Dual-mode camera

• US 7,768,566 B2
• Filed: 12/28/2006
• Issued: 08/03/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: e-Watch, Inc. (Cision Ltd.), The Telesis Group, Inc.
• Original Assignee: The Telesis Group, Inc.
• Inventors: Monroe, David A
• Primary Examiner(s): Hannett; James M
• Application Number:
  US11/617,368
• Publication Number:
  US 20070182840A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,314 Days
• Field of Search: 348/333.05, 348/333.11, 348/217.1, 348/164, 348/333.18
• US Class Current: 348/333.05
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 13/16 for use in conjunction with image converters or intensifiers , or for use with projectors, e.g. objectives for projection TV
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/16 for containing both motion-picture camera and still-picture camera
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/48 adapted for combination with other photographic or optical apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 19/22 Double cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2209/048 having several pick-up sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/11 for generating image signals from visible and infrared light wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/45 for generating image signals from two or more image sensors being of different type or operating in different modes, e.g. with a CMOS sensor for moving images in combination with a charge-coupled device [CCD] for still images
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/667 Camera operation mode switching, e.g. between still and video, sport and normal or high- and low-resolution modes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/68 for stable pick-up of the scene, e.g. compensating for camera body vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/6842 by controlling the scanning position, e.g. windowing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/69 Control of means for changing angle of the field of view, e.g. optical zoom objectives or electronic zooming
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/75 by influencing optical camera components
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/33 Transforming infrared radiation cameras or camera modules for generating image signals from infrared radiation H04N23/20; circuitry of SSIS for transforming infrared radiation into image signals H04N25/20

Abstract

A dual camera system uses a single lens and no moving parts in the optical path. A single lens directs a desired scene to a partially reflective beamsplitting mirror, thence to a pair of image sensors. For day/night operation, one sensor may be optimized for nighttime sensitivity, while the other is optimized for daytime operation. Alternatively, one optical path may have greater magnification, thus allowing electronic zooming with no resolution loss. The system may be enhanced with an image intensifier for nighttime operation; digital sensors for improved resolution, or orthogonal gyroscopic accelerometers for image stabilization. Additionally, the monochrome and color images may be produced simultaneously and ‘fused’ algorithmically, yielding an improvement in sensitivity and color resolution compared with a conventional color camera.

Claims

1. A camera, comprising:

a single lens system adapted to direct a beam, the single lens system providing a directed beam;

an iris adapted to limit an amount of the directed beam, the iris providing a limited amount of the directed beam;

a mirror adapted to receive and distribute the limited amount of the directed beam, the mirror providing a first portion of the distributed beam and a second portion of the distributed beam;

a first digital image sensor adapted to receive the first portion of the distributed beam;

a second digital image sensor adapted to receive the second portion of the distributed beam;

an image intensifier adapted to receive and intensify at least one of the following;

the limited amount of the directed beam,

the first portion of the distributed beam, and

the second portion of the distributed beam;

a processor adapted to receive an output from at least one of the first image sensor and the second image sensor, the processor being adapted to provide an iris driver control signal to an iris driver;

a multiplexer adapted to merge characteristics of output provided by the first digital image sensor and the second digital image sensor;

an iris driver adapted to operate the iris, the iris driver receiving the iris driver control signal; and

where the iris driver control signal is provided to establish the limited amount of the directed beam to prevent overexposure to at least one of the following;

the image intensifier,

the first digital image sensor, and

the second digital image sensor.

2. A camera according to claim 1 and further comprising:

the processor being operable to control a scanning of the first digital image sensor and the second digital image sensor,

the processor being adapted to receive scanned output of the first digital image sensor, the processor being adapted to receive scanned output of the second digital image sensor, the processor being adapted to produce an output.

3. A camera according to claim 1 and further comprising:

the processor being further adapted to twice integrate the angular accelerations to derive an instantaneous angular position of the camera; and

the processor being further adapted to temporally offset the scanning, thereby stabilizing the output based on the instantaneous angular position.

4. A camera according to claim 1 and further comprising:

the first digital image sensor being a color image sensor providing chrominance information;

the second digital image sensor being a monochrome image sensor providing luminance information; and

the processor being operable to control a scanning of the chrominance information and the luminance information;

the processor being operable to scale the chrominance information and the luminance information; and

the processor being operable to merge the chrominance information and the luminance information.