CA2473859A1 - Compact mobile reconnaissance system - Google Patents
Compact mobile reconnaissance system Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2473859A1 CA2473859A1 CA002473859A CA2473859A CA2473859A1 CA 2473859 A1 CA2473859 A1 CA 2473859A1 CA 002473859 A CA002473859 A CA 002473859A CA 2473859 A CA2473859 A CA 2473859A CA 2473859 A1 CA2473859 A1 CA 2473859A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- sensor assembly
- mobile
- sensor
- reconnaissance system
- compact mobile
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N23/00—Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof
- H04N23/50—Constructional details
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G08—SIGNALLING
- G08B—SIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
- G08B13/00—Burglar, theft or intruder alarms
- G08B13/18—Actuation by interference with heat, light, or radiation of shorter wavelength; Actuation by intruding sources of heat, light, or radiation of shorter wavelength
- G08B13/189—Actuation by interference with heat, light, or radiation of shorter wavelength; Actuation by intruding sources of heat, light, or radiation of shorter wavelength using passive radiation detection systems
- G08B13/194—Actuation by interference with heat, light, or radiation of shorter wavelength; Actuation by intruding sources of heat, light, or radiation of shorter wavelength using passive radiation detection systems using image scanning and comparing systems
- G08B13/196—Actuation by interference with heat, light, or radiation of shorter wavelength; Actuation by intruding sources of heat, light, or radiation of shorter wavelength using passive radiation detection systems using image scanning and comparing systems using television cameras
- G08B13/19617—Surveillance camera constructional details
- G08B13/19619—Details of casing
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N23/00—Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof
- H04N23/60—Control of cameras or camera modules
- H04N23/63—Control of cameras or camera modules by using electronic viewfinders
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N23/00—Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof
- H04N23/60—Control of cameras or camera modules
- H04N23/66—Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N23/00—Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof
- H04N23/60—Control of cameras or camera modules
- H04N23/698—Control of cameras or camera modules for achieving an enlarged field of view, e.g. panoramic image capture
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N7/00—Television systems
- H04N7/18—Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast
- H04N7/183—Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast for receiving images from a single remote source
- H04N7/185—Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast for receiving images from a single remote source from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control
Abstract
The present invention provides a compact mobile reconnaissance device that is designed to be deployed in hostile, dangerous, or difficult to access environments, to absorb shocks, to be resistant to adverse environmental conditions and to transmit video and audio streams related to events at which it has been deployed to a remote receiver and display unit.
Description
I
~:CiI~'~.C~'Z' ~~"IO$_f ~~~ .~:~:C:~I~Ntx.ISSA~i~ ~ ~Y~~"~~,=
~'ieid of the Inventinix 'T~'l a present invention z~elatca to the field of imagin~_ IvLox-e speczi~calZy. the invenriarz provides a compact mobile reconnaissanee rievice tlat is desib ed ~c~ b e. clepla~-c.cl in hostile, dangerous, or diFficult to access ernvirarcments, absorb s~xocka, be resistant r_a adverse environrnenta7. conditions, and t.rwxsirxit video and audio streams ~to a remote receive: and Kiishlay un.iz..
F~n~h~;i'ouna~l_~~tye lnvergtic~tp, i~.'ieth~~~Is a~t ~~zti-terrwa~ism ~:.anit~at. urban ~at=arFare and ls3w-enfz~rce men t.
wquiz-e operat:ian of gx-ound rr7~.p:>. Special ~c~rce:3 or lam ez~fc,r~cenmrzt zxnats sn ar~~3;~s ~~hzere e~citix~g bu:i.lWrzgs azW strucaure~, rtmy pz-ovide sl~_elt~;iw tcz tzosYiie elements. lvlovemertt of troops must be made with caution t.u avoid '~~aing taken 'oy surprise azW being attacked by hostile elerxwnts. In ad~iitian.
imcident.s of~ '"frienciiy tzre" may a~ccur, where troops mistake tlreia~
ov~rn for ces v ith -the errerrzy. E~OrtS c'3I'E'. also made to avoid causiry mjuz-ies to civaiians or t-zastages tlwt may be nearby.
'pyl~lral sitxrations encountered in law-enforreatxent, anti-terz~oris:~a combat, fir zlr~armvax~:c~zre inclzzde searc.he5 in hizildixzgs; Fmovemez~t is narrow alleys:
exposure axrt. sear th of buzxkers. caves and tunznels: ag~c-~rations to expose te~z~r~srist nests anr~ cahr-ure r~erz cmists or wanted c=_drrkizrals; search algd rescue ;f lm.,sr_ages; sv~reeps of l2osi:ilaj or potentially lxazardaus 143cr~tiazes:
taki3~xg ccxzvzt-oi of 11a5tile facili~:i=s c>z° zv-gaining u:ant.wl of c:aptu~er~ fac3laties;
~ui~=ti~g at prison s.-iots :lr~>ing.which prison officers rrz:~y bt~ ralcerz lxastag~:
en r_~..
~f~~e above r:xentioned situations rziake it cieaz that anti-i:~rrox~isrt.
e~rn~~t.
a~~van ~w~arfare situatians arid law enI'urcemern operataorrs ~~ra~ld benefit ~?r~a~ly from cie~~ce:: that could mtpply increased sitcxational a~v~.rc.ness, or rE3I-fiil7~ rEC:OglrtaiS58ncE ~azW n'3t~ the Corner".
i.irnifrd ra-i~a,-xs for coping ~~~itl~ the at~overn~ntioned sltuatiorrs ~:an he found in the prior ~r-t. Trnoz~rmcion~.l publication ~t%C7 0~046$3(:> a~~scriE~es a self ~ontain~;d pazrcrramac imaging ciPVice, ~.~Iaich is k~as~d ot~ t4-~_e use of an ornni-t3iro4a:ic~nal lens, ez~rabling eaptu.re of the entire 3~C~ de~twe~s siz:r~~.
around it sirrrultarxeously. The use c~f arr umni-directional Iens causes rl~te irn~.ge-sensor r°escalcxtiom t~~ '~e ,rlivadEd aver tl.e e.z~tix-e ornrxi-directional scene. As cjs~o~ec~ to t9xe rrxeehod i~F' the rt~ntioned pubti~atian, U.~e o~ aa1 inwxa,ge-Serdsar ~vit.I1 the sart~e °e5oicrtiar°~ arx~ a r:orxm~oxj-~htrt~~t-~ Iens, would cause tl?.e arraa~,e_~.ensox~
a esc:lutian try Ire divided c~r~ :? sz~mller sr.ene, tlms irxcre.asir-ag i:~r~.abe cTt~aiity.
tanai~tinb observation to fa3-t~ier distances. Ire adElition. tyre ease tai ~rrx c5rtrrri-cii~'~~:tiorral ierzs E~covid~s a tiistc?c~:Ld irn~age tI-:at needs to bay processed at the display s~ation. requiring a significant COn~pc~nen=.. a:o ~s adcTed to txAe s~:~sten~
zx'i tare Earn: s3f softz~,°are or i~igiTal Sign-ai Yroeessor f:,i7at:
rwo~rli-1 eie-t~r~l~ tTie irr~a~e arid pr'esen r is irl a caxnpa-erAensible fornn.
Tt is the I:ur-pose of tire Yr-esent irlvezvtion to ~rovirie a senxsor°
assern~~iy, ~vhi~:h is deployatole to out-of-sight or potentially hazard.oiz~;
lcocatic~ns.
la is 2~.nu~her pcxruase of the ~r~sent invendc~n tss ~rc;vrrla a s~~~as,m asserr~fr?
har,~ixrg a x ragged structurY: ~vhiclp enables it to sustain shocks and ~a,P~ra.tic~,=~.
vac~sed. ry "vialox~t" deplayrz~eiafi.
It is yar_ arzo; I~t~r~ px~rpuse~ of tl~:=. prest~zrt in wntiori to pl-o~ririo g-erTmre ~ontro~
ode, the sPrj.~-~ _ng-was air;-f~l,,>'~ f~~~tte-tic:~ ns.
~~: i . F~.:r-tlzer a purpose of 2~t~e frresent invention to provide a oaz~tral and CliSpl3.y tlTllt iUt" ~11e S~'Si.2a21.
r ~~artYaer par poses arid advanr..ages of the invention will appear as the c:escriptian pa-aceeds.
~~irxmar~f~?L~e ~rxv antior~
'llze present irmention provzde<. a reconnaissance device t.~~at cam be placed, rolled, ~ro~wn, or fired by a suitably adapted ~,veapon to out-ai~-sight or potentially rian~erot3s env:irur~r-azents and transmits video and auciick sxgamls front r.l-aese eYv~,rironaments Lo a reanote display° unit. 'I~l3p derricve :fs intended ?'f)1 t.ISe ?rt ciYitl-t~?I'rpTISII1 f:~3ni~3c3t, ttr~e3lB V4'ckT~c3.r(:.
S;t.~t'C~t s:llCl ~'~SCL$k,' c~,oer~atiorxs. law enfer-cera~e:-Et ;~pe:~atinz~s, and s~:c,:uritj~ and sur~~eallarzce applicatia;n.;.
1'lre s~~steart irzclu4ies a ringed, ta::811.~haped sensor asseraabF~~
ec:zipf.~er~ ~~~itlv a c.azrmra, a rnicroplza.ze, <~ pawer sozrrce, a, tx'ansx'ni ter, rl reCE.?1VC.I', 'sBrF
illurninatieai assembly, ar~.c3 a nzotoz~. The 3 ugged cozsstracvi.oz'a of the ball ezz~-zbles it tc~ sustain-z shoes ar3c~ v~.brations created durirv~ its deplcyn~ent.
i 1'te. ball's ceavtea~ of ~ravzty~ is located such as to cause it to corrze t:u rest in an upwax-d orientation, endf~liz~g rlie camera anr~ the rrzsc:x-r~phone to be positioned vt- an aptirxaal ang~.e to collect data. 'l ate transzmitter ti°ansrmit:~ the videa an.ci aa.zdio signals e.lant .ts~e collected by t.l-~e ball t:7 a remote display xzrz~ . Tlae ball is er~uipped mitlr t~ta internal motor, wiuci'~ enables it to rc~tat~e ~t~r~ ,jeg:--ees ~ra~zzad its <izci:> <znd capture the entire scrzze ~rrf~trad it. Tda.e fnc:loz_'s o'r~°ariirm is z~ert~==te corltteiled try a ca~nt.ri~l z:ae~it, pla~::etl ~.at: the ape~ratc~x'~~ enzi. 'flm lial'1 alJa includes a.zx illurniraa.tic,rz a~SeT?yfsi~~r 4v~;'~::
provides i?lamination. ~rh;~n the l~al1 zs located irz poarl'y iiv er~wiz-nrmryerza.s_ '~'l~e.~ s~~:~te:rti agsc iz-~c1_url~;~ a r~c~ricrcl ;3n~i clisi~lay tu~i.st~
wl-,.c~la E>rmbles tl-~e operator tt> see il~e ima,ve -ta-ansza~itted by i;lae ball, listens to the cgudso t, ansa~rvir.teu by t~ze Wttl. a.nd cax~tro~ the i~a~l'S functions.
'fhe prese=:nt ltxv-es~tzon provid~a ~. serjsor asserzraly that can. be ci~ple~yot~ iivtu patvzi~tjiall~r d~ng~rous er!iei-ozmri~dr~ts ar~ct transmit ;~ record of the ov~nøs :rccur~ning in t.lais environment tr, forces located in safe positions; tt-rus, enabling the fc=ices to take educat~.ed decisians befare and while ttmving into the ~r'a~irnnn~ax~i.
~'he present invention r>ra~'ides :~orh the option s~l' observ-irig a uil ~~0_ ~~.eere~ panoran~3c some azzd the option of ~aie~.ving a li~nitErd so;.tor by z:r~y~trallet~ rat~ric~n ef the s~=r~sc~r aSSEZx~bIy: ~h~s alia-v4in.~ upx-irnal inmg~-.
x~soa.~,~t.ior-r tcj faa axnlal~ay ed u~r t ~~~ a;ac.n~ ed sector.
'~fhe z~rest:rzt iaa-uerzriax~ ~.,~.~picai3~' c~ic»s not z'equire tl~~ use, of special staf~'a.a~
far az-~afya:ing arid ciisptay~irr~ t.~°~e s7~nals x-ecear°ed ~~t t3-~~ cfis~ Lazy st«tion; this rerltccing ~~ expense of the sysrerrx as yr°elI as the time and caaaxpl~~city of it;s apc.r~itzQn. 1Ha'vever, for advanced applications such as creating a 3~(3 ~fsgr~~:~s paraorazrzic image as tea;' bali rotates anei providing ~~'idev ~'~lotinn Dett=~tirxr~ specit~l sc~frrwaz-e is i,eq:xired.
izv t~ first aspE.t~t the present invention provides a compact mobile sensor assLr;zhly. Irz at=s basic ~mF~t:rlz~:~:~ezt the sensor ass~m~bly of ti~.e ir-awr~t:aorz c:onifs .rises:
-.~. Aa~ in-aane sensor facir3~; ra~~'ards the exterior of the sensor assenabiy;
t~. ~ cransnxiite:r~, capabl$~= of zransrx~titrting tie izx~age cr~pt-Etzwc~
by the ir~xre sorzsaz-:
C_ !~T3 ETi~I'~~' ;7aCk. ~31z)'~:it~iii~, ~OVV~Y Ltt t~l~ Sei?.~C~i 3s~=~~i~z~J~.~ ~tr3c~ 1t ~~r?1~C~S'i~'r3tS
~:;. ~ ; ~~latE: detir~iazg t~~~~ ~ut:om of~ tire ser~sur assrrr~t~iy:
t~. .~'~, rr:~.~t;~r anu r~clatef:~z ~<3za~pen~nts eat.pac~Ie of rotatirz~;
the sanse~r L«e~tay,.~ az~t~Lxx-ia.j it:~ ~~,.ruit:al a:~is, uihile tije laiate x~~c~iz~~it:~:~ scat~~.nai-~:
f_ ~~ housing capat~le c>f ~3zut.ectirug the cornpt~nerrts of the sensor ~sseml>!y tron~ shocks resulting from its deploymleI~l:; ~~:~ prwselwin~
the zntegr~ty of the sensor assembly, thereby guararnteeing its proper funcaian3rag; anrl g. A c°rlter of ~:d~jity lac:~teti to assist in posiuor~ing az~d sxas~ilizia7g the sensor assen~hty .e;ritt~ tlm plate adiacent to the ~rouru~I.
'~I1~ s.erlsor assemlbly of the inwexrtic?n c~zn be deployed by' plac'i~~it xr~. or tlirov:~irig or- f~x~il~g it to the locatiolz ~t whiili it is desire t:c~
r:.a.l-1~5~ out smr~~~iilar!re. ~..°he housitag is designed to sustain tl~lo si-anchs of the ~xc:p'.a~.~rl-~ent. '~~h~ shape of rii~~. housiry, tl3e shape of tl~xe plat, ai~a~ tlye i;siat~ux,_ of tl~~ ~.~~nter of br~v°°.tYr cat$se flee sensor assexnbl~Y t~~ ~rabi~ize arlr Lt.u~r~. its~I~~ ~~aittv tl~e p~Iaa,= a:,cijacerlt: to Chr~ gz-ourzci. 'f'lae rrna~;e sensor F":r~p~aafr't? ti2e SCE?rlt~ S~dFTi7ilrtClf3~ f~i~ llYia~e S231S(3F'.
rr~ ~: p=~eferle ~ ~:robodixmena, the housinb c~f tl~e sensor assomnl-v i~; .
