Video overhead display system

• US 5,929,910 A
• Filed: 02/21/1997
• Issued: 07/27/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hanwha Techwin Co., Ltd. (Hanwha Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Aerospace Industries, Ltd. (Korea Aerospace Industries Limited)
• Inventors: Kim, Jun-ho, Lee, Seung-yeob, Yoo, Myung-ho
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US08/804,192
• Time in Patent Office: 886 Days
• Field of Search: 348/739, 348/744, 348/777, 348/207, 348/222, 348/240, 348/704, 348/77, 348/79, 348/80, 348/143, 348/373
• US Class Current: 348/373
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/1004 using two-dimensional electrical scanning, e.g. cathode-ray tubes using two-dimensional arrays H04N1/195
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

A video overhead display system for displaying an image of an object includes an image enlarging unit for magnifying an optical image of the object. An image pick-up unit receives the magnified optical image of the object and converts the magnified optical image into an electronic image signal. An image output unit receives the electronic image signal and converts the electronic image signal into a displayed image.

Claims

1. A video overhead display system for displaying an image of an object, comprising:

image enlarging means for magnifying an optical image of the object;

image pick-up means for receiving the magnified optical image of the object and converting the magnified optical image into an electronic image signal;

image output means for receiving the electronic image signal and converting the electronic image signal into a displayed image; and

image reversing means which selectively reverses the image of the object, wherein the image reversing means further includes,

an A/D converter which receives an electronic image signal output from the image pick-up means and converts the electronic image signal into a digital image signal,

an image reverser, which receives the digital image signal from the A/D converter, selectively reverses the digital image signal, and outputs the selectively reversed digital image signal,

a digital signal processor which processes the digital image signal received from the image reverser, and outputs a luminance signal, a chrominance signal, and a composite synchronizing signal, and

an image signal processor which combines the luminance, chrominance, and composite synchronizing signals, and outputs the combined signals as a composite image signal.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the image pick-up means comprises:

an image pick-up device which converts the optical image into the electronic image signal;

a zoom lens unit, fixed to the image pick-up device, and which magnifies the optical image of the object; and

a lighting device which illuminates the object,

wherein the image reversing means receives the electronic image signal from the image pick-up device and selectively reverses the received image signal.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the image enlarging means comprises:

an object lens unit which magnifies the optical image of the object;

an eyepiece lens unit fixed at a predetermined distance from the object lens unit; and

a lens barrel having a predetermined length, which is fixed at one end to the object lens unit and which is fixed at the other end to the eyepiece lens unit.

4. A video overhead display system for displaying an image of an object, comprising:

a body having a control panel;

an image enlarger for magnifying an optical image of the object;

an image pick-up unit connected to the body, and which picks up the magnified optical image of the object, and wherein the image enlarger is separably mounted to the image pick-up unit;

an image reversing device which selectively reverses the image of the object, wherein the image reversing device further includes

an A/D converter which receives an electronic image signal output from the image pick-up unit and converts the electronic image signal into a digital image signal,

an image reverser, which receives the digital image signal from the A/D converter, selectively reverses the digital image signal, and outputs the selectively reversed digital image signal,

a digital signal processor which processes the digital image signal received from the image reverser, and outputs a luminance signal, a chrominance signal, and a composite synchronizing signal, and

an image signal processor which combines the luminance, chrominance, and composite synchronizing signals, and outputs the combined signals as a composite image signal.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the image pick-up unit includes:

an image pick-up device which converts the magnified optical image of the object into an electronic image signal;

a zoom lens unit, fixed to the image pick-up device, which magnifies the magnified image received from the image enlarger; and

a lighting device which illuminates the object.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the image reverser comprises:

a control signal generating unit which outputs control signals for performing write and read operations of the digital image signals;

an input line selector unit which, according to control signals received from the control signal generating unit, selects an input line for the digital image signals received from the A/D converter;

an address select unit which, according to control signals received from the control signal generating unit, either outputs an address at which the digital image signal is written or outputs an address signal at which the digital image signal is read;

a memory which, according to control signal received from the control signal generating unit, writes or reads the digital image signal according to the address output from the address select unit; and

an output unit which, according to control signal received from the control signal generating unit, outputs the digital image signal from the memory to the digital signal processor.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein:

the memory further comprises a first memory and a second memory; and

the address select unit includes a first address select unit corresponding to the first memory, and a second address select unit corresponding to the second memory.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the address select unit comprises:

a column address counter which counts the number of column addresses according to control signals received from the control signal generating unit, and outputs a count value to the first address select unit and the second address select unit; and

a row address counter which counts the number of row addresses, according to control signals received from the control signal generating unit, and outputs a count value to the first and second address select units.

