MULTIPLE CAPSULE CAMERA APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR USING THE SAME

• US 20100271468A1
• Filed: 04/25/2009
• Published: 10/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CapsoVision, Inc.
• Original Assignee: CapsoVision, Inc.
• Inventors: Wang, Kang-Huai
• Granted Patent: US 8,300,091 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/77
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00016 using wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0002 provided with data storages
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00029 externally powered, e.g. wireless
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00032 internally powered
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00036 Means for power saving, e.g. sleeping mode
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/041 Capsule endoscopes for imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0684 using light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0209 adapted for power saving
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/185 from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control

Abstract

A multiple capsule camera apparatus is disclosed to enhance the rate of detection and/or extend the overall imaging period. The multiple capsule camera apparatus coordinates the operations of the camera according to a schedule so that one camera may enter an active mode when the other camera is anticipated to have a low battery level. The capsule cameras may also coordinate their operations by communication with each other through a wireless link. A base station may also be used to coordinate the capsule camera operations with a wireless link established between the base station and each capsule camera.

Claims

1. A corporative multiple capsule camera apparatus, comprising:

a plurality of capsule cameras;

wherein the capsule camera includes a control module to control capsule camera operations according to a schedule.

2. A corporative multiple capsule camera apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the control module includes a timer to track an elapse time since the capsule camera is activated.

3. A corporative multiple capsule camera apparatus as in claim 2, wherein the camera operations include a sleep mode and an active mode.

4. A corporative multiple capsule camera apparatus as in claim 3, wherein the capsule camera is initially switched from the sleep mode to the active mode when the elapse time reaches a pre-defined value.

5. A corporative multiple capsule camera apparatus as in claim 4, wherein the schedule includes a list of the pre-defined values corresponding to the elapse times for the respective capsule cameras.

6. A corporative multiple capsule camera apparatus as in claim 5, wherein the pre-defined values are stored in a memory space of the control module.

7. A corporative multiple capsule camera apparatus, comprising:

a first capsule camera and a second capsule camera;

wherein each of the capsule cameras includes a battery, an image sensor, illuminating LEDs, and a control module;

the first capsule cameras further includes a first wireless communication module and the second capsule camera further includes a second wireless communication module, wherein a wireless link between the first wireless communication module and the second wireless communication module is established; and

the control module controls capsule camera operations using information received from the wireless link.

8. A corporative multiple capsule camera apparatus as in claim 7, wherein the capsule cameras function in a relay mode.

9. A corporative multiple capsule camera apparatus as in claim 8, wherein the first capsule camera sends status information of the first capsule camera to the second capsule camera through the wireless link.

10. A corporative multiple capsule camera apparatus as in claim 9, wherein the status information includes battery status.

11. A corporative multiple capsule camera apparatus as in claim 9, wherein the status information includes energy consumption of the battery.

12. A corporative multiple capsule camera apparatus as in claim 9, wherein the status information includes a number of pictures captured by the image sensor.

13. A corporative multiple capsule camera apparatus as in claim 9, wherein the status information includes a total time period as the LEDs being illuminating.

14. A corporative multiple capsule camera apparatus as in claim 9, wherein the camera operations include a sleep mode and an active mode.

15. A corporative multiple capsule camera apparatus as in claim 14, wherein the second capsule camera is initially switched from the sleep mode to the active mode using the first capsule camera status information received from the wireless link.

16. A corporative multiple capsule camera apparatus as in claim 14, wherein the second capsule camera and the first capsule camera have a period of time as being both in the active mode.

17. A corporative multiple capsule camera apparatus as in claim 9, wherein the status information is transmitted periodically.

18. A corporative multiple capsule camera apparatus as in claim 9, wherein the status information is transmitted as being triggered by low battery status.

19. A corporative multiple capsule camera apparatus as in claim 9, wherein the status information is transmitted as being triggered by energy consumption profile.

20. A corporative multiple capsule camera apparatus as in claim 12, wherein the status information is transmitted as being triggered by a combination of the number of captured pictures by the image sensor, and a total time period as the LED being illuminating.

21. A corporative multiple capsule camera apparatus, comprising:

a plurality of capsule cameras, wherein the capsule camera includes a battery, an image sensor, illuminating LEDs, a first wireless communication module and a first control module; and

a base station having a second wireless communication module and a second control module;

wherein the second control module coordinates with the first control module through a wireless link between the first wireless communication module and the second wireless communication module; and

the first control module controls capsule camera operations using information received from the base station through the wireless link.

22. A corporative multiple capsule camera apparatus as in claim 21, wherein the information transmitted from the first wireless communication module to the second wireless communication module includes status of the respective capsule camera.