~~p$~~,r Z::ally s:l2ag~eci. In some et:2i~od.in-lernCS~ th.~~ iraernal.
ea~er~' pack can rre recl-mrgeable irn whit":11 Case the senSUF' assembly furt:lrer co~.u.prises an ir~l~ut socket for carar~e~:.tan~, x ct~araer~ far the reclZargeable internal oner"y p~c'_k. The ialput socket Carl else be used for conrlectirlg az <~ e~?ativ~ pa~~rer some.
The er~azsrrdtter can be ~,~rarwloss. 'x"he sensor asseanlbty e~f ~~e iyawc~rltiorl rr~iyt iexr-tlues° corrlpa-ise a rr~icrc~l~hor~.e, in ~vh"s.ch c~-rs~
the traT.}srr~itte._r- a i:apnlrlL cps transrrgitt~ry <~:xclic sir~naLs captured k?~' tHge rl~ic:rug°;l'rc~i~so.
~r-~l~nai~I,~~ tl=~ rnicrotjlrox~~: is #~~lsitiorleci ire the: cerrter c;f the upper :;crrl,:r~-e c~f t.l-~.~; se.nsoz asse~rrL3i~,=.
In ~ nreferrwc:~~. ernbcdirrlerrt «f ft~e inv'entiorc. the cornø~act rrm~hile s~:nsar-x~s_~~.lwfylwl i't~rcher comprises are illurxririatic~ra assel~xbla', r.apa~Ie of l~rcs=a.i,iin~; Iif;i>c. to she scene captured by the irl~-ige s~nse~r. "x'h~?
xrraa~e sensc)r is se,asitive to tine ~~~.ve iengtlx of the lulu err~~x;$~~d h-y tI-ie illumix)atlvrc assembly. In a l~~~eferred enxboc3inmrxC the iilmaaination.
asserrably conyr-ices ~.if;;at F,rxi;tting I?ivdes. Iri dii~ferva~t err~t~odirmer~ts xaf tale iwvertivn rfm t~~a~~eler~gr.hs of r~'xe light provided by tl-re zlh.~.rxxinaticrn assembly car-r bx: in the r;~isibte, near infra red, or inxra red speitrn,rrrr. Tl'xe senso_=' asseitroly can further comprise a light san.sor~ calaalale of sexisiy~
t~xe illunxirlation level iax ik)e si.rrrorr.~Idirrxgs of 'the irrmxg~.=.
sensLr and oi~
r~ti~~~tin~ flee illtrmirxation nsserxxbly ~.~rhen the illuunirrataon J.e~~el is ftal()~,t' :~ ~7I'PC~Btf?I-rYtlx2f'i~ ~.~lTl'.~~'tEllc:~ 1lL1111e.
Lax ~=< i~reFex~r~:d ern bodirnent of~ the senses c-rsser~bly tJf $l~.e ira~~emtic;~r~ $ix<~
i=eiL>r' i~.~3:=a s~~ I~i<?:$t~:i'I~°d e3.t'Pc'~ t.°lt't ;.*~a ~DC1'Orrl .~,.1C'~E.' cllxd f:d:i~~~'~u L t..'~E_'F')~EIl$S III
r.zm: ferrn of small feet distr-ibat.r,;_I axx its bottonx.
'1'h° :;orcsirl~ of the ser)sc~r r3;~se:mb~y is pre~er'ably falxricatecf by c~.~sting rvrbber ;ar- plastic. In another preferred embodimerx$ Clxe k~ousiry of t3'~e sensor asserm~ly is fabricated loy i;asting several layers of different mmte ~ eels.
'1 lie iocatiora of tkxe center of~ gravity of tine sensor asserrably is rietea~frriraed by tlxe choice of location of the iL-arxe): components of ti2e sensor asserxbly.
Irr ~.~ ~refeav'ec! emL~odalnent cf the invention tl~ze Ixaatnr of t.i2e sensc;r ;~sse;-ax'bIy is :xc:tiv~a$ed by a ~'eeei.~~er .which cwntr~ol:~ ttxe rnot~3r irx <~CEC~i"~~3114:~ lr~a~~-t (:Ori"er37FaSy~~; tr <°I~SI1')I~a:ef'~ 'Cil 1$, :Iw= t~s-rot~~er asrae.ct tl:re ~r~;::ert in~ehtiorz prc~~-ides a ~~ot~iie ~~ec~nr)~i~s:~c_rsCa SySt~i3x COm~rzSit°c~;
e. d CoI'ilF.)~~t IIiO~Ji~~ S>ar15:7r ctSSertl~7~Y: r't, nd b. a c:;c:~x-It~ of atne~ display urx.it.
-r , r tr: a pr~fe;~ed embadixnent tire control arid display unit c:owaprises a di.slya~r screen, wluich displays signals transmitted from tfae sensor :~>sNxixF~ly. aTxd a receiver capable of reeeivirlg data seer by the tr~~a~sti~itter of tfse sensor as.se_.~nl>ly. 'i'he control and display unit can ~.~rther comprise a trxrzsixx3ttE~r~ capable of transix-zittii-~g co~xx~tanarYds try the semscsr asst~rrzl)1y. Tlw wausmit.t~.~r ea.n be a wireless rransRwittex°.
lea ;~~~forent: arr~bodinz~nts rave mobile reoocmaissarxo~ .:~~,~stezlr ot~
the i:lzu~~:;s:ic~xs is ~-~-~paYxl~ of coxatt~isl'in;~ operation of the moto:, a~la.mzina:~tion ass~a:sf:y, ~Yx~dlor W a izxia~<~ s~:z-x5cr of the sensd>x~
as>etvi~l.~°.
Ix~ scrn~ eaa~l,~o~liznen~ts i>f ~:Yze inahile reco~znaissanee su'cte=.xx ai the in'=ex~it:ioxi, the contr~al azxd c:~isplav .nit Ss capable of laerf~a-Ynira~
izr3a~~:
~racz~ssiry ax~YEllc3a video n~otsordetection on t:he image receir-eci ar~ci.~ox~ a L.oxztixzuoYxs panoramic image, which is updated aocordin~ to r ata.tion of r~xe y~nsor asaeanbly; axtilE'or olxtical zoom of the ixxxage sexmor, which is s:ontrolled !w the ~contrcxl ancf d:isglay unit.
in ~~athea: en-Wodiment o; tlxe invention the mobile reconnaissance s~stezxv con-:pr:ises more rl~~n one sensor assecx~t~ly. Eacfz of E:lce-;
s~:a3sc~r' aaser~italYes c.oz-nprises a tY amszn3t.ter, which trrxnsxrxits ai a different "3f'.t~f.~2~f;5~. ~ ~-1~ Ci'iIIISTTdIt~.~ &'y :i)tl ~3~'. ~1%lI'-L~~E'.5~
~'~"iiT.SI19.7.x'tC1'S. Ir3 tl2iS
~:xn~~odi~raE:nt tfxe control axmi r3ispla~.~ uzxic is oapab3.e of c:ontr aalliY-zg several diifeuerYt sensor assexxzblicas a.~teL-narols~, ~:2 r;I3;3~~i~.'r :'Y'1'IbOC~it'Y1CI1'~ i:a~ t=1~: lY'?~~xltiOli, ~l-1E'.
~'sEYLS~iL' ~SS~ln~fy ~.~c'tri ~ixzx.~~-ise a :-c~ceiv~=.t- :aa:e~ sgealcer and is capable of i-~z;eivii.tg arid bra7~adcast~.n~ audio sigia;~Is ~lE.nt f~ro~~ a reanote locatiars.
$' 'F3r3r~f I7escx'~~stiom of the L>r~vcrira~~
- ~i-~. 1 i, a front vie~~.~ of the sensor assertibly of the ihventa~~an;.
- 1~,i~_ 2 sl-Fosus a rear uric w of the sensor assen-rbly of F'i ;. 1;
- ~'i~. 3 sl:~;ws the battorrY side of the sensor aaserubly of JC'ig. I;
- Fig. ~ shows tFie lacat.ior~ iamicle the robust cast' housing ol' the cUY'rl~si7llOT-:1S 41f plc: SE'.I'i593Y' rlSaer'rl~?lY Of ~''tg. l;
- ~'ig. 5 is :-~ front ~.resv c~f -tt'xe sensor assertYbly af- hig. 1 witia part s~f the casing remuvecl to reveal tfxe inner coml>arsanLS c~f tlm ba~lL.
_ g.~ i~,. f~ as a bac9c viev~,° of the sensr~r assezr~bly ol' Fi.y. a ~~1=i: h ;~ar't vi rh~.
casing removed to rer,>eai size ir:x3er oorzy~an~:~~ts of floe ball; aa~~
dig, r slxows t.l-Ye remote c:cjntrol and display uriit assaciat~d '4a~itfz rxe sen5t;a ~aserrxbly of i;l?e iz-m~c~rxtiorr.
ii~3etnii~~ DeSy'iption of ts'a~ Dra~~inas :~~Yr ;~ ri~ater ~.~nderstaneing of zl-re invention and to show 2zo~~.°
t:i~o same may ~ carW nd intrr eff~c~:, r~fez~e:'ma will rzaw 'be rrra.dt_, ptuwl~; fy i~~t~y of o,~arnple, t:o the aecaYripar~yin~draw,°°ir~~s. 'fL~'itla specific reux erme: to the; ctx-awirzgs ixi detail. it i.s stressed that tl~e ~articulru~s shL~~rn azw uy way' cf exarrrpie an~i ic~r ~exr:pJSOr ref illustrative dzscuaiar~ of ~refPrx-ed ez~rt~adiznents of tlxe preseait ixiv~:rYtic~Fr erily. anrl are faresen fed for tl'te pur~ao:~e of l:~roviclxxl~ whit iv b~iie~-ed to l~c~ the rr~osi: ~sefL~l amd readil~~ nn~iersto~od sles~~r ip~ior~ of r1-~e Sri>~.rig~les axw comceptuai aspects of the invention. Ir> this r-e~ar~i, no :ztta:,vx!pt i:~ rra:_tde tc> slxow ~aruet.mral details of floe inv~:ntion irt rxiar~e detail ~frarx is riecesstu-y i~ur zr fa.rciar;;ental understanding of trr~:
irr~°~rrii.orv. ~r4>nr ttze ~i~s~:ri~ti~:;zr tak.erY to~~tiier ~.:t°itii the cirawiz~gs it ~;vili be app~uent ~tu t~mse a~Cil~e'''~ 111 ~d~l~'~tr'L flO'b'4' idle trL.".'v'e're3i ff~l I~iS '.'?~
t~lC? II'1V~I~t1[!rY I!~'tjr~ i3~:.' E'.A:'1~3LYC~1E'.i~. XY'1 pz'aca-ice.
r:~~;~.z-e1 is, aa. fi'f3I1#: vi~e~v c~f tE~a se:ns3r assembly (i~. "pl-~~
sFnsc~z assexmhly (3) =s f=::bcicat~ci <xs a st~al~,e oi' ;: l:>.~41, alloer~~z~g it ro roll #x~ely ~~rlven t:hra~.va, ar slrcY* ta;y Lr Ae r:y~er~atar ro tlr~ iocwtion at ~vl'iidlu it. is desir ed tcs carry 4~rxt r~bsex-~wtiosxc. 1-leneefarth ti~!e terrzs "sensor asseanably", "assPrn2'~lv", and ,:ba:ll"' will be used irrteichartgeably herein tc~ indicate sensor nsseznb,ly {1).
I"I~c paas3riflr~ of the interx-gal cor~yon~nts of the sensor ~~,soxrably {lj determines its cerater at gra~~ity, a3io~vin~; tIe asserrably (lj co position itself inc6epandex~cly witl-x its t~attor~~ ;ide (2) closest to the groux-~d, w~~hen tlxrovun_ r~,s ~a ~ esc:Lt c>f the rowx~ri shape, t_hc; lo~.~ center of gxar~ity' af~
tlae assexx~bAy (1), ~x~d additional 4tr~acttwal ~e.I~,e:~nrs of ~~ne bottc~rzi side {2) to be clescribNCl rxerei~vbelo~~-, t.i-:e assen~blv ~.z) roii.s fx'eely when it is thri~~~rrt al~q~ a~w~ezitualxy ~xrzencs i ts.elf ~.°:tl-~ its b;~t~tc}rxx su:3~ {2) closest ~,o tha grouzirl. ..~ Inis ~:L~at,~s the vrnage se~~sc~r (;i) to he positoned op~imally to capture tyre iruc~~e of a st ezm=.
Itz t~3~v~-~t of the bail (1). ~'hke imaUe sensor (:;) is lcxc.at~~i i.zsxei~e tA~r sensor ass~rax~~slY! {1), ~~viLd~x or,J.y its optical lens exposed to the ext,ericsr_ h:e sensor ~sserr~bly {lj further cornpz-ises .a rnicxoplwne {~), positioned c~frtisa~a~tli t4 ~oll~ct audio froxrx the mira~oaandings of tl~e ball {i).
The r;xicrophone. t4) is positioned in the center of the t<>p side of b~a.ll (1) is~ a suckx a xri~i~xner that after tile bail stabilizes can its hotrtcm side {2), t's~e rna~ropkac~ne (4; ~~sx:Ill al:~;ays be optimally I7ositioned to ~'olle~a a~xtlia sirr~ais franc rl~~
s~rx-r_rnzxr.~n~s. zxa rr~~ttez' ~hlic.-h ccli.reCtior~ tl-xe image sensor (3) f~ac~s.
'~"h.e ball jI) fur-the-r eornyrises an illumixxatiorl assern'bIy (5j d~szgn~d to emit si~I-~T. ~si ~-lzt~ d.irerricjrr t:lw i.m:~~e ser~sor (3) is poir~t~ri.
'i':~te iII~_u~ir~atx~~rf .x-~~~rcxl~:ly (Srria~° be cc~rxcpr-i~:ac: ~:xt :3 single of l.ri~I~t F~ n~3~ttix~a~:~:~We ~L~~,>) or ~r~ ar r-ay of L.~ I'~s. The iiimxaix~atiur.~, assembly {5) nay alterzxaa.i~:°e.ly irxclucle =rrxy vt per srsur ce of il~urnirm~tis~aa, as long as tine size and yocver carw~uxrxpr~icrx ~a' ~~z~ c;.:ttr:-c ~. is a:or!zpatas:~i~~ uui~h the other rt.~tzirerrze.rxts caf t.lze serascxr asserr~bly {1).
l,he i_Llezrvxirla~t:ion assernhlv ~;:~) may provide illx.xrrxnnation ir-z eit:Iuer- visible or invisible ~ra~~ei_engtlls. e.~;. i:lue I'vea~ Irxfra Red (~~~IR) or Iniz-a Red tiny. '1,11e zlatxrnira~tiexrZ ass~rml~iy (:ij t'nay be comprised of a G~7rr~binatit~an of illi,umirzation 1 t3 suus~ces, sane praviding ~a:Nle ~r:d sam;° irvisit~le Iight. ~t is izazpcz-r_ar;t Co hate. that the hmpose of tl-re i??uminatiorZ assembly (5is try all.a~.v tl-ze image sensax- ~:al to called efFective <<iciea data., every in poorly lit, oe cunyletely caar-k frmirururnemt, the.refc~t a ti-ae inxage sensor (~~ needs tee ht:
sensitive to trove ~u:~ve lez~o.fti-emitted by rI~P illtmr~i.nation srmrrce ~'~).
