Method and apparatus for locating and measuring the distance to a target
First Claim
1. Apparatus for use with a portable handheld laser range finder configured to direct a laser beam toward a scene to measure the distance to a target in the scene and having a range finder display for displaying data, including data that is indicative of the distance to the target, said apparatus comprising:
- a protective housing configured to receive and retain the range finder;
a camera module in said housing, said camera module including a lens mounted in a front end portion of said housing, and a light path through said lens to an image sensor;
an image sensor operatively connected to said camera module for receiving an image of a scene acquired by said camera module;
electronic memory for selectively storing data of said image of a scene acquired by said image sensor;
circuitry for controlling the operation of said image sensor and said memory;
a camera display in said housing operatively connected to said image sensor for receiving said image data and providing a visual display of said image of a scene;
a projector operatively connected to said housing for projecting said data displayed by the range finder display including indicia identifying the location of the target measured by the range finder onto said image sensor to thereby enable capture of said image data of said scene and displayed distance data together in said memory so that said image of said scene including the location of the target can be displayed together with said distance data on said camera display; and
a switch for storing said image data and said distance data in said memory, thereby providing a stored record of the distance to the target that is identified within the image of said scene.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments of the invention comprise an apparatus for use with a laser range finder configured to direct a laser beam toward a scene to measure the distance to a target in the scene and having a range finder display for displaying data, including data that is indicative of the distance to a target, wherein the apparatus comprises a protective housing, a camera module in the housing, the camera module including a lens mounted in a front end portion of the housing, and a light path through the lens to image sensor, an image sensor operatively connected to the camera module for receiving images acquired by the camera module, electronic memory for selectively storing data of images from the image sensor, circuitry for controlling the operation of the image sensor and the memory, a camera display in the housing operatively connected to the image sensor for receiving the image data and providing a visual display of the image, and a switch for storing image data in the memory. Other embodiments include a projector in the housing for projecting the data displayed by the second display onto the image sensor to thereby capture the image data of the scene and displayed distance data together.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. Apparatus for use with a portable handheld laser range finder configured to direct a laser beam toward a scene to measure the distance to a target in the scene and having a range finder display for displaying data, including data that is indicative of the distance to the target, said apparatus comprising:
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a protective housing configured to receive and retain the range finder; a camera module in said housing, said camera module including a lens mounted in a front end portion of said housing, and a light path through said lens to an image sensor; an image sensor operatively connected to said camera module for receiving an image of a scene acquired by said camera module; electronic memory for selectively storing data of said image of a scene acquired by said image sensor; circuitry for controlling the operation of said image sensor and said memory; a camera display in said housing operatively connected to said image sensor for receiving said image data and providing a visual display of said image of a scene; a projector operatively connected to said housing for projecting said data displayed by the range finder display including indicia identifying the location of the target measured by the range finder onto said image sensor to thereby enable capture of said image data of said scene and displayed distance data together in said memory so that said image of said scene including the location of the target can be displayed together with said distance data on said camera display; and a switch for storing said image data and said distance data in said memory, thereby providing a stored record of the distance to the target that is identified within the image of said scene. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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6. Apparatus for use with a portable handheld laser range finder configured to direct a laser beam toward a scene to measure the distance to a target in the scene and having a range finder display for displaying data, including data that is indicative of the distance to a target, said apparatus comprising:
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a protective housing configured to receive and retain the range finder; a camera module in said housing, said camera module including a lens mounted in a front end portion of said housing, and a light path through said lens to an image sensor; an image sensor operatively connected to said camera module for receiving an image of a scene acquired by said camera module, said image sensor comprising a multiplicity of pixels arranged in a x by y matrix, said image having a predefined center coordinate and an image area of pixels surrounded by a border having a width of at least a predetermined number of pixels, said control circuitry being configured to shift said predefined center coordinate and said image area within said matrix, so that said image area can occupy a portion of said border for calibration purposes, wherein said border width has a sufficient number of pixels to permit at least 2 degrees of angular adjustment of said image area of pixels within said pixel matrix; electronic memory for selectively storing data of said image of a scene acquired by said image sensor; circuitry for controlling the operation of said image sensor and said memory; a camera display in said housing operatively connected to said image sensor for receiving said image data and providing a visual display of said image of a scene; and a switch for storing image data in said memory. - View Dependent Claims (7)
