Concealed Camera in Street Light Cover

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional surveillance cameras in areas lit by street lights lack stealth, making them ineffective in capturing criminal activity as criminals often prefer well-lit areas with minimal surveillance.

Innovation Solution

A luminaire design that incorporates a concealed camera within a protruding cover resembling a street light sensor, allowing the camera to rotate independently or in unison with the cover, providing a stealthy observation point while appearing as a standard street light feature, and optionally using a privacy film for further concealment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a surveillance camera is installed in a street light, then surveillance capability is improved, but the camera becomes visible and criminals can avoid it

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesurveillance capabilityVSAvoidcamera detectability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the surveillance camera with the street light housing, integrating the camera into the existing street light structure. The camera is positioned within the housing and oriented to survey the area illuminated by the street light, making the surveillance function part of the street light system itself rather than a separate visible installation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The street light housing serves as an intermediary structure that conceals the camera. The housing acts as a cover or mask that hides the camera from view while still allowing it to perform its surveillance function in the illuminated area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If the camera is concealed within the street light housing, then stealth is improved, but the camera space and structural complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecamera concealmentVSAvoidhousing structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The street light housing serves multiple functions: it houses the light source, provides structural support, and conceals the surveillance camera. By making the housing multi-functional, the patent avoids adding separate concealment structures, thereby limiting the increase in structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The camera is nested within the existing street light housing structure. Rather than creating a separate concealment mechanism, the camera is placed inside the already-present housing, utilizing the existing structural space efficiently.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentUS8622561B2Covert security camera within a lighting fixture
Publication Date: 2014.01.07 CARMODY MICHAEL PATRICK
  • US8622561B2 patent drawing
  • US8622561B2 patent drawing
  • US8622561B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A luminaire (100) includes a lamp housing (2) having an outer surface (42), and a cover (14) extends a height (1) above the outer surface (42). A camera (12) is concealed within the cover (14).