CN1178468C - Camera system - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a body-bearable mobile computer with a camera, which can be used for image sequence. When a camera user can not directly watch a viewfinder, a displayer borne by the user, connected with a computer and arranged over the head of people can realize the purpose of making the camera align to a correct direction. For example, when the operator of the camera wants to watch the back of procession people, the viewfinder of the camera can be lifted above the people to watch the image in the display arranged over the heads of the people. Thus, the camera can be moved towards a required direction. The visible image can be simultaneously displayed to a bearer (or the user), and can be stored or recorded on a body-bearable computer or sent to distant places by an auxiliary device of the computer.

Description

Camera system

The present invention relates to a kind of camera system, particularly relate to a kind of being used for and the picture of finding a view is sent to user's system from gamma camera.This application is the U.S. Patent application No.08/861 that submitted on May 22nd, 1997, and No. 598 part continues.

The video capture device that is similar to consumer's gamma camera has can allow photographer observe the view finder of the information of being taken, and holds operate as normal under the situation that gamma camera just is enough to observe by this view finder photographer.Yet some situation does not allow photographer to confirm that by view finder thing that gamma camera is writing down is exactly that photographer wants the thing taken.

It is scenes that teacher of the videotaping will can not clearly find a view in the gamma camera photographs that several situations are arranged, for example, the user is in the crowd's of the troop that watches the parade back, and take procession, the user have to avoid gamma camera act top to the end the crowded crowd of user front in the hope of the view finder that makes gamma camera.When the user will do like this, he can't confirm gamma camera over against suitable direction, and his shooting can only be taken a chance.In this case, the user just misses the chance that procession is taken in plan probably.Can not easily observe by view finder under other situations of the scene that is taken the user, for example after the earthquake or the building that collapses, will be inserted into zone between the brickbat rubble to the view finder probe usually.In these cases, if the user can arrange gamma camera to take or confirm gamma camera facing to the subject among the plan, this also is in demand.In case after performing, the user just can change the angle direction or the some direction of gamma camera, guarantees to photograph inside the plan image.

At this moment, if the user can not observe the gamma camera view finder, concerning video user not in order to observe, confirm, aim at and adjust the regulatory function of the scene that gamma camera writing down.

In U.S. Patent No. 5,305, disclosed the movable computer of a kind of user among 244 (Newman etc.) without the hand supporting, in the system of Newman etc., provide the portable computing of containing certainly of an exquisiteness, this device is supported without hand by the user fully, and can recover the user, display message.This calculation element comprise one by user supporting, with the speech recognition component of processor coupling, this speech recognition component is used for receiving the audio instructions from the user, again received audio instructions is transformed to the signal of telecommunication, discern the signal of telecommunication then, and the signal of telecommunication through identification is sent to processor and handles through conversion.This calculation element also comprises a display that is coupled with processor, this display is used for receiving the information of from processor and the user is shown received information, this display is also supported by the user, thereby the user can operate this calculation element, so that only to adopt the mode of audio instructions to come display message without hand.

U.S. Patent No. 5,189 discloses a kind of helmet-type display system (HID) in 512, and this system is used for watching at a distance the vision signal that is worn over the HID on teacher of the videotape'ing head.The optic network that visual image constitutes through minute surface and biconvex lens is transformed to the virtual image in the observation eye that appears at teacher of the videotaping, a radical occlusion device that also is connected in the HID system is the outside of retaining at non-observation eye of finding a view, like this, the image of perceiving from eyes just synthesizes an images in teacher of the videotape'ing cerebral cortex.This display system is a kind of useful simple structure when watching video image at a distance only.

If calculation element is included in the intermediate system or is included in the same system with HID and gamma camera, this will be of great use.For example, if watch the place of being damaged by fire, earthquake or other destructive power, it just can compare with the preceding image that is produced by any computer of breaking-up at once.Other purposes of such system are to be used for focusing on or producing moving picture during other operations at the needs gamma camera, and teacher of the videotape'ing hand ordinary grip at this moment gamma camera and can not be finished these operations.Voice or can be very to need without other operations of hand.Employing is that image and information are sent to other places and system without the other reasons of the computer of hand in this system, as is sent to Internet etc.In addition, if parade or other activation record on videotape, voice or other will be created on the videotape that will form at once without computer picture and the sound that the instruction of hand produces.On the other hand, in order easily to aim at the direction of used gamma camera, processor can write down the N frame with the image of playback of recorded on videotape.User supporting or the removable computer without hand that adorns oneself with will greatly help teacher of the videotaping, particularly in the time can not directly finding a view by gamma camera especially like this.In this system, U.S. Patent application No.08/538, the user described in 194 is very valuable without the computer installation of hand supporting.

