EP-4738853-A1 - CAMERA SYSTEM FOR USE IN HARSH ENVIRONMENTS

EP4738853A1EP 4738853 A1EP4738853 A1EP 4738853A1EP-4738853-A1

Abstract

A camera system (100) for imaging in harsh environments. The camera system comprises a body with a first tubular casing, a second tubular casing, and a longitudinal strut which couples the first tubular casing to the second tubular casing to rigidly maintain the first and second tubular casings in a parallel, side by side relationship. The first and second tubular casing both define a front aperture for providing access to their respective interior space. The camera system also comprises a camera mounting endcap arranged to be coupled to the body to seal both front apertures. The camera mounting endcap comprises at least two camera mounting formations for coupling cameras to the camera mounting endcap. The camera mounting endcap has a viewing port for each respective camera to allow each camera to view the harsh environment through a front aperture. The camera mounting formations are arranged to rigidly maintain the cameras in a parallel, side by side relationship.

Inventors

HILL, LYNDON
BATCHELOR, Peter

Assignees

Rovco Limited

Dates

Publication Date: 20260506
Application Date: 20240305

Claims (16)

A camera system for imaging in harsh environments, the camera system comprising: a body, the body comprising: a first tubular casing defining front and rear ends, the front end of the first tubular casing defining a first front aperture for providing access to a first interior space; a second tubular casing defining front and rear ends, the front end of the second tubular casing defining a second front aperture for providing access to a second interior space; and a longitudinal strut which couples the first tubular casing to the second tubular casing to rigidly maintain the first and second tubular casings in a parallel, side by side relationship; a camera mounting endcap arranged to be coupled to the body to seal the first front aperture and the second front aperture, the camera mounting endcap comprising: a first camera mounting formation for coupling a first camera to the camera mounting endcap; a first viewing port for enabling the first camera to view the harsh environment through the first front aperture; and a second camera mounting formation for coupling a second camera to the camera mounting endcap; and a second viewing port for enabling the second camera to view the harsh environment through the second front aperture, wherein the first and second camera mounting formation being arranged to rigidly maintain the first and second cameras in a parallel, side by side relationship.
The camera system of claim 1, wherein the camera system further comprises: a first camera mounted within the first interior space; a first data processor mounted within the first interior space; a first internal data link coupled between the first camera and the first data processor within the first interior space to transfer image data from the first camera to the first data processor; a second camera mounted within the second interior space; a second data processor mounted within the second interior space; a second internal data link coupled between the second camera and the second data processor within the second interior space to transfer image data from the second camera to the second data processor; and an external data link arranged to communicatively couple the first camera and/or the first data processor to the second camera and/or the second data processor, the external data link spanning between the first tubular casing and the second tubular casing.
The camera system of any of claims 1 or 2, wherein the rear end of the first tubular casing defining a first rear aperture for providing access to the first interior space; wherein the rear end of the second tubular casing defining a second rear aperture for providing access to the second interior space; and wherein the camera system further comprises a stabilising endcap arranged to be coupled to the body to seal the first rear aperture and the second rear aperture.
The camera system of claim 3, wherein the stabilising endcap includes one or more integrated cable holes configured to house the external data link.
The camera system of any of claims 3 or 4, wherein the stabilising endcap is integrally formed.
The camera system of any of claims 3 to 5, wherein the stabilising endcap further comprises fins on its external surface.
The camera system of any preceding claim, wherein the camera mounting endcap includes one or more integrated cable holes configured to house the external data link.
The camera system of any preceding claim, wherein the first and second tubular casings are tapered towards the first end.
The camera system of claim 8, wherein the first and second tubular casings are tapered towards the first end such that the distance between the centre of the first and second viewing ports is arranged to be a predetermined stereo baseline between the first and second cameras.
The camera system of any preceding claim, wherein the first tubular casing, second tubular casing and strut are integrally formed.
The camera system of any preceding claim, wherein the camera mounting endcap is configured to receive a material of the viewing port in respective first and second front apertures, and the camera mounting endcap is integrally formed.
The camera system of any preceding claim, wherein the camera mounting endcap is configured to support the weight of an optical assembly of the first and second cameras.
The camera system of any preceding claim, wherein the camera system further comprises: an enclosure cover system arranged to cover the body, wherein the enclosure cover system comprises mounting points for coupling the enclosure cover system to a platform.
The camera system of claim 13, wherein the enclosure cover system further comprises ventilation slots.
The camera system of any of claims 13 or 14, wherein the enclosure cover system further comprises one or more lens hoods for the first viewing port and/or the second viewing port.
The camera system of any of claims 13 to 15, wherein the platform comprises a vehicle.

