Compact video processing system for remote sensing applications
First Claim
1. A sensing and processing unit for use in remote sensing applications comprising:
- a sensor;
a processor processing an output from said sensor;
communication means to which an output from said processor is supplied, said communication means transmitting said processor output from a remote location where said unit is used to monitor a site;
a sealed enclosure in which is housed printed circuit boards, the enclosure being removably mountable to a mounting fixture and sealingly housing said sensor, processor and communication means in a protected environment; and
, heat transfer means housed in the enclosure to transfer heat generated by operation of said sensor, processor, and communication means away therefrom and to the atmosphere surrounding said enclosure, said heat transfer means including heat sink elements fitted between the printed circuit boards, said heat sink elements having a surface in heat transfer contact with a wall of said enclosure to transfer heat from components on said printed circuit boards through said wall to the atmosphere outside said enclosure.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A sensing and processing unit (10) installed on an elevated structure (T) adjacent a roadway (R). An enclosure (12) is mounted on the structure. Housed in the enclosure is a television camera (22, 24), the camera being mounted at an angle less than the plane of the horizontal axis of the enclosure. A processor (42) is also housed in the enclosure and is operatively connected to the camera to process video images acquired by the camera. A digital data storage device (44, 46) is also installed in the enclosure for storing information relevant to a monitoring activity. A communications device (50) installed inside said enclosure sends data to and receives instructions from a monitoring site. The single enclosure facilitates remote site monitoring using a minimum of equipment and simplifies both installation and maintenance requirements.
67 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A sensing and processing unit for use in remote sensing applications comprising:
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a sensor;
a processor processing an output from said sensor;
communication means to which an output from said processor is supplied, said communication means transmitting said processor output from a remote location where said unit is used to monitor a site;
a sealed enclosure in which is housed printed circuit boards, the enclosure being removably mountable to a mounting fixture and sealingly housing said sensor, processor and communication means in a protected environment; and
,heat transfer means housed in the enclosure to transfer heat generated by operation of said sensor, processor, and communication means away therefrom and to the atmosphere surrounding said enclosure, said heat transfer means including heat sink elements fitted between the printed circuit boards, said heat sink elements having a surface in heat transfer contact with a wall of said enclosure to transfer heat from components on said printed circuit boards through said wall to the atmosphere outside said enclosure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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- 20. The remote sensing and processing unit of 17 wherein said processor includes an image processor for processing video images obtained by said image sensor.
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22. A remote sensing and processing unit comprising:
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an image sensor including a lens and a charged coupled device operatively connected with said lens;
a processor including a central processing unit and a digital signal processor processing video image signals from said image sensor;
a data storage device storing digital data;
a communications unit sending and receiving data from a remote source;
an enclosure in which said image sensor, processor, and communications unit are housed, said enclosure being a sealed enclosure for protecting the aforesaid components from the weather, dirt, dust and infestation by living creatures, whereby said unit is locatable in a remote location and can perform all necessary monitoring, processing, and communications tasks with only a single piece of equipment, thereby simplifying a monitoring application, components comprising said image sensor, processor, and communications units being installed on printed circuit boards mounted within the sealed enclosure, and, heat transfer means housed in the enclosure to transfer heat generated by the components away therefrom and to the atmosphere surrounding said enclosure, said heat transfer means including heat sink elements fitted between the printed circuit boards, said heat sink elements having a surface in heat transfer contact with a wall of said enclosure to transfer heat from components on said printed circuit boards through said wall to the atmosphere outside said enclosure. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
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26. A sensing and processing unit for installation on an elevated structure adjacent a roadway comprising:
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an enclosure mounted on said elevated structure;
at least one closed circuit television camera positioned within said enclosure, said camera mounted within said enclosure at an angle less than the plane of the horizontal axis of said enclosure;
at least one processor installed inside said enclosure and operatively connected to said camera to process video images acquired by said camera;
a digital data storage device installed inside said enclosure;
a communication device installed inside said enclosure for sending and receiving data from a remote source;
an energy conversion device to supply electric energy to the electrical components inside said enclosure;
components of said processor, digital storage device, communication device, and energy conversion device being installed on printed circuit boards mounted within the enclosure; and
,a heat transfer mechanism to remove heat generated by the components away therefrom and to the atmosphere surrounding said enclosure, said heat transfer mechanism including heat sink elements fitted between the printed circuit boards, said heat sink elements having a surface in heat transfer contact with a wall of said enclosure to transfer heat from components on said printed circuit boards through said wall to the atmosphere outside said enclosure.
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Specification