Modular camera systems and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10425595-B2
Application number	US-201313975104-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 23, 2013
Priority date	Nov 28, 2007
Publication date	Sep 24, 2019
Grant date	Sep 24, 2019

Abstract

Modular infrared imaging systems and methods disclosed herein, in accordance with one or more embodiments, provide for capturing an infrared image, sensing a mode of operation, processing the captured infrared image according to the sensed mode of operation, generating a processed infrared image based on the sensed mode of operation, and displaying the processed infrared image.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A modular camera system comprising:
a plurality of adapters respectively having different mounts each corresponding to a respective specific one of a plurality of modes of operation, wherein each mode of operation is associated with an intended application for the modular camera system; and
a camera having the plurality of modes of operation, wherein the camera is configured to operate in a default mode of operation when the camera is decoupled from any of the plurality of adapters and configured to automatically self-configure to operate in at least one specific mode of operation of the plurality of modes of operation when the camera is coupled to the mount of the respective adapter corresponding to the at least one specific mode of operation, the camera comprising:
a housing configured to encapsulate one or more internal components of the camera;
an image capture component configured to capture an image;
a processing component, within the housing, configured to process the captured image according to at least one of the plurality of modes of operation; and
a mode sensing component configured to sense the mount corresponding to the specific mode of operation for the intended application of the camera based on structural features of the mount of the corresponding adapter when coupled to the camera, and configured to provide, by the mode sensing component to the processing component, a mode sensing signal indicative of the specific mode of operation corresponding to the sensed mount to automatically self-configure the mode of operation of the camera to the specific mode of operation for processing the captured image; and

wherein each of the plurality of adapters is configured to releasably couple to the housing of the camera and trigger the mode sensing component of the camera to provide the mode sensing signal to the processing component based on the associated mount of the adapter if coupled to the housing of the camera.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the plurality of adapters comprise an adapter for a land-based vehicle application;
the adapter for the land-based vehicle application is configured to:
mount to a land-based vehicle; and
trigger the mode sensing component to provide the mode sensing signal for the land-based vehicle application, in response to which the processing component processes the captured image according to a land-based vehicle mode of operation that provides at least a basic monochrome display with selected automatic gain control parameters and pedestrian and/or animal detection enabled;

the structural features comprise mechanical connections and/or electrical connections; and
the mode sensing component is configured to sense the mount at least by sensing the mechanical connections and/or electrical connections associated with the mount.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the plurality of adapters comprise an adapter for a maritime application;
the adapter for the maritime application is configured to:
mount to a watercraft; and
trigger the mode sensing component to provide the mode sensing signal for the maritime application, in response to which the processing component processes the captured image according to a maritime mode of operation that provides at least a red hue display and with maritime automatic gain control selections;

the different mounts are differently contoured mounts; and
the mode sensing component is configured to sense the mount at least by sensing a contour associated with the mount.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the plurality of adapters comprise an adapter for a handheld application;
the adapter for the handheld application comprises a handle configured to be held by a user; and
the adapter for the handheld application is configured to trigger the mode sensing component to provide the mode sensing signal for the handheld application, in response to which the processing component processes the captured image according to a handheld mode of operation that provides at least an absolute temperature readout and/or a low power mode of operation.

5. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a memory component configured to store the processed image;
a display component configured to display the processed image; and
an environmental sensing component configured to provide environmental information to the processing component.

6. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a control component configured to provide a plurality of selectable processing modes to a user, receive a user input corresponding to a user-selected processing mode, and generate a control signal indicative of the user-selected processing mode,
wherein the processing component is configured to receive the control signal from the control component and process the captured image according to the user-selected processing mode.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the plurality of selectable processing modes include a night docking mode that causes the processing component to histogram equalize and scale the captured image to process the captured image.

8. The system of claim 6 , wherein the plurality of selectable processing modes include a man overboard mode that causes the processing component to apply a high pass filter to the captured image to process the captured image.

9. The system of claim 6 , wherein the plurality of selectable processing modes include:
a night cruising mode that causes the processing component to extract a detailed part and a background part from the captured image, separately scale the detailed part, separately histogram equalize and scale the background part, and add the detailed part to the background part to process the captured image; and
a day cruising mode that causes the processing component to extract the detailed part and the background part from the captured image, separately scale the detailed part, separately histogram equalize and scale the background part, and add the detailed part to the background part to process the captured image.

10. The system of claim 6 , wherein the plurality of selectable processing modes include a hazy conditions mode that causes the processing component to apply a non-linear low pass filter on the captured image, and then histogram equalize and scale the filtered image to process the captured image.

11. The system of claim 6 , wherein the plurality of selectable processing modes include a shoreline mode that causes the processing component to apply a Huff or Hough transform operation to the captured image to process the captured image.

12. A method of processing an image, the method comprising:
capturing an image by a camera having a plurality of modes of operation;
sensing a mount corresponding to a specific mode of operation that corresponds to an intended application of the camera based on structural features of the mount of an adapter that is releasably coupled to the camera, the specific mode of operation being one of the plurality of modes of operation, the adapter being selected from a plurality of couplable adapters respectively having different mounts each corresponding to a respective specific one of the plurality of modes of operation, wherein each mode of operation is associated with a respective intended application, wherein the camera is configured to operate in a default mode of operation when the camera is decoupled from any of the plurality of couplable adapters and configured to automatically self-configure to operate in at least one specific mode of operation of the plurality of modes of operation when the camera is coupled to the mount of the respective couplable adapter corresponding to the at least one speci

Assignees

• Flir Systems

Inventors

• Frank Jeffrey D
• Chappaz Yves
• Deal Mary L
• Richardson Patrick B
• Richards Austin A
• Högasten Nicholas
• Woolaway James T

Classifications

• G06T7/70 Primary

  Determining position or orientation of objects or cameras (camera calibration G06T7/80) · CPC title

• G06V10/143

  Sensing or illuminating at different wavelengths · CPC title

• G06T2207/10048

  Infrared image · CPC title

• G06T7/00

  Image analysis · CPC title

• G08B21/08

  responsive to the presence of persons in a body of water, e.g. a swimming pool; responsive to an abnormal condition of a body of water · CPC title