TRIGGER FOR CAMERA TRAP

Number: 20250008209
Published: 2025-01-02
Filed: 2023-06-28
Assignee: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
Inventors: O'Brien; Thomas John et al.
CPC: H04N23/61; G06V10/77; H04N23/51; H04N23/66
Verdict: Low Hardware
Source: Google Patents · FreePatentsOnline

The keeper's note

Camera-trap trigger hardware (wildlife/park camera system).

Abstract

A system and method for capturing fames (e.g., images) in an environment. In one example, a system includes a main camera configured to capture target images or frames of the environment and a trigger in communication with the main camera and configured to selectively activate the main camera. The trigger includes a trigger camera having a field of view at least partially aligned with a field of view of the main camera and a processing element in communication with the trigger camera and the main camera, the processing element selectively activates the main camera based on scene images captured by the trigger camera.

Background

FIELD

The described embodiments relate generally to camera traps, such as those used to photograph wildlife or outdoor scenic images and video. BACKGROUND

Remotely or automatically activated cameras (“camera traps”) have been used by photographers to capture images of wildlife or outdoor scenes for quite some time. Such camera traps are typically activated by a trigger element. For example, rather than having the camera capture images continuously or on a set schedule, which may result in many undesirable images (e.g., capturing images of the scene where wildlife is not present) and can drain the battery (e.g., many such cameras are located in remote locations and do not have a continuous power source available).

Conventional examples of triggers include a “beam break,” where a laser beam is emitted by a light source to extend over a particular area of a scene and a sensor is positioned opposite of the light source. When the sensor detects a break (e.g., the laser beam is reflected off of an object rather than reaching the sensor), the camera is activated to capture an image. Conventional triggers for camera traps, such as beam breaks, do not work in certain environments, such as underwater, and may also capture false positives or otherwise be triggered based on undesired objects, e.g., vegetation such as leaves blowing the wind. Additionally, these camera traps do not allow personalization for the types of objects that are captured, i.e., they will be ac

Claims

1. A system for activating an accessory comprising: a trigger for capturing a plurality of signal frames within an environment; and a processing element in communication with the trigger, wherein the processing element is configured to: analyze a scene frame captured by the trigger to determine if a target of interest is present within the scene frame; based on the target of interest being present in the scene frame, activating an accessory positioned within the environment. || 10. A method of activating an accessory for capturing images in an environment comprising: capturing a background image of the environment; capturing a scene image of the environment; analyzing the scene image relative to the background image to determine that a change in the environment has occurred; analyzing the scene image to determine that a target of interest is present in the environment; and activating the accessory to capture a target image of the target of interest. || 20. A system for capturing images in an environment comprising: a main camera configured to capture target images of the environment; and a trigger in communication with the main camera and configured to selectively activate the main camera, wherein the trigger comprises: a trigger camera having a field of view at least partially aligned with a field of view of the main camera; and a processing element in communication with the trigger camera and the main camera, wherein the processing element selectively activates the main camera based on scene images captured by the trigger camera.