Claims
- 1. A synchronization system comprising:
a base unit including:
a master time-base adapted to set a time period that samples a frame of video data; and a base unit communications transceiver adapted to transmit a frame synchronization signal to a video camera communications transceiver, wherein the base unit communications transceiver is operably coupled to the master time-base and the video camera communications transceiver; and wherein the video camera includes:
an image sensor adapted to store the video data; an exposure control adapted to control an exposure level of the image sensor; a camera time-base adapted to receive the frame synchronization signal from the video camera communications transceiver, wherein the video camera communications transceiver is operably coupled to the image sensor; and wherein the camera time-base is adapted to:
receive the frame synchronization signal; reset its time and initiate its internal timing sequence; transmit signals to the exposure control to control a length of the exposure; and transmit timing signals to the image sensor to read the video data, wherein the camera time-base is operably coupled to the image sensor, the exposure control, and the video camera communications transceiver.
- 2. The synchronization system of claim 1, wherein the image sensor is adapted to transmit the read video data to the video camera communications transceiver.
- 3. The synchronization system of claim 2, wherein the video camera communications transceiver is adapted to transmit the read video data to the base unit communications transceiver.
- 4. The synchronization system of claim 3, wherein the base unit further comprises a memory operably coupled to the base unit communications transceiver, and wherein the base unit communications transceiver is adapted to transmit the read video data to the memory.
- 5. The synchronization system of claim 4, wherein the time-base timing signals of the received read video data are converted to timing signals of the master time-base when the memory receives the read video data.
- 6. The synchronization system of claim 4, wherein the memory is adapted to remove time variations of the read video data.
- 7. The synchronization system of claim 1, wherein a time period to complete reading the fame of video data is less than a minimal time period for the frame synchronization.
- 8. The synchronization system of claim 1, wherein the base unit communications transceiver is adapted to send a plurality of frame synchronization signals to a plurality of video camera communications transceivers.
- 9. A synchronization system comprising:
a base unit including:
a master time-base adapted to set a time period that samples a frame of video data; a memory; and a base unit communications transceiver adapted to transmit a frame synchronization signal to a video camera communications transceiver, wherein the base unit communications transceiver is operably coupled to the master time-base, the memory and the video camera communications transceiver; and wherein the video camera includes:
an image sensor adapted to store the video data; an exposure control adapted to control an exposure level of the image sensor; wherein the video camera communications transceiver is adapted to transmit the frame synchronization signal to a time-base, and wherein the video camera communications transceiver is operably coupled to the image sensor; and wherein the time-base is adapted to:
receive the frame synchronization signal; transmit signals to the exposure control to control a length of the exposure; transmit signals to the image sensor to read the video data, wherein the time-base is operably coupled to the image sensor, the exposure control, and the video camera communications transceiver; wherein the image sensor is adapted to transmit the read video data to the memory via the video camera communications transceiver and the base unit communications transceiver; and wherein the time-base is converted to the master time-base when the memory receives the read video data.
- 10. A base unit comprising:
a master time-base adapted to set a time period for sampling a scene of a frame of video data from a destination; memory that stores the destination video data; a communications transceiver adapted to packetize a frame synchronization signal in a communication protocol understood by the destination and transmit the packetized frame synchronization signal to the destination, wherein the communications transceiver is operably coupled to the master time-base, the memory and the destination; and wherein the master time-base is adapted to dynamically change the time period to contemporaneously alter a rate of the scene sampling from a plurality of different destinations.
- 11. The base unit of claim 10, wherein the master time-base operates in a continuous mode.
- 12. A video camera comprising:
an image sensor adapted to store video data; a communications transceiver adapted to receive a frame synchronization signal from an origination and transmit the signal to a time-base, wherein the image sensor is operably coupled to the communications transceiver; wherein the time-base is adapted to:
reset its time and initiate its internal timing sequence based on the received frame synchronization signal; transmit signals to an exposure control to control a length of the exposure; and transmit signals to the image sensor to read the video data, wherein the time-base is operably coupled to the image sensor, the exposure control, and the communications transceiver; wherein the exposure control is adapted to control an exposure level of the image sensor and transmit signals to the time-base to stop the length of the exposure; wherein the image sensor is adapted to transmit the read video data to the communications transceiver; wherein the time-base signals to read the video data are converted to signals of a master time-base when the origination receives the read video data, wherein the received video data is synchronized by its frame period; and wherein the time-base is adapted to receive a new frame synchronization signal after the length of the exposure has stopped.
- 13. The video camera of claim 12 wherein the time-base operates when the frame synchronization signal is received and ceases to operate after actions based on the frame synchronization signal are complete.
- 14. A method for generating exposures via a video camera, the method comprising:
receiving a synchronization signal at a first module; resetting a time-base by the received synchronization signal to a starting value; clearing a second module of all generated exposures; initiating an integration period based on the received synchronization signal; storing a duration of the integration period in a third module; monitoring, by the third module, the first module until it reaches the duration; and transmitting, by the third module, a signal to the first module to begin an exposure of the second module.
- 15. The method of claim 14 further comprising stopping the clearing of the second module to begin the exposure of the second module.
- 16. The method of claim 14 wherein the duration of the integration period correlates to a time period in the first module when the exposure of the second module should occur.
- 17. The method of claim 14 wherein the duration of the integration period is based on previously generated exposures.
- 18. The method of claim 17 wherein the beginning of the exposure of the second module ends after the previously generated exposures are read.
- 19. A method for synchronization comprising:
receiving a frame synchronization signal at a fourth module; storing video data in a second module; controlling an exposure level of the second module by a third module; transmitting the frame synchronization signal to a first module; resetting a time of the first module; transmitting signals to the third module to control a length of the exposure; and transmitting signals to the second module to read the video data.
- 20. A computer readable medium comprising instructions for:
setting a time period for sampling a scene of a frame of video data from a destination; storing the destination video data in memory; packetizing a frame synchronization signal in a communication protocol understood by the destination; transmitting the packetized frame synchronization signal to the destination; and dynamically changing the time period to alter a rate of the scene sampling from the destination and from a plurality of different destinations.
- 21. A computer readable medium comprising instructions for:
resetting a time and initiating an internal timing sequence based on a received frame synchronization signal from an originator; transmitting signals to control a length of an exposure; transmitting signals to read the length of the exposure; transmitting signals to stop the length of the exposure; transmitting the read exposure to the originator; and converting the time to a time of the originator.
- 22. A computer readable medium comprising instructions for:
receiving frame synchronization signals at a plurality of destinations; transmitting frames at various times to an originator based on a synchronization period of the synchronization signals; reading the frames based on a time-base of the originator; combining the frames; and displaying the frames.
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present invention is related to patent application [docket number 120745.00001] titled DIGITAL OBSERVATION SYSTEM, to patent application [docket number 120745.00002] titled DIGITAL TRANSMISSION SYSTEM, and to patent application [docket number 120745.00004] titled UNIVERSAL SERIAL BUS DISPLAY UNIT. These applications are commonly assigned, commonly filed, and are incorporated by reference herein.