Camera assembly and pet feeding device

Abstract

The present application discloses a camera assembly and a pet breeding device, and relates to the field of pet breeding auxiliary equipment. The camera assembly includes a detection element, a camera module, a fill light element and a controller. The detection element is used to detect whether a pet has entered the pet breeding device. The camera module includes a camera, an image sensor and a filter switch, and the infrared filter of the filter switch is located between the camera and the image sensor. The fill light element includes at least one visible light fill light unit. The controller is electrically connected to the detection element, the camera module and the fill light element respectively. When the detection element detects that a pet has entered the pet breeding device, the controller controls the camera and the visible light fill light unit to turn on to identify the pet. The camera assembly provided in the present application can clearly know which pet has entered the pet breeding device, which is convenient for identification and monitoring.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of pet breeding auxiliary equipment, and in particular to a camera assembly and a pet breeding device. Background Art

[0002] As people's living standards continue to improve, people begin to pursue more spiritual life. Among them, many people choose to raise pets to add color to their lives. Cats have become the first choice of pets because of their own attributes.

[0003] There are more and more products related to automatic cat litter boxes. Currently available automatic cat litter boxes generally install cameras inside the automatic litter boxes to observe the cats' coming in and out and their living conditions. However, the cameras of current automatic cat litter boxes are prone to overexposure when taking pictures, or the images taken cannot accurately identify the surface features of the animals. Users cannot accurately know which of the multiple similar animals is in the automatic litter box through the picture, which reduces the user experience. Summary of the invention

[0004] In view of this, the purpose of the present application is to overcome the deficiencies in the prior art. The present application provides a camera assembly and a pet breeding device to at least solve the problem in the prior art that the automatic cat litter box cannot accurately identify the surface features of animals through the images taken.

[0005] This application provides:

[0006] A camera assembly, used in a pet breeding device, comprising:

[0007] A detection element, used to detect whether a pet has entered the pet breeding device;

[0008] A camera module, the camera module comprising a camera, an image sensor and a filter switch, wherein the infrared filter of the filter switch is located between the camera and the image sensor;

[0009] A fill light element, comprising at least one visible light fill light unit;

[0010] A controller, the controller being electrically connected to the detection element, the camera module and the fill light element respectively;

[0011] When the detection element detects that a pet enters the pet breeding device, the controller controls the camera and the visible light fill light unit to turn on so as to identify the pet.

[0012] In addition, the camera assembly according to the present application may also have the following additional technical features:

[0013] In some embodiments of the present application, the fill light element also includes at least one infrared fill light unit. When the camera completes identifying the pet, the controller controls the infrared fill light unit to turn on and controls the visible light fill light unit to turn off. The controller also controls the filter switch to switch its visible light filter between the camera and the image sensor.

[0014] In some embodiments of the present application, the camera module also includes a lens bracket, which is provided with a mounting hole for mounting the camera and a light trough for mounting the visible light fill light unit and the infrared fill light unit, and the light trough is spaced apart from the mounting hole.

[0015] In some embodiments of the present application, the camera is arranged on the lens bracket to be tilted downward in a horizontal direction, and the shooting direction of the camera forms a preset angle with the irradiation directions of the visible light fill light unit and the infrared fill light unit respectively.

[0016] Furthermore, an irradiation direction of the visible light fill light unit is the same as an irradiation direction of the infrared fill light unit.

[0017] In some embodiments of the present application, the preset angle is 0 degrees to 90 degrees.

[0018] In some embodiments of the present application, the preset angle is 30 degrees.

[0019] In some embodiments of the present application, the number of the light troughs is set to two, one of the light troughs is equipped with one of the visible light fill light units, and the other of the light troughs is equipped with one of the infrared fill light units;

[0020] Wherein, the two light grooves are located at two opposite sides of the camera.

[0021] In some embodiments of the present application, the lens bracket is provided with a first transparent layer and a second transparent layer, respectively, and the lens bracket is provided with a countersunk groove coaxial with the mounting hole, and the first transparent layer is located in the countersunk groove for protecting the camera;

[0022] The second transparent layer is installed in the lamp trough and is located on the light emitting side of the fill light element.

