Patents by Inventor Theodore L. Jones

Theodore L. Jones has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11703743
    Abstract: A surveillance camera assembly includes an upper portion providing a mounting feature for the surveillance camera assembly. A ball-shaped head portion of the camera assembly is coupled to the upper portion. A camera lens module is positioned within the head portion and movable relative to the upper portion to pan about a pan axis and tilt about a tilt axis. An illuminator module is movable to pan and tilt with the camera lens module, the illuminator module including laterally opposed arrays of lighting elements supported on distal ends of a bifurcated cooling duct having a central inlet opening coupled to the discharge outlet of a first blower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Theodore L. Jones, Devin F. Moore, Luke D. Grim
  • Publication number: 20230023735
    Abstract: A surveillance camera assembly includes an upper portion providing a mounting feature for the surveillance camera assembly. A ball-shaped head portion of the camera assembly is coupled to the upper portion. A camera lens module is positioned within the head portion and movable relative to the upper portion to pan about a pan axis and tilt about a tilt axis. An illuminator module is movable to pan and tilt with the camera lens module, the illuminator module including laterally opposed arrays of lighting elements supported on distal ends of a bifurcated cooling duct having a central inlet opening coupled to the discharge outlet of a first blower.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2021
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Inventors: Theodore L. Jones, Devin F. Moore, Luke D. Grim
  • Patent number: 9686452
    Abstract: A surveillance camera arrangement includes a first camera that performs panning movements about a pan axis, and that performs tilting movements within a plane of tilting motion. The plane of tilting motion is offset from, and substantially parallel to, the pan axis. A second camera is substantially aligned with the pan axis. The second camera has a wider field of view than the first camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Theodore L Jones
  • Patent number: 9113063
    Abstract: A camera unit includes a housing, a pan stage disposed inside the housing and rotatable relative to the housing about a pan axis, a camera lens assembly coupled to the pan stage, and a slip ring assembly having a slip ring stator fixedly coupled to the pan stage at a location offset from the pan axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Theodore L. Jones
  • Publication number: 20150085182
    Abstract: A camera unit includes a housing, a pan stage disposed inside the housing and rotatable relative to the housing about a pan axis, a camera lens assembly coupled to the pan stage, and a slip ring assembly having a slip ring stator fixedly coupled to the pan stage at a location offset from the pan axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Applicant: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Theodore L. Jones
  • Patent number: 8497935
    Abstract: A camera system includes a camera assembly and a base. A mounting assembly rotatably mounts the camera assembly on the base. The camera assembly is rotatable through a range of 360 degrees relative to the base about an axis of rotation. The mounting assembly provides electrical communication between the camera assembly and the base. A first emitter and a first detector wirelessly communicate signals therebetween. One of the first emitter and the first detector is mounted on the camera assembly and the other of the first emitter and the first detector is mounted on the base. A second emitter and a second detector wirelessly communicate signals therebetween. One of the second emitter and the second detector is mounted on the camera assembly and the other of the second emitter and the second detector is mounted on the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Lonnel J Swarr, Theodore L Jones
  • Patent number: 8325229
    Abstract: A camera system having a camera lens module, a slip ring connector, and a pan/tilt mechanism. In one construction, the camera system includes a circuit board, a slip ring having a stator connected to the circuit board and a rotor rotatable with respect to the stator, a camera lens module, and a flexible flat cable. The camera system can also include an anti-rotation arm connected to the rotor and in contact with a first end of the flexible flat cable. The anti-rotation arm can prevent a twist of the flexible flat cable during panning of the camera lens module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Theodore L. Jones, Richard Wright
  • Patent number: 8317414
    Abstract: A surveillance camera arrangement includes a substantially spherical enclosure having a substantially round optical region. The optical region has better optical qualities than a remainder of the enclosure. A camera is disposed within the enclosure. The camera has a lens with an optical axis extending approximately through a midpoint of the optical region. An actuatable mechanism is coupled to the enclosure and to the camera. The mechanism pivots both the enclosure and the camera in both pan and tilt directions such that the optical axis of the camera remains substantially aligned with the midpoint of the optical region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Theodore L Jones
  • Publication number: 20120206604
    Abstract: A surveillance camera arrangement includes a first camera that performs panning movements about a pan axis, and that performs tilting movements within a plane of tilting motion. The plane of tilting motion is offset from, and substantially parallel to, the pan axis. A second camera is substantially aligned with the pan axis. The second camera has a wider field of view than the first camera.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2011
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Applicants: Robert Bosch GmbH, Bosch Security Systems Inc.