.~.;~j~~car~zt to tth.e illczrrrin;3tiora asserrtbly (~) tlZez'e is pcasitir,t~ec3 ;~ li~;l'rt senstzr t~j. Tlxe ligl.t seazsor ~6' as ci~ai~rzed to c~tetect th.e illumirgatiun le~~eirr t~Ze r~v~~-ir,a~-zzrrer$i. ;zf the hail fA~- 'I'he ii~lzt sensor ~~1 senses ~vi-=E.n the tl;~.m:Pns-it~ar~ xc;~sel drop,=, l.~elc~ts> ;~ pr~fdeter-nairaE~c2 t~uesglalti level crud :~_c-r~v~tes the ill~.arnirzatior~ assern't~'1-~,~ ~~i wE~en necessary.
'~'he iz,or-;t of t:lse ball tl:) fut~tizer irscludes an 3ctir~~~~tlory ~~wi.tch i'1). v~l~ic:h is used a acti~rwte the sensor assFrnbly (lj_ 2'1-re above-rroentic~z-mc~ corrnpcxnents, namely the aptical len ~ =~f tlv~:
irnaoe serasc:r. ~~j, zlre za:icraphorm (~). thc~ allmuiy~atior~ assezx~Hly :;5}, a:h~: tight ensrr ~6~, ~trvd the a.c.t~ivavi~n switc.~: ~f) are all positio:rzeu irz cc~r~-~p~~ible zriche:s arv thae sr~xa~face of sez_~~cxr assexmbly (1~ in o:-der to a~~ol~
any darna~e tz~,~lteY~ tire 1~<~:~1 ;;i,~ is thez.ewr_ r5r r~cl~~~c~.
T'#zs ewtix°e slue of the mall ~ i;~ is resigned to fit in xhe palrx~
of tlZe lz~arnd of an :~~~erage crperacc~r, spa t~Cxt it- ee~rr ire easily held and tlZrow~n to an area of ;~rter°f~5i~. .'~s ~-il:i ~e elabc~ratecl Ln detail" most of fi~e eoraxl-rorier~la cat the l~al1 ,~.z-e ~;referal-.~ly placed ~ø>~tlvi:zi -~ cast housing s~hich protects tF~~.
carx-zporiexzts f:r~>.rtz shocks ;a:rxrl ~-ifxratinT-zs ~: a~~sz~d a.w a result: of deployrxzerxt <,f the la~:l {I~.
'l'he bottozrr ~;~;le (2) of the half irt;l~.rdes a plate (~s? ~~~hlch is rrut hart of tlxe <,asi 1?.cusinr~, since it is desi~nec~ to enable tl~e hall X1;1 ts~ rotate 3~U degrees aT~o~.rrW it.s v~~cvical a~cis, a.l.lai~irvg tlue irrrage sensrsr- (3~ to c:r~l'_ect vldea data 2~-urrr the scecm lacat:e;.i all ar orn-rcl the ball tl.~. 'The plate (8} is alesigred. iz3 tin ogtimal way to enable quick stahiiization of tl-~e ball (~) after it is throz~n.
'fhe Mate (8) is preferably slxap~d to coxrforrx-~ to torte shap~.~ of tlzo i.7a19 {l j.
with ts'~e hattox~z of tl-se plate (8) flattened to allo~.~r for qEtick stabili~atinn.
iiw~ f~iare {~i znav also include ~dciitivn~.l stabiiizira,~ ranea~~s 1~j ix~
zhe f~.=~~t of s~-!W: I~~~tFt.
' i~. '~ ,'iflGi;"S ~ I~.~~r' 'V1E'a'tT 0~ ~~iG'~ Lit'i?sf)r 'taSSP.Trl.~tl~~
~1). ~XI t~'l~ rC'<~x' S1C~~: 'il~tf3.:'.
~:~all -1) There is placed an iry~rxt sockefi {l.i~} for ~a alt~rnati~rF
f>oc~~er sc~uro~
:~r~ cl-mx~er for i.t-Ae rechafgea~le pc~~;fer sra~srce that is i.ucated inside tlaE>. hall :i:. '=~'A:°- rear 4~id~ x'n~y imclt~:.le a~~divion~_1 sockets, st~~:h ~v viri~o an~~l <~u.tiir~
cfutg~bts. 'lypir<~lly, video anti a~_tdio sl~nals are transxnitteci ~,wireie5sly fre~rn rite U<~L1 to t:lxe t ec~iver emit: bs~ zrit;ans of a trarxsxnitter locat.~d ar~si~e t_he. ball ll). f-3o~,~,~eve=.-, some rnissiors gx'of'~l~s naay enable ar require the use of rr~.rx~~srarss3on va~ ~~~irv=s asvcs for This hurpase it is hc:~sihl~ z=o hra~~ati~
emhorlzrnents of the baiha~.~ir~~ a~gropa-i3te outguts on its rc.>,ar side.
1-'ig. '~~ slZt~~~~s Clxe bottorrr svic~~: of t:lr,y sem.sor assenlh?~- (1).
Irr thE- kavtto:o-.cx side therE= is piace~l a plate {z3). w'~Lc.fx se'-ves as a base far rotation of xhe hall {1).
rl'h~ l~lzrte (,cs) ;.s connected by x~ear.~s of screws {11) to a rxaotor-hseated inside zrsi~ h:ari Vii). l..igon ac~tAx~at3~zz tzf tlae ball's rotation rr-~echaaisrxa. 2xs 4~i11 re desi:rvtsed h~r~inbolo~.v: plate (~) r~rsxairrs stat~onarr~ arW tl~~a '~a:~l Vii; rotates x~:v:xz=~l it.s axis. As zmerutiar~;~i lze>xv-srao,bove, the plate s~ slm~L~
coraforram to tl-~e xot_cr~r~ slxac~t=. cf tsxc~ I>al1 'i), i;-=~:~u~:w%er, io a!lv~~- for ~taic:h send elf~t.cGiv°
~~r'illii~:ZcliIE)ri 4)1 ?:~1E? UF3ii (1) a~~,'t, iL S ~fI1'(3'4;1I'l. It'15 P~tafE'.ti~~:~~i~ -ttl~3t 1::.'llf~ plc'tte f~} ~:°ill inclut:e. a flatte.-red area dl2) on which the LaL {:I) will stabilize- It is ~ix-ti.2~x: preferable to inclt,tcie ad~.~tit.ioraal elements on the plate {8) irt i,:lxr~ forrrt of ux-wall fee3. ~~t ~:~~-aach c.:,ill ~;vw for a wicker an~i n~ox~~eff~~=dive st~tbiiratixz:r.
'f'he g{ate rnE:ry include a threaded fsoxw {f3) (shr~i~.~n in Fib. 3 irr oxie of tl-xe t~et~ l,Ei)) for ~t~r~xnectior~ of tire i-,all (.i) to exterior equipi~ne=~t st.t~:h ~3s. tz r_ripc~d.
_ : ~, v"lza rjlat.e (8} gmay øurtiter iracl~,.~e:I~ attachmexrr_ rraearis (nr~t shoe~w ir; the ~'zi;ur~5} for i;ormvectian of a cat:i~ or rc~pa that would enable c:omtzvl o~f the descewi of tire tall iait~i tunnels, or r~etraeval of tFae '~a.I3 after ii:
has l~~;serz Tilri? ~~'r1.
Iti.g. ~ sho4~~s ~;e loeatio:r csf t:ve c~:rt.pc~n~nts inside the robust fa";.asvzzg a.f fall ~ i j. rl.l.le taou.,~r:slzauld ~~r: eapaLle ,51 protecting the cc~r~-zi:.~on~rtia c:f th~1 a~:aysc$r assernitav from sb~ocla r~s~ilting frazn its deplo~~r_enr and pre~er~ing te~~ ir;t-e~rsLy of the ~ellSpI- asso~Trbly, thereby guaranteeing its 1-~roper t~iflCt.i2~TIlIIE;. r~ ~?'ef~r'3~31P II'tk'..3~1(>ci t3f :fc~~sI't~c'3CYilet O~ t1W? fJctll X83 3~ t'v~ ~cl5t(?It r?.~1 its irarter carr;l>canents i_i4} to a stx-trctural frame :axtci t~vexu tc~
place a rrroId os~er~ ?:he frarr~~:.~ and cast the ~aca4isin~ by pcauring the rmaterial (L~}
of tluc~ ball.
t-~;.~laic_;_ai:lJ° rrac~lte~i r-cx'~tJer~ c:~- l~lascic, over, ~u°ouz~ci, ~.n.cl bet~~~eri tt~e coaryoraerzts t14) axW overt alicaw,:lng the xnateriai to 1-ra.Yderr bef~~re rerave~.~irag the nrolcl. :ri taxis rr:aavrrer, all sf:vaces betw~e~en tl2e c:oznponezw'ts arw filled ~itx'~
*fte casririg m~atemizl a.rxd ail t#ae i;-~nc~r components ~f4) arN fastened in their plzce and 1>rc~t~cred from frotentia? damage that rraay oecu~- as a result of d~plcya~nezvt ul tb~: hall L)urirzg tbi:: fabrication pr~~cess, slaie>id5 zap;zst 1»~ rzsed i~.s ~svev~x~t il7e c~stin~ rnateri,--tl froxa~ lealcinp' into ~che inceriars =~f s~usw.l~onc.n~a ;1~ars:Ilax c{wea,zr!~:; ~_tredasir~ed places, e.~_ tib~ io-c~rrt >ur<~~~c~s of ~f~e zrrmgf= ser~sc~a~ ~~?, tine rwl~rc'7~Ima~P (4}. tlve ill~da~dtic~r~.
asserzWly t~), t.~z~
~~.gh:: 3ensu8 i~~) axW the a::r:i~~at~ora s~~.°.itc:h (7}. '~'rr~
l~i~at.c I;~j is co;~n~ca~ti. tca ~:~I~ ~~<Ili t~~j ~i'~:r r~'B~ C~iS~3Il~ i~ ('~?~}?ple~~.
ft should lie !~oteci ~-l~at art Elbe case df appiicatiors ~wi~~re "vicle~~t"
zl~yir:~yr~~~ent of fall (a) is a~ot recauired, it is possible to faE~r-m~:ate tl~o l~ozasin~
~a:.~irrn coxxveantioxml rnateriais end rta.ethods, '~~~ithout the ueces~sit.y of ~-~rr~vading tta~ ~ttil it~it.h special ragged qczalities, ~~i". :i is ~a fr~~rct viavr of sepasor' assertlbly (1} i~aih part of the ct~sing zw°ax~r~rred to a'eveal the: inr;ex~ 40rt1~?Orl~flte~f raze ball, 'I'l~e components st~ov~Tra include ~3 the z:~a~e sena~~r (3}. the micr-cy~izazze (4j, the illumiriation :a5sernbl,y tJ), tie light senscsr (~), the activ~:$e3or7 swit:cfv (t), enerr laacx~. (i~;, transr;xitter~ (I7), i~f_~3ivt..ss~W;:i t~iE' ~~SC'. (~~31 Of ir.~1~= ciI'Ll~tL=C'~~ TraIT'fG. A';
C~C:SCI'ifz.C~
h<~r~3c~az~n°:'e, ~=,li ~t t!m inI'irr roIaxpGnez~ts of the sensor assezmhly (i} arN
'"~~.st~~-m,-i to ~r=~ecizamicai strm,a:~afe ease (1B} ic~rater~ at t.~xe hottorx~a ref the rise=rzhly. Tl~~: optx~cal lens c~f in~g~ sensor (3), tlm illun7imation rxss~arrz~aly (;i), and tire light serzscr {aj ~..:w or-ieoted facizt~ tw~ards the c~xteritaw° et the ~~il. ~i he z~i:_rc~phorle (4) is plsmeel in the center of ~:rz~ ~xpp~r' side zo ate sensrsz~ :~sseerrxknlYv, to enable it ia~ t:apturo audio frarz~ als aru~zyri ahe ~=~l. Tl'1e eraex:~y pack (s,~1 ~r-o~.Ticies pc":zir fer az.li alenaents of the serzsOr asSern~~lY, arid xt is i~referat~ltr r~;charge~Hi~. ~~ tr ansrzzitter {~ r j is corTnected to image ~~wpt~sx a cievi::e (3j and micr<xphr~ne (4) and wirele~ssly transrruts aud;ir~ axW
'~x~ieo sigmals from tire sertsc~i asseml3ly (1} to the rerxaote.ly located' opf~rator~.
~~ r~cetuer~ (l8j receives conzmgands from the rerhot~ congr'sxi urzit, which i:~
o~:at~d ~~:atl~ t:he apurator. ~:~nr:~~t~l. camrc-:ands will be elaborate<i in re~'ez~ersce tc F'iJ. "7: desc:~ihing tlue cczntrol cznit her~iribelo~v.
i°'i;~. ~a is ~~ b~u;k view of sens:yr ~,.s~>elzvt~ly (i) ~7irh peat of ti~.e casing reznc~v~~3 c~> r~:~r~~l ?:W iruae.r corupant~lzts oi~ the hall. 'i'he ovrui3csme:~Ia siz~wan in. l~fg. ~j in~:i~xe~e ~:czx,~e.: input sacka.t tldj and a motor ~xnc~ rolat~ed ~~~w-F~lxUrx~.°.rt~s (?~iJ, c~~ryuch :~r~: ~zs~ei tc~ c~z~;:e arid ~cc~satroi z~c~tatlon ref 0. h.e sense.-- as~~~eznk~i~,r.. ~:'~ sir=
c3e tsali a iivTw~"~r, dre o~eg~otc»~ has r:so way of detercz-rirLiz~~ ti~c~
ioosit~on im r~hirh the k~all ,.=rill everat~xall~ cc~rr~e to rest. Vlr1-zile the hall gill stabiY:~;e itself w°itxa its i~ottora~ sine (Zi uzx t$:~~ surface vn which tlxe fall ct~rrAes to rest, there ~s z~~p ~.a:y° of~ predicting tl-z~ d.ir~~.crior-s tla~ irmago ;sensor v~vi_l face:. Tn order to i.~=-~ira the ins.-tgF~ s~nsc,- ;n a cirsir~ed directi~ox3, the ahilit~" to z-otatr~ thL ball from: a. remote locatinr~ must sae ~ro~~Ided to sensor asseambt.y (1). 'hhe znotor ;~nci relae~.W c~:m~ponervts fG~~j ~'ec~ivH rotatic~ra c~}rr~Tw:andKV
i~z°s>lrr i,~ve r4motc:
<:oitr'ol rlnit lay rneuns ~f receixwr (1~). 'L'he mater can be iz-zstructeci to rotate tl-:e h~ ci~Ixtin~~o~sl~~, stop the rtztatican, anc~ reverse t_he rotation?
direction.
