Smart camera with a plurality of slots for modular expansion capability through a variety of function modules connected to the smart camera

• US 20080007624A1
• Filed: 09/18/2007
• Published: 01/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: National Instruments Corporation (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: National Instruments Corporation (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Schultz, Kevin, Steger, Perry, Breyer, Stefanie
• Granted Patent: US 7,532,249 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/207.99
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/00 Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/617 Upgrading or updating of programs or applications for camera control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/66 Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/662 by using master/slave camera arrangements for affecting the control of camera image capture, e.g. placing the camera in a desirable condition to capture a desired image

Abstract

A smart camera with modular expansion capabilities, including a housing, a camera directly attached to the housing for acquiring an image of an object, a functional unit comprised in the housing and coupled to the camera, where the functional unit is configurable to implement an image processing function, a backplane comprised in the housing and coupled to the functional unit to provide electrical communication, and one or more slots comprised in the housing, where each slot includes a connector that is electrically coupled to the backplane, and where each slot is adapted for receiving a function module. An inserted function module provides modular functionality to the smart camera, such as dedicated image processing functionality, pattern recognition, analysis, communication, sensor, sensor I/O, signal conditioning and/or conversion, control, measurement, and synchronization, among others. The function module may communicate a protocol to the functional unit which may be configured to implement the protocol.

Claims

1. A smart camera, comprising:

a housing having a plurality of sides;

a camera attached to the housing for acquiring an image of an object; and

a programmable gate array comprised in the housing and coupled to the camera, wherein the programmable gate array is configurable to implement an image processing function;

a backplane comprised in the housing operable to provide electrical communication, wherein the backplane is coupled to the programmable gate array; and

one or more slots comprised in the housing, wherein each of the one or more slots includes a connector that is electrically coupled to the backplane, and wherein each of the one or more slots is adapted for receiving a function module.

2. The smart camera of claim 1, wherein the programmable gate array is programmable over a network.

3. The smart camera of claim 1, wherein the one or more slots comprise a plurality of slots.

4. The smart camera of claim 1, further comprising:

a function module comprised in one of the one or more slots, wherein the function module provides modular functionality to the smart camera.

5. The smart camera of claim 4, wherein the function module provides one or more of:

measurement functionality to the smart camera;

control functionality to the smart camera;

dedicated image processing functionality to the smart camera, wherein the dedicated image processing functionality comprises one or more of;

pattern recognition;

Fourier analysis;

or

motion detection;

or

communication functionality to the smart camera, wherein the communication functionality comprises one or more of;

network connectivity;

GPIB connectivity;

USB connectivity;

Firewire (IEEE

     1134) connectivity;

wireless network connectivity;

or

Ethernet connectivity.

6. The smart camera of claim 4, wherein the function module comprises one or more of:

a web server, wherein the smart camera is operable to publish data to a website;

a Global Positioning System (GPS) module for precise positioning with a satellite system;

a digital signal processing (DSP) processor for on-board hardware signal analysis;

a data acquisition (DAQ) module for direct signal analysis and conditioning;

an auxiliary power source for the smart camera;

a display for the smart camera;

an LCD display for the smart camera;

a Graphical User Interface (GUI) for the smart camera;

or

a printer for the smart camera.

7. The smart camera of claim 4, wherein the function module is programmable over a network.

8. The smart camera of claim 4, wherein the function module has a form factor in accordance with one of ISA, EISA, PCI, SPCI, PCI-X, CompactPCI, PXI, VXI, VME, PC/104, PC/104 Plus, SCXI, PCMCIA, PC Card, PMC (PCI Mezzanine Card), MicroDAQ, Smart Card, CompactFlash, 3GIO or USB.

9. The smart camera of claim 4, wherein the programmable gate array is programmable by the function module to perform the image processing function.

10. The smart camera of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises ruggedized housing.

11. The smart camera of claim 1, wherein the housing has dimensions less than 6 inches by 6 inches by 6 inches.

12. The smart camera of claim 1, wherein the housing has dimensions less than 1 foot by 1 foot by 1 foot.

13. The smart camera of claim 1, wherein the backplane comprises a bus for communication with function modules, wherein said bus comprises one or more of ISA, EISA, PCI, SPCI, PCI-X, CompactPCI, PXI, VXI, VMEbus, PC/104, PC/104 Plus, SCXI, PCMCIA, CardBus, PMC (PCI Mezzanine Card), MicroDAQ, Smart Card, CompactFlash, 3GIO, or USB.

14. The smart camera of claim 1, wherein the backplane comprises a bus for communication with function modules, wherein the bus provides for timing and triggering between said smart camera and one or more function modules.

15. The smart camera of claim 14, wherein said providing for timing and triggering between said smart camera and one or more function modules comprises providing for timing and triggering between said smart camera and one or more devices coupled to said one or more function modules.

16. The smart camera of claim 15, wherein said one or more devices comprise one or more of:

one or more smart cameras;

one or more motion control devices;

or

one or more smart sensors.

17. A method for configuring a smart camera, comprising:

configuring a programmable gate array of the smart camera to implement an image processing function, wherein the smart camera comprises a backplane operable to provide electrical communication, wherein the backplane is coupled to the functional unit of the smart camera, and wherein the smart camera comprises one or more slots electrically coupled to the backplane for receiving one or more function modules;

inserting a function module in one of the one or more slots, wherein the function module provides modular functionality to the smart camera;

acquiring an image; and

performing the image processing function on the image.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the one or more slots comprise a plurality of slots.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the function module provides one or more of:

measurement functionality to the smart camera;

control functionality to the smart camera;

or

dedicated image processing functionality to the smart camera.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein said configuring the programmable gate array is performed over a network.