Long-Range Viewing Apparatus

Abstract

A long-range viewing apparatus is described, the long-range viewing apparatus arranged to provide an all-in-one solution to combining two videos streams obtained coaxially through a single imaging aperture. A long-range viewing apparatus comprising, a housing; a first camera within the housing; a second camera within the housing; and a processing element; wherein the processing element is arranged to combine images from the first and second cameras; wherein the processing element is further arranged to scale images from the first and second cameras; wherein the processing element is further arranged to crop images from the first and second cameras; characterised in that, the first camera is positioned coaxially in front of the second camera; and the housing comprises a single imaging aperture. The invention aims to achieve real-time digital foveal zoom capabilities in a physically robust, low-weight, low-complexity and small form factor assembly suitable for demanding applications.

Claims

1. A long-range viewing apparatus comprising, a housing; a first camera within the housing; a second camera within the housing; and a processing element; wherein the processing element is arranged to combine images from the first and second cameras; wherein the processing element is further arranged to scale images from the first and second cameras; wherein the processing element is further arranged to crop images from the first and second cameras; characterised in that, the first camera is positioned coaxially in front of the second camera; and the housing comprises a single imaging aperture.

2. A long-range viewing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first camera comprises a first camera lens assembly and a first camera sensor.

3. A long-range viewing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second camera comprises a second camera lens assembly, a second camera sensor and at least one mirror.

4. A long-range viewing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the combination of images from the first and second cameras by the processing element provides a composite foveal image.

5. A long-range viewing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first camera is a wide field of view camera.

6. A long-range viewing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second camera is a narrow field of view camera.

7. A long-range viewing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the scaling and cropping of images by the processing element provides digital zoom capability without internally moving parts.

8. A long-range viewing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus further comprises a display means enabled to receive and display image data.

9. A long-range viewing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the processing element is further arranged to output image data to the display means.

10. A long-range viewing apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the display means is further arranged to carry out image processing.

11. A long-range viewing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing element is further arranged to transmit and receive image data across at least one network.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] Specific embodiments will now be described by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0023] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a preferred embodiment of a long-range viewing apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention;

[0024] FIG. 2a-c show iteratively zoomed example images output from a long-range viewing apparatus of FIG. 1; and

[0025] FIG. 3 shows the long-range viewing apparatus of FIG. 1 further comprising a display means.

[0026] Referring to FIG. 1, a schematic view is provided in which there is illustrated a long-range viewing apparatus 25 in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention, enabling all-in-one coaxial digital foveal imaging and zoom functionality.

[0027] The apparatus 25 comprises a substantially rectangular housing 20, with a single imaging aperture 22 in a side face. The aperture 22 provides for transit of light accessible to a first camera sensor 10 through a therein combined first camera lens assembly 11 (a first camera); and a second camera sensor 14 through a therein combined second camera lens assembly 15; each disposed within the housing. The first camera 10, 11 and second camera sensor 14 are shown aligned coaxially along the longitudinal axis of the housing 20, each oriented facing the aperture 22. The first camera sensor 10, 11 is disposed against the rear-side face of a second mirror 12 which comprises a portion of the second camera. The second camera sensor 14 is positioned coaxially behind the front first camera sensor 10. A first mirror 16 is positioned within the housing 20 and oriented to provide reflection of light from the aperture 22 to the second mirror 12, which is positioned so as to receive the light reflected from the first mirror 16 and to reflect the light toward the second camera sensor 14 through the second camera lens assembly 15. Together, the first mirror 16, the second mirror 12, the second camera sensor 14 and the second camera lens assembly 15 are arranged to provide a complete catadioptric second camera.

[0028] The first camera 10, 11 comprises a wide field of view camera. The second camera 12, 14, 15, 16 comprises a narrow field of view camera.

[0029] Preferably the apparatus 25 further comprises a processing element 18, shown disposed behind the second camera sensor 14. Optional embodiments will be conceivable wherein the processing portion is not disposed behind the second camera sensor 14, but may be disposed elsewhere within or around the housing 20. In additional optional embodiments it is conceivable that the invention may comprise more than one processing element 18. In additional conceivable embodiments the processing element 18 may be comprised within one or more cameras.

[0030] In use the wide-angle imaging data of the first camera 10, 11 and the narrow field of view imaging data of the second camera 12, 14, 15, 16 are arranged to be provided to the processing element 18. The processing element 18 is arranged to combine the two imaging streams, creating combined image data that provides vision of a wide area but with a desired region in high-resolution. In the preferred embodiment the processing element 18 is enabled to crop and scale the two image feeds, either prior to or after combination, in order to provide a digital foveal zoom functionality. Preferred examples of this progressive digital foveal zoom can be seen in the iteratively zoomed images provided in FIG. 2 a-c.

[0031] The combination of the two image data streams in this way provides for ease of location of a desired entity, whereby as can be seen from FIG. 2 a-c, the high-resolution image is placed in the wider context of its surroundings to enable easier location. The combination of the high quality image from the second camera 12, 14, 15, 16 with what may optionally be a lower quality image from the first camera 10, 11 provides for lower complexity of the resulting image data, the processing of which is less computationally intensive than if the image data comprised solely the high quality image data provided by the second camera 12, 14, 15, 16.

[0032] The coaxial alignment of the first camera 10, 11 and the second camera 12, 14, 15, 16 requires a small housing 20 and only a single imaging aperture 22. The incorporation of the processing element 18 within the housing 20, wherein the processing element 18 is enabled to combine, crop and scale the images without the use of additional hardware, means that the apparatus comprised within the housing 20 performs all of the necessary steps to yield effective coaxial digital foveal zoom capabilities. The combination of a small housing 20 with no additionally required hardware provides for a smaller form-factor apparatus 25 than would be required if the first camera 10, 11 and the second camera 12, 14, 15, 16 where not coaxially aligned, or if further hardware was required for combination, cropping and scaling of the two image feeds.

[0033] The presence of only a single imaging aperture 22 means that, where stealth is a concern, there is only a single reflective surface potentially providing glare. The absence of moving parts in the zooming and capturing of an image means that sound and heat emission from the apparatus can be kept to a minimum.

[0034] An optional embodiment 26 is shown in FIG. 3 wherein the apparatus 25 from the embodiment described in FIG. 1 further comprises a display means 24 adjacent to the housing 20. In this optional embodiment 26, the processing element 18 is arranged to transmit image data to the display means 24, arranged to display the transmitted data.

[0035] In a further optional embodiment, the processing portion 18 utilises connection to a network in order to transmit and receive image data. This transmission or receipt of image data to or from a network may optionally be prior to the combination, cropping or scaling of the image data. In optional embodiments comprising a display means 24, this transmission or receipt of image data to or from a network by the processing portion 18 may optionally be prior to transmission of the image data to the display means 24.

[0036] Optional embodiments are conceivable wherein the coaxial arrangement of more than two cameras is preferable, or wherein more than a single display means is preferable. There are further conceivable embodiments wherein the housing comprises further apertures arranged, for instance, for cooling of the apparatus within the housing. In further alternative embodiments the apparatus may comprise and process two or more video or image streams. The image processing could alternatively be a function of the display means. Optional further embodiments may provide the processing element as comprised within one or more cameras. Additional conceivable embodiments may comprise more than one processing element.

[0037] It will be appreciated that the above described embodiments are given by way of example only and that various modifications thereto may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. For example visible light is discussed but aspects of the invention could be used with other light sources or other radiation on the electromagnetic spectrum, such as infrared.