Digital security camera

• US 8,791,984 B2
• Filed: 02/18/2011
• Issued: 07/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Blackhawk Imaging LLC
• Original Assignee: Scallop Imaging, LLC
• Inventors: Jones, Peter W. J., Cargill, Ellen, Purcell, Dennis W.
• Primary Examiner(s): BLAIR, DOUGLAS B
• Application Number:
  US13/030,960
• Publication Number:
  US 20110234807A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,257 Days
• Field of Search: 348/36
• US Class Current: 348/36
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19641 Multiple cameras having overlapping views on a single scene
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19693 using multiple video sources viewed on a single or compound screen
• 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 23/698 for achieving an enlarged field of view, e.g. panoramic image capture
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/70 Circuitry for compensating brightness variation in the scene
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/90 Arrangement of cameras or camera modules, e.g. multiple cameras in TV studios or sports stadiums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/951 by using two or more images to influence resolution, frame rate or aspect ratio
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/41 Extracting pixel data from a plurality of image sensors simultaneously picking up an image, e.g. for increasing the field of view by combining the outputs of a plurality of sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/262 Studio circuits, e.g. for mixing, switching-over, change of character of image, other special effects ; Cameras specially adapted for the electronic generation of special effects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/2624 for obtaining an image which is composed of whole input images, e.g. splitscreen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

The systems and methods described herein provide imaging systems for imaging a scene. The imaging system includes an optical head, a processor, and an analog communication port. The processor receives captured digital image data from the optical head. The processor sends the image data to the analog communication port to generate an analog video stream that is protocol compatible with typical closed-circuit television (CCTV) networks, such as PAL or NTSC. The imaging system has a physical interface that allows the system to plug into a conventional CCTV network. To generate a video stream that is protocol compatible with the CCTV network, the analog communication port may down sample the digital image data to generate a PAL or NTSC compatible image. The down sampled digital image data is converted to a compliant analog signal and delivered over the physical layer of the CCTV network for display on a conventional television monitor.

Claims

1. A system for imaging a scene, comprising

an optical head having a plurality of digital imaging sensors, wherein:

each digital imaging sensor of the plurality of digital imaging sensors generates image data,

the plurality of digital imaging sensors includes a first digital imaging sensor having a first field of view and a second digital imaging sensor having a second field of view, and

the plurality of digital imaging sensors is arranged such that the first field of view of the first digital imaging sensor at least partially overlaps the second field of view of the second digital imaging sensor;

a processor connected to the optical head and having circuitry for receiving image data from each digital imaging sensor in the plurality of digital imaging sensors, wherein the processor is configured for;

determining a first exposure value for the first imaging sensor and a second exposure value for the second imaging sensor,

determining, based on the first and second exposure values, a plurality of interpolated exposure values, wherein each interpolated exposure value of the plurality of interpolated exposure values corresponds to a column of photosensitive elements disposed between the center of the first imaging sensor and the center of the second imaging sensor,

modifying a first image corresponding to the first imaging sensor and a second image corresponding to the second imaging sensor based on the plurality of interpolated exposure values, and

generating an output digital image based on at least the modified first and second images; and

an analog communication port for converting the output digital image into an analog data stream suitable for delivery over an analog data path.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein

each digital imaging sensor of the plurality of digital imaging sensors has an image resolution greater than or equal to 0.075 Mega pixels.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein

each digital imaging sensor of the plurality of digital imaging sensors captures an image of a respective field of view, and

wherein the processor is further configured for combining a plurality of images to generate a combined image, wherein each image of the plurality of images corresponds to a digital imaging sensor of the plurality of digital imaging sensors and the combined image has a field of view greater than the respective field of view of at least one of the plurality of digital imaging sensors.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein

the plurality of digital imaging sensors are arranged such that a combined field of view of the plurality of digital imaging sensors has an angular dimension of 160°

-200°

.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured for selectively modifying a resolution of the output digital image.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the processor is further configured for processing the output digital image to include a magnification window, wherein the magnification window is a portion of the output digital image having a higher resolution and a larger relative image size than at least one other portion of the output digital image.

7. The system of claim 6, further comprising

a window controller for controlling at least one of the format and placement of the magnification window.

8. The system of claim 6, further including a user interface, and wherein the processor is further configured for modifying a location of the magnified image portion based on input from the user interface.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured for performing motion tracking.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the analog communication port includes a digital-to-analog (DAC) converter for generating a National Television System Committee (NTSC)- or Phase Alternating Line (PAL)-compliant television signal.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the analog communication port includes a connector selected from a group comprising Video Graphics Array (VGA), Radio Corporation of America (RCA), 7-millimeter Amphenol Precision Connector (APC-7), Bayonet Neill-Concelman (BNC), Concelman (C), Ferrule (F), Neill (N), SubMiniature version A (SMA), Quick-connect SMA (QMA), SubMiniature version B (SMB), SubMiniature version C (SMC), Threaded Neill-Concelman (TNC), and Ultra High Frequency (UHF) connectors for coupling to the physical layer of a Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) network.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the analog communication port is further configured for receiving and decoding a Pan-Tilt-Zoom (PTZ) command signal, wherein the PTZ command signal is encoded for controlling the pan, tilt, and zoom of an analog security camera.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the PTZ command signal is encoded in one of RS-232, RS-422, and RS-485 serial standards.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the processor is further configured for generating the output digital image based on the PTZ command signal.

15. They system of claim 1, wherein the analog communication port is included in a Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA).

16. A method for imaging a scene, comprising

providing an optical head having a plurality of digital imaging sensors, wherein:

each digital imaging sensor of the plurality of digital imaging sensors generates image data; and

the plurality of digital imaging sensors is arranged such that a first imaging sensor having a first field of view is adjacent to a second imaging sensor having a second field of view, and the first field of view of the first imaging sensor at least partially overlaps the second field of view of the second imaging sensor;

receiving digital image data from each digital imaging sensor,

determining a first exposure value for the first imaging sensor and a second exposure value for the second imaging sensor,

determining, based on the first and second exposure values, a plurality of interpolated exposure values, wherein each interpolated exposure value of the plurality of interpolated exposure values corresponds to a column of photosensitive elements disposed between the center of the first imaging sensor and the center of the second imaging sensor,

modifying a first image corresponding to the first image sensor and a second image corresponding to the second imaging sensor based on the plurality of interpolated exposure values,

generating an output digital image based on at least the modified first and second images, and

converting the output digital image into an analog data stream suitable for delivery over an analog data path.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein each digital imaging sensor of the plurality of digital imaging sensors captures an image of a respective field of view, and further comprising:

combining a plurality of images to generate a combined image, wherein each image of the plurality of images corresponds to a digital imaging sensor of the plurality of digital imaging sensors and the combined image has a field of view greater than the respective field of view of at least one of the plurality of digital imaging sensors.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

processing the combined image to include a magnification window, wherein the magnification window is a portion of the output digital image having a higher resolution and a larger relative image size than at least one other portion of the output digital image.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

receiving and decoding Pan-Tilt-Zoom (PTZ) command signals encoded for controlling the pan, tilt, and zoom of an analog security camera.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the analog data stream is an National Television System Committee (NTSC)- or Phase Alternating Line (PAL)-compliant television signal.