Concentric Multi-Sensor Camera for Flush-Mounted 360 Surveillance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing multi-sensor cameras designed for 360° video surveillance cannot be flush-mounted in ceilings due to the arrangement of their image sensor units, which obstruct the view and prevent a complete capture of the floor area.
Innovation Solution
The image sensor units are distributed concentrically around the camera longitudinal axis, with lenses oriented towards the axis, allowing for a fisheye lens unit to provide an overview image and other units to capture detailed images, enabling a 360° horizontal field of view while allowing the camera to be flush-mounted in a ceiling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If image sensor units are arranged with lenses pointing away from the camera center to capture 360° horizontal field of view, then complete surveillance coverage is achieved, but the camera cannot be flush-mounted in the ceiling
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of pointing lenses outward from the center as in conventional designs, the patent inverts the arrangement by orienting all lenses toward the center of the camera housing. This allows the camera to be flush-mounted while still achieving 360° coverage through the central projection point geometry
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a two-dimensional array of sensors to a three-dimensional concentric arrangement around the camera axis, with sensors positioned at different radial distances and angles, enabling both flush-mounting and 360° coverage simultaneously
2Ease of manufacture
If image sensor units are positioned close to the ceiling to enable flush-mounting, then installation simplicity is improved, but the floor area directly beneath the camera cannot be captured
Solution Approach 1:
The patent nests multiple image sensor units at different radial distances from the camera axis, with inner sensors capturing central areas and outer sensors capturing peripheral and floor areas, creating a nested coverage pattern that ensures complete surveillance including the floor directly beneath the camera
Solution Approach 2:
Different image sensor units are assigned different functions based on their position: central sensors capture overhead views, while peripheral sensors at angled orientations capture floor areas and wall regions, optimizing local coverage characteristics for each sensor position
3Measurement precision
If multiple image sensor units with different focal distances are used to ensure minimum resolution, then imaging quality is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent varies the focal distance parameter of lenses and the radial position parameter of image sensors to optimize resolution across different surveillance zones, allowing high-detail capture at multiple distances while maintaining a relatively simple concentric structural framework
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables complete 360° video surveillance with high-resolution imaging and the ability to switch between overview and detailed views, while maintaining a flush-mounted installation, thus overcoming the limitations of prior art cameras.
Implementation Method 1
at least one further image sensor unit is provided, the sensor longitudinal axis of which runs parallel to the camera longitudinal axis and which has a fisheye lens
Implementation Method 2
each image sensor unit comprises a lens and an associated image sensor
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a multi-sensor camera (1) including at least one housing (2) extending along a camera longitudinal axis (KLA) and having a flat housing base (3) running at least in portions perpendicularly to the camera longitudinal axis (KLA), and including a plurality of image sensor units (6, 6′, 6.1-6.6), wherein one image sensor unit (6, 6′, 6.1-6.6) includes a lens (6a, 6a′) and an image sensor (6b, 6b′) adjoining said lens along a sensor longitudinal axis (SLA). The image sensor units (6, 6′, 6.1-6.6) are distributed concentrically around the camera longitudinal axis (KLA) and are arranged within the housing (2) and above the housing base (3) in such a way that the lenses (6a, 6a′) of the image sensor units (6, 6′, 6a-6.6) are oriented towards the camera longitudinal axis (KLA).