    Inventor: Theodore L. Jones
  • Publication number: 20120045197
    Abstract: A surveillance camera arrangement includes a substantially spherical enclosure having a substantially round optical region. The optical region has better optical qualities than a remainder of the enclosure. A camera is disposed within the enclosure. The camera has a lens with an optical axis extending approximately through a midpoint of the optical region. An actuatable mechanism is coupled to the enclosure and to the camera. The mechanism pivots both the enclosure and the camera in both pan and tilt directions such that the optical axis of the camera remains substantially aligned with the midpoint of the optical region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2010
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Applicants: Robert Bosch GmbH, Bosch Security Systems Inc.
    Inventor: Theodore L. Jones
  • Publication number: 20100128122
    Abstract: A camera system having a camera lens module, a slip ring connector, and a pan/tilt mechanism. In one construction, the camera system includes a circuit board, a slip ring having a stator connected to the circuit board and a rotor rotatable with respect to the stator, a camera lens module, and a flexible flat cable. The camera system can also include an anti-rotation arm connected to the rotor and in contact with a first end of the flexible flat cable. The anti-rotation arm can prevent a twist of the flexible flat cable during panning of the camera lens module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Applicant: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Richard Wright, Theodore L. Jones
  • Patent number: 7621680
    Abstract: A clamp mechanism for securing an in-ceiling surveillance camera housing assembly to a ceiling. The clamping mechanism advantageously allows easy installation of the camera housing in the ceiling via a camera housing aperture without requiring a large access aperture adjacent the camera housing aperture. The clamping mechanism also allows easy removal of the housing if, for some reason, the housing must be removed because the clamping mechanism is bidirectional and may be stowed within a groove on an outer surface of the housing. Once the clamping mechanism lowers a clamp to secure the housing assembly to the ceiling, a window and trim ring assembly is locked to the housing assembly to discourage removal of the window and trim ring assembly and prevent access to the clamping mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: William C Frick, Kathleen E Arnold, Theodore L Jones
  • Patent number: 7534057
    Abstract: A surveillance camera gimbal mechanism. The mechanism utilizes a rotationally adjustable disk and support arrangement to afford smoothly adjustable, fastener-free, and stable diagonal adjustment that also provides axial compliance. The diagonal adjustment mechanism is integrated with a pan and tilt gimbal mechanism to allow smooth and stable single-point manual fixation of pan and tilt positions without creating depressions in the mating parts which make readjustment difficult.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Theodore L Jones, Kathleen E Arnold
  • Patent number: 7306383
    Abstract: A surveillance camera assembly includes a dome window having a substantially cylindrical section with an inner surface and a first annular end. A substantially hemispherical section has a concave surface and a second annular end. The second annular end is joined to the first annular end of the substantially cylindrical section. The concave surface and the inner surface of the substantially cylindrical section conjointly define a cavity. Both the substantially cylindrical section and the substantially hemispherical section are substantially transparent when viewing outwardly from a position within the cavity. A surveillance camera is received in the cavity of the dome window and swivels relative to the dome window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Theodore L Jones, Richard R Wright
  • Patent number: 7217045
    Abstract: A surveillance camera assembly includes a mounting apparatus that is attachable to a mounting surface. A camera head assembly is secured to the mounting apparatus by moving the camera head assembly toward the mounting apparatus in a direction along an axis, and rotating the camera head assembly about the axis. The camera head assembly includes a camera head base for engaging the mounting apparatus. A camera head is coupled to the camera head base. The camera head is rotationally locked to the camera head base when the camera head base engages the mounting apparatus, and is rotatable relative to the camera head base after the camera head assembly has been rotated about the axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Theodore L Jones
  • Patent number: 6643456
    Abstract: The invention provides an environmental shroud (190, 290, 390) and a camera assembly (10, 20, 30) including the shroud. The environmental shroud (190, 290, 390) absorbs and dissipates heat energy that is not reflected and heat energy that is generated by the contents of the camera housing so that the camera housing temperature does not exceed the maximum rated temperature. In one embodiment, the camera assembly includes a camera housing (130) having a mounting cap (140) attached to sidewalls (126) to which is attached an optical surface (135), the camera housing enclosing a camera system; and an environmental shroud (190) attached to the camera housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: Robert Bosch, GmbH
    Inventors: Christopher J. Ryan, Theodore L. Jones
  • Patent number: D473888
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Theodore L. Jones, Kanti D. Patel
  • Patent number: D716985
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Theodore L. Jones, Andrew A. Marszalek, III
  • Patent number: D816261
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Theodore L. Jones, III, Bogdan V. Iepure
  • Patent number: D998679
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Theodore L. Jones, Steven E. Garlock, Katrina I. Banter, Devin F. Moore, Rui Filipe da Costa Fernandes