Patent Application
20220094882
The current invention relates in some embodiments thereof, to an image acquisition apparatus, and in particular, to a towed underwater image acquisition apparatus.
In some aspects, this application may claim benefit from patent applications and prior art literature including:
U.S. Ser. No. 10/683,069B2: An underwater exploration system enables signal transmission and reception to and from an underwater vehicle through wireless communication, that enables carriage of the underwater vehicle to a survey point and collection of the underwater vehicle, and, further, that enables a quick change of the survey point. The underwater exploration system includes: an underwater exploration unit including: a floating member including a first antenna and configured to support the first antenna above a water surface; and an underwater vehicle connected to the first antenna via a signal line; a communication device including a second antenna configured to transmit and receive a wireless signal to and from the first antenna; and an unmanned aerial vehicle configured to carry the underwater exploration unit and drop the underwater exploration unit to the water surface.
U.S. Pat. No. 9,498,883B2: Disclosed is an underwater exploration system using a multi joint underwater robot having a novel complex movement concept in which the multi joint underwater robot moves through walking or swimming with multi joint legs closely to a seafloor, differently from a conventional underwater robot to obtain a thrust through a propeller scheme. The underwater exploration system includes the multi joint underwater robot having the complex movement function according, a depressor, and a mother ship to store data of an underwater state transmitted from the multi joint underwater robot and to monitor and control a movement direction of the multi joint underwater robot. The depressor is connected to the mother ship through a primary cable, the multi joint underwater robot is connected to the depressor through a second cable, and resistance force of the primary cable is applied to the depressor without being transmitted to the multi-joint underwater robot.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,864,326B2: An underwater diving light has a rotatable front filter ring for selecting light filtration as needed for underwater still or video photography conditions. The filter ring is removable and interchangeable with different rings. Another important feature is efficient cooling of the LEDs and other internal electronics of the diving light assembly. The water is in contact with a metallic front face that conducts heat directly away from a metal core circuit board carrying the LED array or arrays. In one form of the diving light water channels are provided so that the ambient water can enter the assembly to spaces behind the LCD circuit board to efficiently cool the LEDs and associated electronics. The front plate assembly can be removable, for rinsing the internal cooling cavities, for interchange with different front face assemblies, and for air travel when the LCDs must be removed from driving electronics for safety concerns.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,520,629B2: A flashlight is provided comprising a LED illumination source, a power source electrically coupled to said LED illumination source, and a solid body encapsulating the power source and at least a portion of the LED illumination source. The invention further includes an underwater illumination system comprising a glove having an interior, an inner surface, and an outer surface, and an underwater flashlight comprising a LED illumination source, a power source electrically coupled to the LED illumination source, a solid body encapsulating the power source and at least a portion of the LED illumination source, and a securing member for connecting the underwater flashlight to said glove. A method for making an underwater, pressure-resistant LED flashlight is provided for making an encapsulating solid body for the elements providing illumination.
KR101488216B1: The present invention relates to a sub-bottom profiler to analyze the structure of the seabed using sound waves. The present invention provides a hull-mounted sub-bottom profiler system; and the sub-bottom profiler system and methods of the related art are subject to the problems of the sub-bottom profiler impairment or missing due to the obstacles such as fisheries which has resulted in the costs for equipment repair, replacement, and time damage due to equipment recovery; as the sub-bottom profiler is pulled while hung to the back of a ship or is used mounted on the side surface of the hull using an installation frame. However, in accordance to the present invention, a space is formed in the vicinity of the center of a lower end of the ship and a sub-bottom profiler installation box is produced such that the sub-bottom profiler is mounted on the space to prevent damage or loss due to fisheries or obstacles. Also, shaking due to waves or tides is reduced while the bottom surface of the box is formed of an FRP material such that the transducer is not exposed outside, and the transducer be protected. The transducer and the bottom surface are completely sealed such that no space is formed between the transducer and the bottom surface, which allows noise to be reduced. In addition, the inner space of the box is filled with seawater such that the profiling can be performed in the environments identical to the external environments which results in higher profiling accuracy.
Underwater photographing is an important research direction of underwater optics and marine optics, is an important means and tool for mankind to know, exploit and utilize, and protect the sea, and has advantages such as intuitive target detection, high imaging resolution, and high information content. The technique is widely applied to fields such as underwater target reconnaissance/detection/recognition, underwater archaeology, submarine resource exploration, bioresearch, underwater engineering installation/overhaul, underwater environment monitoring, and lifesaving and salvage.
The existing underwater imaging technique includes a submarine towed sonar system, which describes submarine topography information by means of sonar echo information. However, such technique has the problem in distinguishing submarine creatures from submarine rocks, and fast-moving creatures such as shrimps and crabs cannot be distinguished. In addition, the existing underwater imaging technique further includes acquiring an underwater image by fixedly providing a camera at the bottom of the sea. The fixed camera cannot be moved and has a small visual range, making it impossible to observe a large area of the sea. In order to solve the above defects and deficiencies in the prior art, a towed underwater image acquisition apparatus is provided.
