Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N7/00—Television systems
  • H04N7/18—Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast
  • H04N7/181—Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Definitions

• the present invention relates generally to video surveillance systems, and in particular, to the use of several optical conduits to simultaneously provide discrete images to the lens of a single camera.
• video surveillance systems There is a wide variety of video surveillance systems that are used in many different applications. For example, security systems provide video surveillance of a predefined area to safeguard people, persons and property in that area. Monitoring systems provide video surveillance of a manufacturing system to monitor safety and product quality, as well as to aid in the manufacturing process itself. For all these systems, it is a common desire to provide a maximum amount of surveillance with a minimum amount of expensive or obtrusive equipment.
• cameras are typically mounted in fixed positions at locations that provide the greatest possible viewing region per camera. Generally, several cameras are needed to properly view an area, which is often a residential building, office building, or retail establishment. Cameras can be positioned to view each door, window, and entryway, as well as locations that have a high incidence of theft, such as a cash register, display case, and/or dressing room. Alternatively, cameras are mounted with a motor for panning across the area under surveillance. The motor can pan the camera responsive to different commands, such as from a security guard at a remote station or a motion sensor to track movement. The motor can also pan the camera with a constant scanning motion.
• cameras are often placed along the production line to aid in production or to monitor safety and quality control. In these instances, multiple cameras would typically need to be positioned along the production line, often at each point along the line.
• the present invention provides a multipoint optical inspection system.
• the system allows the viewing of multiple images by using several conduits, such as the filaments of a fiber optic cable. Lenses are attached to one end of each conduit. Each conduit and lens are then positioned to view a specific image. The opposite end of the conduits are grouped together and placed proximate to an image receptor, such as a camera. As a result, the images at the areas to be observed are captured via the lenses attached to the conduits and transferred simultaneously to the camera. The resulting combined image can then be depicted or manipulated in any manner desired.
• the camera is connected to a monitor or a monitoring system.
• the monitoring system is able to display the combined image or separate an individual image out from the combined image.
• the system can be used for monitoring a first and second portion of a predefined area.
• First and second lenses are attached to the distal ends of first and second conduits, respectively, and the lenses are positioned proximate to the first and second portions of the predefined area.
• the proximal ends of the conduits are grouped together and placed proximate to the camera.
• the images of the first and second portions of the predefined area are transferred simultaneously via the fiber optic cable to the camera, and the resulting combined image can then be depicted or manipulated in any manner desired.
• An advantage of the present invention is that video surveillance of an area can be provided with minimal cost or chance of mechanical failure.
• Another advantage of the present invention is that a single camera can monitor images from several directions simultaneously, and further, can monitor images from different locations simultaneously without additional costly equipment.
• a further advantage of the present invention is that a single camera can monitor many small areas, objects, or locations that are too small for multiple cameras to effectively monitor.
• Yet another advantage of the present invention is that an attachment for a standard commercially available camera is able to generate separate images of different areas for simultaneous display on a standard commercially available monitor without additional electronic modifications.
• Fig. 1 is a side view of a multi-point optical inspection system according to one embodiment of the present invention.
• Fig. 2 is perspective view of a room according to one application of the multi-point optical inspection system of Fig. 1.
• Fig. 3 shows a combined image produced from multiple images received by the system of Fig. 1.
• Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a room using an alternate embodiment of the present invention.
• Fig. 5 is an exemplary screen shot from a monitoring system in the system of Fig. 4.
• Fig. 6 is a representation of the system similar to Fig. 2.
• Fig. 7 shows a combined image produced from multiple images received by the system of Fig. 6.
• Fig. 8 is a representation of a further use of the system similar to Fig. 2.
• Fig. 9 shows a combined image produced from multiple images received by the system of Fig. 8. Description of the Preferred Embodiments
• the system 10 comprises a cable 12, an image receptor 16, a bus 18, and a monitoring system 20.
• the image receptor 16 is a standard Charge-Coupled Device (CCD) camera, although the image receptor 16 can be a broad range of security cameras and lenses, or can even be a lens without a camera coupled directly to the bus 18.
• CCD camera 16 works by providing an array of pixels on a silicon substrate, which records light as an electrical signal and then digitizes the electrical signal for transmission via the bus 18 to the monitoring system 20.
• the bus 18 can be any serial, parallel, wired, or wireless means for communicating or sending data.
• the monitoring system 20 comprises a monitor 24, and can further include a processor 26 or an input device 28.