[0023] In some embodiments of the present application, the first transparent layer and the second transparent layer are made of glass or plastic.

[0024] The present application also provides a pet breeding device, comprising a warehouse body and the camera assembly described in any one of the above embodiments, wherein the camera assembly is arranged in the warehouse body.

[0025] In some embodiments of the present application, a accommodating cavity is defined in the warehouse body, and an entrance and exit for pets to enter and exit are opened on the warehouse body, the entrance and exit are connected to the accommodating cavity, the accommodating cavity is used to accommodate the pet, and the camera module and the fill light element are respectively located on the side of the accommodating cavity opposite to the entrance and exit.

[0026] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effect of the present application is as follows: the present application proposes a camera assembly, when the detection element detects that a pet has entered the pet breeding device, the controller controls the camera and the visible light fill light unit to turn on. When the camera takes a picture, the visible light fill light unit emits visible light, and the infrared light filter filters the infrared light in the environment, allowing only visible light to pass through, so that the image on the image sensor is a color image, and then the pet is identified, and it can be clearly known which pet has entered the pet breeding device, which is convenient for identification and monitoring. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, the drawings required for use in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. It should be understood that the following drawings only show certain embodiments of the present application and therefore should not be regarded as limiting the scope. For ordinary technicians in this field, other related drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying creative work.

[0028] Figure 1 A three-dimensional schematic diagram of a camera assembly in some embodiments of the present application is shown;

[0029] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of a viewing angle structure of a camera assembly shown in some embodiments of the present application is shown;

[0030] Figure 3 Shows Figure 2 Schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure in the middle AA direction;

[0031] Figure 4 Shows Figure 2 Schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure in the middle BB direction;

[0032] Figure 5 Shows Figure 2 Another perspective structural schematic diagram of the camera assembly shown in ;

[0033] Figure 6 An exploded schematic diagram of a camera assembly in some embodiments of the present application is shown;

[0034] Figure 7 A schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of a lens bracket of a camera assembly in some embodiments of the present application is shown;

[0035] Figure 8 A schematic diagram of light imaging of a camera module of a camera assembly in some embodiments of the present application is shown;

[0036] Fig. 9 A schematic diagram showing the principle of a camera assembly in some embodiments of the present application is shown;

[0037] Fig.10 A circuit diagram of a filter switch of a camera assembly in some embodiments of the present application is shown;

[0038] Fig.11 A schematic diagram of the structure of a pet breeding device in some embodiments of the present application is shown.

[0039] Description of main component symbols:

[0040] 100-camera assembly; 10-detection element; 20-camera module; 21-camera; 22-image sensor; 23-filter switcher; 24-lens bracket; 241-mounting hole; 2411-counterbore groove; 242-lamp groove; 25-first transparent layer; 26-second transparent layer; 30-fill light element; 31-visible light fill light unit; 32-infrared fill light unit; 40-controller; 200-pet breeding device; 201-warehouse; 202-accommodating chamber; 203-inlet and outlet. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0041] The embodiments of the present application are described in detail below, and examples of the embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals throughout represent the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and are only used to explain the present application, and cannot be understood as limiting the present application.

[0042] In the description of the present application, it should be understood that the terms "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "length", "width", "thickness", "up", "down", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inside", "outside", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", "axial", "radial", "circumferential" and the like indicate orientations or positional relationships based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the present application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the referred device or element must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be understood as a limitation on the present application.

[0043] In addition, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of the indicated technical features. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of the features. In the description of this application, the meaning of "plurality" is two or more, unless otherwise clearly and specifically defined.

[0044] In this application, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, the terms "installed", "connected", "connected", "fixed" and the like should be understood in a broad sense, for example, it can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium, it can be the internal connection of two elements or the interaction relationship between two elements. For ordinary technicians in this field, the specific meanings of the above terms in this application can be understood according to specific circumstances.