The following summary is an explanation of some of the general inventive steps for the device, method, manufacture and apparatus in the description. This summary is not an extensive overview of the invention and does not intend to limit the scope beyond what is described and claimed as a summary.
The current invention, in some embodiments thereof, relates to a tow unit and image acquisition apparatus (or ‘platform’, or ‘the platform’). The tow unit comprises of an attachment mechanism, provided for the attachment of the cabling. The cabling comprises of a tow ball, typically immersed in water in the water body.
According one embodiment, a tow unit comprises of an attachment means, which is provided for the attachment of the cabling. Further is a tow ball control provided, which for purposes of this disclosure provides a mechanism of moving the tow ball along the cabling length, where preferably but not necessarily, it is an iron tow ball added to the cabling, wherein one section of the cable is attached to the attachment means and to the underwater image acquisition apparatus by a second section of the cable to the attachment means, and as such, influencing the underwater image acquisition apparatus' buoyancy, thereby determining the height and range of the platform's movement. For example, by moving the tow ball closer to the platform, it causes the platform to sink deeper underwater, while moving the tow bar away from the platform causes the buoyant platform to rise closer to the surface.
According to another embodiment, an operation mechanism is provided, which may be configured to communicate with the processor unit and configured to send an instruction for the operation of the control module thereof. It may be further configured capable of operating the cable control, tow ball control. As one example, the cable control may receive an instruction from the operation mechanism to wind or unwind the cabling, where such winding causes the platform to acquire a different relative position from the tow unit. In another example, tow ball control may receive an instruction from the operation mechanism to move the tow ball along the length of the cable using a suitable mechanism, such as but not limited to internal gears in the tow ball, rollers, wheels of any such. It is also anticipated that other mechanisms are applicable to this invention that would enable the moving of the tow ball along the length of the cabling. Further still is a propulsion means, which for purposes of this disclosure may be one or more of: movement of the tow unit, for example by an engine, or movement of the platform, for example by means of a cabling winding or a tractor or any such mechanism capable of pulling the platform and causing a displacement of it in the water.
According to another embodiment, an underwater image acquisition system comprises of an attachment means, which is provided for the attachment of the cabling at a corresponding attachment means, an image acquiring apparatus capable of underwater image acquisition, and this may be an optical camera, a general sensor, an infra-red sensor, any such apparatus capable of image acquisition underwater, including radar, sonar, electromagnetic sensors, among others. Also comprised is a positioning means capable of determining the position of the underwater image acquisition system relative to a known position, and this is preferably relative to the tow unit. Nonetheless, in some embodiments, the positioning means comprises of a satellite positioning receiver or any such receivers that may include any one of GPS, GLONASS, NavIC, BeiDou, Galileo, Quasi-Zenith, and which determine the longitude and latitude information of the unit. In other embodiments, the positioning means comprises of a means of determining the position of the underwater image acquisition system relative to the tow unit. As a consequence, an acquired image's position may further be determined by means of a positioning means supplied thereof.
Further details and embodiments and methods are described in the detailed description below.
The novel features believed to be characteristic of the illustrative embodiments are set forth in the appended claims. The illustrative embodiments, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and descriptions thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of one or more illustrative embodiments of the present disclosure when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Hereinafter, the preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The terminologies or words used in the description and the claims of the present invention should not be interpreted as being limited merely to their common and dictionary meanings. On the contrary, they should be interpreted based on the meanings and concepts of the invention in keeping with the scope of the invention based on the principle that the inventor(s) can appropriately define the terms in order to describe the invention in the best way.
It is to be understood that the form of the invention shown and described herein is to be taken as a preferred embodiment of the present invention, so it does not expressly limit the technical spirit and scope of this invention. Accordingly, it should be understood that various changes and modifications may be made to the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.
In a first embodiment according to
According to an exemplary embodiment, the tow unit disclosed provides for a means of controlling the image acquisition apparatus 2 as well as providing a means of propulsion of the same, preferably via the cabling provided thereof. It is also provided for the control of the cabling via a cabling control mechanism thereof, and control the tow ball via a tow ball control mechanism thereof.
According to a second non-limiting embodiment illustrated by the
The operation mechanism 103 may be, in some embodiments thereof, configured to communicate with the processor unit 101 and configured to send an instruction for the operation of the control module 100 thereof. It may be further configured capable of operating the cable control 111, tow ball control 120. As one example, the cable control 111 may receive an instruction from the operation mechanism 103 to wind or unwind the cabling 3, where such winding causes the platform 2 to acquire a different relative position from the tow unit. In another example, tow ball control 120 may receive an instruction from the operation mechanism 103 to move the tow ball along the length of the cable using a suitable mechanism, such as but not limited to internal gears in the tow ball, rollers, wheels of any such. It is also anticipated that other mechanisms are applicable to this invention that would enable the moving of the tow ball along the length of the cabling. Further still is a propulsion means 10, which for purposes of this disclosure may be one or more of: movement of the tow unit 1, for example by an engine, or movement of the platform 2, for example by means of a cabling winding or a tractor or any such mechanism capable of pulling the platform and causing a displacement of it in the water.