• the input device 28 can be a mouse, keyboard, tablet device, or any other form of input device.
• multiple processors 26 can be incorporated into the monitoring system 20, as well as linking multiple monitoring systems 20 together.
• the monitoring system 20 could include a storage device 29 such as a video cassette recorder, a hard drive, or a digital video disc burner.
• the cable 12 is preferably a fiber optic cable or other cable that is composed of numerous conduits that allow the transmission of light from one point to another.
• the cable 12 is composed of glass filaments 14, and to a distal end 15a of each filament 14 is attached a lens 22.
• the proximal ends 15b of the filaments 14 are grouped together and placed against the camera 16.
• a room 30 having three areas to be viewed, 32a, 32b, and 32c.
• the distal ends 15a of three separate filaments (designated as filaments 14a, 14b, and 14c) are aligned so that the respective lenses 22 face the respective areas 32a, 32b, 32c.
• the filaments 14 act as conduits that pass the light along the cable 12 to the camera 16.
• the camera 16 receives the individual images of areas 32a, 32b, and 32c passed through the filaments 14a, 14b, and 14c as a single, aggregated image 34. This image 34 is then sent by the bus 18 (Fig. 2) to the monitoring system 20.
• the monitoring system 20 can analyze the image 34, such as detecting motion or changes in ambient lighting or color.
• the monitoring system 20 can also receive input or commands to isolate a single image, so that, for example, only area 32a is displayed on monitor 24 rather than image 34.
• the monitoring system 20 may also record the aggregate image 34 or a single image 32 onto the storage device 29 for later viewing or archive purposes. Further, the monitoring system 20 may also display the image 34, any single image 32, or any combination of images on the monitor 24. In the case of multiple monitors 24, the monitoring system 20 can also segregate the image 34 into the images 32 for display on the multiple monitors 24.
• the system 10 includes one or more additional response devices 36.
• the monitoring system 20 may respond by manipulating, activating, or using (or provide a means for a user to do so) the additional response device 36 via a bus 38.
• a response device 36 may be one or more image receptors 16, floodlights, speakers, two-way communications devices, or any other common security system devices. These response devices 36 may serve as redundant systems, or provide visual or audio deterrence. Where the response device 36 is a camera, the camera can provide additional resolution, zoom or recording features, infrared or night imaging, or other video features. A speaker could also be used as a response device 36 to provide warning, notification to nearby persons, audio deterrence, or communication means for a user stationed at the monitoring system 20. As a light, the response device 36 could provide deterrence and warning. In a manufacturing setting, the additional response devices 36 could be a mechanical arm or another device to manipulate or modify the objects being observed.
• response device 36 is depicted in Fig. 4 as a camera protruding from the ceiling, the response devices 36 could be located on the floor or walls, as well as being integral to, or resting on furniture or manufacturing equipment.
• Fig. 5 illustrates a snap shot of several images from Fig. 4.
• the individual images 32d, 32e, and 32f, are shown on the monitor 24.
• the door in area 32f has opened, thus triggering the monitoring system's 20 motion detection algorithm.
• the monitoring system 20 has panned the response device 36 to also face area 32f to provide additional visual feedback as shown.
• motion detection has been used in this example, other algorithms could be used, such as ambient light analysis, security-related algorithms, manufacturing-related algorithms, or scientific-related algorithms that would be known or developed by a person of ordinary skill in the art.
• the monitoring system 10 can be placed to monitor changes to chemical compositions 41 contained in scientific apparatuses 42.
• the distal ends 15a of filaments 14 are placed into test tubes, petri dishes, beakers, or any other containers.
• the filaments 14 pass the images of the compositions 41 along the cable 12 to the camera 16.
• the camera 16 receives the individual images of chemical compositions 41 as a single, aggregated image 46. This image 46 is then sent by the bus 18 to the monitoring system 20. The monitoring system 20 can then monitor changes in the chemical compositions 41, such as, for example, color change or liquid level change.
• the system 10 can be used in a manufacturing setting to view a multitude of objects 44 that need to be monitored.
• the distal ends 15a of filaments 14 are placed over the objects 44.
• the lenses 22 receive the images of the objects 44 and the filaments 14 transfer the images to the camera 16.
• the cable 12 since the cable 12 may be placed adjacent the camera 16 without actually connecting to the camera 16, the cable 12 can be easily rotated.
• the filaments 14 are correspondingly rotated as they move with the assembly line 50.
• the images produced by the camera 16 also rotate, accordingly.
• the camera 16 receives the aggregate image 48, which is sent into the monitoring system 20.
• the monitoring system can then analyze the aggregate image 34 to monitor the status of the objects 44.
• the status of the objects may be monitored for quality control purposes or to aid in the manufacturing of the objects, such as, for example, determining that the orientation of the objects 44 is not correct for further manufacturing purposes.

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Cited By (3)

Citations (3)

• 2001
  • 2001-07-19 WO PCT/US2001/022857 patent/WO2002019254A1/en active Application Filing

Patent Citations (3)

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