Compact imaging device incorporating rotatably mounted cameras

• US 6,320,610 B1
• Filed: 12/31/1998
• Issued: 11/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sensar, Inc. (Advent International Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sensar, Inc. (Advent International Corporation)
• Inventors: Drozd, John, Chmielewski, Thomas A. Jr., Negin, Michael, Van Sant, Glen, Kaighn, Kevin Carl
• Primary Examiner(s): Garber, Wendy R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tillery, Rashawn N.
• Application Number:
  US09/224,544
• Time in Patent Office: 1,055 Days
• Field of Search: 348/42, 348/47, 348/77, 348/78, 348/143, 348/156, 348/159, 348/48, 348/61, 348/150, 348/151, 382/117, 382/118, 382/291, 382/103, 340/571, 340/545.6, 340/425, 340/426
• US Class Current: 348/143
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/10 Scanning systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/19 Sensors therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/37 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/20 Automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/201 Accessories of ATMs
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 19/207 Surveillance aspects at ATMs
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/207 using a single 2D image sensor
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/239 using two 2D image sensors having a relative position equal to or related to the interocular distance H04N13/243 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/246 Calibration of cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/254 in combination with electromagnetic radiation sources for illuminating objects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/296 Synchronisation thereof; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2013/0081 Depth or disparity estimation from stereoscopic image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/55 Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/56 provided with illuminating means

Abstract

A compact image steering and focusing device has a generally rectangular frame containing at least one illuminator and at least one and preferably two cameras and a pan/tilt mirror on a tilting frame. There is a tilt axis through the frame. A tilt motor is attached to the frame to turn the frame about the tilt axis. Another camera is positioned in optical alignment with the pan/tilt mirror. The device can fit behind the cover plate of an automated teller machine. Images from the cameras on the titling frame are used to focus the other camera on one eye of the automated teller machine user to identify the user by iris analysis and comparison to an iris image or iris code on file.

Claims

1. A compact imaging device comprising:

a. a base;

b. at least one upright attached to the base;

c. a frame attached to the at least one upright in a manner so that the frame can rotate about a tilt axis which intersects the upright;

d. a pan/tilt mirror rotatably attached to the frame so that the mirror can be rotated around a pan axis which pan axis intersects a plane through the tilt axis;

e. a pan motor connected to the mirror in a manner to be able to rotate the mirror about the pan axis;

f. a first camera and first camera lens attached to the frame and in optical alignment with the pan/tilt mirror; and

g. at least one second camera and second camera lens attached to the frame.

2. The compact image steering device of claim 1 also comprising a fixed mirror attached to the base and positioned in an optical path between the pan/tilt mirror and the first camera.

3. The compact image steering device of claim 1 wherein the at least one second camera is comprised of two cameras separated by a fixed horizontal distance.

4. The compact image steering device of claim 3 wherein the two cameras have overlapping fields of view.

5. The device of claim 4 also comprising an image processor connected to the second and third cameras which receives images of a subject in the overlapping fields of view from both the second camera and the third camera and processes those images to determine an x, y, z coordinate position relative to the second and third cameras for a point on the subject from which point the first camera can be directed.

6. The device of claim 5 also comprising:

a. a tilt motor connected to the frame;

b. a focus motor connected to the first camera lens; and

c. a controller connected to the image processor, the pan motor, tilt motor and the focus motor which activates the pan motor and tilt motor to position the pan/tilt mirror and the focus motor so that light reflected from the point on the subject to the pan/tilt mirror will be reflected by the pan/tilt mirror to the first camera.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein the image processor is programmed to compare images from the second camera to determine if the subject is moving, calculate a motion path of a moving subject and direct the pan, tilt and focus motors to compensate for such motion.

8. The device of claim 6 also comprising a gaze director connected to the controller.

9. The device of claim 8 wherein the gaze director is connected in a manner to allow the gaze director to be placed at a location remote from the base.

10. The device of claim 8 wherein the remote location is on an automated teller machine.

11. The compact image steering device of claim 1 also comprising at least one illuminator attached to the frame.

12. The compact image steering device of claim 1 also comprising a cover attached to the base and surrounding the frame, pan/tilt mirror, pan motor and cameras.

13. The compact image steering device of claim 1 wherein the device has a depth not less than 8 inches, a width not greater than 10.6 inches and a height not greater than 2 inches.

14. The device of claim 1 wherein the pan motor is a linear drive motor.

15. The device of claim 14 also comprising a belt drive connected between the pan motor and the frame.

16. The device of claim 1 also comprising at least one light source which can emit at least one of infrared light, visible light, a select band of frequencies, or both infrared and visible light, the at least one light source being positioned so that light emitted from the light source will be reflected from a subject to the pan/tilt mirror.

17. The device of claim 16 wherein the light source is a strobe light.

18. The device of claim 16 also comprising a synchronizer connected to the camera and the light source for synchronizing the operation of the camera with strobing of the light source.

19. The device of claim 16 also comprising a strobing device connected to the light source.

20. The device of claim 16 wherein the light source is a light emitting diode or array of light emitting diodes.

21. The device of claim 16 also comprising a motor connected to the at least one light source.

22. The device of claim 1 also comprising at least one limit switch connected to the pan motor.

23. The device of claim 1 also comprising at least one position sensor mounted on one of the frame and the stand in a manner to determine positions of at least one of the pan/tilt mirror and the frame.

24. The device of claim 1 wherein the pan motor is a one of a DC motor and a stepper motor.

25. The device of claim 21 also comprising a controller connected to the motor and a position sensor connected to the controller wherein the position sensor provides signals to the controller and the controller supplies the motor with corresponding drive signals.

26. The device of claim 1 also comprising a range finder connected to the base and positioned to determine a distance of a subject from the at least one second camera.

27. The device of claim 1 wherein the first camera lens is selected from the group of lenses consisting of a fixed focus lens, telecentric lens, varifocal lens and zoom lens.

28. The device of claim 1 also comprising a top removably connected to the base and a detector connected to at least one of the top and the base to detect movement of the top relative to the base.

29. The device of claim 28 also comprising at least one image processor connected to the cameras and the detector, the image processor containing a program which will disable the image processor upon receipt of a signal from the detector.

30. The device of claim 29 wherein the program will erase selected software modules or routines in the image processor upon receipt of a signal from the detector.

31. The device of claim 1 also comprising a proximity detector positioned relative to the base to detect a person approaching the device.

32. The device of claim 31 also comprising:

a. at least one illuminator positioned to emit light that will be reflected from a subject to the pan/tilt mirror; and

b. a controller connected to the proximity detector, the pan motor and the at least one illuminator which controller changes the at least one illuminator and the pan motor from a low power state to a higher power state.

33. The device of claim 1 also comprising a top connected to the base wherein the top and base are sized and configured to enclose the upright, frame, pan/tilt mirror, pan motor, camera and lenses.

34. The device of claim 1 wherein the first camera creates an image in response to a selected wavelength of light and the second camera creates an image in response to a different selected wavelength of light.

35. The device of claim 1 also comprising at least one optical filter placed in an optical path of at least one of the first camera and the second camera.

36. The device of claim 35 wherein the at least one optical filter has a center frequency of from 700 nm to 900 nm.

37. The device of claim 1 wherein the first camera lens has zoom and focus axes that can be adjusted to compensate for a size change of an iris of a user who is wearing glasses.

38. The compact imaging device of claim 11, further comprising an illuminator assembly connecting the illuminator to the frame.

39. The compact imaging device of claim 38, wherein the illuminator assembly is rotatably connected to the frame such that the illuminator assembly may rotate in the pan direction independent of the frame.