Camera system
First Claim
1. A camera module having a longitudinal axis, comprising:
- a faceplate for securing the module in a fixed position relative to a mounting bracket;
a mounting rail secured to the face plate;
a base plate movably coupled to the mounting rail for aligning an optical axis of a camera mounted on the base plate with the longitudinal axis of the camera module, the base plate being adjustable about a pitch axis and about a yaw axis with respect to the mounting rail.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A camera system includes a camera module that can be rapidly aligned with a predetermined field of view. In one embodiment, the camera module includes a faceplate that is matable to a mounting bracket so as to place the camera module in a fixed position relative to the mounting bracket. A mounting rail is securable to the face plate, such as perpendicularly. A base plate, to which the camera can be affixed, is engagable to the mounting plate such that that the camera is movable about yaw and pitch axes with respect to the mounting plate. The base plate position can be adjusted by a plurality of screws that impinge upon the mounting plate until the camera optical axis is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the module. Once the camera is aligned it is fixed in position in relation to the mounting plate, and therefore, the faceplate and the mounting bracket as well. This arrangement allows a camera to be rapidly aligned with the predetermined field of view by mounting the camera module on the mounting bracket.
57 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A camera module having a longitudinal axis, comprising:
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a faceplate for securing the module in a fixed position relative to a mounting bracket;
a mounting rail secured to the face plate;
a base plate movably coupled to the mounting rail for aligning an optical axis of a camera mounted on the base plate with the longitudinal axis of the camera module, the base plate being adjustable about a pitch axis and about a yaw axis with respect to the mounting rail. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A camera system, comprising:
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a mounting bracket having opposing first and second surfaces;
a camera module for mounting to the mounting bracket, the camera module having a longitudinal axis, the camera module including a face plate having opposing first and second surfaces, the first surface of the faceplate being matable with the second surface of the mounting bracket;
a casing having proximal and distal ends, the proximal end being matable with the second surface of the faceplate;
a mounting rail extending from the second surface of the faceplate, such that a position of the mounting rail is fixed with respect to the faceplate and the mounting bracket;
a baseplate movably secured to the mounting rail;
a camera secured to the baseplate and having an optical axis; and
a camera positioning mechanism for manipulating the camera about pitch and yaw axes to align the camera optical axis with the longitudinal axis of the camera module. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of aligning a camera module with a predetermined field of view, comprising:
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mounting a camera on a base plate;
movably coupling the base plate to a mounting rail;
securing the mounting rail to a face plate;
securing a collimating/focusing tool to a first surface of a mounting bracket;
securing the camera module to a mounting bracket;
connecting the camera to a monitor;
adjusting settings of the camera for optimal polarization and imaging of a remote target;
adjusting a camera position mechanism until an optical axis of the camera is aligned with a longitudinal axis of the camera module;
fixing the camera settings; and
fixing the camera position mechanism to maintain the position of the camera. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
removing the camera module from the mounting bracket; - and
attaching a further collimated camera module to the mounting bracket.
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18. The method according to claim 16, further including
removing the camera module from the mounting bracket; -
installing the camera module on a further mounting bracket; and
adjusting a position of the further mounting bracket until the camera module images a predetermined field of view.
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Specification