23. A corporative multiple capsule camera apparatus as in claim 22, wherein the status information includes battery status.

24. A corporative multiple capsule camera apparatus as in claim 22, wherein the status information includes a number of pictures captured by the image sensor.

25. A corporative multiple capsule camera apparatus as in claim 22, wherein the status information includes a total time period as the LEDs being illuminating.

26. A corporative multiple capsule camera apparatus as in claim 22, wherein the base station polls the status information from the control modules periodically through the wireless link.

27. A corporative multiple capsule camera apparatus as in claim 22, wherein the control modules initiates transmitting status information to the base station as being triggered by a low battery status.

28. A corporative multiple capsule camera apparatus as in claim 22, wherein the status information is transmitted as being triggered by a combination of a number of captured by the image sensor, and a total time period as the LED being illuminating.

29. A corporative multiple capsule camera apparatus as in claim 21, wherein the capsule camera operations include a sleep mode and an active mode.

30. A corporative multiple capsule camera apparatus as in claim 29, wherein the second control module instructs the first control module of the capsule camera causing the respective capsule camera to initially switch from the sleep mode to the active mode.

31. A method for operating corporative multiple capsule camera, comprising:

providing a plurality of capsule cameras, wherein the capsule camera includes a control module; and

controlling capsule camera operations through the control module according to a schedule.

32. A method as in claim 31, wherein the control module has a timer to track an elapse time since the capsule camera is activated.

33. A method as in claim 32, wherein the camera operations include a sleep mode and an active mode.

34. A method as in claim 33, wherein the capsule camera is initially switched from the sleep mode to the active mode when the elapse time reaches a pre-defined value.

35. A method as in claim 34, wherein the schedule includes a list of the pre-defined values corresponding to the elapse times for the respective capsule cameras.

36. A method for operating corporative multiple capsule cameras, comprising:

providing a first capsule camera and a second capsule camera, wherein each of the capsule cameras includes a battery, an image sensor, illuminating LEDs, and a control module, and the first capsule camera further includes a first wireless communication module and the second capsule camera further includes a second wireless communication module;

establishing a wireless link between the first wireless communication module and the second wireless communication module; and

controlling capsule camera operations through the control module using information received from the wireless link.

37. A method as in claim 36, wherein the capsule cameras function in a relay mode.

38. A method as in claim 37, wherein the first capsule camera sends status information of the first capsule camera to the second capsule camera through the wireless link.

39. A method as in claim 38, wherein the status information includes battery status.

40. A method as in claim 38, wherein the status information includes a number of pictures captured by the image sensor.

41. A method as in claim 38, wherein the camera operations include a sleep mode and an active mode.

42. A method as in claim 41, wherein the second capsule camera is initially switched from the sleep mode to the active mode using the first capsule camera status information received from the wireless link.

43. A method as in claim 41, wherein the second capsule camera and the first capsule camera have a period of time as being both in the active mode.

44. A method as in claim 38, wherein the status information is transmitted periodically.

45. A method as in claim 38, wherein the status information is transmitted as being triggered by low battery status.

46. A method as in claim 38, wherein the status information is transmitted as being triggered by a combination of a number of captured pictures by the image sensor, and a total time period as the LEDs being illuminating.

47. A method for operating corporative multiple capsule cameras, comprising:

providing a plurality of capsule cameras, wherein the capsule camera includes a battery, an image sensor, illuminating LEDs, a first wireless communication module and a first control module;

providing a base station having a second wireless communication module and a second control module;

establishing a wireless link between the first wireless communication module and the second wireless communication module;

coordinating with the first control module using the second control module through the wireless link; and

controlling capsule camera operations through the first control module using information received from the second control module through the wireless link.

48. A method as in claim 47, wherein the information transmitted from the first wireless communication module to the second wireless communication module includes status of the respective capsule camera.

49. A method as in claim 48, wherein the status information includes battery status.

50. A method as in claim 48, wherein the status information includes a number of pictures captured by the image sensor.

51. A method as in claim 48, wherein the second control module polls the status information from the first control modules periodically through the wireless link.

52. A method as in claim 48, wherein the first control module initiates transmitting status information to the second control module as being triggered by a low battery status.

53. A method as in claim 48, wherein the first control module initiates transmitting status information to the second control module as being triggered by a combination of a number of captured pictures by the image sensor, and a total time period as the LED being illuminating.

54. A method as in claim 48, wherein the capsule camera operations include a sleep mode and an active mode.

55. A method as in claim 53, wherein the second control module instructs the first control module causing the respective capsule module to initially switch from the sleep mode to the active mode.