INSPECTION SYSTEM

• US 20160150138A1
• Filed: 02/01/2016
• Published: 05/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BWI Acquisition Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Sharp Cars Detailing & More, LLC
• Inventors: Hauk, Jason
• Granted Patent: US 10,681,261 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 15/06 Special arrangements of screening, diffusing, or reflecting devices, e.g. in studio
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 37/02 with scanning movement of lens or cameras
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/51 Indexing; Data structures therefor; Storage structures
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0265 Vehicular advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0623 Item investigation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0643 Graphical representation of items or shoppers
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 5/50 using two or more images, e.g. averaging or subtraction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/62 Control of parameters via user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/66 Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/90 Arrangement of cameras or camera modules, e.g. multiple cameras in TV studios or sports stadiums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/222 Studio circuitry; Studio devices; Studio equipment cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors, or control thereof H04N23/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/38 Transmitter circuitry for the transmission of television signals according to analogue transmission standards H04N5/14 takes precedence

Abstract

A front-end image acquisition component acquires photographs and/or videos of various goods, vehicles, vessels, and/or real estate fixtures. In one aspect, an image acquisition system comprises a hub with outwardly extending arms and supports for coupling to an upper support structure. Cameras are affixed to the hub and the arms for acquiring image data of a subject substantially simultaneously.

Claims

1. A system for acquiring images of a subject, comprising:

a hub coupled to an upper support structure located above the subject, the hub having one or more hub supports affixed to a top surface thereof for coupling to the upper support structure;

a plurality of arms extending outwardly from the hub, each of the arms being connected at a proximal end to a side surface of the hub, and each of the arms having at least one arm support affixed thereto for coupling to the upper support structure; and

a plurality of cameras for acquiring image data of the subject, the cameras including a plurality of peripheral cameras and at least one top camera, each of the peripheral cameras being affixed to a corresponding one of the plurality of arms and arranged for acquiring image data of the subject from a plurality of different directions, and the top camera being affixed to a bottom surface of the hub and arranged for acquiring image data of the subject from a downward direction, wherein the plurality of peripheral cameras and the top camera acquire image data of the subject substantially simultaneously.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a subject alignment pattern affixed to a lower support surface located below the subject for identifying a desired position of the subject relative to the cameras.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the hub and the cameras are positioned above the subject alignment pattern and configured for acquiring image data of the subject when the subject is positioned in the desired position relative to the cameras.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a processor configured for facilitating transmission of the acquired image data from the plurality of cameras.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the processor executes computer-executable instructions for stitching together the acquired image data into a 360-degree panoramic image.

6. The system of claim 4, further comprising a graphical user interface display connected to the processor.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the cameras has a wide-angle lens.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a wireless communications transceiver for receiving electronic control data and for transmitting image data acquired by the cameras to a database for storing the acquired image data.

9. The system of claim 2, further comprising a plurality of sensors adapted to detect a current position of the subject relative to the subject alignment pattern.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the cameras acquire images of the subject in response to the current position of the subject detected by the sensors

12. The system of claim 8, further comprising a plurality of conduit box covers each corresponding to one of the conduit boxes and a plurality of screws for each conduit box cover.

13. The system of claim 9, further comprising a hole saw sized and shaped for use with the plurality of box covers.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the plurality of supports each comprise a plurality of carabiners and a turnbuckle.

16. The system of claim 8, further comprising a plurality of anchor screws sized and shaped to affix the subject alignment plates to the support surface.

17. The system of claim 13, further comprising a drill bit sized and shaped to create cylindrical holes in the support surface each having a substantially circular cross-section and sized and shaped to accept the plurality of anchor screws.

11. A system for manufacturing an image acquisition apparatus, said system comprising:

a hub;

a plurality of connectors sized and shaped to fit a plurality of holes in the hub, wherein the holes in the hub are spaced apart and arranged around a periphery of the hub;

a plurality conduit poles sized and shaped to fit the plurality of holes in the hub;

a plurality of conduit connector sleeves sized and shaped to couple two of the plurality of conduit poles;

a plurality of conduit boxes each having a hole in a top surface thereof sized and shaped to accept one of the plurality of conduit poles;

a plurality of structure mounts adapted to be affixed to a support structure;

a plurality of supports adapted to be affixed to the conduit poles and the hub for coupling the conduit poles and the hub to the structure mounts; and

one or more subject alignment plates adapted to be affixed to a support surface, wherein the subject alignment plates provide a reference for an installation of the hub, the plurality of conduit poles, and the plurality of conduit boxes.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the plurality of supports further comprise a pipe clamp sized and shaped to fit around the plurality of conduit poles.

18. A system for acquiring images of the exterior of a vehicle, comprising:

a first camera support structure having one or more side view cameras affixed thereto for acquiring image data of the vehicle;

a second camera support structure having one or more additional side view cameras affixed thereto for acquiring image data of the vehicle, the second camera support structure being located opposite the first camera support structure relative to a vehicle support surface adapted for supporting the vehicle to be imaged;

a third camera support structure having one or more top view cameras affixed thereto for acquiring image data of the vehicle, the third camera support structure extending between the first and second camera support structures above the vehicle support surface; and

a processor executing computer-executable instructions for facilitating the transmission of the acquired image data from the cameras.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the processor further executes computer-executable instructions for stitching together the acquired image data into a 360-degree panoramic image.

20. The system of claim 19, further comprising a graphical user interface display connected to the processor.