Camera for use in a digital network

• US 8,976,243 B2
• Filed: 07/16/2009
• Issued: 03/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Liebherr-Elektronik GmbH (Liebherr-International AG)
• Original Assignee: Liebherr-Elektronik GmbH (Liebherr-International AG)
• Inventors: Marquart, Volker, Brasch, Marcel
• Primary Examiner(s): TRUONG, LAN DAI T
• Application Number:
  US12/504,252
• Publication Number:
  US 20100020173A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,063 Days
• Field of Search: 348/143, 348/153, 348/24, 348/139, 348/211.11, 348/207.99
• US Class Current: 348/143
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19656 Network used to communicate with a camera, e.g. WAN, LAN, Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/63 by using electronic viewfinders
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet
• 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 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a camera for use in a digital network, in particular as a surveillance camera in a working device, including an integrated router having at least two ports for communication with further network components, in particular having a first port for communication with a terminal and having a second port for communication with a further camera.

Claims

1. A camera for use in a digital network comprising:

an integrated router having at least two ports for communication with further network components, wherein the integrated router receives data packets and transmits the data packets to a selected port of the at least two ports in dependence on an address;

wherein in the digital network , comprising;

a movable working device;

a visualization system coupled in the movable working device, the visualization system including a first digitally networked surveillance camera and a second digitally networked surveillance camera, each of the first and second cameras including an integrated router and having at least two communication ports, wherein the integrated router receives data packets and transmits the data packets to a selected port of the at least two ports in dependence on an address;

a terminal coupled to the first port of the first camera, wherein the first port of the second camera is coupled to the second port of the first camera, and the second port of the second camera is coupled to an additional network component;

wherein the second camera is digitally networked to the terminal via the first camera, and

wherein at least one of the cameras is positioned for rear space monitoring of the movable working device.

2. The camera in accordance with claim 1, wherein the camera is a surveillance camera.

3. The camera in accordance with claim 2, wherein the first port is for communication with a terminal and the second port is for communication with at least one further camera.

4. The camera in accordance with claim 2, wherein the further network components connected to the camera are in communication with one another via the router.

5. The camera in accordance with claim 3, wherein the camera receives image data from the at least one further camera via the second port and forwards the image data to the terminal together with its own image data via the first port.

6. The camera in accordance with claim 3, wherein the two ports represent bidirectional communication interfaces, with the camera configured to receive control and/or configuration data from the terminal and/or to forward control and/or configuration data to the at least one further camera.

7. The camera in accordance with claim 3, wherein a power supply takes place via the ports so that the power supply of the camera takes place via the first port and is forwarded to the further camera via the second port.

8. The camera in accordance with claim 3, wherein the camera is connected to the terminal via one or more further cameras and/or two or more further cameras are connected to the camera so that three or more cameras are connected to one another in the form of a chain without being connected by a common router.

9. the camera in accordance with claim 1 further includes a camera system having two or more cameras which are connectable or connected to one another in the form of a chain.

10. the camera in accordance with claim 1 further includes a visualization system comprising at least one camera and a terminal which includes a display unit for the display of image data delivered by the at least one camera.

11. The visualization system in accordance with claim 10, wherein the terminal has a port for communication with further network components, with further cameras being connectable or connected to the terminal in the form of a chain via the port.

12. the visualization system in accordance with claim 10 comprises a working device.

13. the camera in accordance with claim 1 further includes a working device, having at least one camera.

14. The working device of claim 13, wherein the working device is a movable working device.

15. A system, comprising:

a movable working device;

a visualization system coupled in the movable working device, the visualization system including a first digitally networked surveillance camera and a second digitally networked surveillance camera, each of the first and second cameras including an integrated router and having at least two communication ports, wherein the integrated router receives data packets and transmits the data packets to a selected port of the at least two ports in dependence on an address;

a terminal coupled to the first port of the first camera, wherein the first port of the second camera is coupled to the second port of the first camera, and the second port of the second camera is coupled to an additional network component;

wherein the second camera is digitally networked to the terminal via the first camera, and

wherein at least one of the cameras is positioned for rear space monitoring of the movable working device.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein each of the first and second cameras are not connected by a common router.