Q
In l~'i~;. 5 and p'ig. 6 are sYxcJwn only the main ~~ampo~lent5 of tine s~Prasor <3s~;erxxt;ly in artier *o describe its rxlain features. It stlould. he clear tc~ tilase s~a~.h:..i in t.i-Ee arn: that axiotitianal colxrponents not rner'ltrc~xaed are apse ix:c~.i~cTeci in txze sense~r a>sexr~tsiy. those include eiectr'orzxc c:..arrrporae~rts, a~:~'iCl~'~« Cir'c~.iO.S: x'11"mss, f~~3~'S. ~a~rts of the Str;iCtClral I'raIrle. SCY'e~ISrS ei~_ It :~:Yxcrui~3 alsa ~~~ clear" to sitil~ c~ persons that there cara ~e ru-lal~z~.~ alte~::nati've -y'~~,r: cf u!'a"aTr~~ng t~-lE~ dilferCk?t i.:r?xTlpLZ,lPrltS in5i(IP tie S~rr~o!° ~iSSd=Ir3t~~y". '~ i'Jt.
compcJnerlz layaut descrihed tzerein is of a pr eFert'eci irx~plelrferat_at:i~ur. of the 1lrwent i~~vemciGn, which taker into conside!-ation the sensor' ~ssernblv°s ir?tertded features and perfol~a23aace. 1 he specific method of implementation tle~.e_i'atred i~t rein is not irtteneieci, arid sllcruld not he used, to iirrlit tf~e scope of tam presealt izv~,~~entic~n i~-s arly gray.
Fib. '~ st~ao~~s thc~ rewrote col~tcol and ~Lisglay rxa~zit, whi.cfZ is pa!'t of ttxp System. ~'~Se control and diiapl~ly rmit (23.} has three odsic furactiol~5:
co!ltrol -Jf tfse~ .sensoa~ assembly's operation, presentation of the image gf..ecei'~~ed from tI-!e sensor assanWl~,~, and hr-oviding audio feed received frolxt the sensoe ~ss:.ra~Ll~~r_ sire cc~r~tzw3 and ;~~Spla,y unit X21} :nclaxdes a t~rxn xa~~r r~l' aa~ttor~s, :~n ~Stts ar:;cl output ,ackets as ~.~-ai1 be ~iescribPCi. A ~f~owex' Iruttoxi (2~is ixseci tJ turn can cirlci off else corW_r-vi arid c~ispiay unit (~1). ~. "St>3!-rrl ~~; ° Lz~~tt3r (23}
15 e.~.yt~.t$ tC7 ~ri~c.~ t~i.~ S~ i2S~i~ r.'iSSEezt'.~°a.~y' t:0 st:-5lxci-13~ l'T!(7~E: a~~E.'r" at F'a' t~l~Ctlv~i~t~~.
' I'Ize pu.i pose ni the ~'~tand ~3v " e~~~ta on is try save ene!-,~y vaheta oiler ~tion oi~
tr.e ~:e;,s~ar- ~zsserrcl~ly as not re<l~_u!'ed. 'The "Stand ~3ryr" huttola (a.'3} r~qs~ takes ~.i~e sez-lsor assen Wly e.-~ut <if stand bay mode. Ari ''Illurrtaa~lation" W
anon (2~}
uraahfes actzvat~an of the iilulninatior~ assemi~ly' (S}. zwhich iss on the serasor~
ar~selrtb:y. Ii the sense=r as~:em.i~ly is placed ar throe>n. into a poorly lit or r,orr~r>letei~~ rarlc envirmrrz~yel'li., ii. is passib~e t.~J reraaoteij-activate the i~rirr.inaiix,rx. s am "Iiiu~~r.~_c~aiinl:fi t~uttom (2~} is alscJ designeL~
as a backup fciE~
c:asas -~rHacr~ tiaexw is 2a lr:alfu.z:ctiarm in the light serisor of ti-ze serxsoe- ~~ssearzio~;", tar v.V?en t~38 t'_tW "EailOICI Lf~ 1~1~ li~ilt SenSCJl. iS Set tQcJ ~ti~t~, C';~~.tS~rl~? ~.~"it ilittraZirvatior: « -r"c:rmaizz c~t~ t'°eta in poor I-igl~.t rc~r~dit.i~;~tz,s. Ikl;'.sxait2atic3x 1?
~r~.dlc.;:~rnrs (~'~j fnclica~ce :~~hether cl~~= illumirlatlorr asserrlbly° {5) orr trio sensor ~~aen~bs~' is ntf or oat. F~ "C:h~ar~rlel' button (~6) ena;ales sv~xtcliar~g bet~ve~m zrar~~r~rissioli frequencies in order to receive clearer transmission in Ease of ix:,el-i~r~:nLe. :~ "1~1i~ ~,'iew" a,~n;trrrs {27) er~abtes fli~~ing il?e ~~~eLu of tl-ce ~..ma~;e r-~cei~red fz'oz-~~ the senss:~r :rsseriei~ly ~frorn ~-eI'tical to hor.izorlr:a~ tar' rstlrer ~:ay ;,r~~.xnd, A.xz eartrhc'Irle socket t.~~) enalTles Lone;~~aior'I uf~ sac-~~k'TOa~s tQ t:lle cxrlit 21) for listening to the au:iio feed rransrnittecl f~r~arr~ tlxe ball.
A la~~wer :~.~C~.~~ (l~) t,~x~.Wl~S cc3rineCtit9i'T t)$ n c~larP~r' ~G t'1f~ unit g~I'J.
:~.r~ '.~V ~i.Tt'' sucker {:i0} enables connec:~ior~ of the unit {? 1~ to extenml dispia~ azld recording equipment. A ~ro1ume button {31) enables control o~°er volume. A
c:o:~trast buttc~rx (3~) enables co:ztr~o3 of image contrast.. ~. 4~ri~,faness ba~tton ,;.~3) enables c,,nrrol of ixrxage brglltness. A "N :ate" bwtrors (3~) contr~;g5 audio ri~~..zre ~ ~~~Iotor C:or~troi" b3~rt:or~ {:i5) corrtrola the direction of r-utatiorx of tl'Ie S~~I2St~r 3sseTTiI3~~. A lYlOl,OY' clctivciLi011 btlltOri ~~f7~ ~3Ctx'4'c3teS
stliC1 clr-~:c~t:i'Ya?PS
tl~e r~votor c~f s.x~e sensor' assc~rnlbl~r. A "Sensor Selection°
bLIttOn (3'7;= ~nabZes t.l-we e;~eratc~r to change bet,.~,~ct~r se el-al sensor assemblies that are :~p~ratirlr~
i=Ids?.,E~zx~le~tt i:,~ iir the sand ~~r~s,~a a~-,d tr; conirol aY~I dksglEs~~
~j~. sigrWJ fi°r~Tm 5~~~er-ai sensor' <issexrvl,lies ~.:lLoy ~ ~at~.iy. ~iensor' inEiic,a.Torr ~~~3j f ~cfic~.av-~~ t °':;l~i~l~
:f t:~i:: serYS:rr assPanhlies is rclrrently being controlled b~,~ tree ~u-Lit {~'1. ~~ct ima~::~ d.ispl<~~,° scree~I (393 pre: ent~ the video irllage transami~ae<'i fi-an~ oive sercs<,~- ass~-.:x;~iy. °file ~e~xYlo1 :~rld clishlay usii~ ;? ti.} f$-z~~ti:er ~.nnyri~;:;~
'ra'";::~-Tnas (nest sI~IO~~rI~ for rec~:i~z of .risual and aucllo signals from t~r_-. bal.t, as crra?~~ aj ~~tlC f~t'ax7SI2li5.SiOn O~:"i.)17II°6J~i f.Olrlrl'landS tb t1"te ~7c"~5~, it slqr~ulci b~ ~:lo~zl- trs those s~:illed in i13~ art that tiaere are nna~a°~ altorr~~ati~rP
°,~ay.s c,f arlv,z~girlg ttae differerT.,- swaches anc! input sockets an the unit (21).
'~'h~a~ Ina~~ ~~isc~ ~fe «dditic;nal s~s;~-ltcl-~es incorgor~IOed irl the mlat. {21j to rjros:de fear ~:rdditioiual featux-es. 'Mlle boric features elescribc:L 1-~eT~oir~ arzci il4e ia~>o~f~t of tlm sGVitcfres ~~:L ir~r_erf~~ces of s.lze unit {s;l) shr;ivlu z:rk Fi,~. 7 dcse:riF~~ a ~r~i~errPd ~I,W,~~mer~ix of the pry ant inv~x3~c~r, a_rYCi are zZO~_ i.~~f'~1(~.P[~, .',~.I1~ 51-1C)tI~C1 rYOt ~:iG ~3S6d, Et3 ~.1I-Ilrt. ule SCi7~)-4' C~i~ ~~'Ia'~. ~Jir'f,.'SBIIi zii1V~13~3i~il.
"~e°. ;use csf the sexzsax- asserlihly as dk~scrils~.d ?~xe:-oil-x sic~e~:; 1-l.a r-~::luiro fsro=yes ink; ~~~ tl-a.~ iaZ~ra~e- however, t~~'r~re x~'xay lae casts wI-~er~
i~za~;a j3C~:C-C.'S:a111~ Cc'i~~ exi~~'ctYl-Cs~b-Z~'O?.!S~'~~ ~7f' pE?3'~(~)S~iIIeC~
#~Y'i i3W ln~e3~C, '~"c7r f'."~;3:*Y~FI~s-:, ~,~rher.. tl~P ~,7I1 is rotaxeci, there is a possil:~ility of t.rarrslnittilag tl°re irr'r~;r;e to a yaa'c?cE~sslrtg st.<~trcm. ~~=hire a r~ar:orarnic image cant b~ ~~lnar'~rtud as tfye L~al!
r~atatt_s. al~E~ irna~e is r~:fresa-rrid oath tine tlae ball co~~ers <~
prevtousiy lrreserited s~ctoh. ~~r.~h 1>z-oc.essing enables constant: aaac~ cot~tinuotls pr~s~vtat.ior~ of t~l~ s~~ctars. ~re~ior.xsl~~ covered by t~x~ ~ all and those rtxx~rwi~tly ~ri~weci icy ~?e balA. a~ieis elxal>Ies also videa rrrotion tistectiol~t to be ~voz-ft~ut.le:i. t:~1 ttze irrlt~~e ane the detection of cha:~gos iz-r thr scene.
"~!at~~rally, t.~~et-e af~~ ca.ses ~~rh~.r~ t.l-le rotatiorx mechanism of tile ball is rmz ac-tkv~t~c1 and the l.~all is us~c'i a~~ a stationary sensi~r, covering a sl3ecific re~~t~rs of intercast. irr such c~ sos it is also possible te) ix~xplø.rs~~?t in2age proc~~.ssing to detect- matiorr irr t>le regit~rl vi~ev~r~cl- k~~y t~x~ badl_ lrl arvy ol' ti-re ~l.~o;.o~>~rz-,~.mficxxled situatiorx5 rh;~C izYzage processil-ig 3s oit:lm.r d~sak able rsn i:ec~:~.~ary, a proc~ssin~stoi..i~r.r is considered to b~ a l3a.pt of rlvp~
c:.cr:-ktx-ol aa-~d L=i~j a~,-iV ~1 alt t~' ~ j .
i'2'Pd'°'sxl t~i~' t°11-1r '~~OT'~JCt'.SSlTt~ .i~i3,2.:Ft)3-a»
I'f!~~!'S ~:() i~Y1'5% ty"at'sc: ~i~' j.JI"~i~i? >alrl~; r12~cZ~3 ixlc:larding: t}rrt_ Blot limat.ed ta: ~a ~'~, a laptop, or a ~igitai Signal 1'rcscessor or otlxei processing means incx>rl3~srated into the ~'t~ntrol arid c3isl>lay lxxait ~~'2).
l s r~lf.~.a;r? tie cleat' to tl ~os~ sl:,illeci in the art that by proper° a a of elertz~c~ni:.
rxt~:-fae~:~. it is also passable to Loxitrml the sensor assembly frrsrm rt ccsxr~puter as ~~~~il. as to lu-es~nt the irrmge rec eived frora~ tyre sensor assembly or.
the a::orrrlss.~toz . ~:~~hich would replace the speciai~r~ designed control and d-isplay ~.abvit '~I~_ It is noted tlr.a+. the clesa'grr of ele~arorxic iriterf~rcFa arxablzn~
tr arlsnuissiorn of comrrxancis fr-rrirt a comptaep~ to ~:l~able corzrxwol of tkrt~
calreratioae of tho sensor asserlltslyr is ~:vithir~ the scope t~f k.aowl~d~o t~f k~ino5~;
s'~iiivd ir~. tt~~. r~:.~i.
~:CiI~'~.C~'Z' ~~"IO$_f ~~~ .~:~:C:~I~Ntx.ISSA~i~ ~ ~Y~~"~~,=
~'ieid of the Inventinix 'T~'l a present invention z~elatca to the field of imagin~_ IvLox-e speczi~calZy. the invenriarz provides a compact mobile reconnaissanee rievice tlat is desib ed ~c~ b e. clepla~-c.cl in hostile, dangerous, or diFficult to access ernvirarcments, absorb s~xocka, be resistant r_a adverse environrnenta7. conditions, and t.rwxsirxit video and audio streams ~to a remote receive: and Kiishlay un.iz..
F~n~h~;i'ouna~l_~~tye lnvergtic~tp, i~.'ieth~~~Is a~t ~~zti-terrwa~ism ~:.anit~at. urban ~at=arFare and ls3w-enfz~rce men t.
wquiz-e operat:ian of gx-ound rr7~.p:>. Special ~c~rce:3 or lam ez~fc,r~cenmrzt zxnats sn ar~~3;~s ~~hzere e~citix~g bu:i.lWrzgs azW strucaure~, rtmy pz-ovide sl~_elt~;iw tcz tzosYiie elements. lvlovemertt of troops must be made with caution t.u avoid '~~aing taken 'oy surprise azW being attacked by hostile elerxwnts. In ad~iitian.
imcident.s of~ '"frienciiy tzre" may a~ccur, where troops mistake tlreia~
ov~rn for ces v ith -the errerrzy. E~OrtS c'3I'E'. also made to avoid causiry mjuz-ies to civaiians or t-zastages tlwt may be nearby.
'pyl~lral sitxrations encountered in law-enforreatxent, anti-terz~oris:~a combat, fir zlr~armvax~:c~zre inclzzde searc.he5 in hizildixzgs; Fmovemez~t is narrow alleys:
exposure axrt. sear th of buzxkers. caves and tunznels: ag~c-~rations to expose te~z~r~srist nests anr~ cahr-ure r~erz cmists or wanted c=_drrkizrals; search algd rescue ;f lm.,sr_ages; sv~reeps of l2osi:ilaj or potentially lxazardaus 143cr~tiazes:
taki3~xg ccxzvzt-oi of 11a5tile facili~:i=s c>z° zv-gaining u:ant.wl of c:aptu~er~ fac3laties;
~ui~=ti~g at prison s.-iots :lr~>ing.which prison officers rrz:~y bt~ ralcerz lxastag~:
en r_~..
