module floodlight system of claim 13, wherein: the wallplate includes a cover plate, a trim plate, and a mounting gasket; the mounting gasket includes a front exterior side that is configured to abut the cover plate and form a watertight seal with the cover plate; and the mounting gasket includes a rear exterior side that is configured to, when the wallplate is mounted to the surface, abut and form a seal with the surface. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The module floodlight system of claim 14, wherein the mounting gasket: defines multiple drainage slots on the rear exterior side; and includes one or more channels that connect at least some of the drainage slots along a perimeter of the mounting gasket. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The module floodlight system of claim 15, wherein: the mounting gasket includes sidewalls defining at least one drainage slot of the multiple drainage slots; and the sidewalls defining the at least one drainage slot are non-orthogonal to an edge of the mounting gasket. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The modular floodlight system of claim 1, wherein a respective light subassembly of the first and second light subassemblies is connected to the main housing via a hinge that enables the respective light subassembly to pivotally rotate about three axes. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The modular floodlight system of claim 1, further comprising a microcontroller unit, wherein the microcontroller unit is configured to, responsive to motion detected by the multiple PIR sensors: activate the first and second light subassemblies to provide light; and signal the camera device to activate an image sensor of the camera device and begin capturing images or recording video. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The module floodlight system of claim 1, wherein the multiple PIR sensors have a first field of view that expands and supplements a PIR capability of the camera device that is magnetically secured to the magnet mount. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The module floodlight system of claim 19, wherein the first field of view of the multiple PIR sensors is different than a second field of view of a camera PIR sensor of the camera device.