An underwater robot with adaptive lighting for onboard observation cameras

Abstract

This utility model relates to the field of underwater detection equipment technology, specifically to an underwater robot equipped with an observation camera and adaptive lighting. The camera assembly includes a camera unit housed within a sealed structure. The front of the sealed structure is light-transmitting, and a main light source is arranged parallel to the outside of the camera. Several auxiliary light sources are mounted outside the sealed structure via an auxiliary light mounting assembly, and each auxiliary light source is individually controlled. This utility model, by setting auxiliary and main light sources—the auxiliary light source using floodlight and the main light source using focused light—allows for adaptation to different environments by changing the dimming lens and selectively activating either the auxiliary or main light source, depending on water quality and mission requirements. By placing a flat mirror between the dimming lens and the light-emitting assembly, the sealing of the light tube is not affected when the dimming lens is replaced. The use of both snap-fit ​​and magnetic fixation ensures the strength of the auxiliary light source's fixation, while the magnetic fixation facilitates maintenance and replacement of the auxiliary light source.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of underwater detection equipment technology, specifically to an underwater robot with adaptive lighting equipped with an observation camera. Background Technology

[0002] Underwater robots are widely used in fields such as ocean exploration, pipeline inspection, and ecological observation. They typically use cameras as an observation method, and since the operating environment usually has very little light, additional supplementary lighting is often added.

[0003] Traditional supplemental lighting typically has a fixed brightness and lens focal length. Continuous full-power illumination leads to shortened battery life, and the fixed focal length lens cannot adapt to different water quality environments. Existing technologies also use mechanical zoom combined with a light sensor to adjust the lens focal length and the intensity of the supplemental light, but the adjustment speed is slow, and moving parts are prone to water ingress. Utility Model Content

[0004] To overcome the above shortcomings, this utility model provides an underwater robot with adaptive lighting equipped with an observation camera.

[0005] The technical solution of this utility model is:

[0006] An underwater robot with adaptive lighting and equipped with an observation camera includes:

[0007] A camera assembly includes a camera placed inside a sealed structure. The front of the sealed structure is light-transmitting. A main light source is arranged parallel to the outside of the camera. Several auxiliary light sources are arranged outside the sealed structure through an auxiliary light mounting assembly. Each auxiliary light source is individually controlled.

[0008] The auxiliary light source includes a light-emitting component, which is installed inside a sealed lamp tube. The lamp tube has a dimming lens at its front end, and the dimming lens is replaceable.

[0009] Preferably, the main light source includes 2-4 LEDs, which are RGBW four-color LEDs, and the beam angle of the main light source is 5-15° for focused illumination.

[0010] Preferably, a flat mirror is provided on the inner side of the lamp head, and a second sealing ring is provided between the flat mirror and the lamp head. The flat mirror is used to allow light from the light-emitting component to pass through it.

[0011] Preferably, the dimming lens is fixedly mounted on the end face of the lamp tube by screws. The dimming lens is a Fresnel lens and is used to adjust the beam angle of the light-emitting component, with an adjustment range of 30-120°.

[0012] Preferably, the focal lengths of the dimming lenses on the top and bottom sides are the same, and the focal lengths of the dimming lenses on the left and right sides are the same.

[0013] Preferably, the auxiliary light mounting assembly includes a lamp holder, and a clip plate is magnetically attached to the top surface of the lamp holder, with the lamp tube being held by the clip plate and the lamp holder.

[0014] Preferably, the lamp holder has symmetrical slots on both sides of its top surface, and the buckle plate has symmetrical pins on both sides of its bottom surface, with the pins being compatible with the slots.

