Patent Application
20070185379
The present disclosure relates generally to borescopes and video scopes.
Borescopes and video scopes for inspecting visually obscured locations are typically tailored for particular applications. For instance, some borescopes have been tailored for use by plumbers to inspect pipes and drains. Likewise, other types of borescopes have been tailored for use by mechanics to inspect interior compartments of machinery being repaired.
The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.
A remote inspection device includes a digital imager housing having a digital imaging device in communication with a digital video signal conversion device serializing the digital video signal. A digital display housing has a digital display in communication with a digital video signal re-conversion device de-serializing the digital video signal. A push stick housing is configured to be grasped by a user. A flexible cable interconnects the digital imager housing with the push stick housing, thereby rendering a position of the digital imager housing responsive to user manipulation of the push stick housing. The flexible cable also serves as a transmission medium transmitting the serialized digital video signal at least from the digital video signal conversion device to the push stick housing.
Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. It should be understood that the description and specific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way.
The digital imager housing 104 is coupled to a distal end of the flexible cable 102. In the exemplary embodiment, the digital imager housing 104 is a substantially cylindrical shape that is concentrically aligned with the flexible cable 102. However, it is envisioned that the digital imager housing 104 may take other shapes. In any case, an outer diameter of the cylindrical digital imager housing 104 is preferably sized to be substantially equal to or less than the outer diameter of the flexible cable 102.
A digital imaging device 106 is embedded in an outwardly facing end of the cylindrical digital imager housing 104. The digital imaging device 106 captures an image of a viewing area proximate to the distal end of the flexible cable 102 and converts the image into a digital video signal. As defined herein, the digital imaging device 106 can be a purely digital imager, or it can be an analog imager having an analog to digital converter (ADC). In some embodiments, an attachment 50 can be removably coupled to the digital imager housing 14.
The digital imaging device 106 requires relatively more signal wires than a non-digital imaging device. Therefore, and referring now to
With particular reference now to
Alternatively, and with particular reference to
As another alternative, and with particular reference to
Returning the digital video signal to its original form allows use of a digital display to render the video captured by the digital imaging device 104. Use of the digital display can leverage various capabilities of such displays. For example, digital pan and zoom capability can be acquired by use of a larger imager in terms of pixels than the display, or by digital zoom. Thus, the display can be moved for greater detail/flexibility within the fixed visual cone of the imager head. Also, a software toggle can be implemented to increase perceived clarity and contrast in low spaces by switching from color to black and white.
Referring generally now to FIGS. 2A-C, it should be readily understood that the same types of conversion devices can be placed outside of the digital imager housing but proximate to the imager as opposed to the display. For example, each of the serializer 200, digital to analog converter 208, or video encoder 214 can be placed in a push stick housing that is remote from the digital imager housing and the digital display housing. This placement can be especially beneficial in the case of placement of an ADC in the push stick housing, and use of a wired connection between the push stick housing and the digital display housing.
Turning now to
In some embodiments, as mentioned above, the flexible cable can pass through push stick housing 108 to digital display housing 110. For example, a coiled cable section 102D extending from push stick housing 108 can connect to a ribbed cylindrical conduit section 102E extending from digital display housing 110. Thus, flexible cable 102 can carry a serialized digital video signal from digital imaging device 106 through the ribbed cylindrical conduit sections 102A and 102C to push stick housing 108, through which it is transparently passed through to the remote digital video display housing 110 by the coiled cable section 102D and the ribbed cylindrical conduit section 102E. It should be readily understood that one or more extension sections 102B can be used to lengthen either or both of the cable portions interconnecting the push stick housing with the digital display housing and the digital imager housing.
