Powered security camera tool-free installation
Various techniques are disclosed for providing electrical power and/or data from the interior of a building structure to a device at the exterior of the structure without piercing (e.g., making a hole through a wall or window frame) the structure. A camera surveillance system for an embodiment includes self-adhesive energy transfer units that can be placed on either side of a window so that electrical power is passed via the energy transfer units from inside a building to the outside without the need for making a hole in the window or building through which to pass electrical wire to feed power and/or data to/from the camera surveillance system. One of the energy transfer units may be integral with the camera surveillance system and the adhesive may be strong enough to support the weight of the camera surveillance system on the window. The camera surveillance system may be installed without the need for tools.
1. A system comprising:
an electrical device comprising a camera and disposed external to a building structure;
a first energy transfer unit disposed within the building structure and configured to receive a supply of electrical power and a data signal on a first conductor configured to carry both power and communication signals and transmit the supply of electrical power and the data signal via electromagnetic near-field energy transfer; and
a second energy transfer unit disposed external to the building structure and within a near field of the first energy transfer unit and configured to receive the supply of electrical power and the data signal via electromagnetic near-field energy transfer and conduct the supply of electrical power and the data signal on a second conductor configured to carry both power and communication signals to the electrical device.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
each of the first and second energy transfer units includes an adhesive configured to fix each energy transfer unit to a surface of the building structure and support a weight of each energy transfer unit.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the second energy transfer unit is integral with the electrical device; and
the second energy transfer unit includes an adhesive configured to fix the electrical device to a surface and support a weight of the electrical device.
4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a wire coupled to the second energy transfer unit and the electrical device and configured to conduct the supply of electrical power and/or data signal between the second energy transfer unit and the electrical device.
5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the electrical device further comprises an apparatus configured to store an extra length portion of the wire and to automatically retract the extra length portion of the wire into a housing of the device.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the first energy transfer unit is disposed on a window inside the building structure;
the second energy transfer unit is disposed on the window outside the building structure; and
the second energy transfer unit is configured to receive the supply of electrical power and data signal via electromagnetic near-field energy transfer without modification to the building structure.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first energy transfer unit is connected via a power cord to a power supply powered by an electrical outlet inside the building structure.
8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the camera comprises an infrared sensor and/or a visible light sensor, and wherein the infrared sensor and/or visible light sensor is configured to pass a video or thermal image data signal via the first and second energy transfer units.
9. A method comprising:
placing a first energy transfer unit within a building structure to receive a supply of electrical power and a data signal on a first conductor configured to carry both power and communication signals and generate an electromagnetic energy field;
placing a second energy transfer unit external to the building structure to be within the electromagnetic energy field of the first energy transfer unit;
transmitting the supply of electrical power and the data signal via the electromagnetic energy field from the first energy transfer unit to the second energy transfer unit; and
conducting the supply of electrical power and the data signal from the second energy transfer unit on a second conductor configured to carry both power and communication signals to an electrical device comprising a camera.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the placing the first energy transfer unit comprises affixing the first energy transfer unit to a window inside the building structure with a pressure sensitive adhesive not requiring the use of any tools for mounting the first energy transfer unit.
11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the placing the second energy transfer unit comprises affixing the second energy transfer unit to a window outside the building structure with a pressure sensitive adhesive not requiring the use of any tools for mounting the second energy transfer unit.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the second energy transfer unit is integral with the electrical device.
13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the conducting further comprises conducting the supply of electrical power from the second energy transfer unit via one or more wires connected to the electrical device, and wherein the one or more wires further transfers data to and from the electrical device and the second energy transfer unit.
14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising storing an extra portion of the wire within a wire storing apparatus of the electrical device.
15. The method of claim 9 , further comprising receiving the supply of electrical power and data signal by the second energy transfer unit via electromagnetic near-field energy transfer without modification to the building structure.
16. The method of claim 9 , further comprising conducting the supply of electrical power from a power supply powered by an electrical outlet inside the building structure via a power cord to the first energy transfer unit.
17. The method of claim 9 , further comprising passing a video or thermal imaging camera surveillance data signal from the electrical device via the first and second energy transfer units.
18. A camera system comprising:
an electrical device comprising a camera;
a first energy transfer unit affixed to a first surface of a window, the first surface being interior to a building structure, the first energy transfer unit configured to receive a supply of electrical power and a data signal on a first conductor configured to carry both power and communication signals from a power supply interior to the building and to transmit the supply of electrical power and data signal via electromagnetic near-field energy transfer; and
a second energy transfer unit affixed to a second window surface of the window, the second window surface being exterior to the building structure, and the second energy transfer unit being disposed in a near field of the first energy transfer unit and configured to receive the supply of electrical power and data signal via the electromagnetic near-field energy transfer and conduct the supply of electrical power and the data signal on a second conductor configured to carry both power and communication signals to the electrical device.
19. The camera system of claim 18 , further comprising:
a cable configured to conduct the supply of electrical power and/or data from the second energy transfer unit to the electrical device; and
an apparatus for storing a portion of the cable.
20. The camera system of claim 18 , wherein:
the second energy transfer unit receives the supply of electrical power and data signal via electromagnetic near-field energy transfer without modification to the building structure;
the first energy transfer unit is connected via a power cord to a power supply inside the building structure; and
the camera comprises an infrared sensor and/or a visible light sensor.