An object of the present invention is to provide and watch the camera system of photographic subjects when a kind of user can not use the gamma camera view finder.

Another object of the present invention provide a kind of user certainly gamma camera just watching thing the time can adjust the camera system of his gamma camera direction.

A further object of the present invention provides a kind of user when can not be easily observing the live video information that will take by view finder and take and/or send reliable method from the live video information of gamma camera by the user.

A further object of the invention provides the method and system of probe precision that a kind of improvement is used for determining the position of the victim in the collapsed building etc.

Above-mentioned purpose of the present invention and other purpose are achieved like this, and can be used for a movable computer that has display screen or a HMD to carry out promptly that gamma camera is found a view and without the gamma camera view finder.The preferred computer that is used for the present invention and drive unit is that sequence number is No.08/538, the computer of the type disclosed in 194 the original patent application (Mobile Assistant ), but, can use so long as have the suitable movable computer of the screen of finding a view.The reason of preferred Mobile Assistant  is because this computer is the computer system without hand, it can allow the user gamma camera or other video cameras hand held in, still, any movable computer that has the screen of finding a view can be used.

Patent application serial numbers is No.08/538,194 computer " Mobile Assistant  " or " MobileComputer " are used for desirable computer of the present invention, because it have various drive units can allow the user hold gamma camera and without hand go the operation, all advantages that provided without the hand-driven computer also are provided simultaneously.In addition, this gamma camera can easily be connected on the processor of Mobile Assistant , so that be shown to this Mobile Assistant  videotaping to find a view) HMD (overhead display is installed) on.This method allows gamma camera is moved or dispatches can not be by watching the zone of confirming correctly to take the theme target that will be recorded on the tape.This method is achieved like this, and promptly has one to be connected to the movably video capture device of computer, and watches the image that is picked up by gamma camera.In case notice viewed scene, just can move the gamma camera held up to desired find a view be presented at HMD and go up till.Then, this movable computer is delivered to storage device or communication interface to video information, and this information is sent to other place.When this information is specified transfer path by computer, computer will grasp each N frame, and be presented at it on the user's computer monitor or install on the overhead display.Make in this way, teacher of the videotaping just can watch the thing that will take, and can adjust the position of gamma camera as required.

The device that also has a N frame that is used for controlling subject to put in order, so-called N frame refers to the frame of any previously selected number, as each the 5th frame or each the 10th frame or the like.

Adaptive to be used for gamma camera of the present invention be quite simple, and an AP.C.M.C.I.A. (PC) card can be used in the processor of Mobile Assistant , and with a R.C.A connector it is connected on the gamma camera.Employed PC card can be any suitable card, as quadrant company (Quadrant Corporation of Malvern, Pennsylvania) the existing snap gauge plate of Sheng Chaning by the Ma Erwen of Pennsyivania.

Native system will adopt a gamma camera to be described, and still, can use the video camera such as the photography machine of any other type equally.In addition, if necessary, can use any suitable movable computer, and without Mobile Assistant , still, because the versatility of Mobile Assistant , this is the most desirable a kind of computer.The general utility functions of Mobile Assistant  are as follows.

It uses the supporting portable computing of an exquisiteness, and this device is supported by the user fully, and recovers and display message without hand.This calculation element comprises a shell by user's supporting with fixture, and this fixture is used for removably fixing this shell.This shell also comprises the storage device of the information that storage is packed in advance and transmits the information processing device with this storage device, and this processor device receives, recovers and according to institute's program stored process information and user instruction.This calculation element also comprises voice frequency sender and transmits the convertor device of information with processor device, the audio instructions that this convertor device is used for receiving from the user also is transformed into the signal of telecommunication to received audio instructions, discern the signal of telecommunication of institute's conversion then, again the signal of telecommunication through identification is sent to processor device, this voice frequency sender and convertor device are also supported by the user.This calculation element also comprises the display unit of the information of transmitting with processor device, this display unit receives the information of from processor device, and received information shown the user, this display unit is also supported by the user, therefore, the user can only adopt audio instructions to come operational computations machine display message without hand.