[0045] In the present application, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, a first feature being “above” or “below” a second feature may mean that the first and second features are in direct contact, or the first and second features are in indirect contact through an intermediate medium. Moreover, a first feature being “above”, “above”, and “above” a second feature may mean that the first feature is directly above or obliquely above the second feature, or simply means that the first feature is higher in level than the second feature. A first feature being “below”, “below”, and “below” a second feature may mean that the first feature is directly below or obliquely below the second feature, or simply means that the first feature is lower in level than the second feature.

[0046] Embodiment 1

[0047] like Figures 2 to 4 As shown, the embodiment of the present application provides a camera assembly 100, which is mainly used in a pet breeding device 200 to identify and monitor the status of a pet in the pet breeding device 200. The pet breeding device 200 is used to breed pets such as cats. The camera assembly 100 includes a detection element 10, a camera module 20, a fill light element 30 and a controller 40.

[0048] The detection element 10 is used to detect whether a pet enters the pet breeding device 200 .

[0049] It should be noted that the detection element 10 may use a weight detection sensor, which is set on the pet breeding device 200, and the front and rear weights of the pet breeding device 200 are detected when the pet enters and exits to identify whether the pet has entered the pet breeding device 200. Of course, the detection element 10 may also use a radar or infrared sensor to detect whether the pet has entered the pet breeding device 200.

[0050] The camera module 20 includes a camera 21 , an image sensor 22 and a filter switch 23 , wherein the infrared filter of the filter switch 23 is located between the camera 21 and the image sensor 22 .

[0051] The fill light element 30 includes at least one visible light fill light unit 31. The controller 40 is electrically connected to the detection element 10, the camera module 20 and the fill light element 30 respectively.

[0052] It should be noted that the fill light element 30 may be a light source group, and the visible light fill light unit 31 may use a white light fill light or other fill light that can irradiate visible light. The image sensor 22 is a photosensitive chip.

[0053] When the detection element 10 detects that a pet enters the pet breeding device 200 , the controller 40 controls the camera 21 and the visible light fill light unit 31 to turn on so as to identify the pet.

[0054] See also Figure 8 and Fig. 9 The camera assembly 100 provided in the embodiment of the present application is applied in a pet breeding device 200. Specifically, when the detection element 10 detects that a pet has entered the pet breeding device 200, the controller 40 controls the camera 21 and the visible light fill light unit 31 to turn on; when the camera 21 takes a picture, the visible light fill light unit 31 emits visible light, and the infrared light filter filters the infrared light in the environment and only allows visible light to pass through, so that the image on the image sensor 22 is a color image, and then the pet is identified, so that it can be clearly known which pet has entered the pet breeding device 200, which is convenient for identification and monitoring.

[0055] like Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 4 As shown, in one embodiment of the present application, optionally, the fill light element 30 further includes at least one infrared fill light unit 32. It can be understood that the infrared fill light unit 32 can use an infrared fill light lamp.

[0056] See also Fig.10 When the camera 21 completes identifying the pet, the controller 40 controls the infrared fill light unit 32 to turn on and controls the visible light fill light unit 31 to turn off. The controller 40 also controls the filter switch 23 to switch its visible light filter between the camera 21 and the image sensor 22.

[0057] In this embodiment, specifically, when the detection element 10 detects that a pet has entered the pet breeding device 200, the controller 40 controls the camera 21 and the visible light fill light unit 31 to turn on; the visible light fill light unit 31 emits visible light, the camera 21 takes pictures, and the infrared light filter filters the infrared light in the environment and only allows visible light to pass through, so that the image on the image sensor 22 is a color image, and the pet is then identified and distinguished.

