Portable device having a torch and a camera located between the bulb and the front face

Abstract

A torch casing 10 with a reflector 46 and a bulb 44 incorporates camera 48 50 52 taking pictures through front face 64 and employs flash tube 58 behind the camera chip 50 reflecting off reflector 46 and reflected onto reflector 46 by mirrored surface 60 on the back of camera chip 50 . Captured images, still or video, are exported by radio frequency unit 22 to, for example, secure and supervised store 124 . Ultraviolet unit 65 causes fluorescence which is photographed by camera 48 50 52 . Display screen 70 shows camera 48 50 52 images or received images. The apparatus continuously sends its position determined by GPS navigation. Sounds can be recorded, sent and received. Iris patterns and fingerprints can be recognised from an updated store.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A mobile communication unit comprising: a camera to capture an image of a human to obtain captured image data relating to a human identification characteristic; a display; a memory on which is stored a first library of human identification characteristics image data; and a recognition unit that compares the captured image data with the stored human identification characteristics image data and is operative to indicate on the display when a match, or closest match, is found;
 the mobile communication unit is configured and operable to store in memory the date and time stamp data associated with use of the recognition unit to compare the captured image data with the stored human identification characteristics image data;   the mobile communication unit further comprising a transmitter that is configured and operable to transmit to a remote location stored date and time stamp data associated with use of the recognition unit.   
     
     
         2 . A mobile communication unit according to  claim 2 , wherein the first library is received or updated via a radio frequency unit. 
     
     
         3 . A mobile communication unit according to  claim 2 , wherein the first library is received or updated via a data transfer socket. 
     
     
         4 . A mobile communication unit according to  claim 2 , wherein the memory is in the form of a removable card. 
     
     
         5 . A mobile communication unit according to  claim 2 , wherein the mobile communication unit includes a means for indicating its location. 
     
     
         6 . A mobile communication unit according to  claim 2 , further including a means for time and date stamping the captured image data. 
     
     
         7 . A mobile communication unit according to  claim 2 , wherein the human identification characteristic is a human eye iris pattern. 
     
     
         8 . A mobile communication unit according to  claim 2 , wherein the human identification characteristic is a human fingerprint pattern. 
     
     
         9 . A communication system comprising the mobile communication unit according to  claim 2 , further including: a remote receiving station with a secure memory; a database of human identification characteristics image data is stored in the secure memory; a means for comparing said captured image data, obtained by the mobile communication unit, with human identification characteristics image data stored on the database; and a means to relay information from the remote receiving station to the mobile communication unit. 
     
     
         10 . A communication system according to  claim 2 , wherein a means is provided to time and date stamp image data received from the mobile communication unit at the receiving station. 
     
     
         11 . A communication system according to  claim 2 , further comprising: an intermediate station, said intermediate station being operative to relay signals to and from said mobile communication unit. 
     
     
         12 . A method of communicating image data from the mobile communication unit of  claim 2 , comprising the steps of: transmitting the captured image data to a remote receiving station with a secure memory. 
     
     
         13 . A method of communicating image data according to  claim 12 , further comprising the step of: comparing captured image data transmitted from the mobile communication unit with human identification characteristics image data stored at the remote receiving station and indicating when a match, or closest match, is found. 
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 12 , wherein captured image data is transmitted via a radio link comprising a cellular telephone means operating in co-operation with a cellular telephone network. 
     
     
         15 . The communication system according to  claim 12 , wherein
 the mobile communication unit comprises a transmission means for transmitting said captured image data, including a time and date stamp data associated with said captured image data, to the remote receiving station, and   the remote receiving station comprises a receiving means, provided to receive the captured image data from said mobile communication unit, and wherein the captured image data is time and date stamped upon receipt of the captured image data at the receiving station.   
     
     
         16 . A mobile communication unit comprising: a charge coupled device (CCD) for capturing an image of a human to obtain captured image data relating to a human identification characteristic, a display, a memory on which is stored an on-board library of human identification characteristics, and a comparison unit that compares the captured image data with the on-board library of human identification characteristics to obtain a match which is displayed on the display.