Privacy shutter for cameras
View Patent ↗A unit which includes a camera includes a movable member which can close an optical input port to the camera to provide a zone of privacy in the vicinity of the unit. The member can be moved manually or remotely by electrical signals, or received wireless signals.
1. An apparatus comprising:
a sensor of an ambient condition with an input port; and
a separately operable mechanism movable from a non-blocking position to a blocking position, wherein, in the blocking position, the mechanism excludes optical inputs to the input port of the sensor to enhance privacy in a region monitored by the sensor, and wherein, the mechanism includes a physical marker, visible to a user in the blocking position, to provide verification that the mechanism is blocking the input port of the sensor.
2. An apparatus as in claim 1 where the mechanism is movable in response to at least one of, a manual input, or an electrical input.
3. An apparatus as in claim 2 where the mechanism includes a wireless receiver which responds to an incoming wireless signal from a displaced source.
4. An apparatus as in claim 2 where the mechanism is movable in response to an incoming electrical signal from a displaced keyboard.
5. An apparatus as in claim 1 where the mechanism responds to at least one of an audio input, or, an optical input.
6. An apparatus as in claim 5 where the mechanism includes at least one of a local manual input, a wireless input, a local keyboard, or, an input from a common control unit.
7. An apparatus as in claim 6 which includes a separate source of wireless signals, where the separate source is manually operable.
8. An apparatus as in claim 6 which includes control circuits to automatically move the mechanism to the non-blocking position in response to the control circuits detecting a selected, settable condition.
9. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the physical marker includes a colored portion of the mechanism visible to the user in the blocking position.
10. A device comprising:
a housing with an input port;
a radiant energy sensor carried by the housing and which receives incoming radiant energy via the input port; and
a separately operable mechanism carried by the housing, the mechanism movable from a non-blocking position to a blocking position, wherein, in the blocking position, the mechanism excludes optical inputs to the input port to enhance privacy in a region monitored by the radiant energy sensor, and wherein, the mechanism includes a physical marker, visible to a user in the blocking position, to provide verification that the mechanism is blocking the input port.
11. A device as in claim 10 where the mechanism responds to at least one of a manual input, an electrical input, or, a wireless input.
12. A device as in claim 11 where the manual input moves a member to move the mechanism to the blocking position.
13. A device as in claim 11 where the input activates the mechanism to move the mechanism to the blocking position.
14. A device as in claim 11 where the sensor comprises a camera.
15. A device as in claim 14 where, in the blocking position, the mechanism closes the input port and provides a zone of privacy in the vicinity of the housing.
16. A regional monitoring system comprising:
a common control unit; and
a plurality of sensors coupled to the control unit where at least some of the sensors include a separately operable mechanical element, the mechanical element movable from a non-blocking position to a blocking position, wherein, in the blocking position, the mechanical element excludes optical inputs to the respective sensor to enhance privacy in a region monitored by the respective sensor, and wherein, the mechanical element includes a physical marker, visible to a user in the blocking position, to provide verification that the mechanical element is blocking the optical inputs to the respective sensor.
17. A monitoring system as in claim 16 where at least some of the sensors include an optical input port.
18. A monitoring system as in claim 16 where at least some of the sensors each include a wireless receiver coupled to the mechanical element.
19. A monitoring system as in claim 18 where the mechanical element, at a selected sensor, is movable from the non-blocking position to the blocking position in response to an incoming electrical signal, or a received wireless signal.
20. A monitoring system as in claim 19 where the sensors are selected from a class which includes, smoke sensors, light responsive sensors, thermal sensors, or gas sensors.