[0058] When the pet is identified, the controller 40 controls the infrared fill light unit 32 to turn on and the visible light fill light unit 31 to turn off, and the infrared fill light unit 32 emits infrared light. At this time, the controller 40 simultaneously controls the filter switch 23 to switch its visible light filter between the camera 21 and the image sensor 22, and the visible light filter filters the visible light, so that the light emitted by the infrared fill light unit 32 is received by the image sensor 22, and a black and white image is generated, thereby monitoring the pet entering the pet breeding device 200. While monitoring the pet, the overall cost of the camera assembly 100 is reduced. In addition, it can be ensured that the camera 21 and the infrared fill light will not affect the pet when working for a long time.

[0059] See also Fig.10 It should be noted that the filter switch 23 can be a dual filter switch 23, and the dual filter switch 23 includes a visible light filter, an infrared filter and a switch. Its working principle is through a circuit control board and a switch. When the light is sufficient during the day, the circuit control board drives the switch to switch to the infrared filter, and the camera 21 takes a real color picture. When the light is insufficient at night, the infrared filter of the switch automatically moves away, and the visible light filter starts to work, which can sense the auxiliary light of the infrared fill light at night, so that the camera 21 can make full use of all the light, thereby improving the low-light performance of the camera module 20, so that the entire picture is clear and natural.

[0060] like Figures 5 to 7 As shown, in one embodiment of the present application, optionally, the camera module 20 also includes a lens holder 24.

[0061] The lens bracket 24 is provided with a mounting hole 241 for mounting the camera 21 and a light slot 242 for mounting the visible light fill light unit 31 and the infrared light fill light unit 32 , and the light slot 242 is spaced apart from the mounting hole 241 .

[0062] Optionally, the number of the light slots 242 is equal to the sum of the number of the visible light fill light units 31 and the number of the infrared fill light units 32 .

[0063] In this embodiment, specifically, the camera 21 is fixedly inserted into the mounting hole 241 of the lens bracket 24, which is convenient for mounting the camera 21. The visible light fill light unit 31 is mounted in one of the light slots 242, and the infrared fill light unit 32 is mounted in another of the light slots 242. That is, the visible light fill light unit 31 and the infrared fill light unit 32 are respectively mounted in different light slots 242, so that the visible light fill light unit 31 and the infrared fill light unit 32 are not easily interfered with each other when emitting light.

[0064] like Figure 4 and Figure 7 As shown, in the above embodiment of the present application, optionally, the number of the light slots 242 is set to two, one of the light slots 242 is installed with one of the visible light fill light units 31 , and one of the infrared fill light units 32 is installed in the other of the light slots 242 .

[0065] The two light slots 242 are located at two opposite sides of the camera 21. In this way, a visible light fill light unit 31 (white light fill light) can be installed on one side of the camera 21, and an infrared fill light unit 32 (infrared fill light) can be installed on the other side of the camera 21, so that the white light fill light and the infrared fill light are relatively arranged on two opposite sides of the camera 21.

[0066] In this embodiment, the positions of the white light fill light and the infrared fill light are arranged to facilitate fill light for the pet-accommodating portion of the pet breeding device 200 , and also facilitate fill light for the camera 21 when shooting.

[0067] It should be noted that the number of the light slots 242 may be two, four, five, etc., which may be specifically determined according to the sum of the number of the visible light fill light units 31 and the infrared fill light units 32 .

[0068] like Figure 3 As shown, in the above-mentioned embodiment of the present application, further, the camera 21 is arranged on the lens bracket 24 to be tilted downward in the horizontal direction, and the shooting direction of the camera 21 forms a preset angle θ with the irradiation directions of the visible light fill light unit 31 and the infrared fill light unit 32 respectively.

[0069] The irradiation direction of the visible light fill light unit 31 is the same as the irradiation direction of the infrared light fill light unit 32 .

[0070] Specifically, the irradiation direction of the visible light fill light unit 31 and the irradiation direction of the infrared fill light unit 32 are straight forward. That is, the irradiation direction of the white light fill light and the infrared fill light is set to be straight forward, that is, along the horizontal direction in front of the white light fill light or the infrared fill light. The shooting direction of the camera 21 is to shoot in a horizontal direction with an angle downward.