Also there is certain situation, as the people who operates wearable computer need focus on gamma camera on the scene that he can not directly see, such situation comprises the gamma camera that uses the band hand-holding rod, this hand-holding rod is used for gamma camera is positioned around the visual impediments, as is in a device in the maintenance in the enclosure wall in the narrow space.Image from gamma camera is sent to wearable computer, in wearable computer, carries out digitlization, data processing and distribute format.Can show the operator of this visible image to wearable computer, store or be recorded on the wearable computer then, concurrent sending away be analyzed.

This image/video capture system can be made of a gamma camera, can take and/or transmit the video camera of still image or motion video as the CCD of Sony " XC-999 " the type gamma camera made by the Sony in Japan Tokyo or other.This gamma camera can be connected on an image/video capture card by multicore cable, as the Ma Erwen quadrant (QuadrantInternational of international corporation by the Pennsyivania, Malvern.PA) " the Cardcam Video in " of Zhi Zuoing perhaps can transmit information through wireless device and the master computer that image/video capture card is housed.This image/video capture card can be formed in this master computer or be formed in the existing gamma camera or as a PCMCIA or " PC card " and be inserted in the master computer.In above-mentioned image/video capture card device, to take card and can be inserted in the compatible groove of PCMCIA, this groove is contained in picture Xybemaut Corporation, in the MobileAssistant  II type master computer that Fairfax VA makes.

According to above-mentioned formation, image/video capture card extracts the information from gamma camera, and analog information is transformed to digital information, carries out a following step again: (1) information stores on the hard disk drive or on other medium, so that send later on; (2) directly all formats are arrived the information transfer device that is connected with master computer, so that these information are sent to the distant place; Or (3) carry out information stores and information transmission simultaneously.In either case, institute's program stored all information Control or be arranged on the correct position, is delivered to display to each N frame simultaneously and is gone to be arranged by gamma camera.So-called " N frame " is meant the frame of certain number that the user requires for the putting in order of image that obtains seeing, mobile gamma camera so just can obtain desired putting in order simply till the user sees that he will use the image of video (or other video cameras) device recording.

In a further embodiment, as the variation of this embodiment, be the device that has changed be delivered to master computer from the image of gamma camera.For example, if taking card is positioned on the gamma camera, the user just may transmit information through serial port or parallel port, this point is important a bit, because some digital camera (single-lens formula gamma camera) has the direct interface to serial port, be used for the image of taking is passed to computer, in this embodiment, video camera itself is not a gamma camera, but takes still image.And being used for video camera general designation of the present invention " gamma camera ", it will comprise photography machine, night-vision camera, thermal imagery video camera, infrared camera etc. or other any suitable video cameras.

Brief Description Of Drawings

Fig. 1 is the stereogram of gamma camera to the jockey of the processor of Mobile Assistant .

Fig. 2 is the plane graph that is used for the overhead display of installation of the present invention.

Fig. 3 is the stereogram of a kind of application of system of the present invention or one embodiment of the present of invention, is used for illustrating the sight that the user takes in crowd's overhead.

Fig. 4 is the plane graph of one embodiment of the present of invention, and wherein gamma camera is connected to a MobileAssistant  and overhead display equipment is installed.

Fig. 5 is the stereogram of the processor of Mobile Assistant , and this processor has the device that is connected with the overhead display of installation in the system of the present invention with gamma camera.

Among Fig. 1, the processor 2 of packaged type computer is shown, the packaged type computer has control button 3 and a mouse bar 4 of using when needing the manual operation computer system.Yet in the present invention, preferably use audio driven, eye search, EEG or other drivings without hand; For suitable drive unit, see that sequence number is No.08/538,194 original application.Processor 2 has a pcmcia card box 5, and this cartridge is held employed PCMCIA (PC) card 10 among a present invention.Cable 6 extends to gamma camera (or other video cameras) 1 from processor 2, and cable 7 extends to gamma camera 1 or extends to installation overhead display (HMD) 8 or other monitors from the electricity outlet of processor 2, sees Fig. 4 and Fig. 5.Recessed PC cartridge 5 is protected this to be stuck in the pass and was not damaged in 9 o'clock to the doorstep, and groove 11 can allow cable 6 wear out at 9 o'clock in the pass to the doorstep, as shown in Figure 3, can use any suitable display, as HMD8.