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13. Apparatus for use with a laser range finder configured to direct a laser beam toward a scene to measure the distance to a target in the scene and having a range finder display for displaying data, including data that is indicative of the distance to a target, said apparatus comprising:
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a protective housing; a camera module in said housing, said camera module including a lens mounted in a front end portion of said housing, and a light path through said lens to an image sensor; an image sensor operatively connected to said camera module for receiving image acquired by said camera module; electronic memory for selectively storing data of images from said image sensor; circuitry for controlling the operation of said image sensor and said memory; a camera display in said housing operatively connected to said image sensor for receiving said image data and providing a visual display of said image; and a switch for storing image data in said memory; wherein said housing comprises an expandable and retractable top front portion that is mounted to a base portion by a folding mechanism, whereby when said top front portion is in an open position, said camera display is visible beneath said top front portion and said camera is positioned to acquire an image, and whereby when said top front portion is in a closed position, said top front portion is retracted and said camera and camera display are enclosed in said housing. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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20. Apparatus for finding a target and measuring the distance to the target, comprising:
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a protective housing; a camera module in said housing, a lens mounted in a front end portion of said housing, and a light path through said lens; an image sensor configured to acquire an image from said light path through said lens of said camera module and generate image data of an acquired image; a first display in said housing operatively connected to said image sensor for receiving said image data and providing a visual display of said image; electronic memory operatively connected to said image sensor for selectively storing image data of images from said image sensor; control circuitry for controlling said image sensor and electronic memory to selectively acquire image data of a scene and store the same; a laser distance finder in said housing configured to direct a laser beam toward said scene and generate data that is indicative of the distance to a target in said scene; a second display in said housing operatively connected to said distance finder for displaying said distance data; a projector operatively connected to said housing for projecting said data displayed by said second display including indicia identifying the location of the target measured by the range finder onto said image sensor to thereby enable capture of said image data of said scene and displayed distance data together in said memory so that said image of said scene including the location of the target can be displayed together with said distance data on said first display; and a switch for storing said image data and said distance data in said memory, thereby providing a stored record of the distance to the target that is identified within the image of said scene.
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21. Apparatus for finding a target and measuring the distance to the target, comprising:
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a protective housing; a camera module in said housing, a lens mounted in a front end portion of said housing, and a light path through said lens; an image sensor configured to acquire an image from said light path through said lens of said camera module and generate image data of an acquired image; a first display in said housing operatively connected to said image sensor for receiving said image data and providing a visual display of said image; electronic memory operatively connected to said image sensor for selectively storing image data of images from said image sensor; control circuitry for controlling said image sensor and electronic memory to selectively acquire image data of a scene and store the same; a laser distance finder in said housing configured to direct a laser beam toward said scene and generate data that is indicative of the distance to a target in said scene and data indicative of the location of said beam relative to said target; a second display in said housing operatively connected to said distance finder for displaying said distance data; a projector in said housing for projecting said data displayed by said second display including indicia identifying the location of the target measured by the range finder onto said image sensor to thereby capture said image data of said scene and displayed distance data together; and a switch for selectively storing said image data and said distance data in said memory, thereby providing a stored record of the distance to the target that is identified within the image of said scene.
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22. A method of calibrating a laser spot produced by a laser range finder directed to a target to a predetermined coordinate within an image area captured by a target finder having a video camera with a megapixel image sensor having a matrix of pixels that is larger than the image area and a display for displaying the captured image area, the target finder having circuitry for controlling the operation of the image sensor and display and input controls to the circuitry, said method comprising:
selectively providing inputs to the circuitry to shift the location of the pixels of the image area to move the image area so that the laser spot is displayed at the predetermined coordinate. - View Dependent Claims (23)
Specification