WO2016132266A1

WO2016132266A1 - An image acquisition device and apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2016132266A1
Application number: PCT/IB2016/050784
Authority: WO
Inventors: Andrea BIGLIARDI
Original assignee: Spark S.R.L.
Priority date: 2015-02-19
Filing date: 2016-02-15
Publication date: 2016-08-25
Also published as: EP3259742A1

Abstract

An image acquisition device (1) comprises an optical body (10) able to acquire images and a kinematic linkage (2) for moving the optical body (10): the kinematic linkage (2) is able to move the optical body (10) according to at least three degrees of freedom.

Description

TITLE

An image acquisition device and apparatus.

DESCRIPTION

The invention has for an object an image acquisition device intended to be used, for instance, in the video surveillance industry.

Several types of cameras are known within the video surveillance industry, such as the common "box" cameras or "dome" and "mini-dome" cameras and the like.

Digital cameras of the known type comprise an optical body that includes an image sensor and a lens, which lens is predisposed for sending optical images to the sensor.

Mobile cameras are further known such as the so-called PTZ (i.e. pan-tilt- zoom), which allow an horizontal movement (right/left) and a vertical movement (upwards/downwards) of the optical unit, as well as a focal lens control.

This type of solution is quite versatile, though not without limits. By applying a PTZ camera on the wall, it is indeed often the case that the camera cannot perform filming parallel to the horizon, especially where a 16:9 format is used.

This drawback often depends on the non-perfect verticality of the wall or is due to an inaccurate mounting of the camera on the part of the installers. Additionally, multiple sensor images acquisition devices, to be understood as "cameras" in the broad sense, were made available on the market in the last time, which cameras are provided with a plurality of image sensors associated with corresponding lenses.

An example of this type of solution consists of a device that houses a plurality of sensors within the same housing of the dome type, which sensors are angularly spaced from one another and associated with respective lenses such that, by summing individual sensors fields of view, a 180 or 360 degree extendable panning is obtainable by the device.

The cameras are supported by a two-axes kinematic linkage, such as a Cardanic suspension or the like, which allows a rotation of about 360 degrees and an acute angle inclination.

Owing to this type of solution, satisfactory circle angle panning are obtained, even though this solution is not very versatile, particularly for the purposes of use within the video surveillance industry.

Furthermore, especially in the case where one of the sensors is damaged, the device will have to be disassembled in its entirety for being repaired. In this context, the technical task at the base of the present invention is to provide a device and an image acquisition apparatus which overcomes the drawbacks of the prior art.

The technical task mentioned is attained by the device manufactured according to claim 1 and by the apparatus manufactured according to claim 6.

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the indicative and therefore non-limiting description of a preferred but non-exclusive embodiment, as illustrated in the appended drawings wherein:

- Figure 1 is an axonometric view of the device of the invention;

- Figure 2 is a schematic axonometric view of a first embodiment of the apparatus of the invention represented free of any protective casing;

- Figure 2A is a schematic axonometric view of a second embodiment of the apparatus, represented free of any protective casing;

- Figure 3 is the view of Figure 2, in which the devices included in the apparatus are arranged in an exemplary operating configuration; and - Figure 4 is the view of Figure 2, wherein the protective casing closed at the front by a transparent element, is represented as well.

With reference to the appended figures, by 1 it is indicated the image acquisition device according to the invention.

The device 1 includes an optical body 10 which is suitable for image acquisition, particularly video shootings.

The optical body 10 mentioned above, may be the one of a digital camera and in particular it may comprise an image sensor and a motorised varifocal lens being functionally coupled.

Even more in detail, the image sensor may be of the CMOS or CCD type or the like as long as suitable for the purpose.

Furthermore, the sensor may be coupled to a control logic comprised within the respective optical body 10, which control logic may be for example of the SoC (System on Chip) type.

According to an important aspect of the invention, the proposed device 1 comprises a kinematic linkage 2 which is able to move the optical body 10 according to at least three degrees of freedom.

As shown in Figure 1 , the mentioned kinematic linkage 2 is preferably suitable to rotate the optical body 10 about three axes of rotation R1 , R2, R3 being perpendicular to one another.

In detail, one of said axes of rotation may coincide with the central axis R3 of the optical body 10.

To be precise, this central axis R3 may be the axis of symmetry of the lens previously mentioned.

The kinematic linkage 2 may be coupled to motors, preferably of the brushless type, thereby being defined automatically activatable handling motorized means of the optical body 10.

In the preferred embodiment, the device 1 includes a motor for each axis of rotation (not shown for better readability of the figures).

The device 1 of the invention, as well as the above mentioned motorized means, may be operated by a processing unit which is being described below in greater detail.

It should be appreciated that, owing to its particular configuration, the device 1 herein provided is able to ensure acquisition of images which are always fully parallel to the horizon, also with the camera being applied on the wall and in the case where a 16: 9 format is used.

By the term "horizon parallel images" reference is made to framings whose longitudinal extension is parallel to the horizon (or to any other point of reference).

Indeed, any lack of verticality of the wall or any error by the installer may always be compensated at least by the axial rotation of the optical body 10, i.e. by the rotation of the optical body relative to the above mentioned central axis R3.

Furthermore, if compared with the prior art devices, use versatility of the invention is greatly increased owing to the fact that the device 1 may be pointed in multiple directions with the desired orientation relative to the horizon and with the ability to zoom in on details of interest.

As shown in Figures 2-4, the invention is preferably configured in an image acquisition apparatus 100 comprising several acquisition devices 1 such as the ones described above, which acquisition devices are arranged within a matrix 3 comprising at least one row and/or at least one column of devices 1 .