[0071] In this way, when shooting at close range, it can be avoided that the light emitted by the fill light element 30 (white light fill light and infrared fill light) will not be directly reflected to the center of the camera 21 after hitting the pet, thereby preventing overexposure and unclear recognition, which is beneficial to the recognition of the pet.

[0072] like Figure 3 As shown, in the above embodiment of the present application, optionally, the preset angle θ is 0 to 90 degrees. Specifically, the preset angle θ formed by the shooting direction of the camera 21 and the irradiation directions of the visible light fill light unit 31 and the infrared fill light unit 32 can be 0, 20, 30, 45, 60, 70, 80 and 90 degrees, etc., to avoid overexposure of the camera 21 when the fill light element 30 emits light.

[0073] In this embodiment, preferably, the preset angle θ is 30 degrees. That is, the shooting direction of the camera 21 forms a preset angle of 30 degrees with the irradiation directions of the visible light fill light unit 31 and the infrared fill light unit 32. In this way, when the camera 21 shoots at a close distance, the light emitted by the fill light element 30 will not be directly reflected to the center of the camera 21 after hitting the pet, avoiding the problem of overexposure and unclear recognition, so as to ensure that the camera 21 takes clear pictures, and the fill light element 30 will not affect the image quality, which is conducive to the recognition of the pet.

[0074] like Figure 4 As shown, in one embodiment of the present application, optionally, a first transparent layer 25 and a second transparent layer 26 are respectively provided on the lens support 24. A countersunk groove 2411 coaxial with the mounting hole 241 is provided on the lens support 24, and the first transparent layer 25 is located in the countersunk groove 2411 to protect the camera 21.

[0075] The second transparent layer 26 is installed in the lamp groove 242 and is located at the light emitting side of the fill light element 30 .

[0076] Optionally, the first transparent layer 25 and the second transparent layer 26 are made of glass or plastic.

[0077] In this embodiment, the light groove 242 and the mounting hole 241 are spaced apart, and the first transparent layer 25 of the camera 21, the second transparent layer 26 of the white light fill light, and the second transparent layer 26 of the infrared fill light are designed and installed separately. This ensures that the light emitted by the white light fill light and the infrared fill light will not pass through the first transparent layer 25 and the second transparent layer 26 to the top of the camera 21, causing blurry photos, thereby improving the clarity of photos.

[0078] Embodiment 2

[0079] like Fig.11 As shown, an embodiment of the present application further provides a pet breeding device 200, which includes a warehouse body 201 and the camera assembly 100 in any of the above-mentioned embodiments, wherein the camera assembly 100 is disposed in the warehouse body 201 and is used to photograph and monitor a pet entering the warehouse body 201.

[0080] The pet breeding device 200 provided in this embodiment has the camera assembly 100 in the above-mentioned embodiment 1, and therefore has all the beneficial effects of the camera assembly 100 in the embodiment 1, which will not be described in detail here.

[0081] In one embodiment of the present application, specifically, a receiving cavity 202 is defined in the warehouse body 201, and an entrance and exit 203 for the pet to enter and exit is opened on the warehouse body 201. The entrance and exit 203 is communicated with the receiving cavity 202, and the receiving cavity 202 is used to receive the pet. The camera module 20 and the fill light element 30 are respectively located on the side of the receiving cavity 202 opposite to the entrance and exit 203.

[0082] In this embodiment, the camera module 20 and the fill light element 30 are respectively located on the side of the accommodating cavity 202 opposite to the entrance and exit 203, so that it is convenient to fill light and shoot the pet entering the accommodating cavity 202, and then it is convenient to monitor the activities of the pet in the warehouse body 201. In summary, the embodiment of the present application proposes a camera assembly 100 and a pet breeding device 200. When the detection element 10 detects that the pet enters the pet breeding device 200, the controller 40 controls the camera 21 and the visible light fill light unit 31 to turn on. When the camera 21 takes a picture, the visible light fill light unit 31 emits visible light, and the infrared light filter filters the infrared light in the environment and only allows visible light to pass through, so that the image on the image sensor 22 is a color image, and then the pet is identified, and it can be clearly known which pet has entered the pet breeding device 200, which is convenient for identification and monitoring. When the pet is identified, the controller 40 controls the infrared fill light unit 32 to turn on and the visible light fill light unit 31 to turn off, and the infrared fill light unit 32 emits infrared light. Thus, the pet entering the pet breeding device 200 is monitored, and the overall cost of the camera assembly 100 is reduced while the pet is monitored. In addition, it can be ensured that the camera 21 and the infrared fill light will not affect the pet when working for a long time.

