Embodiments of video inspection systems with moveably dockable camera control units (CCUs) which may include a display are disclosed. In one embodiment, a video inspection system includes two frame elements which each have a handle. The frame elements may be moved into multiple positions and orientations relative to each other and provide a secure stand for a CCU. The CCU may be attached and detached from the frame elements. The handles may be used to carry the frame elements with or without the CCU attached. The handles may be slip resistant to provide a stable support for a CCU when the frame elements are positioned on a surface. Docking apparatus are provided to allow a CCU, tablet, pad, laptop, or smartphone to be attached to the frame elements and put in a variety of positions or orientations to make viewing convenient for a user.

A tethered imaging camera encapsulated in a shell lens element of such camera enables viewing from inside and imaging of a biological organ in/from a variety of directions. A portion of camera's optical system together with light source(s) and optical detector mutually cooperated by housing structure inside the shell are moveable/re-orientable within the shell to vary a desired view of the object space without interruption of imaging process. A tether carries electrical but not optical signals to and from the camera and controllable traction cords to move the camera, and a hand-control unit and/or electronic circuitry configured to operate the camera and power its movements. Method(s) of using optical, optoelectronic, and optoelectromechanical sub-systems of the camera.

Embodiments disclosed herein are directed to systems and methods for locating an anomaly along an inside surface of a conveyance pipe containing two mediums separated by a two medium interface. The systems and methods include an assembly transportable within the conveyance pipe. The assembly includes an enclosure that is at least partially transparent and is positionable to be located both above and below the two medium interface. An upper camera and a lower camera enclosed within the enclosure are operable to capture images of the inside surface of the conveyance pipe above and below the two medium interface. A data acquisition unit is in electronic communication with the upper camera and the lower camera, and includes a processor programmed to determine a presence and a location of the anomaly by analyzing the captured images.

Systems for inspecting pipes or cavities including a camera head, a coaxial push-cable, and a video signal transmitter and a communicatively coupled camera control unit (CCU) are disclosed.

A borescope includes an electronic image capture unit having two image capture sensors as a borescope lens at an end of a shaft that is designed for being inserted into a borescope opening, a position and alignment of the image capture sensors in relation to one another being suitable for ascertaining three-dimension (3D) information using triangulation; and a pattern projector configured to project a pattern into a common recording region of the image capture sensors. The pattern projector includes: a fundamentally optically imaging light-guide bundle, which is made up of statistically distributed optical fibers having differing transmittances, to whose input surface a light source is coupled and whose output surface is aligned with the region captured by the image capture sensors.

A borescope may include a housing including a transparent viewing window, a bumper surrounding at least a portion of a periphery of the transparent viewing window, wherein the bumper is configured to be pressurized by a fluid, and at least one imaging assembly configured to visualize a field of view exterior of the housing through the transparent viewing window.

Push-cables and associated apparatus and systems are disclosed. In one embodiment, a push-cable assembly for use with a pipe inspection system may include a push-cable element having a proximal end and a distal end, with a spring assembly having varying flexibility coupled to or near the distal end. The spring assembly may include an outer coiled spring having a proximal and a distal end, and an inner coiled spring nested at least partially within the outer coiled spring. A camera head and/or other elements such as a cutting or jetting apparatus may be coupled at or near the distal end.

An inspection camera system includes a camera unit and one or more accessory tools. The camera is mounted in a camera housing. A primary attachment and a secondary attachment act together to provide a reliable attachment of an accessory tool to the camera housing. The accessory tool is removable from the camera housing by disengagement of the secondary and primary attachments. The primary attachment arrangement alone, in an engaged position, resists at least some motion of the accessory tool relative to the camera housing. The secondary attachment arrangement, when engaged, resists motion of the primary attachment arrangement relative to the camera housing out of its engaged position.

A camera assembly (10) for the inspection of passageways, particularly wellbores, and designed to operate in high temperature environments. A camera assembly for the inspection of wellbores comprises an elongate housing (12) having a first end (30) and a second end (42) and, extending between the ends, a side wall comprising an inner wall (22) and an outer wall (24), with a vacuum formed between the inner and outer walls; an elongate relay lens (52) having a first end (56) and a second end (62), the relay lens being located within the housing; an optically transparent window (46) located at the first end of the relay lens; an image sensor (48) located at the second end of the relay lens for capturing an image of an object viewable through the relay lens and window; and a light source (16) arranged to emit light from the housing, for illuminating the viewable object.

A wastewater monitoring system uses a camera in a fixed location in a wastewater pipe that takes a still photograph of a location of interest at defined intervals, such as five minutes. The photographs are retrieved from the camera, and are then analyzed on a computer system that aggregates the still photographs into a video stream, allows a user to define an area of interest on one of the still photographs, then uses suitable algorithms or heuristics to detect changes between the photographs in the video stream. Video clips of interest are then generated using the detected changes, and are identified to a user so the user can review the video clips of interest to determine flows in the wastewater pipe that was monitored.