~f~~e above r:xentioned situations rziake it cieaz that anti-i:~rrox~isrt.
e~rn~~t.
a~~van ~w~arfare situatians arid law enI'urcemern operataorrs ~~ra~ld benefit ~?r~a~ly from cie~~ce:: that could mtpply increased sitcxational a~v~.rc.ness, or rE3I-fiil7~ rEC:OglrtaiS58ncE ~azW n'3t~ the Corner".
i.irnifrd ra-i~a,-xs for coping ~~~itl~ the at~overn~ntioned sltuatiorrs ~:an he found in the prior ~r-t. Trnoz~rmcion~.l publication ~t%C7 0~046$3(:> a~~scriE~es a self ~ontain~;d pazrcrramac imaging ciPVice, ~.~Iaich is k~as~d ot~ t4-~_e use of an ornni-t3iro4a:ic~nal lens, ez~rabling eaptu.re of the entire 3~C~ de~twe~s siz:r~~.
around it sirrrultarxeously. The use c~f arr umni-directional Iens causes rl~te irn~.ge-sensor r°escalcxtiom t~~ '~e ,rlivadEd aver tl.e e.z~tix-e ornrxi-directional scene. As cjs~o~ec~ to t9xe rrxeehod i~F' the rt~ntioned pubti~atian, U.~e o~ aa1 inwxa,ge-Serdsar ~vit.I1 the sart~e °e5oicrtiar°~ arx~ a r:orxm~oxj-~htrt~~t-~ Iens, would cause tl?.e arraa~,e_~.ensox~
a esc:lutian try Ire divided c~r~ :? sz~mller sr.ene, tlms irxcre.asir-ag i:~r~.abe cTt~aiity.
tanai~tinb observation to fa3-t~ier distances. Ire adElition. tyre ease tai ~rrx c5rtrrri-cii~'~~:tiorral ierzs E~covid~s a tiistc?c~:Ld irn~age tI-:at needs to bay processed at the display s~ation. requiring a significant COn~pc~nen=.. a:o ~s adcTed to txAe s~:~sten~
zx'i tare Earn: s3f softz~,°are or i~igiTal Sign-ai Yroeessor f:,i7at:
rwo~rli-1 eie-t~r~l~ tTie irr~a~e arid pr'esen r is irl a caxnpa-erAensible fornn.
Tt is the I:ur-pose of tire Yr-esent irlvezvtion to ~rovirie a senxsor°
assern~~iy, ~vhi~:h is deployatole to out-of-sight or potentially hazard.oiz~;
lcocatic~ns.
la is 2~.nu~her pcxruase of the ~r~sent invendc~n tss ~rc;vrrla a s~~~as,m asserr~fr?
har,~ixrg a x ragged structurY: ~vhiclp enables it to sustain shocks and ~a,P~ra.tic~,=~.
vac~sed. ry "vialox~t" deplayrz~eiafi.
It is yar_ arzo; I~t~r~ px~rpuse~ of tl~:=. prest~zrt in wntiori to pl-o~ririo g-erTmre ~ontro~
ode, the sPrj.~-~ _ng-was air;-f~l,,>'~ f~~~tte-tic:~ ns.
~~: i . F~.:r-tlzer a purpose of 2~t~e frresent invention to provide a oaz~tral and CliSpl3.y tlTllt iUt" ~11e S~'Si.2a21.
r ~~artYaer par poses arid advanr..ages of the invention will appear as the c:escriptian pa-aceeds.
~~irxmar~f~?L~e ~rxv antior~
'llze present irmention provzde<. a reconnaissance device t.~~at cam be placed, rolled, ~ro~wn, or fired by a suitably adapted ~,veapon to out-ai~-sight or potentially rian~erot3s env:irur~r-azents and transmits video and auciick sxgamls front r.l-aese eYv~,rironaments Lo a reanote display° unit. 'I~l3p derricve :fs intended ?'f)1 t.ISe ?rt ciYitl-t~?I'rpTISII1 f:~3ni~3c3t, ttr~e3lB V4'ckT~c3.r(:.
S;t.~t'C~t s:llCl ~'~SCL$k,' c~,oer~atiorxs. law enfer-cera~e:-Et ;~pe:~atinz~s, and s~:c,:uritj~ and sur~~eallarzce applicatia;n.;.
1'lre s~~steart irzclu4ies a ringed, ta::811.~haped sensor asseraabF~~
ec:zipf.~er~ ~~~itlv a c.azrmra, a rnicroplza.ze, <~ pawer sozrrce, a, tx'ansx'ni ter, rl reCE.?1VC.I', 'sBrF
illurninatieai assembly, ar~.c3 a nzotoz~. The 3 ugged cozsstracvi.oz'a of the ball ezz~-zbles it tc~ sustain-z shoes ar3c~ v~.brations created durirv~ its deplcyn~ent.
i 1'te. ball's ceavtea~ of ~ravzty~ is located such as to cause it to corrze t:u rest in an upwax-d orientation, endf~liz~g rlie camera anr~ the rrzsc:x-r~phone to be positioned vt- an aptirxaal ang~.e to collect data. 'l ate transzmitter ti°ansrmit:~ the videa an.ci aa.zdio signals e.lant .ts~e collected by t.l-~e ball t:7 a remote display xzrz~ . Tlae ball is er~uipped mitlr t~ta internal motor, wiuci'~ enables it to rc~tat~e ~t~r~ ,jeg:--ees ~ra~zzad its <izci:> <znd capture the entire scrzze ~rrf~trad it. Tda.e fnc:loz_'s o'r~°ariirm is z~ert~==te corltteiled try a ca~nt.ri~l z:ae~it, pla~::etl ~.at: the ape~ratc~x'~~ enzi. 'flm lial'1 alJa includes a.zx illurniraa.tic,rz a~SeT?yfsi~~r 4v~;'~::
provides i?lamination. ~rh;~n the l~al1 zs located irz poarl'y iiv er~wiz-nrmryerza.s_ '~'l~e.~ s~~:~te:rti agsc iz-~c1_url~;~ a r~c~ricrcl ;3n~i clisi~lay tu~i.st~
wl-,.c~la E>rmbles tl-~e operator tt> see il~e ima,ve -ta-ansza~itted by i;lae ball, listens to the cgudso t, ansa~rvir.teu by t~ze Wttl. a.nd cax~tro~ the i~a~l'S functions.
'fhe prese=:nt ltxv-es~tzon provid~a ~. serjsor asserzraly that can. be ci~ple~yot~ iivtu patvzi~tjiall~r d~ng~rous er!iei-ozmri~dr~ts ar~ct transmit ;~ record of the ov~nøs :rccur~ning in t.lais environment tr, forces located in safe positions; tt-rus, enabling the fc=ices to take educat~.ed decisians befare and while ttmving into the ~r'a~irnnn~ax~i.
~'he present invention r>ra~'ides :~orh the option s~l' observ-irig a uil ~~0_ ~~.eere~ panoran~3c some azzd the option of ~aie~.ving a li~nitErd so;.tor by z:r~y~trallet~ rat~ric~n ef the s~=r~sc~r aSSEZx~bIy: ~h~s alia-v4in.~ upx-irnal inmg~-.
x~soa.~,~t.ior-r tcj faa axnlal~ay ed u~r t ~~~ a;ac.n~ ed sector.
'~fhe z~rest:rzt iaa-uerzriax~ ~.,~.~picai3~' c~ic»s not z'equire tl~~ use, of special staf~'a.a~
far az-~afya:ing arid ciisptay~irr~ t.~°~e s7~nals x-ecear°ed ~~t t3-~~ cfis~ Lazy st«tion; this rerltccing ~~ expense of the sysrerrx as yr°elI as the time and caaaxpl~~city of it;s apc.r~itzQn. 1Ha'vever, for advanced applications such as creating a 3~(3 ~fsgr~~:~s paraorazrzic image as tea;' bali rotates anei providing ~~'idev ~'~lotinn Dett=~tirxr~ specit~l sc~frrwaz-e is i,eq:xired.
izv t~ first aspE.t~t the present invention provides a compact mobile sensor assLr;zhly. Irz at=s basic ~mF~t:rlz~:~:~ezt the sensor ass~m~bly of ti~.e ir-awr~t:aorz c:onifs .rises:
-.~. Aa~ in-aane sensor facir3~; ra~~'ards the exterior of the sensor assenabiy;
t~. ~ cransnxiite:r~, capabl$~= of zransrx~titrting tie izx~age cr~pt-Etzwc~
by the ir~xre sorzsaz-:
C_ !~T3 ETi~I'~~' ;7aCk. ~31z)'~:it~iii~, ~OVV~Y Ltt t~l~ Sei?.~C~i 3s~=~~i~z~J~.~ ~tr3c~ 1t ~~r?1~C~S'i~'r3tS
~:;. ~ ; ~~latE: detir~iazg t~~~~ ~ut:om of~ tire ser~sur assrrr~t~iy:
t~. .~'~, rr:~.~t;~r anu r~clatef:~z ~<3za~pen~nts eat.pac~Ie of rotatirz~;
the sanse~r L«e~tay,.~ az~t~Lxx-ia.j it:~ ~~,.ruit:al a:~is, uihile tije laiate x~~c~iz~~it:~:~ scat~~.nai-~:
f_ ~~ housing capat~le c>f ~3zut.ectirug the cornpt~nerrts of the sensor ~sseml>!y tron~ shocks resulting from its deploymleI~l:; ~~:~ prwselwin~
the zntegr~ty of the sensor assembly, thereby guararnteeing its proper funcaian3rag; anrl g. A c°rlter of ~:d~jity lac:~teti to assist in posiuor~ing az~d sxas~ilizia7g the sensor assen~hty .e;ritt~ tlm plate adiacent to the ~rouru~I.
'~I1~ s.erlsor assemlbly of the inwexrtic?n c~zn be deployed by' plac'i~~it xr~. or tlirov:~irig or- f~x~il~g it to the locatiolz ~t whiili it is desire t:c~
r:.a.l-1~5~ out smr~~~iilar!re. ~..°he housitag is designed to sustain tl~lo si-anchs of the ~xc:p'.a~.~rl-~ent. '~~h~ shape of rii~~. housiry, tl3e shape of tl~xe plat, ai~a~ tlye i;siat~ux,_ of tl~~ ~.~~nter of br~v°°.tYr cat$se flee sensor assexnbl~Y t~~ ~rabi~ize arlr Lt.u~r~. its~I~~ ~~aittv tl~e p~Iaa,= a:,cijacerlt: to Chr~ gz-ourzci. 'f'lae rrna~;e sensor F":r~p~aafr't? ti2e SCE?rlt~ S~dFTi7ilrtClf3~ f~i~ llYia~e S231S(3F'.
rr~ ~: p=~eferle ~ ~:robodixmena, the housinb c~f tl~e sensor assomnl-v i~; .
~~p$~~,r Z::ally s:l2ag~eci. In some et:2i~od.in-lernCS~ th.~~ iraernal.
ea~er~' pack can rre recl-mrgeable irn whit":11 Case the senSUF' assembly furt:lrer co~.u.prises an ir~l~ut socket for carar~e~:.tan~, x ct~araer~ far the reclZargeable internal oner"y p~c'_k. The ialput socket Carl else be used for conrlectirlg az <~ e~?ativ~ pa~~rer some.
The er~azsrrdtter can be ~,~rarwloss. 'x"he sensor asseanlbty e~f ~~e iyawc~rltiorl rr~iyt iexr-tlues° corrlpa-ise a rr~icrc~l~hor~.e, in ~vh"s.ch c~-rs~
the traT.}srr~itte._r- a i:apnlrlL cps transrrgitt~ry <~:xclic sir~naLs captured k?~' tHge rl~ic:rug°;l'rc~i~so.
~r-~l~nai~I,~~ tl=~ rnicrotjlrox~~: is #~~lsitiorleci ire the: cerrter c;f the upper :;crrl,:r~-e c~f t.l-~.~; se.nsoz asse~rrL3i~,=.
In ~ nreferrwc:~~. ernbcdirrlerrt «f ft~e inv'entiorc. the cornø~act rrm~hile s~:nsar-x~s_~~.lwfylwl i't~rcher comprises are illurxririatic~ra assel~xbla', r.apa~Ie of l~rcs=a.i,iin~; Iif;i>c. to she scene captured by the irl~-ige s~nse~r. "x'h~?
xrraa~e sensc)r is se,asitive to tine ~~~.ve iengtlx of the lulu err~~x;$~~d h-y tI-ie illumix)atlvrc assembly. In a l~~~eferred enxboc3inmrxC the iilmaaination.
asserrably conyr-ices ~.if;;at F,rxi;tting I?ivdes. Iri dii~ferva~t err~t~odirmer~ts xaf tale iwvertivn rfm t~~a~~eler~gr.hs of r~'xe light provided by tl-re zlh.~.rxxinaticrn assembly car-r bx: in the r;~isibte, near infra red, or inxra red speitrn,rrrr. Tl'xe senso_=' asseitroly can further comprise a light san.sor~ calaalale of sexisiy~
t~xe illunxirlation level iax ik)e si.rrrorr.~Idirrxgs of 'the irrmxg~.=.
sensLr and oi~
r~ti~~~tin~ flee illtrmirxation nsserxxbly ~.~rhen the illuunirrataon J.e~~el is ftal()~,t' :~ ~7I'PC~Btf?I-rYtlx2f'i~ ~.~lTl'.~~'tEllc:~ 1lL1111e.
Lax ~=< i~reFex~r~:d ern bodirnent of~ the senses c-rsser~bly tJf $l~.e ira~~emtic;~r~ $ix<~
i=eiL>r' i~.~3:=a s~~ I~i<?:$t~:i'I~°d e3.t'Pc'~ t.°lt't ;.*~a ~DC1'Orrl .~,.1C'~E.' cllxd f:d:i~~~'~u L t..'~E_'F')~EIl$S III
r.zm: ferrn of small feet distr-ibat.r,;_I axx its bottonx.
'1'h° :;orcsirl~ of the ser)sc~r r3;~se:mb~y is pre~er'ably falxricatecf by c~.~sting rvrbber ;ar- plastic. In another preferred embodimerx$ Clxe k~ousiry of t3'~e sensor asserm~ly is fabricated loy i;asting several layers of different mmte ~ eels.
'1 lie iocatiora of tkxe center of~ gravity of tine sensor asserrably is rietea~frriraed by tlxe choice of location of the iL-arxe): components of ti2e sensor asserxbly.
Irr ~.~ ~refeav'ec! emL~odalnent cf the invention tl~ze Ixaatnr of t.i2e sensc;r ;~sse;-ax'bIy is :xc:tiv~a$ed by a ~'eeei.~~er .which cwntr~ol:~ ttxe rnot~3r irx <~CEC~i"~~3114:~ lr~a~~-t (:Ori"er37FaSy~~; tr <°I~SI1')I~a:ef'~ 'Cil 1$, :Iw= t~s-rot~~er asrae.ct tl:re ~r~;::ert in~ehtiorz prc~~-ides a ~~ot~iie ~~ec~nr)~i~s:~c_rsCa SySt~i3x COm~rzSit°c~;
e. d CoI'ilF.)~~t IIiO~Ji~~ S>ar15:7r ctSSertl~7~Y: r't, nd b. a c:;c:~x-It~ of atne~ display urx.it.
