SELF-GROUNDING TRANSMITTING PORTABLE CAMERA CONTROLLER FOR USE WITH PIPE INSPECTION SYSTEM

• US 20140204197A1
• Filed: 07/12/2013
• Published: 07/24/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seescan, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Seescan, Inc.
• Inventors: Olsson, Mark S., Shaffer, Dawn E.
• Granted Patent: US 9,769,366 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/84
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2021/9548 Scanning the interior of a cylinder
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 37/005 Photographing internal surfaces, e.g. of pipe, G03B37/02 - G03B37/06 take precedence; instruments for performing medical examinations of cavities or tubes of the body by photographic inspection A61B1/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/555 for picking-up images in sites, inaccessible due to their dimensions or hazardous conditions, e.g. endoscopes or borescopes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/66 Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices

Abstract

A portable camera controller for use with a pipe inspection system is disclosed. The controller may include an onboard display, USB ports, wireless capability, and a built-in transmitter for energizing a pipe-inspection cable for tracing purposes. The camera controller may be configured to support auto-logging and automatic report generation of pipe inspection operations and associated locating operations. The camera controller may be self-grounding using conductive and/or capacitive grounding circuits and an associated transmitter may be used without a separate grounding stake through use of the conductive and/or capacitive grounding circuits.

Claims

1. A camera controller, comprising:

a base assembly configured to mechanically couple the controller to a hidden or buried pipe inspection system;

a user interface panel disposed on or within the base assembly; and

an electronics module electrically coupled to the user interface panel, the electronics module including one or more processing elements configured to;

receive control input signals from the user interface panel and provide, responsive to the received input signals, control data to the pipe inspection system; and

receive one or more pipe inspection output signals from the pipe inspection system and store data corresponding to the pipe inspection output signals in a memory.

2. The camera controller of claim 1, wherein the electronics module is further configured to provide the data corresponding to the pipe inspection output signals to an external electronic computing system.

3. The camera controller of claim 1, wherein the base assembly includes a cable reel drum assembly.

4. The camera controller of claim 1, wherein the base assembly includes a camera head.

5. The controller of claim 1, further comprising a Universal Serial Bus (USB) hub coupled to the electronics module to send and/or receive data associated with a pipe or other cavity being inspected.

6. The controller of claim 1, further comprising an electrical connector coupled to the electronics module for receiving signals from a system cable connected to a pipe inspection system.

7. The controller of claim 1, further comprising a wireless communication module coupled to the electronics module for sending and/or receiving wireless communication signals.

8. The controller of claim 1, further comprising a hub or router configured to wirelessly send and/or receive information from the pipe inspection system.

9. The controller of claim 8, wherein the information provided from the hub or router includes image, audio, and/or video data.

10. The controller of claim 1, further including an electronic transmitter configured to generate at a least a single frequency to be coupled onto an associated pipe inspection push-cable.

11. The controller of claim 10, wherein the frame, feet, casing or other parts of the controller are configured to provide a grounding connection between the transmitter and a ground surface.

12. The controller of claim 1, further including a microphone, wherein the electronics module is configured to receive an audio signal from the microphone and associate the audio signal with the pipe inspection output signals.

13. The controller of claim 1, wherein the camera head includes a camera and a high-speed data link, wherein the camera is equipped with one or more of orientation, movement, and positional sensors.

14. The controller of claim 13, wherein the camera includes a microphone.

15. The controller of claim 12, wherein the processing module is configured to integrate the pipe inspection output signals and positional and sound data and store the resulting data in a memory.

16. The controller of claim 1, comprising one or more stepped USB connectors.

17. The controller of claim 1, further comprising a sealed cover for the one or more stepped USB connectors.

18. The controller of claim 1, further comprising a joystick.

19. The controller of claim 1, further comprising a magnetically sensed user interface device (UID).

21. The controller of claim 18 or 19, wherein the joystick or magnetically sensed UID controls one or more of traction manipulation, cursor movement, and image manipulation/articulation.

22. The controller of claim 1, further comprising an internal battery;

wherein the internal battery is configured to be charged from an external battery or external power supply.

23. The controller of claim 1, further comprising a lid element and a magnetic switch disposed on or within the lid element.

24. The controller of claim 1, further comprising a hood element.

25. The controller of claim 24, wherein the hood element is removable.

26. The controller of claim 25, wherein the hood element is restrained using a frictional surface contact.