[0015] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of this utility model are:

[0016] This invention, by setting up an auxiliary light source and a main light source, with the auxiliary light source being a floodlight and the main light source being a focused light source, can adapt to different environments by changing the dimming lens and selectively turning on the auxiliary light source or the main light source according to water quality and task requirements. By setting a flat mirror between the dimming lens and the light-emitting component, the sealing performance of the lamp tube will not be affected when the dimming lens is replaced. The double fixing of snap-fit ​​and magnetic attraction can ensure the fixing strength of the auxiliary light source, while the magnetic fixing can facilitate the maintenance and replacement of the auxiliary light source. Attached Figure Description

[0017] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of this utility model;

[0018] Figure 2 This is an exploded view of the camera component structure in this utility model;

[0019] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the auxiliary light mounting component structure in this utility model;

[0020] Figure 4 This is an exploded view of the auxiliary light source structure in this utility model;

[0021] Figure 5 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the auxiliary light source structure in this utility model.

[0022] The meanings of the labels in the diagram are as follows:

[0023] 1. Camera assembly; 11. Sealed barrel; 12. End cap; 13. Mounting plate; 14. Camera; 15. Main light source; 16. First sealing gasket;

[0024] 2. Auxiliary light source; 21. Lamp tube; 22. Light-emitting component; 23. Tail cap; 24. Plain mirror; 25. Dimming lens; 26. Second sealing ring;

[0025] 3. Auxiliary light mounting components; 31. Lamp holder; 32. Slot; 33. Buckle plate; 34. Pin; 35. Magnetic block; 36. Quick release slot. Detailed Implementation

[0026] The technical solutions of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present utility model, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the protection scope of the present utility model.

[0027] Example 1:

[0028] Please see Figure 1-5 The present invention will describe the above technical solution in detail through the following embodiments:

[0029] An underwater robot with adaptive lighting and equipped with an observation camera includes:

[0030] Camera assembly 1 includes a camera 14, which is placed inside a sealed structure. The front of the sealed structure is light-transmitting. A main light source 15 is arranged parallel to the outside of the camera 14. Four sets of auxiliary light sources 2 are provided outside the sealed structure through an auxiliary light mounting assembly 3. The auxiliary light sources 2 are controlled individually.

[0031] The sealing structure includes a sealing barrel 11, and end caps 12 are fixedly installed on the front and rear sides of the sealing barrel 11 by screws. The contact area between the end caps 12 and the sealing barrel 11 is covered by a first sealing gasket 16.

[0032] The front end cap 12 is a hollow ring with a transparent glass insert inside, which is used by the camera 14 to capture external images and facilitates the illumination of light emitted by the main light source 15.

[0033] A mounting plate 13 is fixedly installed on the inner side of the head of the sealed barrel 11 by screws. The camera 14 is axially snapped into the center of the mounting plate 13 and passes through the mounting plate 13. The main light source 15 is fixedly installed on the back of the mounting plate 13 by screws and passes forward through the mounting plate 13.

[0034] Preferably, the main light source 15 includes 2-4 LEDs, which are RGBW four-color LEDs. The beam angle of the main light source 15 is 5-15°, which is used for focused illumination.

[0035] RGBW four-color LEDs include four types of light-emitting diodes: red, green, blue, and white. By adding a white WLED to the traditional red, green, and blue RGB three-color LEDs, a wider color gamut coverage and higher brightness performance are achieved.

[0036] The main light source 15 lamps require integrated lamp bowls and lenses; in this embodiment, a beam angle of 15° is used.

[0037] The main light source 15 is used for small-scale illumination when observing at close range.

[0038] The main light source 15 and the camera 14 are powered by an external power supply. The power supply line runs out from the end cover 12 at the rear, and the power is provided by the underwater robot.

[0039] The auxiliary light source 2 includes a light-emitting component 22, which is installed inside a sealed lamp tube 21. The lamp tube 21 has a dimming lens 25 at its front end, and the dimming lens 25 is replaceable.

[0040] A flat mirror 24 is provided on the inner side of the head of the lamp tube 21. A second sealing ring 26 is provided between the flat mirror 24 and the lamp tube 21. The flat mirror 24 is used to allow light from the light-emitting component 22 to pass through the flat mirror 24.