-r , r tr: a pr~fe;~ed embadixnent tire control arid display unit c:owaprises a di.slya~r screen, wluich displays signals transmitted from tfae sensor :~>sNxixF~ly. aTxd a receiver capable of reeeivirlg data seer by the tr~~a~sti~itter of tfse sensor as.se_.~nl>ly. 'i'he control and display unit can ~.~rther comprise a trxrzsixx3ttE~r~ capable of transix-zittii-~g co~xx~tanarYds try the semscsr asst~rrzl)1y. Tlw wausmit.t~.~r ea.n be a wireless rransRwittex°.
lea ;~~~forent: arr~bodinz~nts rave mobile reoocmaissarxo~ .:~~,~stezlr ot~
the i:lzu~~:;s:ic~xs is ~-~-~paYxl~ of coxatt~isl'in;~ operation of the moto:, a~la.mzina:~tion ass~a:sf:y, ~Yx~dlor W a izxia~<~ s~:z-x5cr of the sensd>x~
as>etvi~l.~°.
Ix~ scrn~ eaa~l,~o~liznen~ts i>f ~:Yze inahile reco~znaissanee su'cte=.xx ai the in'=ex~it:ioxi, the contr~al azxd c:~isplav .nit Ss capable of laerf~a-Ynira~
izr3a~~:
~racz~ssiry ax~YEllc3a video n~otsordetection on t:he image receir-eci ar~ci.~ox~ a L.oxztixzuoYxs panoramic image, which is updated aocordin~ to r ata.tion of r~xe y~nsor asaeanbly; axtilE'or olxtical zoom of the ixxxage sexmor, which is s:ontrolled !w the ~contrcxl ancf d:isglay unit.
in ~~athea: en-Wodiment o; tlxe invention the mobile reconnaissance s~stezxv con-:pr:ises more rl~~n one sensor assecx~t~ly. Eacfz of E:lce-;
s~:a3sc~r' aaser~italYes c.oz-nprises a tY amszn3t.ter, which trrxnsxrxits ai a different "3f'.t~f.~2~f;5~. ~ ~-1~ Ci'iIIISTTdIt~.~ &'y :i)tl ~3~'. ~1%lI'-L~~E'.5~
~'~"iiT.SI19.7.x'tC1'S. Ir3 tl2iS
~:xn~~odi~raE:nt tfxe control axmi r3ispla~.~ uzxic is oapab3.e of c:ontr aalliY-zg several diifeuerYt sensor assexxzblicas a.~teL-narols~, ~:2 r;I3;3~~i~.'r :'Y'1'IbOC~it'Y1CI1'~ i:a~ t=1~: lY'?~~xltiOli, ~l-1E'.
~'sEYLS~iL' ~SS~ln~fy ~.~c'tri ~ixzx.~~-ise a :-c~ceiv~=.t- :aa:e~ sgealcer and is capable of i-~z;eivii.tg arid bra7~adcast~.n~ audio sigia;~Is ~lE.nt f~ro~~ a reanote locatiars.
$' 'F3r3r~f I7escx'~~stiom of the L>r~vcrira~~
- ~i-~. 1 i, a front vie~~.~ of the sensor assertibly of the ihventa~~an;.
- 1~,i~_ 2 sl-Fosus a rear uric w of the sensor assen-rbly of F'i ;. 1;
- ~'i~. 3 sl:~;ws the battorrY side of the sensor aaserubly of JC'ig. I;
- Fig. ~ shows tFie lacat.ior~ iamicle the robust cast' housing ol' the cUY'rl~si7llOT-:1S 41f plc: SE'.I'i593Y' rlSaer'rl~?lY Of ~''tg. l;
- ~'ig. 5 is :-~ front ~.resv c~f -tt'xe sensor assertYbly af- hig. 1 witia part s~f the casing remuvecl to reveal tfxe inner coml>arsanLS c~f tlm ba~lL.
_ g.~ i~,. f~ as a bac9c viev~,° of the sensr~r assezr~bly ol' Fi.y. a ~~1=i: h ;~ar't vi rh~.
casing removed to rer,>eai size ir:x3er oorzy~an~:~~ts of floe ball; aa~~
dig, r slxows t.l-Ye remote c:cjntrol and display uriit assaciat~d '4a~itfz rxe sen5t;a ~aserrxbly of i;l?e iz-m~c~rxtiorr.
ii~3etnii~~ DeSy'iption of ts'a~ Dra~~inas :~~Yr ;~ ri~ater ~.~nderstaneing of zl-re invention and to show 2zo~~.°
t:i~o same may ~ carW nd intrr eff~c~:, r~fez~e:'ma will rzaw 'be rrra.dt_, ptuwl~; fy i~~t~y of o,~arnple, t:o the aecaYripar~yin~draw,°°ir~~s. 'fL~'itla specific reux erme: to the; ctx-awirzgs ixi detail. it i.s stressed that tl~e ~articulru~s shL~~rn azw uy way' cf exarrrpie an~i ic~r ~exr:pJSOr ref illustrative dzscuaiar~ of ~refPrx-ed ez~rt~adiznents of tlxe preseait ixiv~:rYtic~Fr erily. anrl are faresen fed for tl'te pur~ao:~e of l:~roviclxxl~ whit iv b~iie~-ed to l~c~ the rr~osi: ~sefL~l amd readil~~ nn~iersto~od sles~~r ip~ior~ of r1-~e Sri>~.rig~les axw comceptuai aspects of the invention. Ir> this r-e~ar~i, no :ztta:,vx!pt i:~ rra:_tde tc> slxow ~aruet.mral details of floe inv~:ntion irt rxiar~e detail ~frarx is riecesstu-y i~ur zr fa.rciar;;ental understanding of trr~:
irr~°~rrii.orv. ~r4>nr ttze ~i~s~:ri~ti~:;zr tak.erY to~~tiier ~.:t°itii the cirawiz~gs it ~;vili be app~uent ~tu t~mse a~Cil~e'''~ 111 ~d~l~'~tr'L flO'b'4' idle trL.".'v'e're3i ff~l I~iS '.'?~
t~lC? II'1V~I~t1[!rY I!~'tjr~ i3~:.' E'.A:'1~3LYC~1E'.i~. XY'1 pz'aca-ice.
r:~~;~.z-e1 is, aa. fi'f3I1#: vi~e~v c~f tE~a se:ns3r assembly (i~. "pl-~~
sFnsc~z assexmhly (3) =s f=::bcicat~ci <xs a st~al~,e oi' ;: l:>.~41, alloer~~z~g it ro roll #x~ely ~~rlven t:hra~.va, ar slrcY* ta;y Lr Ae r:y~er~atar ro tlr~ iocwtion at ~vl'iidlu it. is desir ed tcs carry 4~rxt r~bsex-~wtiosxc. 1-leneefarth ti~!e terrzs "sensor asseanably", "assPrn2'~lv", and ,:ba:ll"' will be used irrteichartgeably herein tc~ indicate sensor nsseznb,ly {1).
I"I~c paas3riflr~ of the interx-gal cor~yon~nts of the sensor ~~,soxrably {lj determines its cerater at gra~~ity, a3io~vin~; tIe asserrably (lj co position itself inc6epandex~cly witl-x its t~attor~~ ;ide (2) closest to the groux-~d, w~~hen tlxrovun_ r~,s ~a ~ esc:Lt c>f the rowx~ri shape, t_hc; lo~.~ center of gxar~ity' af~
tlae assexx~bAy (1), ~x~d additional 4tr~acttwal ~e.I~,e:~nrs of ~~ne bottc~rzi side {2) to be clescribNCl rxerei~vbelo~~-, t.i-:e assen~blv ~.z) roii.s fx'eely when it is thri~~~rrt al~q~ a~w~ezitualxy ~xrzencs i ts.elf ~.°:tl-~ its b;~t~tc}rxx su:3~ {2) closest ~,o tha grouzirl. ..~ Inis ~:L~at,~s the vrnage se~~sc~r (;i) to he positoned op~imally to capture tyre iruc~~e of a st ezm=.
Itz t~3~v~-~t of the bail (1). ~'hke imaUe sensor (:;) is lcxc.at~~i i.zsxei~e tA~r sensor ass~rax~~slY! {1), ~~viLd~x or,J.y its optical lens exposed to the ext,ericsr_ h:e sensor ~sserr~bly {lj further cornpz-ises .a rnicxoplwne {~), positioned c~frtisa~a~tli t4 ~oll~ct audio froxrx the mira~oaandings of tl~e ball {i).
The r;xicrophone. t4) is positioned in the center of the t<>p side of b~a.ll (1) is~ a suckx a xri~i~xner that after tile bail stabilizes can its hotrtcm side {2), t's~e rna~ropkac~ne (4; ~~sx:Ill al:~;ays be optimally I7ositioned to ~'olle~a a~xtlia sirr~ais franc rl~~
s~rx-r_rnzxr.~n~s. zxa rr~~ttez' ~hlic.-h ccli.reCtior~ tl-xe image sensor (3) f~ac~s.
'~"h.e ball jI) fur-the-r eornyrises an illumixxatiorl assern'bIy (5j d~szgn~d to emit si~I-~T. ~si ~-lzt~ d.irerricjrr t:lw i.m:~~e ser~sor (3) is poir~t~ri.
'i':~te iII~_u~ir~atx~~rf .x-~~~rcxl~:ly (Srria~° be cc~rxcpr-i~:ac: ~:xt :3 single of l.ri~I~t F~ n~3~ttix~a~:~:~We ~L~~,>) or ~r~ ar r-ay of L.~ I'~s. The iiimxaix~atiur.~, assembly {5) nay alterzxaa.i~:°e.ly irxclucle =rrxy vt per srsur ce of il~urnirm~tis~aa, as long as tine size and yocver carw~uxrxpr~icrx ~a' ~~z~ c;.:ttr:-c ~. is a:or!zpatas:~i~~ uui~h the other rt.~tzirerrze.rxts caf t.lze serascxr asserr~bly {1).
l,he i_Llezrvxirla~t:ion assernhlv ~;:~) may provide illx.xrrxnnation ir-z eit:Iuer- visible or invisible ~ra~~ei_engtlls. e.~;. i:lue I'vea~ Irxfra Red (~~~IR) or Iniz-a Red tiny. '1,11e zlatxrnira~tiexrZ ass~rml~iy (:ij t'nay be comprised of a G~7rr~binatit~an of illi,umirzation 1 t3 suus~ces, sane praviding ~a:Nle ~r:d sam;° irvisit~le Iight. ~t is izazpcz-r_ar;t Co hate. that the hmpose of tl-re i??uminatiorZ assembly (5is try all.a~.v tl-ze image sensax- ~:al to called efFective <<iciea data., every in poorly lit, oe cunyletely caar-k frmirururnemt, the.refc~t a ti-ae inxage sensor (~~ needs tee ht:
sensitive to trove ~u:~ve lez~o.fti-emitted by rI~P illtmr~i.nation srmrrce ~'~).
.~.;~j~~car~zt to tth.e illczrrrin;3tiora asserrtbly (~) tlZez'e is pcasitir,t~ec3 ;~ li~;l'rt senstzr t~j. Tlxe ligl.t seazsor ~6' as ci~ai~rzed to c~tetect th.e illumirgatiun le~~eirr t~Ze r~v~~-ir,a~-zzrrer$i. ;zf the hail fA~- 'I'he ii~lzt sensor ~~1 senses ~vi-=E.n the tl;~.m:Pns-it~ar~ xc;~sel drop,=, l.~elc~ts> ;~ pr~fdeter-nairaE~c2 t~uesglalti level crud :~_c-r~v~tes the ill~.arnirzatior~ assern't~'1-~,~ ~~i wE~en necessary.
'~'he iz,or-;t of t:lse ball tl:) fut~tizer irscludes an 3ctir~~~~tlory ~~wi.tch i'1). v~l~ic:h is used a acti~rwte the sensor assFrnbly (lj_ 2'1-re above-rroentic~z-mc~ corrnpcxnents, namely the aptical len ~ =~f tlv~:
irnaoe serasc:r. ~~j, zlre za:icraphorm (~). thc~ allmuiy~atior~ assezx~Hly :;5}, a:h~: tight ensrr ~6~, ~trvd the a.c.t~ivavi~n switc.~: ~f) are all positio:rzeu irz cc~r~-~p~~ible zriche:s arv thae sr~xa~face of sez_~~cxr assexmbly (1~ in o:-der to a~~ol~
any darna~e tz~,~lteY~ tire 1~<~:~1 ;;i,~ is thez.ewr_ r5r r~cl~~~c~.
T'#zs ewtix°e slue of the mall ~ i;~ is resigned to fit in xhe palrx~
of tlZe lz~arnd of an :~~~erage crperacc~r, spa t~Cxt it- ee~rr ire easily held and tlZrow~n to an area of ;~rter°f~5i~. .'~s ~-il:i ~e elabc~ratecl Ln detail" most of fi~e eoraxl-rorier~la cat the l~al1 ,~.z-e ~;referal-.~ly placed ~ø>~tlvi:zi -~ cast housing s~hich protects tF~~.
carx-zporiexzts f:r~>.rtz shocks ;a:rxrl ~-ifxratinT-zs ~: a~~sz~d a.w a result: of deployrxzerxt <,f the la~:l {I~.
'l'he bottozrr ~;~;le (2) of the half irt;l~.rdes a plate (~s? ~~~hlch is rrut hart of tlxe <,asi 1?.cusinr~, since it is desi~nec~ to enable tl~e hall X1;1 ts~ rotate 3~U degrees aT~o~.rrW it.s v~~cvical a~cis, a.l.lai~irvg tlue irrrage sensrsr- (3~ to c:r~l'_ect vldea data 2~-urrr the scecm lacat:e;.i all ar orn-rcl the ball tl.~. 'The plate (8} is alesigred. iz3 tin ogtimal way to enable quick stahiiization of tl-~e ball (~) after it is throz~n.
'fhe Mate (8) is preferably slxap~d to coxrforrx-~ to torte shap~.~ of tlzo i.7a19 {l j.
with ts'~e hattox~z of tl-se plate (8) flattened to allo~.~r for qEtick stabili~atinn.
iiw~ f~iare {~i znav also include ~dciitivn~.l stabiiizira,~ ranea~~s 1~j ix~
zhe f~.=~~t of s~-!W: I~~~tFt.
' i~. '~ ,'iflGi;"S ~ I~.~~r' 'V1E'a'tT 0~ ~~iG'~ Lit'i?sf)r 'taSSP.Trl.~tl~~
~1). ~XI t~'l~ rC'<~x' S1C~~: 'il~tf3.:'.
~:~all -1) There is placed an iry~rxt sockefi {l.i~} for ~a alt~rnati~rF
f>oc~~er sc~uro~
:~r~ cl-mx~er for i.t-Ae rechafgea~le pc~~;fer sra~srce that is i.ucated inside tlaE>. hall :i:. '=~'A:°- rear 4~id~ x'n~y imclt~:.le a~~divion~_1 sockets, st~~:h ~v viri~o an~~l <~u.tiir~
cfutg~bts. 'lypir<~lly, video anti a~_tdio sl~nals are transxnitteci ~,wireie5sly fre~rn rite U<~L1 to t:lxe t ec~iver emit: bs~ zrit;ans of a trarxsxnitter locat.~d ar~si~e t_he. ball ll). f-3o~,~,~eve=.-, some rnissiors gx'of'~l~s naay enable ar require the use of rr~.rx~~srarss3on va~ ~~~irv=s asvcs for This hurpase it is hc:~sihl~ z=o hra~~ati~
emhorlzrnents of the baiha~.~ir~~ a~gropa-i3te outguts on its rc.>,ar side.
