Video System for a Splicing Device and Method for Operating a Video System for a Splicing Device

• US 20090135305A1
• Filed: 12/19/2008
• Published: 05/28/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: CCS Technology Inc. (Corning Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: CCS Technology Inc. (Corning Incorporated)
• Inventors: Heidler, Christian, Hess, Johann Simon Daniel, Klahr, Martin, Kilb, Jurgen, Kossat, Rainer Matthias
• Application Number:
  US12/339,200
• Publication Number:
  US 20090135305A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/722
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 11/37 in which light is projected perpendicularly to the axis of the fibre or waveguide for monitoring a section thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/2551 using thermal methods, e.g. fusion welding by arc discharge, laser beam, plasma torch
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/2555 Alignment or adjustment devices for aligning prior to splicing

Abstract

A video system for a splicing device comprises a processor with a camera interface integrated on chip, a first and a second camera and also a selection device. The selection device has an interface output, which is coupled to the camera interface, and also a first interface input, which is coupled to the first camera, a second interface input, which is coupled to the second camera, and a control input for feeding in a selection signal. The first or the second interface input can be coupled to the interface output depending on the selection signal. Via the on-chip camera interface, it is possible both to receive image data and to output control signals for controlling functions of a camera respectively connected via the selection device.

Claims

1. A video system for a splicing device, comprising

a processor with a camera interface integrated on chip;

a first and a second camera; and

a selection device, having an interface output, which is coupled to the camera interface, a first interface input, which is coupled to the first camera, a second interface input, which is coupled to the second camera, and a control input for feeding in a selection signal, depending on which the first or the second interface input can be coupled to the interface output;

wherein via the camera interface, it is possible both to receive image data and to output control signals for controlling functions of a camera respectively connected via the selection device.

2. The video system of claim 1, wherein at least one further camera is provided and the selection device has at least one further interface input, which can be coupled to the interface output depending on the selection signal.

3. The video system of claim 1, wherein the sensitivity can be set or an image excerpt can be selected or a rotation or a mirroring of the image excerpt can be selected by means of the control signals at the respectively connected camera.

4. The video system of claim 1, wherein the selection signal can be generated by the processor.

5. The video system of claim 1, wherein the selection device has a first and at least one second control output for driving illumination sources for the connected cameras.

6. The video system of claim 5, wherein the illumination sources are formed by light emitting diodes.

7. The video system of claim 5, wherein the illumination sources are driven in such a way that the illumination sources are in each case switched on during a scanning interval of the respective camera.

8. The video system of claim 1, wherein the selection device is formed by a programmable logic circuit.

9. A method for operating a video system for a splicing device, comprising the steps of:

receiving an image signal from a first camera;

receiving an image signal from a second camera;

selecting a camera from the first or the second camera depending on a selection signal;

forwarding the image signal of the selected camera to a camera interface of a processor, said camera interface being integrated on chip; and

forwarding control signals for controlling functions of the selected camera from the camera interface to the selected camera.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the sensitivity is set or an image excerpt is selected or rotation or a mirroring of the image excerpt is selected by means of the control signals at the selected camera.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein at least one further image signal is received from an at least one further camera and, when selecting the camera depending on the selection signal, it is also selected from the at least one further camera.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the selection signal is generated by the processor.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein illumination sources for the cameras from which image signals are received are driven depending on the selection signal.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein, during the driving, the illumination sources are in each case switched on during a scanning interval of the selected camera.