Image capturing device

• US 9,706,125 B2
• Filed: 06/20/2012
• Issued: 07/11/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Krapf, Reiner
• Primary Examiner(s): Haskins, Twyler
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chiu, Wesley
• Application Number:
  US14/237,708
• Publication Number:
  US 20140340540A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,847 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/635 Region indicators; Field of view indicators

Abstract

An image capturing device includes an optical module configured to capture an image, at least one sensor module configured to generate image signals for the captured image, and a data processing module configured to generate image data for the captured image on the basis of the generated image signals. The image capturing device further includes a display device configured to display the captured image on the basis of the generated image data and an assigned memory unit configured to store the generated image data. The data processing module has a marking unit configured to optically mark at least one image position in the displayed image on the display device and to produce on the display device a display of at least one designating element to allow a designation of the at least one image position. The designating element is configured to allow a clear identification of the image position designated.

Claims

1. An image capturing device, comprising:

an optical module configured to capture an image;

at least one sensor module configured to generate image signals for the captured image;

a data processing module configured to generate image data for the captured image on the basis of the generated image signals;

a display device configured to display the captured image on the basis of the generated image data; and

an assigned memory unit configured to store the generated image data,

wherein the data processing module has a marking unit configured to optically mark at least one image position in the displayed image on the display device with an optical mark,

wherein the marking unit is configured to effect a display of at least one designation element on the display device so as to allow designation of the at least one image position,

wherein the display device is further configured to display the at least one designation element differently from the display of the optical mark on the display device, and to display the at least one designation element spaced apart from the display of the optical mark,

wherein the data processing module is further configured to insert data corresponding to the at least one designation element into the generated image data of the captured image,

wherein the at least one designation element is configured to identify uniquely the designated image position in the captured image,

wherein in response to capturing a further image including image data corresponding to the designated image position, the data processing module is further configured to insert automatically data corresponding to the at least one designation element into the image data of the further image, such that the at least one designation element is displayed on the display device automatically when the further image is displayed on the display device, and

wherein the at least one designation element uniquely identifies the designated image position in the further image.

2. The image capturing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the captured image represents an overview image, and the further image represents a detail image of a section of the overview image that includes the designated image position.

3. The image capturing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the data processing module is configured to store meta data in the assigned memory unit so as to link the further image with the captured image.

4. The image capturing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the data processing module has a data processing element configured to actuate the marking unit on the basis of predetermined criteria, and wherein the predetermined criteria are based on image parameters assigned to the generated image data.

5. The image capturing device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the data processing element is configured to determine the image parameters by way of pattern recognition.

6. The image capturing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the marking unit is configured to allow at least one marking element configured to mark the at least one image position to be displayed on the display device, and wherein the marking element is configured in the manner of crosshairs or a marking point.

7. The image capturing device as claimed in claim 6, further comprising an input device configured to move the marking element on the display device.

8. The image capturing device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one operating element configured to switch from a marking mode into an image capturing mode.

9. The image capturing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the image capturing device is configured in the manner of a thermal imaging camera.

10. A method for operating an image capturing device including an optical module for capturing an image, at least one sensor module for generating image signals for the captured image, a data processing module for generating image data for the captured image on the basis of the generated image signals, a display device for displaying the captured image on the basis of the generated image data, and an assigned memory unit for storing the generated image data, the method comprising:

optically marking at least one image position in the displayed image on the display device with an optical mark;

displaying at least one designation element configured to designate the at least one image position, the designation element uniquely identifying the designated image position;

displaying the designation element on the display device differently and spaced apart from the optical mark;

upon capturing a further image, use pattern recognition to determine if the further image includes image data corresponding to the designated image position;

if the further image includes image data corresponding to the designated image position, automatically inserting into the image data of the further image, data corresponding to the at least one designation element with the data processing module, so as to effect a link of the further image with the captured image and to identify uniquely the designated image position in the further image; and

automatically displaying the at least one designation element on the display device when the further image is displayed on the display device.