1-'ig. '~~ slZt~~~~s Clxe bottorrr svic~~: of t:lr,y sem.sor assenlh?~- (1).
Irr thE- kavtto:o-.cx side therE= is piace~l a plate {z3). w'~Lc.fx se'-ves as a base far rotation of xhe hall {1).
rl'h~ l~lzrte (,cs) ;.s connected by x~ear.~s of screws {11) to a rxaotor-hseated inside zrsi~ h:ari Vii). l..igon ac~tAx~at3~zz tzf tlae ball's rotation rr-~echaaisrxa. 2xs 4~i11 re desi:rvtsed h~r~inbolo~.v: plate (~) r~rsxairrs stat~onarr~ arW tl~~a '~a:~l Vii; rotates x~:v:xz=~l it.s axis. As zmerutiar~;~i lze>xv-srao,bove, the plate s~ slm~L~
coraforram to tl-~e xot_cr~r~ slxac~t=. cf tsxc~ I>al1 'i), i;-=~:~u~:w%er, io a!lv~~- for ~taic:h send elf~t.cGiv°
~~r'illii~:ZcliIE)ri 4)1 ?:~1E? UF3ii (1) a~~,'t, iL S ~fI1'(3'4;1I'l. It'15 P~tafE'.ti~~:~~i~ -ttl~3t 1::.'llf~ plc'tte f~} ~:°ill inclut:e. a flatte.-red area dl2) on which the LaL {:I) will stabilize- It is ~ix-ti.2~x: preferable to inclt,tcie ad~.~tit.ioraal elements on the plate {8) irt i,:lxr~ forrrt of ux-wall fee3. ~~t ~:~~-aach c.:,ill ~;vw for a wicker an~i n~ox~~eff~~=dive st~tbiiratixz:r.
'f'he g{ate rnE:ry include a threaded fsoxw {f3) (shr~i~.~n in Fib. 3 irr oxie of tl-xe t~et~ l,Ei)) for ~t~r~xnectior~ of tire i-,all (.i) to exterior equipi~ne=~t st.t~:h ~3s. tz r_ripc~d.
_ : ~, v"lza rjlat.e (8} gmay øurtiter iracl~,.~e:I~ attachmexrr_ rraearis (nr~t shoe~w ir; the ~'zi;ur~5} for i;ormvectian of a cat:i~ or rc~pa that would enable c:omtzvl o~f the descewi of tire tall iait~i tunnels, or r~etraeval of tFae '~a.I3 after ii:
has l~~;serz Tilri? ~~'r1.
Iti.g. ~ sho4~~s ~;e loeatio:r csf t:ve c~:rt.pc~n~nts inside the robust fa";.asvzzg a.f fall ~ i j. rl.l.le taou.,~r:slzauld ~~r: eapaLle ,51 protecting the cc~r~-zi:.~on~rtia c:f th~1 a~:aysc$r assernitav from sb~ocla r~s~ilting frazn its deplo~~r_enr and pre~er~ing te~~ ir;t-e~rsLy of the ~ellSpI- asso~Trbly, thereby guaranteeing its 1-~roper t~iflCt.i2~TIlIIE;. r~ ~?'ef~r'3~31P II'tk'..3~1(>ci t3f :fc~~sI't~c'3CYilet O~ t1W? fJctll X83 3~ t'v~ ~cl5t(?It r?.~1 its irarter carr;l>canents i_i4} to a stx-trctural frame :axtci t~vexu tc~
place a rrroId os~er~ ?:he frarr~~:.~ and cast the ~aca4isin~ by pcauring the rmaterial (L~}
of tluc~ ball.
t-~;.~laic_;_ai:lJ° rrac~lte~i r-cx'~tJer~ c:~- l~lascic, over, ~u°ouz~ci, ~.n.cl bet~~~eri tt~e coaryoraerzts t14) axW overt alicaw,:lng the xnateriai to 1-ra.Yderr bef~~re rerave~.~irag the nrolcl. :ri taxis rr:aavrrer, all sf:vaces betw~e~en tl2e c:oznponezw'ts arw filled ~itx'~
*fte casririg m~atemizl a.rxd ail t#ae i;-~nc~r components ~f4) arN fastened in their plzce and 1>rc~t~cred from frotentia? damage that rraay oecu~- as a result of d~plcya~nezvt ul tb~: hall L)urirzg tbi:: fabrication pr~~cess, slaie>id5 zap;zst 1»~ rzsed i~.s ~svev~x~t il7e c~stin~ rnateri,--tl froxa~ lealcinp' into ~che inceriars =~f s~usw.l~onc.n~a ;1~ars:Ilax c{wea,zr!~:; ~_tredasir~ed places, e.~_ tib~ io-c~rrt >ur<~~~c~s of ~f~e zrrmgf= ser~sc~a~ ~~?, tine rwl~rc'7~Ima~P (4}. tlve ill~da~dtic~r~.
asserzWly t~), t.~z~
~~.gh:: 3ensu8 i~~) axW the a::r:i~~at~ora s~~.°.itc:h (7}. '~'rr~
l~i~at.c I;~j is co;~n~ca~ti. tca ~:~I~ ~~<Ili t~~j ~i'~:r r~'B~ C~iS~3Il~ i~ ('~?~}?ple~~.
ft should lie !~oteci ~-l~at art Elbe case df appiicatiors ~wi~~re "vicle~~t"
zl~yir:~yr~~~ent of fall (a) is a~ot recauired, it is possible to faE~r-m~:ate tl~o l~ozasin~
~a:.~irrn coxxveantioxml rnateriais end rta.ethods, '~~~ithout the ueces~sit.y of ~-~rr~vading tta~ ~ttil it~it.h special ragged qczalities, ~~i". :i is ~a fr~~rct viavr of sepasor' assertlbly (1} i~aih part of the ct~sing zw°ax~r~rred to a'eveal the: inr;ex~ 40rt1~?Orl~flte~f raze ball, 'I'l~e components st~ov~Tra include ~3 the z:~a~e sena~~r (3}. the micr-cy~izazze (4j, the illumiriation :a5sernbl,y tJ), tie light senscsr (~), the activ~:$e3or7 swit:cfv (t), enerr laacx~. (i~;, transr;xitter~ (I7), i~f_~3ivt..ss~W;:i t~iE' ~~SC'. (~~31 Of ir.~1~= ciI'Ll~tL=C'~~ TraIT'fG. A';
C~C:SCI'ifz.C~
h<~r~3c~az~n°:'e, ~=,li ~t t!m inI'irr roIaxpGnez~ts of the sensor assezmhly (i} arN
'"~~.st~~-m,-i to ~r=~ecizamicai strm,a:~afe ease (1B} ic~rater~ at t.~xe hottorx~a ref the rise=rzhly. Tl~~: optx~cal lens c~f in~g~ sensor (3), tlm illun7imation rxss~arrz~aly (;i), and tire light serzscr {aj ~..:w or-ieoted facizt~ tw~ards the c~xteritaw° et the ~~il. ~i he z~i:_rc~phorle (4) is plsmeel in the center of ~:rz~ ~xpp~r' side zo ate sensrsz~ :~sseerrxknlYv, to enable it ia~ t:apturo audio frarz~ als aru~zyri ahe ~=~l. Tl'1e eraex:~y pack (s,~1 ~r-o~.Ticies pc":zir fer az.li alenaents of the serzsOr asSern~~lY, arid xt is i~referat~ltr r~;charge~Hi~. ~~ tr ansrzzitter {~ r j is corTnected to image ~~wpt~sx a cievi::e (3j and micr<xphr~ne (4) and wirele~ssly transrruts aud;ir~ axW
'~x~ieo sigmals from tire sertsc~i asseml3ly (1} to the rerxaote.ly located' opf~rator~.
~~ r~cetuer~ (l8j receives conzmgands from the rerhot~ congr'sxi urzit, which i:~
o~:at~d ~~:atl~ t:he apurator. ~:~nr:~~t~l. camrc-:ands will be elaborate<i in re~'ez~ersce tc F'iJ. "7: desc:~ihing tlue cczntrol cznit her~iribelo~v.
i°'i;~. ~a is ~~ b~u;k view of sens:yr ~,.s~>elzvt~ly (i) ~7irh peat of ti~.e casing reznc~v~~3 c~> r~:~r~~l ?:W iruae.r corupant~lzts oi~ the hall. 'i'he ovrui3csme:~Ia siz~wan in. l~fg. ~j in~:i~xe~e ~:czx,~e.: input sacka.t tldj and a motor ~xnc~ rolat~ed ~~~w-F~lxUrx~.°.rt~s (?~iJ, c~~ryuch :~r~: ~zs~ei tc~ c~z~;:e arid ~cc~satroi z~c~tatlon ref 0. h.e sense.-- as~~~eznk~i~,r.. ~:'~ sir=
c3e tsali a iivTw~"~r, dre o~eg~otc»~ has r:so way of detercz-rirLiz~~ ti~c~
ioosit~on im r~hirh the k~all ,.=rill everat~xall~ cc~rr~e to rest. Vlr1-zile the hall gill stabiY:~;e itself w°itxa its i~ottora~ sine (Zi uzx t$:~~ surface vn which tlxe fall ct~rrAes to rest, there ~s z~~p ~.a:y° of~ predicting tl-z~ d.ir~~.crior-s tla~ irmago ;sensor v~vi_l face:. Tn order to i.~=-~ira the ins.-tgF~ s~nsc,- ;n a cirsir~ed directi~ox3, the ahilit~" to z-otatr~ thL ball from: a. remote locatinr~ must sae ~ro~~Ided to sensor asseambt.y (1). 'hhe znotor ;~nci relae~.W c~:m~ponervts fG~~j ~'ec~ivH rotatic~ra c~}rr~Tw:andKV
i~z°s>lrr i,~ve r4motc:
<:oitr'ol rlnit lay rneuns ~f receixwr (1~). 'L'he mater can be iz-zstructeci to rotate tl-:e h~ ci~Ixtin~~o~sl~~, stop the rtztatican, anc~ reverse t_he rotation?
direction.
Q
In l~'i~;. 5 and p'ig. 6 are sYxcJwn only the main ~~ampo~lent5 of tine s~Prasor <3s~;erxxt;ly in artier *o describe its rxlain features. It stlould. he clear tc~ tilase s~a~.h:..i in t.i-Ee arn: that axiotitianal colxrponents not rner'ltrc~xaed are apse ix:c~.i~cTeci in txze sense~r a>sexr~tsiy. those include eiectr'orzxc c:..arrrporae~rts, a~:~'iCl~'~« Cir'c~.iO.S: x'11"mss, f~~3~'S. ~a~rts of the Str;iCtClral I'raIrle. SCY'e~ISrS ei~_ It :~:Yxcrui~3 alsa ~~~ clear" to sitil~ c~ persons that there cara ~e ru-lal~z~.~ alte~::nati've -y'~~,r: cf u!'a"aTr~~ng t~-lE~ dilferCk?t i.:r?xTlpLZ,lPrltS in5i(IP tie S~rr~o!° ~iSSd=Ir3t~~y". '~ i'Jt.
compcJnerlz layaut descrihed tzerein is of a pr eFert'eci irx~plelrferat_at:i~ur. of the 1lrwent i~~vemciGn, which taker into conside!-ation the sensor' ~ssernblv°s ir?tertded features and perfol~a23aace. 1 he specific method of implementation tle~.e_i'atred i~t rein is not irtteneieci, arid sllcruld not he used, to iirrlit tf~e scope of tam presealt izv~,~~entic~n i~-s arly gray.
Fib. '~ st~ao~~s thc~ rewrote col~tcol and ~Lisglay rxa~zit, whi.cfZ is pa!'t of ttxp System. ~'~Se control and diiapl~ly rmit (23.} has three odsic furactiol~5:
co!ltrol -Jf tfse~ .sensoa~ assembly's operation, presentation of the image gf..ecei'~~ed from tI-!e sensor assanWl~,~, and hr-oviding audio feed received frolxt the sensoe ~ss:.ra~Ll~~r_ sire cc~r~tzw3 and ;~~Spla,y unit X21} :nclaxdes a t~rxn xa~~r r~l' aa~ttor~s, :~n ~Stts ar:;cl output ,ackets as ~.~-ai1 be ~iescribPCi. A ~f~owex' Iruttoxi (2~is ixseci tJ turn can cirlci off else corW_r-vi arid c~ispiay unit (~1). ~. "St>3!-rrl ~~; ° Lz~~tt3r (23}
15 e.~.yt~.t$ tC7 ~ri~c.~ t~i.~ S~ i2S~i~ r.'iSSEezt'.~°a.~y' t:0 st:-5lxci-13~ l'T!(7~E: a~~E.'r" at F'a' t~l~Ctlv~i~t~~.
' I'Ize pu.i pose ni the ~'~tand ~3v " e~~~ta on is try save ene!-,~y vaheta oiler ~tion oi~
tr.e ~:e;,s~ar- ~zsserrcl~ly as not re<l~_u!'ed. 'The "Stand ~3ryr" huttola (a.'3} r~qs~ takes ~.i~e sez-lsor assen Wly e.-~ut <if stand bay mode. Ari ''Illurrtaa~lation" W
anon (2~}
uraahfes actzvat~an of the iilulninatior~ assemi~ly' (S}. zwhich iss on the serasor~
ar~selrtb:y. Ii the sense=r as~:em.i~ly is placed ar throe>n. into a poorly lit or r,orr~r>letei~~ rarlc envirmrrz~yel'li., ii. is passib~e t.~J reraaoteij-activate the i~rirr.inaiix,rx. s am "Iiiu~~r.~_c~aiinl:fi t~uttom (2~} is alscJ designeL~
as a backup fciE~
c:asas -~rHacr~ tiaexw is 2a lr:alfu.z:ctiarm in the light serisor of ti-ze serxsoe- ~~ssearzio~;", tar v.V?en t~38 t'_tW "EailOICI Lf~ 1~1~ li~ilt SenSCJl. iS Set tQcJ ~ti~t~, C';~~.tS~rl~? ~.~"it ilittraZirvatior: « -r"c:rmaizz c~t~ t'°eta in poor I-igl~.t rc~r~dit.i~;~tz,s. Ikl;'.sxait2atic3x 1?
~r~.dlc.;:~rnrs (~'~j fnclica~ce :~~hether cl~~= illumirlatlorr asserrlbly° {5) orr trio sensor ~~aen~bs~' is ntf or oat. F~ "C:h~ar~rlel' button (~6) ena;ales sv~xtcliar~g bet~ve~m zrar~~r~rissioli frequencies in order to receive clearer transmission in Ease of ix:,el-i~r~:nLe. :~ "1~1i~ ~,'iew" a,~n;trrrs {27) er~abtes fli~~ing il?e ~~~eLu of tl-ce ~..ma~;e r-~cei~red fz'oz-~~ the senss:~r :rsseriei~ly ~frorn ~-eI'tical to hor.izorlr:a~ tar' rstlrer ~:ay ;,r~~.xnd, A.xz eartrhc'Irle socket t.~~) enalTles Lone;~~aior'I uf~ sac-~~k'TOa~s tQ t:lle cxrlit 21) for listening to the au:iio feed rransrnittecl f~r~arr~ tlxe ball.