Among Fig. 2, adorn overhead display 8 and comprise a narrow headband 12, it has a coupled rotatable eyepiece or transducer 13, and this eyepiece 13 links to each other with cursor 14, and headband 12 can be regulated with adjusting device 15.Computer connecting device or processor jockey 7 are connected with eyepiece 13, and extend to processor 2 in the back of HMD8.The detailed description of a suitable HMD is described in unexamined patent application No.08/745, in 013; Said description with the form of reference in conjunction with in the present invention.Earphone or receiver 16 also are connected on the headband 12, and microphone 17 movably is connected on the receiver 16.As mentioned above, preferably audio driven can be used to comprise other other suitable driving methods without the driving method of hand in the present invention.Sequence number is No.08/538, and 194 patent application has disclosed some suitable driving methods and has been used for other embodiment of the present invention.The video image that is sent to this HMD8 13 is watched in eyepiece by the user, and mobile gamma camera 7, and changes under the picture record of the requirement that its steering handle watches in eyepiece 13.

In Fig. 3, represented a user gamma camera 7 lift crowded crowd 18 above, user 19 uses his not manual display screen or eyepiece 13, processor 2 and stube cable 6 of comprising, 7 computer system, just can easily change the direction of gamma camera 7, up to till watching desired image on the display screen 13.Obviously, user 19 can not see desired image by the view finder of gamma camera 1 from this position, and still, he can watch desired image by eyepiece 13, and perhaps mobile gamma camera 1 is till seeing desired image by display screen 13.Processor 2 can have a pcmcia card 10, and this card is programmed, so that write down N frame image or desired image, so-called N frame is meant that this user is for suitably adjusting certain number of gamma camera 1 necessary frame image.

Among Fig. 4 and Fig. 5, the processor 2 of Mobile Assistant  can be connected to gamma camera 1 through the outlet connector 20 in pcmcia card or the treated device 2.HMD is connected to processor 2 through cable 7, this cable 7 also is connected to processor 2 at jockey 21 places, this processor 2 can comprise band 22 and 23, band is used for processor 2 is worn on user's the wrist (or other positions), when processor 2 is transformed into one as unexamined patent application No.08/698 by a human body wearable unit, during 319 disclosed vertical single computers, band 23 can also be used as a removable bearing.Owing to adopt stationary computers or the mobility that the overlap joint top can hinder teacher of the videotaping, so human body Worn type as shown in Figure 3 can provide computer installation of the presently claimed invention without the computer of hand.As mentioned above, Mobile Assistant  has added prior art to this system does not have the critical ability that discloses, promptly transmit information and to other local abilities that shows the image that is recorded, these images can be analyzed when being write down by gamma camera with other remote computers or system such as Internet.If this packaged type computer is a preferred voice driven formula computer, can maybe need to analyze other places of the image that is being shown by other places that teacher of the videotaping deliver to the generation problem to instruction.Compare with the HMD that only has with remote gamma camera transmission information, the benefit with computer of managing remote gamma camera is as follows:

(1) this computer can simultaneously be watched overlapped information of camera-picture;

(2) this computer can access or access at a distance other images that are taken that are stored in the computer again, and compares with the image of being watched;

(3) this computer can communicate the people who uses the two-way voice, and this option will need the unit of a separation;

(4) this computer can be handled image, so that limit the thing that will watch better;

(5) this computer has the ability of returning with reference to the image of having taken.

Having one of benefit with the computer of a HMD and a remote gamma camera is that the user can access the information that is stored in local computer or the telecounter again, need determine current target of watching when whether observation last time has extremely changed so far the user, this will be very useful.Whether change in time for definite target, accessing the ability of the image that photographs in advance again and showing with related data that the ability of the image stored is not only simultaneously with the image of watching with gamma camera needs, and is necessary.An example is the maintainer that need periodically detect the internal soundness that is in the pipeline in the boiler room, the pipe detection program need be in order to a gamma camera that has pulled along the down direction of opening in pipeline, if run into crack or problem, the testing staff just can from institute's wearable computer or from telecounter system (with the communication capacity of wearable computer) access this pipeline before the information of detection, if the internal structure of this pipeline than the detection deterioration of last time, will be carried out suitable maintenance.In native system, use one movably the computer of user's supporting also can easily remove similar purposes the detection.

Like this, when because any former thereby can not use eyepiece 24 in the gamma camera 1 time, and when needing remote device to watch image, native system is just provided convenience and device movably for this reason.When for watching at a distance when needing to use Mobile Assistant  as system a part of, as pending trial U.S. Patent application No.08/538,194 and No.08/698,319 is disclosed, can transform use MobileAssistant .

