Logitech Europe S.a.

World Wireless Communications, Inc.

Philip Alan Bunker

Mark A Nelson

Ting Chia Hsu

Stuart Biddulph

David C Andrus

Todd Webb

Jeffrey B Lancaster

Vance D Campbell

Eva Tai

Richard L Sawyer

Embodiments of the present invention include a camera having two modes: a visible light imaging mode (day-mode) and an IR imaging mode (night-mode). In the visible light imaging mode, an IR filter is in line with the lens assembly. In the IR imaging mode, the IR filter is mechanically removed, and IR light is allowed to pass to the sensor. In one embodiment, in the IR imaging mode, IR lighting is provided by an IR LEDs on the camera to illuminate the scene. In one embodiment, the various components are chosen, balanced and optimized so that images captured using visible light and images captured using non-visible light are both in focus. In one embodiment, an algorithm determines when there sufficient visible light is present and when it is not, and thus determines when to switch the camera from one mode to another.

Optimized movable IR filter in cameras

Synchronized receiver circuitry and methods are provided for a spread-spectrum communications system which includes a transmitter for generating a data-modulated carrier signal encoded with a predetermined discrete-stepped, cyclical pseudo-random noise code sequence, and a receiver for despreading and demodulating the encoded spread-spectrum modulated carrier signal. The receiver has a pseudo-random noise code generator, a mixer connected to the pseudo-random noise code generator for mixing the encoded spread-spectrum modulated carrier signal with the code sequence provided by the pseudo/random noise code generator to despread the carrier signal, and an indicator in the receiver for generating a received signal strength indicator analog signal. The synchronized receiver includes a clock which provides a frequency output corresponding to the frequency of the clock driving the pseudo-random noise code generator in the transmitter. The synchronized receiver also has an analog-to-digital converter for converting the analog signal to a digital signal indicative of the best correlation between the frequency and PN phase of the transmitted modulated carrier signal and the received modulated carrier signal. The synchronized receiver also includes decoding circuitry connected to the clock and the analog-to-digital converter for sampling the analog signal received at each of a plurality of discrete steps in the PN code, and code chips for determining the peak step when the sampled signal reaches its maximum strength during the code sequence and chip partial period, and for aligning the receiver code sequence with the transmitted code sequence.

Spread spectrum synchronized receiver and synchronizing methods

Growing community of inventors

Orem, UT, United States of America

Philip Alan Bunker