METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR IMAGING

• US 20120218376A1
• Filed: 02/28/2012
• Published: 08/30/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Custom Manufacturing & Engineering, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Custom Manufacturing & Engineering, Inc.
• Inventors: ATHAN, STEPHAN PETER
• Granted Patent: US 9,661,205 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/36
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/954 Inspecting the inner surface of hollow bodies, e.g. bores
• 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 23/69 Control of means for changing angle of the field of view, e.g. optical zoom objectives or electronic zooming

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention relate to a method and apparatus for imaging. Specific embodiments can incorporate an imaging module having at least one first imager, where each first imager images a corresponding at least one first portion of a θ° field of view abot a reference point, such that the at least one first imager images the θ° field of view. In a specific embodiment θ is at least 90°. The imaging module can also incorporate at least one second imager, where each second imager images a corresponding at least one second portion of the θ° field of view about the reference point, and one or more of the at least one first imager has a different magnification than one or more of the at least one second imager. Embodiments can allow imaging of a 0° field of view about a reference point with imagers having at least two different magnifications.

Claims

1. An apparatus for imaging, comprising:

an imaging module, wherein the imaging module comprises;

at least one first imager, wherein each first imager images a corresponding at least one first portion of a θ

°

field of view about a reference point, wherein θ

is at least 90°

, wherein the at least one first imager images the θ

°

field of view;

at least one second imager, wherein each second imager images a corresponding at least one second portion of the θ

°

field of view about the reference point, wherein one or more of the at least one first imager has a different magnification than one or more of the at least one second imager.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one first imager comprises at least two first imagers.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the at least one second imager comprises at least two second imagers.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein each first imager has a first magnification, wherein each second imager has a second magnification.

5. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the at least two first imagers is an array of wide-angle imagers and the at least two second imagers is an array of zoom imagers.

6. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein 0°

is at least 180°

.

7. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein 0°

is at least 270°

.

8. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein 0°

is 360°

.

9. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein one or more of the at least two first imagers provides tilt.

10. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein each of the at least two first imagers provides tilt.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the imaging module has no rotating parts.

12. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the imaging module has no moving parts.

13. The apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising an enclosure, wherein the imaging module is housed within the enclosure, wherein the enclosure has a tubular shape with a circular cross-section, wherein a longitudinal axis of the enclosure passes through the reference point.

14. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the θ

°

field of view is a horizontal θ

°

field of view about the reference point, wherein the at least two first imagers images the horizontal θ

°

field of view about the reference point, wherein the at least two second imagers images the horizontal θ

°

field of view about the reference point.

15. The apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising an electronic compass.

16. The apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising:

a network relay, wherein the imaging module transfers captured images to the network relay.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising:

a back end, wherein the network relay communicates the captured images to the back end.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the back end is remote with respect to the imaging module.

19. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the back end comprises a display, wherein the display displays the captured images to a user.

20. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one or more of the at least two first imagers and/or one or more of the at least two second imagers are solid state imagers.

21. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the at least two first imagers comprises n first imagers, wherein m first imagers of the n first imagers are powered at any one time.

22. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein m=1.

23. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the n first imagers are powered in a defined sequence such that all n first imagers are powered, m at a time.

24. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein an image at an angle θ

_d with respect to north can be captured by activating a first imager from the at least two first imagers that images θ

_d with respect to north, wherein the first imager from the at least two first imagers that images θ

_d with respect to north is determined by using a signal from the electronic compass and a rotational position of the electronic compass with respect to the imaging module and/or a rotational position of the electronic compass with respect to the first imager from the at least two first imagers that images θ

_d with respect to north.

25. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the at least two second imagers comprises z zoom imagers and the at least two first imagers comprises w wide angle imagers, wherein the z zoom imagers are rotated about an axis passing through the reference point and, upon rotation, together image the θ

°

field of view.

26. The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the w wide angle imagers image the θ

°

field of view without rotation of the w wide angle imagers.

27. The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein θ

is at least 180°

.

28. The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein θ

°

is between 180° and

360°

.

29. The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein θ

is 360°

.

30. The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein a first zoom imager of the z zoom imagers is coupled to a second zoom imager of the z zoom imagers, wherein the first zoom imager, upon being rotated about the axis, images a first (1/z)^th of the θ

°

field of view, wherein the second zoom imager, upon being rotated about the axis, images a second (1/z)^th of the θ

°

field of view, wherein the first zoom imager and second zoom imager together image (2/z)^th of the θ

°

field of view.