[0041] The flat mirror 24 consists of a metal ring and a transparent flat glass. The flat mirror 24 is fixedly installed on the inside of the head of the lamp tube 21 by screws to seal the front end of the lamp tube 21.

[0042] A tail cap 23 is fixedly installed at the tail end of the lamp tube 21 by screws, and a second sealing ring 26 is provided between the tail cap 23 and the lamp tube 21. The tail cap 23 is used to seal the tail of the lamp tube 21.

[0043] The light-emitting component 22 is powered by an external power source. The power cord passes through the tail cover 23 and is connected to an external power source, which is powered by the robot.

[0044] The light-emitting component 22 uses the same LEDs as the main light source 15 and integrates a lamp holder. The power of the light-emitting component 22 is higher than that of the main light source 15.

[0045] The dimming lens 25 is fixedly installed on the end face of the lamp tube 21 by screws. The dimming lens 25 is a Fresnel lens and is used to adjust the beam angle of the light-emitting component 22. The adjustment range is 30-120°.

[0046] The dimming lens 25 includes a metal ring and a Fresnel lens. A second sealing ring 26 is provided between the dimming lens 25 and the end face of the lamp tube 21 to prevent water from entering between the flat mirror 24 and the dimming lens 25 and affecting the light transmission.

[0047] The dimming lens 25 is externally mounted, allowing for easy replacement. Due to the presence of the plano lens 24, replacing the dimming lens 25 will not affect the sealing of the lamp housing 21. Furthermore, replacing the dimming lens 25 is more cost-effective than replacing the entire auxiliary light source 2.

[0048] The dimming lens 25 can be replaced in advance based on the water quality of the area being probed to obtain better lighting effects.

[0049] The focal lengths of the dimming lenses 25 on the top and bottom sides are the same, and the focal lengths of the dimming lenses 25 on the left and right sides are the same.

[0050] In this embodiment, there are four sets of auxiliary light sources 2, evenly arranged on the outside of the sealed container 11. By setting different focal length dimming lenses 25 for the four sets of auxiliary light sources 2, the corresponding light-emitting components 22 can be turned on according to the water quality and task requirements. The adjustment is convenient and quick.

[0051] The 25mm dimming lenses are paired to ensure both brightness and lighting effect.

[0052] The auxiliary light mounting assembly 3 includes a lamp holder 31, and a clip plate 33 is attached to the top surface of the lamp holder 31 by a magnetic block 35. The lamp tube 21 is held by the clip plate 33 and the lamp holder 31.

[0053] The magnetic block 35 uses a permanent magnet and is snapped onto the top surface of the lamp holder 31 and the bottom surface of the buckle plate 33.

[0054] The lamp holder 31 is axially fixed to the surface of the sealed barrel 11 by screws. The clip plate 33 and the lamp holder 31 are magnetically fixed, which facilitates the disassembly of the auxiliary light source 2.

[0055] The outer edge of the contact surface between the buckle plate 33 and the lamp holder 31 is provided with a quick-release groove 36. By inserting a card or screwdriver into the quick-release groove 36 and then rotating it, the buckle plate 33 and the lamp holder 31 can be quickly separated.

[0056] The lamp holder 31 has symmetrical slots 32 on both sides of the top surface, and the buckle plate 33 has symmetrical pins 34 on both sides of the bottom surface. The pins 34 are adapted to the slots 32.

[0057] After the pin 34 is inserted into the slot 32, it can prevent the lamp holder 31 and the buckle 33 from sliding relative to each other. Together with the magnetic block 35, it can fix the auxiliary light source 2.

[0058] Working principle:

[0059] Depending on the water quality of the area to be detected, replace the auxiliary light source 2 with a dimming lens 25 of appropriate focal length. If the water quality is unclear, the four auxiliary light sources 2 can be replaced with dimming lenses 25 of different focal lengths. The dimming lenses 25 on the top and bottom sides have the same focal length, and the dimming lenses 25 on the left and right sides have the same focal length.