In yet alternative or additional embodiments, flexible cable 102 can terminate at the push stick housing 108, and push stick housing can include a wireless transmitter device, thereby serving as a transmitter housing. In such embodiments, it should be readily understood that digital display housing 110 can contain a wireless receiver device, and the serialized digital video signal can be transmitted wirelessly from the push stick housing 108 to the digital display housing 110. It should also be readily understood that one or more antennas can be provided to the push stick housing 110 and the digital display housing to facilitate the wireless communication. Types of wireless communication can include Bluetooth, 802.11(b), 802.11(g), 802.11(n), wireless USB, Xigbee, analog, wireless NTSC/PAL, and others.
Two or more light sources protrude from the outwardly facing end of the cylindrical imager housing 104 along a perimeter of the imaging device 106 such that the imaging device 106 is recessed directly or indirectly between the light sources. In a presently preferred embodiment, the light sources are superbright LEDs, such as Nichias branded LEDs, which produce approximately twelve times the optical intensity compared to standard LEDs. Specifically, superbright LEDs such as 5mm Nichias LEDs produce upwards of 1.5 lumens each. The inclusion of the superbright LEDs produces a dramatic difference in light output, but also produces much more heat than standard LEDs. Therefore, an addition of a heat sink to the imager housing can be used to accommodate the superbright LEDs.
A transparent cap encases the imaging device and light sources within the imager housing. The transparent cap can also be modified to provide imaging optics (e.g., layered transparent imager cap) in order to effectively pull the focal point of the imaging device 106 outward compared to its previous location. For a given shape imager head, this change in the focal point can widen the effective field of view, thus rendering a snake formed of the flexible cable 102 and imager housing 104 more useful. This change in focal point can also allow vertical offset of the imaging device 106 from the light producing LEDs, thus making a smaller diameter imager head assembly possible. Additional details regarding the light sources, heat sink, and optics of the imager head are described below with reference to
It is envisioned that various types of imager housings 104 can be provided, each having different types of light sources and/or imaging optics that are targeted to different types of uses, or lack of light sources and imaging optics. For example, an imager housing 104 with light sources producing relatively greater amounts light in the infrared spectrum than another imager housing can be provided. For example, LEDs can be employed that produce light in the infrared spectrum, and one or more optical filters can be added to the imaging optics that selectively pass infra red light. This infrared imaging head is especially well suited to night vision and increasing the view distance and detail in galvanized pipe. In similar embodiments, the infrared light sources can be omitted to accomplish a thermal imaging head that has an infrared filter.
In additional or alternative embodiments, an imager housing 104 can be provided that has light sources optimized for producing light in the ultraviolet spectrum. For example, LEDs can be employed that produce light in the ultraviolet spectrum, with an optical filter provided to the imaging optics that selectively passes ultraviolet light. This ultraviolet imaging head is especially well suited for killing bacteria and fluorescing biological materials.
It should be readily understood that an imaging head can be provided that has white light sources, and that any or all of the different types of imaging heads can be supplied separately or in any combination. It is additionally envisioned that software for operating the digital display can have various modes for use with different types imager heads, and/or can have image processing capability to enhance images.
Turning now to
The imager head with light sources 400A-B that are superbright, such as superbright LEDs, can be provided with a metal housing 104 and heat sink member 408A-B. Heat sink member 408 can also be metal, and can permit transfer of heat produced by the light sources 400A-B to the metal housing 106 for dissipation. Heat sink member 408 can be shaped in an angular fashion (e.g., L-shaped) to facilitate passage of wires in the imager housing, and can have apertures to permit passage of wires to light source circuit board 41 OA-B.
Turning finally to
The preceding description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses.
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/480,329 filed on Jun. 30, 2006, which is in turn a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/328,603 filed on Jan. 10, 2006, which is in turn a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/032,275 filed on Jan. 10, 2005. The disclosures of the above applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety for any purpose.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 11480329 | Jun 2006 | US |
| Child | 11645280 | Dec 2006 | US |
| Parent | 11328603 | Jan 2006 | US |
| Child | 11480329 | Jun 2006 | US |
| Parent | 11032275 | Jan 2005 | US |
| Child | 11328603 | Jan 2006 | US |