31. The apparatus according to claim 30, wherein z=2.

32. The apparatus according to claim 30,

wherein a first zoom imager of the z zoom imagers is coupled to a second zoom imager of the z zoom imagers, wherein the first zoom imager, upon being rotated about the axis, images a first (1/z)^th of the θ

°

field of view, wherein the second zoom imager, upon being rotated about the axis, images a second (1/z)^th of the θ

°

field of view, wherein the first zoom imager and second zoom imager together image (2/z)^th of the θ

°

field of view, wherein a third zoom imager of the z zoom imagers is coupled to a fourth zoom imager of the z zoom imagers, wherein the third zoom imager, upon being rotated about the axis, images at least (1/z)^th of the 0°

field of view, wherein the fourth zoom imager, upon being rotated about the axis, images at least (1/z)^th of the θ

°

field of view, wherein the third zoom imager and fourth zoom imager together image (2/z)”

of the θ

°

field of view.

33. The apparatus according to claim 32, wherein z=4.

34. The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein z is in the range of 5 to 10.

35. The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein z<

w.

36. The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein a first w/2 of the w wide angle imagers are positioned in a first row such that the w/2 wide angle imagers are positioned in a first plane at intervals of θ

°

/(w/2) around the reference point, wherein a second w/2 of the w wide angle imagers are positioned in a second row such that the w/2 wide angle imagers are positioned in a second plane at intervals of θ

°

/(w/2) around the reference point, wherein the first plane and the second plane are parallel and translationally offset in a direction perpendicular to both the first plane and the second plane, wherein the first w/2 of the w wide angle imagers in the first plane are rotationally offset from the second w/2 of the w wide angle imagers by θ

°

/w.

37. The apparatus according to claim 36, wherein each of the w wide angle imagers image θ

°

/w such that the w wide angle imagers image the θ

°

field of view.

38. The apparatus according to claim 36, wherein w is 12 and θ

°

=360°

.

39. The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the w wide angle imagers are stationary.

40. The apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising one or more of the following to activate one or more of the at least two first imagers and/or one or more of the at least two second imagers:

motion sensor, light sensor, audio sensor, environmental sensor, and timer.

41. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the at least two first imagers and the at least two second imagers are selected from the group consisting of:

visible imager;

long infrared (IR) imager;

ultraviolet imager; and

imager in the 8-12 μ

m wavelength range.

42. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the at least two first imagers and the at least two second imagers are visible imagers.

43. An apparatus for imaging comprising:

a sensor subsystem, wherein the sensor subsystem comprises an imaging module, wherein the imaging module comprises an array of n imagers, wherein each imager of the array of imagers images a corresponding (1/n)^th of a θ

°

field of view about a reference point, wherein θ

°

≧

90°

;

a communication subsystem, wherein the communication subsystem comprises a network relay, wherein the imaging module transfers captured images to the network relay; and

a back end subsystem, wherein the network relay communicates the captured images to the back end.

44. The apparatus according to claim 43, wherein the back end is remote with respect to the imaging module.

45. The apparatus according to claim 43, wherein the back end comprises a display, wherein the display displays the captured images to a user.

46. The apparatus according to claim 43, wherein the network relay wirelessly communicates the captured images to the back end.

47. The apparatus according to claim 43, further comprising a wireless network, wherein the wireless network is configured in a topology selected from the group consisting of:

mesh, star, and hybrid.

48. The apparatus according to claim 43, wherein the back end allows a user to enter a command to select one or more of the following:

imager selection, image size, magnetic direction, image timing, imager tilt, imager pan, and imager zoom.

49. The apparatus according to claim 43, wherein the n imagers are powered one at a time.

50. The apparatus according to claim 43, wherein the sensor subsystem stores the captured images as bit maps.

51. The apparatus according to claim 43, wherein the sensor subsystem stores the captured images as JPEG'"'"'s.

52. The apparatus according to claim 50, wherein the sensor subsystem processes the captured images stored as bit maps via one or more of the processing techniques selected from the group consisting of:

histogram, centroid, edge detection, partitioned surveillance motion detection, and compression.

53. The apparatus according to claim 43, wherein the captured images include one or more of the following;

time stamp, GPS coordinates, temperature, humidity, elevation, radiation detection, and acoustic profiles.

54. The apparatus according to claim 43, wherein the sensor subsystem performs one or more of the following:

velocity analysis, acceleration analysis, magnetic compass heading, and target bearing.

55. The apparatus according to claim 43, wherein the back end subsystem performs one or more of the following:

detect one or more targets, track one or more targets, monitor physiologic vital signs of one or more targets, track airborne substances.

56. The apparatus according to claim 43, wherein the imaging module transfers the captured images to the network relay and the network relay communicates the captured images to the back end in real time after the imaging module captures the captured images.

57. The apparatus according to claim 43, wherein the network relay stores the captured images after the imaging module transfers the captured images to the network relay, wherein the network relay communicates the captured images to the back end upon receipt of a signal requesting the captured images.