Further still in the
Furthermore, the storage device 110 is adapted capable of storing underwater imagery received from the underwater image acquisition system 2 via a suitable communication module and network, such as a network 108 and communication module 109. On the other hand, the memory 105 is configured with a sequence of instructions executable by a processing unit, wherein execution of said sequence of instructions by a processor unit causes the controller 100 to perform an action of controlling at least in part, some of the assembly or system members. For example, the controller may transmit control signals to the underwater image acquisition system controller module to adapt the light intensity of the lighting module thereof. Also, it may transmit control signals to the underwater image acquisition system controller module to acquire images by means of the an image acquiring apparatus. It may also acquire the position of the tow unit by means of a positioning means 102. In some embodiments, the positioning means comprises of a satellite positioning receiver or any such receivers that may include any one of GPS, GLONASS, NavIC, BeiDou, Galileo, Quasi-Zenith, and which determine the longitude and latitude information of the unit. In other embodiments, the positioning means 102 comprises of a means of determining the position of the underwater image acquisition system relative to the tow unit. In other embodiments, the positioning means 102 comprises of both mechanism of positioning.
Further in the same figure, the communication module 109 is capable of receiving acquired images from the underwater image acquisition system 2, wherein a display apparatus adapted capable of display of images received, and transmitting control signals to the underwater image acquisition system controller module, typically through a network 108. Finally in the figure is attachment means 10 to the underwater image acquisition system via a corresponding attachment means 20, wherein the attachment means comprises of cabling 3, wherein the length of the cabling 3 between the tow unit and the underwater image acquisition system is adaptable by means of a cabling control. The tow ball's relative position on the cabling can be changed by means of a winding mechanism of the cabling by a cabling control 111. It should be noted that a change of the tow ball relative position along the cabling causes an upward or downward movement of a buoyant underwater image acquisition system.
In one embodiment, the controller 100 for the underwater image acquisition system is configured capable of causing the cabling control to adapt the length of the cabling between the tow unit and the underwater image acquisition system.
In another embodiment, the controller 100 for the underwater image acquisition system configured capable of causing the tow ball controller to adapt the tow ball's relative position on the cabling between the tow unit and the underwater image acquisition system.
In one embodiment, the controller 100 for the underwater image acquisition system is configured capable of causing the controller module of the underwater image acquisition system via the communications module to adapt the light intensity of the lighting module by means of varying the amount of power supplied to the module by the power supply.
In one embodiment, the controller 100 for the underwater image acquisition system is configured capable of causing the controller module of the underwater image acquisition system via the communications module to adapt the light intensity of the lighting module by means of varying the number of lighting units in the module.
In one embodiment, the controller 100 for the underwater image acquisition system is configured capable of determining the relative position of the the underwater image acquisition system by means of receiving from a positioning means of an underwater image acquisition system a position measurement; then receiving from a positioning means of a tow unit a position measurement, and determining a position of the underwater image acquisition system relative to a position measurement received from a positioning means of a tow unit.
In a further embodiment according to the
Further, illustrated is a power supply 113 or any such means that provides electrical power to the system or some parts thereof. While it is preferable that the underwater image acquisition system 2 comprises of a power supply, the power could be supplied by the tow unit using the cabling 3 provided thereof. The power supply could also be a means of generating electrical power based on waves, wind, solar, nuclear, chemical or mechanical means. Also shown is a controller module 200, which is capable of adapting the light intensity due in part from receiving control signals from an external computer system or controller via the communications module. In one embodiment, the controller module 200 is adapted capable of receiving control signals from an external computer system or controller via the communications module to adapt the number of units lighting on the lighting module. In other embodiments, the controller module 200 is adapted capable of varying the amount of power supplied to the lighting module to vary the light intensity. It follows that the lighting module 116 may comprise of either of:
A single light unit with variable light intensity based on power supplied
Multiple light units, each operable independently, wherein one or more of the units can produce light and therefore, vary the light intensity of the module
It is to be understood that a lighting module 116 is capable of supplying light to the image acquiring apparatus 115, and further that the lighting module is capable of adapting the light intensity by means of said controller module for different image lighting conditions. It is also to be understood that a lighting module is only necessary where an optical type of image acquiring apparatus 115 is utilized. The lighting module may comprise of any one or more of an LED, fluorescent bulb, incandescent bulb, or any electric or chemical source of light.
Further provided in the
Finally, illustrated in the figure is a brightness controller 114, which may comprise of a photosensitive sensor capable of detecting the lighting condition, including but not limited to the light intensity or any such measurements, where such measurements may be utilized for the adjusting of light intensity of light produced by the lighting module 116.
In a further exemplary embodiment according to the
In the exemplary embodiment according to the
The embodiment according to the
In the final embodiment according to the
In one embodiment, the relative position between the tow ball and a buoyant underwater image acquisition system is adaptable, wherein a change of the tow ball relative position along the cabling causes an upward or downward movement of a buoyant underwater image acquisition system.
In another embodiment, the tow ball's relative position on the cabling can be changed by means of a winding mechanism of the cabling by a cabling control.
Although a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.
The current invention relates to the manufacture of towed underwater image acquisition systems, apparatus and their methods of use.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63079133 | Sep 2020 | US |