9. The system of claim 4, wherein the image enlarger comprises:

an object lens unit which magnifies an optical image of the object;

an eyepiece lens unit fixed a predetermined distance away from the object lens unit;

and a lens barrel having a predetermined length, which at one end is fixed to the object lens unit and at the other end is fixed to the eyepiece lens unit.

10. The system of claim 9, further comprising:

a light guide connected to the image enlarger for illuminating the object lens unit.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein:

the image pick-up unit includes an adapter lens unit, the adapter lens unit including

a guide projection formed on an outside circumference of the adapter lens unit, formed having a reverse `L` shape, and

a connecting groove formed parallel to a vertical part of the guide projection; and

the image enlarger includes a coupling unit, the coupling unit including

a guide groove formed on an inside part of the coupling unit such that the guide projection of the adapter lens unit can be inserted in the guide groove, and

a hook formed above the guide groove and which protrudes inward.

12. The system of claim 10, further comprising:

a lighting device for illuminating the object; and

wherein the light guide includes

a light connecting unit connected to the lighting device,

a light transmitting unit for transmitting light from the lighting device to the object lens unit, and

a prism fixed above the object lens unit and at an end of the light transmitting unit.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the light transmitting unit comprises optical fibers.

14. The system of claim 4, wherein an object moving device is separably mounted to the image pick-up unit.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the object moving device comprises:

a vertical member mounted to the image pick-up unit;

a horizontal member connected to a lower end of the vertical member;

a vertical moving member connected to the vertical member, and which is able to move vertically along the vertical member;

a horizontal moving member connected to the vertical moving member; and

an object table connected to the horizontal moving member for holding the object.

16. The system of claim 4, further comprising a support for supporting the image pick-up unit, the support further comprising:

an angle rotation device connected to the body;

a vertical moving device connected to the angle rotation device, having two parts which combine to control the length of the vertical moving device; and

a rotating device fixed to the vertical moving device, such that the rotating device can rotate horizontally and the image pick-up unit can rotate vertically.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the rotating device comprises:

a lower rotating cover;

an upper rotating cover;

a horizontal rotating unit mounted in an internal space formed by the lower and upper rotating covers, and rotating on the vertical moving device; and

a vertical rotating unit mounted in an internal space formed by the lower and upper rotating covers, and connected to the image pick-up unit such that the image pick-up unit can rotate vertically.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein:

the horizontal rotating unit comprises a horizontal rotating body having a support shaft groove;

the vertical moving device comprising a support shaft which is inserted in the support shaft groove of the horizontal rotating body;

a horizontal rotating plate fixed to the support shaft and which has a plurality of fixing grooves formed on an outside circumference of the horizontal rotating plate;

horizontal fixing means for controlling the rotation of the horizontal rotating plate.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the horizontal fixing means comprises:

a fixing rod formed in a zig-zag shape;

a fixing roller connected to an end of the fixing rod and inserted in one of the fixing grooves of the horizontal rotation plate;

a spring fixing pin connected to the horizontal rotating body such that the fixing rod is able to rotate about the spring fixing pin; and

a return spring disposed on the spring fixing pin.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the vertical rotating unit comprises:

a vertical rotating body fixed to the image pick-up unit and including a plurality of spring fixing grooves;

a vertical rotating plate fixed to the horizontal rotating body of the vertical rotating unit and which forms a plurality of fixing holes;

a plurality of springs for insertion into corresponding spring fixing grooves; and

fixing bars connected to one end of the springs and inserted in the corresponding fixing holes.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein an end portion of the fixing bars are rounded.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein the fixing bars comprise ball bearings.

23. The system of claim 20, wherein a friction spring is fixed between the vertical rotating plate and the horizontal rotating plate.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the friction spring is formed of a ring-shaped plate spring having a plurality of elevations.