Modular Floodlight PIR Layout for Blind-Spot Motion Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing security systems with integrated floodlights and cameras have limited field of view for motion detection, leading to blind spots and reduced customizability due to restricted camera orientation.

Innovation Solution

A modular floodlight system with a camera unit magnetically coupled to an accessory unit featuring passive infrared sensors, providing expanded motion detection capabilities and allowing 3-axis articulation, thus enhancing the camera's field of view and functionality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a security camera with integrated PIR sensor is used, then motion detection capability is provided, but the field of view is limited creating blind spots

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemotion detection capabilityVSAvoidfield of view
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple PIR sensors (first PIR sensor in the camera unit and second PIR sensor in the accessory unit) into a single security system. These sensors work together to provide complementary fields of view, eliminating blind spots while maintaining motion detection capability. The merged sensor system covers areas that individual sensors cannot cover alone.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Ease of manufacture

If the security camera is fixed in position, then installation is simple, but camera orientation cannot be customized

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstallation simplicityVSAvoidcamera orientation customization
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The accessory unit is designed to be rotatable relative to the camera unit, transforming the fixed camera system into a dynamic one. The accessory unit can rotate to different orientations while remaining magnetically coupled to the camera unit, allowing users to customize camera orientation without complex installation procedures. This dynamic design maintains ease of installation while adding adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The security system is divided into separate functional modules: a camera unit and a rotatable accessory unit. This segmentation allows the accessory unit to be independently positioned and oriented, providing customization flexibility while keeping the overall system simple to install. Each module can be optimized independently.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Device complexity

If a single PIR sensor is used in the camera unit, then device complexity is low, but motion detection coverage is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesensor configurationVSAvoidmotion detection coverage
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The system merges multiple PIR sensors into a unified motion detection system. The first PIR sensor in the camera unit and the second PIR sensor in the accessory unit work together, combining their detection capabilities to provide comprehensive motion detection coverage without significantly increasing system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The accessory unit adds a rotational dimension to the sensor configuration. By rotating the accessory unit with its PIR sensor, the system expands motion detection coverage from a single fixed direction to multiple directions, effectively adding spatial dimensionality to the detection coverage without proportionally increasing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The system ensures comprehensive motion detection without blind spots by expanding the field of view and enabling customizable camera orientation, improving user experience and security coverage.

Implementation Method 1

The accessory unit includes passive infrared, PIR, sensors that expand and supplement motion-detection capabilities of the camera unit

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectInfrared radiation detection: Infrared Radiation

Implementation Method 2

a camera unit magnetically coupled to an accessory unit

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic coupling: Magnetism

Data Source

PatentEP4295078B1Modular floodlight system with supplemental motion detection
Publication Date: 2025.12.03 GOOGLE LLC
  • EP4295078B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4295078B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4295078B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

This document describes techniques directed to a modular floodlight system with supplemental motion detection. The modular floodlight system includes a camera unit magnetically coupled to an accessory unit. The accessory unit includes passive infrared, PIR, sensors that expand and supplement motion-detection capabilities of the camera unit. For example, the accessory unit PIR sensor provides a PIR field of view, FOV, that is different than the PIR FOV of the camera unit's PIR sensor. Motion detected in either or both of the PIR FOVs is used to cause of change in functionality of the camera system such as, for example, activating image capture by the camera unit and/or activating one or more lights on the modular floodlight system.