Video camera including multiple image sensors

• US 6,288,742 B1
• Filed: 05/27/1997
• Issued: 09/11/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Wi-LAN Inc.
• Original Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Shahraray, Behzad, Whalen, Matthew S., Ansari, Ahmad C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Garber, Wendy R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): VU, NGOC YEN T
• Application Number:
  US08/863,120
• Time in Patent Office: 1,568 Days
• Field of Search: 358/906, 358/909.1, 348/13, 348/15, 348/16, 348/143, 348/169, 348/207, 348/211-213, 348/222, 348/241, 348/243, 348/280, 348/279, 348/552, 348/607, 348/608, 348/14.01, 348/14.02, 348/14.05, 348/14.08, 348/14.09
• US Class Current: 348/211.14
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/84 for processing colour signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/268 Signal distribution or switching
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

A digital camera comprising a first lens for focusing a first image, a second lens for focusing a second image, a first sensor for converting a light intensity and color pattern of the first image into a first electrical signal, a second sensor for converting a light intensity and color pattern of the second image into a second electrical signal, a processing unit for processing the first electrical signal and the second electrical signal and a switch for selectively coupling either the first electrical signal or the second electrical signal to the processing unit.

Claims

1. A digital camera system comprising:

a plurality of sensor units, each having a lens for capturing an image and a sensor for outputting electrical information corresponding to the image, each said sensor unit being disposed at a distinct equipment location remote from the other sensor units;

a processor, disposed at a first equipment location remote from at least one of the plurality of sensor units, and electrically coupled to each of said sensor units, for processing the electrical information output by the plurality of sensors;

a selector, for selectively providing the information from a selected one of the plurality of sensors, to the processor, said selector comprising a microcontroller coupled to said processor;

said processor and said microcontroller being disposed at said first equipment location remote from the equipment locations of each of said sensor units;

said digital camera system further including at said first equipment location, a timing circuit for generating timing signals, and a radio frequency (RF) transmitter operable to RF modulate and wirelessly transmit said timing signals;

each of said sensor units including an RF receiver for receiving and demodulating said modulated timing signals transmitted by said RF transmitter, a processing circuitry for driving the sensor therein responsive to said received timing signals, and a further RF transmitter for RF modulating and wirelessly transmitting the respective analog electrical signal provided by the sensor therein; and

said digital camera system further including at said first equipment location, another RF receiver, selectively controlled by said microcontroller, for receiving and demodulating the analog electrical signals transmitter by the sensor units, the received analog electrical signals being digitized by an A/D converter and provided to said processor for processing.

2. A digital camera according to claim 1, wherein:

said further RF transmitters within said sensor units are operable to transmit said modulated electrical signals at different RF frequencies; and

said another RF receiver being operative to select, under the control of said microcontroller, which of said modulated electrical signals to demodulate.

3. The digital camera according to claim 1, wherein said distinct equipment locations are in different peripheral locations of a room.

4. A camera, comprising:

a first sensor unit consisting essentially of a first lens for focusing a first image and a first sensor for converting light intensity of the first image into a first electrical signal;

a second sensor unit consisting essentially of a second lens for focusing a second image and a second sensor for converting light intensity of the second image into a second electrical signal; and

a circuit arrangement, coupled to each of said sensor units, including a processor for processing the first and second electrical signals, a common driver for driving each of said sensor units, a switch for selectively directing either the first or second electrical signals towards the processor, and a common correlation double sampler coupled between the switch and the processor for eliminating low-frequency noise components from the electrical signals.

5. The camera according to claim 4, wherein each of said sensors comprises a charge coupled device.

6. The camera according to claim 4, wherein said circuit arrangement further includes automatic gain control means coupled between said switch and said processor for controlling gain of said electrical signals.

7. The camera according to claim 6, further comprising an analog to digital converter coupled between said switch and said processor for digitizing said electrical signals.