At this, preferred and illustrated embodiments of the present invention has been described, and accompanying drawings basic principle of the present invention, still, be to be understood that and can make the various remodeling and the result that derives, but do not deviate from aim of the present invention and scope.

Claims (17)

1. the system of user supporting, be used for catching, analytical photography machine image and equipment demonstration video camera image to separating with described video camera, described system comprises containing and is connected to a user by image mode and supports the user supporting of gamma camera and the visual collator of self-contained movable computer, the movable computer of described user supporting comprises counter body and without the drive unit of hand, the movable computer of described user's supporting is self-contained computer and comprises the jockey that is connected with described video camera, a processor, the display screen of memory and user's supporting, described counter body has the fixture of the relative user of shell being fixed in dismountable mode, the video camera image that described preparation implement handlebar receives through described connection sends to the device of described display screen, described processor has the device of each preliminary election N frame of the described image that receives of record, described computer is used to carry out and comprises the function of described preliminary election frame being analyzed and covered out of Memory when watching described image, wherein said drive unit is from comprising audio drive unit, eye search drive unit, select in the device group of EEG drive unit and its mixing arrangement, wherein said image collator comprises described drive unit without hand.

2. according to the system of claim 1, it is characterized in that described jockey is connected on the pcmcia card in the described processor.

3. according to the system of claim 1, it is characterized in that described collator is made of described drive unit and the quantity of described N frame is less than all received frames.

4. according to the system of claim 1, it is characterized in that described movable computer is the computer of a user without the hand supporting.

5. according to the system of claim 1, it is characterized in that described display screen is on the overhead display of installation by user's supporting.

6. according to the system of claim 1, it is characterized in that the N frame of described record is meant that this user is for suitably adjusting certain number of the necessary frame image of gamma camera.

7. according to the system of claim 1, it is characterized in that described movable computer has to be used for when described video camera is being taken and second local communicating devices.

8. according to the system of claim 1, it is characterized in that described movable computer has to be used for described video camera image is sent to the device of computer network.

9. according to the system of claim 1, it is characterized in that described function comprises that also described computer can call in the described memory that is stored in computer or other of remote storage taken image, and it and the image of watching are made comparisons, described computer can utilize voice to communicate by letter with other people, described computer can handle image so that the content that better definition is being watched, and described computer can return checks the image that has been taken.

10. one kind by being used for that the video camera image is shown to the visual ordering system that the device on the equipment that separates with described video camera constitutes, described system has visual collator, described visual collator comprises a movably wearable computer without hand that has without the drive unit of hand, described drive unit is from comprising audio drive unit, eye search drive unit, select in the device group of electroencephalogram (EEG) drive unit and its mixing arrangement, described movably wearable computer is self-contained computer and comprises the jockey that is connected with described video camera, the display screen of processor and user's supporting, the described device that is connected to described video camera is made of electric connector or optical fiber connector, the one end is connected to described processor, the other end is connected to the connection receiving system in the described gamma camera, the image that described preparation implement handlebar receives through the described jockey that is connected to described video camera sends to the device of described display screen, the described reception picture frame that described processor has preselected number is recorded in the described video cameras and device shown, described computer is used to carry out and comprises the function of described preliminary election frame being analyzed and covered out of Memory when watching described image, and self-contained computer is that the user supports, described self-contained computer has the device that is installed on the user's body, and wherein said image collator comprises the drive unit without hand.

11., it is characterized in that described jockey is connected on the pcmcia card in the described processor according to the system of claim 10.

12., it is characterized in that described collator is made of described drive unit, and described chosen in advance number of image frames is less than all received frames according to the system of claim 10.

13., it is characterized in that described movable computer is the computer of a user without the hand supporting according to the system of claim 10.

14., it is characterized in that described display screen is on the overhead display of installation by user's supporting according to the system of claim 10.

15., it is characterized in that described movable computer has to be used for when described video camera is being taken and second local communicating devices according to the system of claim 10.

16., it is characterized in that described movable computer has to be used for described video camera image is sent to the device of computer network according to the system of claim 10.

17. system according to claim 10, it is characterized in that described function comprises that also described computer can call in the described memory that is stored in computer or other of remote storage taken image, and it and the image of watching are made comparisons, described computer can utilize voice to communicate by letter with other people, described computer can handle image so that the content that better definition is being watched, and described computer can return checks the image that has been taken.

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