[0060] After the robot is submerged, the auxiliary light source 2 with a longer focal length is used first, because the longer focal length makes the light more diffused, which makes it easier to observe the surroundings.

[0061] If the water quality is poor and the scattered light cannot be used to observe the surroundings, you can turn on the dimming lens 25 and the auxiliary light source 2 with a shorter focal length. With a shorter focal length, the light is more focused and can easily penetrate the water.

[0062] Upon reaching the target location, when close observation is required, turn on the main light source 15 and turn off the auxiliary light source 2. Use the main light source 15 to provide illumination for close observation and reduce power consumption.

[0063] When movement is required, turn on auxiliary light source 2 to help the camera observe the surrounding situation and avoid collisions with underwater obstacles.

[0064] The robot can autonomously determine whether to turn the auxiliary light source 2 and the main light source 15 on or off, as well as select the auxiliary light source 2, based on the imaging effect and information such as the ambient brightness. Alternatively, it can be manually controlled by the operator on the water surface.

[0065] When the robot makes autonomous judgments, additional information collection equipment such as water quality sensors and light intensity sensors needs to be installed.

[0066] The foregoing has shown and described the basic principles, main features, and advantages of this utility model. Those skilled in the art should understand that this utility model is not limited to the above embodiments. The embodiments and descriptions in the specification are merely preferred examples and are not intended to limit the utility model. Various changes and modifications can be made to this utility model without departing from its spirit and scope, and all such changes and modifications fall within the scope of the claimed utility model. The scope of protection of this utility model is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. An underwater robot with adaptive lighting and equipped with an observation camera, characterized in that, include: The camera assembly (1) includes a camera (14), which is placed inside a sealed structure. The front of the sealed structure is light-transmitting. A main light source (15) is arranged parallel to the outside of the camera (14). Several auxiliary light sources (2) are arranged outside the sealed structure through an auxiliary light mounting assembly (3). The auxiliary light sources (2) are controlled separately. The auxiliary light source (2) includes a light-emitting component (22), which is installed inside a sealed lamp tube (21). The lamp tube (21) has a dimming lens (25) at its front end, and the dimming lens (25) is replaceable.

2. The underwater robot with adaptive lighting equipped with an observation camera as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The main light source (15) includes 2-4 LED beads, which are RGBW four-color LEDs. The beam angle of the main light source (15) is 5-15° and is used for focused illumination.

3. The underwater robot with adaptive lighting equipped with an observation camera as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The lamp tube (21) has a flat mirror (24) on the inner side of its head. A second sealing ring (26) is provided between the flat mirror (24) and the lamp tube (21). The flat mirror (24) is used so that the light from the light-emitting component (22) can pass through the flat mirror (24).

4. An underwater robot with adaptive lighting equipped with an observation camera as described in claim 3, characterized in that: The dimming lens (25) is fixedly installed on the end face of the lamp tube (21) by screws. The dimming lens (25) is a Fresnel lens. The dimming lens (25) is used to adjust the beam angle of the light-emitting component (22), and the adjustment range is 30-120°.

5. An underwater robot with adaptive lighting equipped with an observation camera as described in claim 4, characterized in that: The focal lengths of the dimming lenses (25) on the top and bottom sides are the same, and the focal lengths of the dimming lenses (25) on the left and right sides are the same.

6. An underwater robot with adaptive lighting equipped with an observation camera as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The auxiliary light mounting assembly (3) includes a lamp holder (31), and a buckle plate (33) is attached to the top surface of the lamp holder (31) by a magnetic block (35). The lamp tube (21) is held by the buckle plate (33) and the lamp holder (31).

7. An underwater robot with adaptive lighting equipped with an observation camera as described in claim 6, characterized in that: The lamp holder (31) has symmetrical slots (32) on both sides of its top surface, and the buckle plate (33) has symmetrical pins (34) on both sides of its bottom surface. The pins (34) are adapted to the slots (32).

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