US 12,035,025 B2
Modular camera
Jeremy R. Schueler, Columbia, IL (US); and Grant S. Ray, Omaha, NE (US)
Assigned to I & EyeEnterprises, LLC, Fairway, KS (US)
Filed by I & Eye Enterprises, LLC, Westwood, KS (US)
Filed on Jul. 8, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/860,677.
Prior Publication US 2024/0015379 A1, Jan. 11, 2024
Int. Cl. H04N 23/54 (2023.01); G01F 23/296 (2022.01); G03B 17/08 (2021.01); H01M 50/202 (2021.01); H01M 50/247 (2021.01); H01M 50/296 (2021.01); H04N 23/50 (2023.01); H04N 23/56 (2023.01); H04N 23/57 (2023.01); H04N 23/66 (2023.01)
CPC H04N 23/54 (2023.01) [G01F 23/296 (2013.01); G03B 17/08 (2013.01); H01M 50/202 (2021.01); H01M 50/247 (2021.01); H01M 50/296 (2021.01); H04N 23/56 (2023.01); H04N 23/57 (2023.01); H04N 23/66 (2023.01); H01M 2220/30 (2013.01); H04N 23/555 (2023.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A camera comprising:
(A) a battery pack module comprising:
a battery; and
a first connector that provides a power connection from the battery to a camera module and a plurality of data connections between the battery pack module and the camera module;
(B) the camera module comprising:
at least one processor;
a memory coupled to the at least one processor;
camera operational logic residing in the memory and executed by the at least one processor that provides at least one operational mode for the camera module;
a battery pack interface on a back portion of the camera module that includes a first water-tight connection for removably coupling the battery pack to the camera module and that further includes a second connector that mates to the first connector in the battery pack when the battery pack is coupled to the camera module to provide the power connection from the battery pack module to the camera module and to provide the plurality of data connections between the battery pack module and the camera module; and
a camera face interface on a front portion of the camera module that includes a second water-tight connection for removably coupling a camera face module to the camera module and that further includes a third connector that mates to a fourth connector in the camera face module when the camera face module is coupled to the camera module; and
(C) the camera face module comprising:
an image sensor array for taking a digital photo;
the fourth connector that mates to the third connector on the camera module when the camera face module is coupled to the camera module;
at least one lens that directs an image to be taken as a photo onto the image sensor array; and
at least one illuminator for optically illuminating a region when taking a digital photo; and
wherein the battery pack module further comprises a removable media slot inside the first water-tight connection and coupled to the plurality of data connections, wherein the removable media slot receives a removable media device to which the camera module can store information.