Wireless imaging apparatus and its control method

• US 20040071460A1
• Filed: 10/02/2003
• Published: 04/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Saitoh, Kenji, Nishimura, Naoki, Shibata, Masaaki
• Granted Patent: US 7,508,417 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 396/310
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/22 by structural association with other equipment or articles
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00103 specially adapted for radio transmission, e.g. via satellites H04N1/00098 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/55 Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet

Abstract

To realize a wireless imaging apparatus having excellent sensitivity to an environmental change, a wireless imaging device has an imaging unit with a function of imaging a subject and a communication unit with a wireless communication function. The imaging unit has, at least, an optical lens, an aperture 2 to limit incident light from the optical lens, an optical sensor 4 to convert the incident light passed through the aperture 2 into an electric signal, and an antenna for wireless communication, integrally formed with the aperture.

Claims

1. A wireless imaging device, comprising:

an imaging section, arranged to provide a function of imaging a subject; and

a communication section, arranged to provide a wireless communication function,

wherein said imaging section comprises an optical lens, an aperture to limit incident light on said optical lens, an optical sensor to convert the incident light passed through said aperture into an electric signal, and an antenna integrally provided with said aperture, to wireless-transmit said electric signal converted into a radio signal by said communication section.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein said communication section generates a high frequency signal based on said electric signal, and supplies the generated high frequency signal to said antenna.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the entire surface of said aperture is formed as said antenna.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein said imaging section is a spherical member, and has said aperture and said antenna in a cross section passing through the center of the spherical member, and said optical sensor in a part of a spherical surface of the spherical member.

5. An image obtaining apparatus, comprising a plurality of devices described in claim 1, wherein said plurality of devices and wireless communication described in claim 1 construct a network of said plural devices.

7. A control method of controlling a plurality of devices described in claim 1, comprising the steps of:

performing wireless communication to control transmission of imaging information from said plurality of devices; and

receiving said imaging information by said wireless communication.

6. The apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising a base section arranged to perform said wireless communication with said plurality of devices, to control transmission of imaging information from said plurality of devices, and to receive said imaging information.

8. An image obtaining apparatus, comprising a plurality of imaging devices which provide a wireless communication function and a single imaging function,

wherein said plurality of imaging devices provide, as a whole, one or more high-level imaging functions by co-operative work using said wireless communication function.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising a base section arranged to perform said wireless communication with said plurality of imaging devices, to control transmission of imaging information from said plurality of devices, and to receive said imaging information.

10. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said imaging device has a sensing function, and wherein a network of said plurality of imaging devices is constructed utilizing said wireless communication, to provide information to be managed by an external device.

11. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said imaging device has a spherical lens and an optical sensor.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein a refractive index of said spherical lens is different by imaging device.

13. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein in said imaging device an aperture value of said imaging function is fixed.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said aperture value is different by imaging device.

15. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said plurality of imaging devices respectively have a single color filter.

16. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said plurality of imaging devices respectively have a polarizing filter.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said polarizing filter has a liner polarizing or circular polarizing property.