A la~~wer :~.~C~.~~ (l~) t,~x~.Wl~S cc3rineCtit9i'T t)$ n c~larP~r' ~G t'1f~ unit g~I'J.
:~.r~ '.~V ~i.Tt'' sucker {:i0} enables connec:~ior~ of the unit {? 1~ to extenml dispia~ azld recording equipment. A ~ro1ume button {31) enables control o~°er volume. A
c:o:~trast buttc~rx (3~) enables co:ztr~o3 of image contrast.. ~. 4~ri~,faness ba~tton ,;.~3) enables c,,nrrol of ixrxage brglltness. A "N :ate" bwtrors (3~) contr~;g5 audio ri~~..zre ~ ~~~Iotor C:or~troi" b3~rt:or~ {:i5) corrtrola the direction of r-utatiorx of tl'Ie S~~I2St~r 3sseTTiI3~~. A lYlOl,OY' clctivciLi011 btlltOri ~~f7~ ~3Ctx'4'c3teS
stliC1 clr-~:c~t:i'Ya?PS
tl~e r~votor c~f s.x~e sensor' assc~rnlbl~r. A "Sensor Selection°
bLIttOn (3'7;= ~nabZes t.l-we e;~eratc~r to change bet,.~,~ct~r se el-al sensor assemblies that are :~p~ratirlr~
i=Ids?.,E~zx~le~tt i:,~ iir the sand ~~r~s,~a a~-,d tr; conirol aY~I dksglEs~~
~j~. sigrWJ fi°r~Tm 5~~~er-ai sensor' <issexrvl,lies ~.:lLoy ~ ~at~.iy. ~iensor' inEiic,a.Torr ~~~3j f ~cfic~.av-~~ t °':;l~i~l~
:f t:~i:: serYS:rr assPanhlies is rclrrently being controlled b~,~ tree ~u-Lit {~'1. ~~ct ima~::~ d.ispl<~~,° scree~I (393 pre: ent~ the video irllage transami~ae<'i fi-an~ oive sercs<,~- ass~-.:x;~iy. °file ~e~xYlo1 :~rld clishlay usii~ ;? ti.} f$-z~~ti:er ~.nnyri~;:;~
'ra'";::~-Tnas (nest sI~IO~~rI~ for rec~:i~z of .risual and aucllo signals from t~r_-. bal.t, as crra?~~ aj ~~tlC f~t'ax7SI2li5.SiOn O~:"i.)17II°6J~i f.Olrlrl'landS tb t1"te ~7c"~5~, it slqr~ulci b~ ~:lo~zl- trs those s~:illed in i13~ art that tiaere are nna~a°~ altorr~~ati~rP
°,~ay.s c,f arlv,z~girlg ttae differerT.,- swaches anc! input sockets an the unit (21).
'~'h~a~ Ina~~ ~~isc~ ~fe «dditic;nal s~s;~-ltcl-~es incorgor~IOed irl the mlat. {21j to rjros:de fear ~:rdditioiual featux-es. 'Mlle boric features elescribc:L 1-~eT~oir~ arzci il4e ia~>o~f~t of tlm sGVitcfres ~~:L ir~r_erf~~ces of s.lze unit {s;l) shr;ivlu z:rk Fi,~. 7 dcse:riF~~ a ~r~i~errPd ~I,W,~~mer~ix of the pry ant inv~x3~c~r, a_rYCi are zZO~_ i.~~f'~1(~.P[~, .',~.I1~ 51-1C)tI~C1 rYOt ~:iG ~3S6d, Et3 ~.1I-Ilrt. ule SCi7~)-4' C~i~ ~~'Ia'~. ~Jir'f,.'SBIIi zii1V~13~3i~il.
"~e°. ;use csf the sexzsax- asserlihly as dk~scrils~.d ?~xe:-oil-x sic~e~:; 1-l.a r-~::luiro fsro=yes ink; ~~~ tl-a.~ iaZ~ra~e- however, t~~'r~re x~'xay lae casts wI-~er~
i~za~;a j3C~:C-C.'S:a111~ Cc'i~~ exi~~'ctYl-Cs~b-Z~'O?.!S~'~~ ~7f' pE?3'~(~)S~iIIeC~
#~Y'i i3W ln~e3~C, '~"c7r f'."~;3:*Y~FI~s-:, ~,~rher.. tl~P ~,7I1 is rotaxeci, there is a possil:~ility of t.rarrslnittilag tl°re irr'r~;r;e to a yaa'c?cE~sslrtg st.<~trcm. ~~=hire a r~ar:orarnic image cant b~ ~~lnar'~rtud as tfye L~al!
r~atatt_s. al~E~ irna~e is r~:fresa-rrid oath tine tlae ball co~~ers <~
prevtousiy lrreserited s~ctoh. ~~r.~h 1>z-oc.essing enables constant: aaac~ cot~tinuotls pr~s~vtat.ior~ of t~l~ s~~ctars. ~re~ior.xsl~~ covered by t~x~ ~ all and those rtxx~rwi~tly ~ri~weci icy ~?e balA. a~ieis elxal>Ies also videa rrrotion tistectiol~t to be ~voz-ft~ut.le:i. t:~1 ttze irrlt~~e ane the detection of cha:~gos iz-r thr scene.
"~!at~~rally, t.~~et-e af~~ ca.ses ~~rh~.r~ t.l-le rotatiorx mechanism of tile ball is rmz ac-tkv~t~c1 and the l.~all is us~c'i a~~ a stationary sensi~r, covering a sl3ecific re~~t~rs of intercast. irr such c~ sos it is also possible te) ix~xplø.rs~~?t in2age proc~~.ssing to detect- matiorr irr t>le regit~rl vi~ev~r~cl- k~~y t~x~ badl_ lrl arvy ol' ti-re ~l.~o;.o~>~rz-,~.mficxxled situatiorx5 rh;~C izYzage processil-ig 3s oit:lm.r d~sak able rsn i:ec~:~.~ary, a proc~ssin~stoi..i~r.r is considered to b~ a l3a.pt of rlvp~
c:.cr:-ktx-ol aa-~d L=i~j a~,-iV ~1 alt t~' ~ j .
i'2'Pd'°'sxl t~i~' t°11-1r '~~OT'~JCt'.SSlTt~ .i~i3,2.:Ft)3-a»
I'f!~~!'S ~:() i~Y1'5% ty"at'sc: ~i~' j.JI"~i~i? >alrl~; r12~cZ~3 ixlc:larding: t}rrt_ Blot limat.ed ta: ~a ~'~, a laptop, or a ~igitai Signal 1'rcscessor or otlxei processing means incx>rl3~srated into the ~'t~ntrol arid c3isl>lay lxxait ~~'2).
l s r~lf.~.a;r? tie cleat' to tl ~os~ sl:,illeci in the art that by proper° a a of elertz~c~ni:.
rxt~:-fae~:~. it is also passable to Loxitrml the sensor assembly frrsrm rt ccsxr~puter as ~~~~il. as to lu-es~nt the irrmge rec eived frora~ tyre sensor assembly or.
the a::orrrlss.~toz . ~:~~hich would replace the speciai~r~ designed control and d-isplay ~.abvit '~I~_ It is noted tlr.a+. the clesa'grr of ele~arorxic iriterf~rcFa arxablzn~
tr arlsnuissiorn of comrrxancis fr-rrirt a comptaep~ to ~:l~able corzrxwol of tkrt~
calreratioae of tho sensor asserlltslyr is ~:vithir~ the scope t~f k.aowl~d~o t~f k~ino5~;
s'~iiivd ir~. tt~~. r~:.~i.
Claims (37)
1. A compact mobile sensor assembly comprising:
a. An image sensor facing towards the exterior of said sensor assembly;
b. A transmitter, capable of transmitting the image captured by said image sensor;
c. An energy pack providing power to said sensor assembly and its components d. A plate defining the bottom of the sensor assembly;
e. A motor and related components capable of rotating the sensor assembly around its vertical axis, while said plate remains stationary;
f. A housing capable of protecting the components of said sensor assembly from shocks resulting from its deployment and preserving the integrity of said sensor assembly, thereby guaranteeing its proper functioning; and g. A center of gravity located to assist in positioning and stabilizing said sensor assembly with said plate adjacent to the ground;
wherein, said sensor assembly can be deployed by placing it in or throwing or firing it to the location at which it is desired to carry out surveillance;
said housing sustains the shocks of the deployment; the shape of said housing, the shape of said plate, and the location of said center of gravity cause said sensor assembly to stabilize and orient itself with said plate adjacent to the ground; and said image sensor captures the scene surrounding said image sensor
a. An image sensor facing towards the exterior of said sensor assembly;
b. A transmitter, capable of transmitting the image captured by said image sensor;
c. An energy pack providing power to said sensor assembly and its components d. A plate defining the bottom of the sensor assembly;
e. A motor and related components capable of rotating the sensor assembly around its vertical axis, while said plate remains stationary;
f. A housing capable of protecting the components of said sensor assembly from shocks resulting from its deployment and preserving the integrity of said sensor assembly, thereby guaranteeing its proper functioning; and g. A center of gravity located to assist in positioning and stabilizing said sensor assembly with said plate adjacent to the ground;
wherein, said sensor assembly can be deployed by placing it in or throwing or firing it to the location at which it is desired to carry out surveillance;
said housing sustains the shocks of the deployment; the shape of said housing, the shape of said plate, and the location of said center of gravity cause said sensor assembly to stabilize and orient itself with said plate adjacent to the ground; and said image sensor captures the scene surrounding said image sensor
2. A compact mobile sensor assembly according to claim 1, wherein the housing of the senor assembly is spherically shaped.
3. A compact mobile sensor assembly according to claim 1, wherein the internal energy pack is rechargeable.
4. A compact mobile sensor assembly according to claim 1, further comprising an input socket for connecting an alternative power source and/or a charger for the rechargeable internal energy pack.
5. A compact mobile sensor assembly according to claim 1, wherein the transmitter is wireless.
6. A compact mobile sensor assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a microphone wherein the transmitter is capable of transmitting audio signals captured by said microphone.
7. A compact mobile sensor assembly according to claim 6, wherein the microphone is positioned in the center of the upper surface of said sensor assembly.
8. A compact mobile sensor assembly according to claim 1, further comprising an illumination assembly, capable of providing light to the scene captured by said image sensor.
9. A compact mobile sensor assembly according to claim 8, wherein the image sensor is sensitive to the wave length of the light emitted by the illumination assembly.
10. A compact mobile sensor assembly according to claim 8, wherein the illumination assembly comprises Light Emitting Diodes.
11.A compact mobile sensor assembly according to claim 8, wherein the wavelengths of the light provided by the illumination assembly are in the visible spectrum.
12.A compact mobile sensor assembly according to claim 8, wherein the wavelengths of the light provided by the illumination assembly are in the Near Infra Red spectrum.
13.A compact mobile sensor assembly according to claim 8, wherein the wavelengths of the light provided by the illumination assembly are in the Infra Red spectrum.
14.A compact mobile sensor assembly according to claim 1, wherein said sensor assembly further comprises a light sensor capable of sensing the illumination level in the surroundings of said image sensor and of activating the illumination assembly when said illumination level is below a predetermined threshold value.
15.A compact mobile sensor assembly according to claim 1, wherein the plate has a flattened area on its bottom side.
16.A compact mobile sensor assembly according to claim 1, wherein the plate further comprises elements in the form of small feet distributed on the bottom of said plate.
17.A compact mobile sensor assembly according to claim 1, wherein the housing of the sensor assembly is fabricated by casting rubber.
18.A compact mobile sensor assembly according to claim 1, wherein the housing of said sensor assembly is fabricated by casting plastic
19.A compact mobile sensor assembly according to claim 1, wherein the housing of said sensor assembly is fabricated by casting more than one type of material.
20.A compact mobile sensor assembly according to claim 1, wherein the location of the center of gravity of the sensor assembly is determined by the choice of location of the inner compartments of said sensor assembly.
21.A compact mobile sensor assembly according to claim 1, wherein the motor of said sensor assembly is activated by a receiver which controls said motor in accordance with commands transmitted to it.
22.A mobile reconnaissance system comprising:
a. a compact mobile sensor assembly according to claim 1; and b. a control and display unit.
a. a compact mobile sensor assembly according to claim 1; and b. a control and display unit.
23.A mobile reconnaissance system according to claim 22, wherein the control and display unit comprises:
a. A display screen; and b. A receiver capable of receiving data sent by the transmitter of the sensor assembly;
wherein, said control and display unit receives and displays signals transmitted from said sensor assembly.
a. A display screen; and b. A receiver capable of receiving data sent by the transmitter of the sensor assembly;
wherein, said control and display unit receives and displays signals transmitted from said sensor assembly.
24.A mobile reconnaissance system according to claim 22, wherein the control and display unit further comprising a transmitter capable of transmitting commands to the sensor assembly.
25. A mobile reconnaissance system according to claim 24, wherein the transmitter is a wireless transmitter.
26. A mobile reconnaissance system according to claim 22, wherein the control and display unit is capable of controlling operation of the motor of the sensor assembly.
27. A mobile reconnaissance system according to claim 22, wherein the control and display unit is capable of controlling operation of the illumination assembly of the sensor assembly.
28. A mobile reconnaissance system according to claim 22, wherein the control and display unit is capable of controlling operation of the image sensor of the sensor assembly.
29. A mobile reconnaissance system according is claim 22. wherein the control and display unit is capable of performing image processing.
30. A mobile reconnaissance system according to claim 22, wherein the control and display unit is capable of performing video motion detection on the image received.
31. A mobile reconnaissance system according to claim 22, wherein the control and display unit is capable of forming a continuous panoramic image and updating the image according to rotation of the sensor assembly.
32. A mobile reconnaissance system according to claim 22, wherein the image sensor is capable of performing optical zoom.
33. A mobile reconnaissance system according to claim 32, wherein the control and display unit is capable of controlling the optical zoom of the image sensor.
34. A mobile reconnaissance system according to claim 22, comprising more than one sensor assembly, wherein each of said sensor assemblies comprises a transmitter, which transmits at a different frequency.
35. A mobile reconnaissance system according to claim 34, wherein the transmitters are wireless transmitters.
36. A mobile reconnaissance system according to claim 34, wherein the control and display unit is capable of controlling several different sensor assemblies alternately.
37. A mobile reconnaissance system according to claim 22, wherein the sensor assembly further comprises a receiver and speaker and is capable of receiving and broadcasting audio signals sent from a remote location.
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| IL156478 | 2003-06-17 | ||
| IL15647803A IL156478A0 (en) | 2003-06-17 | 2003-06-17 | Compact rotating observation assembly with a separate receiving and display unit |
| PCT/IL2004/000518 WO2004111673A2 (en) | 2003-06-17 | 2004-06-16 | Compact mobile reconnaissance system |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2473859A1 true CA2473859A1 (en) | 2004-12-17 |
Family
ID=33548807
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002473859A Abandoned CA2473859A1 (en) | 2003-06-17 | 2004-06-16 | Compact mobile reconnaissance system |
Country Status (6)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US7733416B2 (en) |
| EP (1) | EP1639810A4 (en) |
| JP (1) | JP4335916B2 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2473859A1 (en) |
| IL (2) | IL156478A0 (en) |
| WO (1) | WO2004111673A2 (en) |
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