Pop-up test reference image

• US 9,230,327 B2
• Filed: 06/03/2013
• Issued: 01/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ferrand D.E. Corley
• Original Assignee: Ferrand D.E. Corley
• Inventors: Corley, Ferrand D. E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Czekaj, Dave
• Assistant Examiner(s): Owens, Tsion B
• Application Number:
  US13/986,756
• Publication Number:
  US 20130335570A1
• Time in Patent Office: 946 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 43/00 Testing correct operation of photographic apparatus or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 17/002 for television cameras

Abstract

An apparatus for deploying test images for a preset period within the field of view of a camera, and having; a panel supporting the test image, and moveable transmission connected with the panel and operable to deploy, and retrieve, the panel.

Claims

1. An apparatus for optimizing image quality of images recorded by a vehicle mounted camera, the camera being mounted inside the vehicle driving compartment, and being operable to create images around the exterior of the vehicle and comprising;

a test image support panel mounted on the exterior of said vehicle outside said driving compartment;

a test image on said support panel, viewable by said camera from within said vehicle driving compartment;

a moveable mounting supporting said support panel on said vehicle exterior;

a moveable housing for enclosing said support panel in a stored position, and,

a movement control within said vehicle driving compartment, for operating said moveable housing and said support panel whereby to deploy said support panel with said test image viewable by said camera from within said vehicle, whereby the camera may record images around the exterior of the vehicle and simultaneously record images of said test image.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including a light, mounted inside said vehicle driving compartment operable to illuminate the test image on the support panel.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the light brightness may be varied, to match the illumination from headlights on the vehicle.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein the moveable housing and support panel are mounted on the hood of the vehicle, and wherein the camera and light are mounted within the driving compartment of the vehicle.

5. The apparatus is claimed in claim 3, wherein the vehicle has a windshield and wherein the camera and light are mounted within the driving compartment directed through said windshield, and wherein the support panel is mounted outside the driving compartment on the hood of the vehicle, with the support panel located in the field of view of the camera.

6. The apparatus is claimed in claim 5, and wherein said test image support panel is removably mount in said moveable mounting, whereby the test panel may be removed, for optimization of the camera image.