In other words, the devices 1 are arranged one alongside the other and/or one above the other, thereby forming a matrix 3 preferably exhibiting multiple rows and columns.

Note that, as indicatively shown in figure 3, each device 1 is completely autonomous and independent from the other devices 1 of the same matrix 3.

The matrix 3 of the devices 1 is preferably connected to a processing unit which is configured for managing the videos acquired by the several devices 1 .

In addition, as already mentioned above, the invention may provide motorized means for individually moving each device 1 .

In this case, the processing unit is configured for piloting the motorized means and the individual multifocal lenses in a programmed manner, i.e. according to user-defined parameters.

Note that the invention, as clearly shown by Figures 2, 2A and 3, defines a modular apparatus 10 which may be suitable for different applications by simply changing the number and placement of the devices 1 , for example by stretching the rows or columns or changing the number thereof.

In the present description, by the term "module" it is signified a single device 1 or a sub-unit of devices 1 comprised within the matrix 3.

Since the individual devices 1 are independent of one another, in the case where an image sensor is damaged, the corresponding device 1 or even only the optical body 10, may be replaced without the need of intervening on the other devices 1 or modules.

This aspect will be further detailed in a later section.

Additionally, if the image sensor of a certain device 1 is damaged, the remaining devices 1 may be spatially reconfigured in order to compensate the failure; this type of reconfiguration can also take place without the user being aware of it or however without any operational functionality going lost for the user, or the overall camera field of view resulting somehow limited.

In practice, the invention makes available a multi-sensor apparatus 10 which completely overcomes the drawbacks of the prior art.

In fact, the arrangement of a matrix 3 of the devices 1 , each having an optical body 10 able to be individually moved on three degrees of freedom and provided with a varifocal lens, allows for a variety and efficiency of use which is not attainable via the multiple sensor systems of the known art. Indeed, the apparatus 10 herein provided, allows to observe extremely large areas, while acquiring at the same time very small details of each shooting scene, for example for the purpose of facial biometric recognition or car plate recognition or for any other type of use.

In fact, each module of the matrix 3 may be oriented such that the framed scenes may be changed at will, or in a programmed manner.

In other words, according to the needs that will arise from time to time, the modules may be distributed in the scene which is framed at will. The modules shall be able, for example, to film precise and non-contiguous portions of the scene.

As schematically shown in Figures 2 - 4, the invention provides a support frame 5 for the matrix 3 with a substantially planar extension; note that the support frame 5 is shown in the accompanying figures in stylized form. Note that in Figures 2-4, which are non-limiting exemplifying representations, the kinematic linkage 2 of each device is coupled to a support base 4.

Figure 2 illustrates a first exemplary embodiment, wherein the base 4 of each device 1 is applied to the frame 5 and disposed parallel to the frame 5.

In the alternative embodiment of Figure 2A, the bases 4 of the devices are instead mounted perpendicular to the frame 5.

However, in consideration of the great mobility of the optical units 10 of the devices 1 of the matrix, the functioning of the matrix 3 is independent of the actual mounting modalities.

Owing to its typically planar shape, the frame 5 is able to define a first and a second half-space S1 , S2, respectively a front and rear half-space.

The devices 1 are thus so arranged within the matrix 3 as to point in directions which are comprised within the first half-space S1 .

In practice, each device 1 can be removably mounted on the frame 5, which frame 5 is provided with mounting seats wherein releasable coupling means are acting.

If the sending of the video stream of the cameras to the processing unit is not made exclusively via radio transmission, then the mentioned seats shall be associated with respective data inputs, for example of the Ethernet type, for coupling with an output cable each device 1 is provided with.

It thus becomes clear how assembly and removal of the devices 1 for the purpose of maintenance is extremely easier than the prior art, as well the manner in which expansion or reduction of the matrix 3 can be promoted with the devices 1 being simply added and removed in the desired positions.

As shown schematically in Figure 4, the invention may provide use of a casing 6 for containing the matrix 3 and a transparent element 7, for example a glass plate, lying within the first half-space S1 mentioned above, thereby being the apparatus 10 frontally defined.

Claims

1. An image acquisition device (1 ), comprising at least one optical body (10) able to acquire images and a kinematic linkage (2) for moving said optical body (10), characterised in that said kinematic linkage (2) is able to move said optical body (10) according to at least three degrees of freedom.

2. A device (1 ) according to the preceding claim, wherein said kinematic linkage (2) is able to rotate said optical body (10) about three axes of rotation (R1 , R2, R3) perpendicular to one another.

3. A device (1 ) according to the preceding claim, wherein one of said axes of rotation coincides with the central axis (R3) of the optical body (10).

4. A device (1 ) according to at least any preceding claim, wherein the optical body (10) comprises at least one varifocal lens.

5. A device (1 ) according to at least any preceding claim, comprising a digital video camera (10).

6. An apparatus (10) for image acquisition, comprising a plurality of devices (1 ) according to at least any preceding claim arranged within a matrix (3) comprising at least one row and/or at least one column.

7. An apparatus (10) according to the preceding claim, wherein said matrix (3) of devices (1 ) is connected to a processing unit configured for managing the videos acquired by the devices (1 ).

8. An apparatus (10) according to the preceding claim, comprising motorised means for individually moving each device (1 ), wherein said processing unit is configured to pilot said motorised means.

9. An apparatus (10) according to at least any one of claims 6 to 8, comprising a support frame (5) with a substantially planar extension, defining a first and second half-space (S1 ,S2), wherein the devices (1 ) are arranged within the matrix (3), so as to be able to point in the directions comprised within said half-space (S1 ). ^"lO.An apparatus (10) according to the preceding claim, comprising a casing (6) for containing said matrix (3) and a transparent element (7) comprised within said first half-space (S1 ).