Description

Background Known multi camera systems have a data processor that communicates with each camera to transfer image data (video or images) as well as perform processing tasks. If the multi camera system is to produce high quality video, then the data processor must be powerful enough to transfer and process high bandwidth image data of large spatial and colour resolution, colour depth and high framerate. In some harsh environments, camera systems may also encounter problems with efficient heat dissipation from the camera and data processor (and associated components) to the environment. The present inventors have devised an improved multi camera system for harsh environments that can exhibit one or more of the following advantages relative to known systems: improved reliability;increased simplicity;reduced cost;smaller in size; and/orreduced weight. Summary By way of a non-limiting overview, there is provided a camera system for imaging in harsh environments. The camera system comprises a body with a first tubular casing, a second tubular casing, and a longitudinal strut which couples the first tubular casing to the second tubular casing to rigidly maintain the first and second tubular casings in a parallel, side by side relationship. The first and second tubular casing both define a front aperture for providing access to their respective interior space. The camera system also comprises a camera mounting endcap arranged to be coupled to the body to seal both front apertures. The camera mounting endcap comprises at least two camera mounting formations for coupling cameras to the camera mounting endcap. The camera mounting endcap has a viewing port for each respective camera to allow each camera to view the harsh environment through a front aperture. The camera mounting formations are arranged to rigidly maintain the cameras in a parallel, side by side relationship. In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a camera system for imaging in harsh environments, the camera system comprising: a body, the body comprising: a first tubular casing defining front and rear ends, the front end of the first tubular casing defining a first front aperture for providing access to a first interior space;a second tubular casing defining front and rear ends, the front end of the second tubular casing defining a second front aperture for providing access to a second interior space; anda longitudinal strut which couples the first tubular casing to the second tubular casing to rigidly maintain the first and second tubular casings in a parallel, side by side relationship;a camera mounting endcap arranged to be coupled to the body to seal the first front aperture and the second front aperture, the camera mounting endcap comprising: a first camera mounting formation for coupling a first camera to the camera mounting endcap;a first viewing port for enabling the first camera to view the harsh environment through the first front aperture; anda second camera mounting formation for coupling a second camera to the camera mounting endcap; anda second viewing port for enabling the second camera to view the harsh environment through the second front aperture, wherein the first and second camera mounting formation being arranged to rigidly maintain the first and second cameras in a parallel, side by side relationship. Beneficially, the combination of the longitudinal strut and the camera mounting formation results in the following advantages: maintaining a parallel alignment of the cameras in response to high pressures and temperatures; enhanced vibration and impact protection to cameras; reduces need for recalibration between the cameras (e.g., when cameras are in a stereoscopic arrangement); and cooling of the internal components of each tubular casing. Optionally, the camera system further comprises a first camera mounted within the first interior space; a first data processor mounted within the first interior space. Optionally, the camera system further comprises a first internal data link coupled between the first camera and the first data processor within the first interior space to transfer image data from the first camera to the first data processor. Optionally, the camera system further comprises a second camera mounted within the second interior space. Optionally, the camera system further comprises a second data processor mounted within the second interior space. Optionally, the camera system further comprises a second internal data link coupled between the second camera and the second data processor within the second interior space to transfer image data from the second camera to the second data processor. Optionally, the camera system further comprises an external data link arranged to communicatively couple the first camera and/or the first data processor to the second camera and/or the second data processor, the external data link spanning between the first tubular casing and the second tubular casing. Th