[0083] In the description of this specification, the description with reference to the terms "one embodiment", "some embodiments", "example", "specific example", or "some examples" etc. means that the specific features, structures, materials or characteristics described in conjunction with the embodiment or example are included in at least one embodiment or example of the present application. In this specification, the schematic representations of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Moreover, the specific features, structures, materials or characteristics described may be combined in any one or more embodiments or examples in a suitable manner. In addition, those skilled in the art may combine and combine the different embodiments or examples described in this specification and the features of the different embodiments or examples, without contradiction.

[0084] Although the embodiments of the present application have been shown and described above, it can be understood that the above embodiments are exemplary and cannot be understood as limitations on the present application. Ordinary technicians in the field can change, modify, replace and modify the above embodiments within the scope of the present application.

Claims

1. A camera assembly for a pet breeding device, characterized in that: include: A detection element, used to detect whether a pet has entered the pet breeding device; A camera module, the camera module comprising a camera, an image sensor, a filter switch and a lens bracket, wherein the infrared filter of the filter switch is located between the camera and the image sensor; The fill light element comprises at least one visible light fill light unit and at least one infrared fill light unit, wherein the irradiation direction of the visible light fill light unit is the same as that of the infrared fill light unit, and is irradiated directly in a horizontal direction in front of the visible light fill light unit and the infrared fill light unit, and the shooting direction of the camera is tilted downward in the horizontal direction; A controller, the controller being electrically connected to the detection element, the camera module and the fill light element respectively; The lens bracket is provided with a mounting hole for mounting the camera and a light groove for mounting the visible light fill light unit and the infrared fill light unit, the light groove is spaced apart from the mounting hole, the camera is tilted downward in the horizontal direction on the lens bracket, and the shooting direction of the camera forms a preset angle with the irradiation directions of the visible light fill light unit and the infrared fill light unit respectively; Wherein, when the detection element detects that a pet enters the pet breeding device, the controller controls the camera and the visible light fill light unit to turn on to identify the pet; When the camera has finished identifying the pet, the controller controls the infrared fill light unit to turn on and controls the visible light fill light unit to turn off, and the controller simultaneously controls the filter switch to switch its visible light filter between the camera and the image sensor.

2. The camera assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that: The preset angle is from 0 degrees to 90 degrees.

3. The camera assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that: The preset angle is 30 degrees.

4. The camera assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that: The number of the light troughs is set to be two, one of the light troughs is equipped with a visible light fill light unit, and the other light trough is equipped with an infrared fill light unit; Wherein, the two light grooves are located at two opposite sides of the camera.

5. The camera assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that: The lens holder is provided with a first transparent layer and a second transparent layer respectively, and the lens holder is provided with a countersunk groove coaxial with the mounting hole, and the first transparent layer is located in the countersunk groove; The second transparent layer is installed in the lamp trough and is located on the light emitting side of the fill light element.

6. A pet breeding device, characterized in that: It comprises a warehouse body and a camera assembly as described in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the camera assembly is arranged in the warehouse body.

7. The pet breeding device according to claim 6, characterized in that: A accommodating cavity is defined in the warehouse body, and an entrance and exit for pets to enter and exit are opened on the warehouse body. The entrance and exit are connected to the accommodating cavity, and the accommodating cavity is used to accommodate the pet. The camera module and the fill light element are respectively located on the side of the accommodating cavity opposite to the entrance and exit.

Images