Pipe Inspection Camera Head With HDR Imaging and Inertial Mapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional pipe inspection camera heads are limited in exposure range, making it difficult to discern elements within pipes and often resulting in missed or misdiagnosed problems, and lack functionality for enhanced inspection and mapping data.
Innovation Solution
A camera head system with high dynamic range image sensors and multi-axis inertial sensors that captures images and videos, generates inertial data, and correlates this data with cable count information to create detailed pipe maps, including location points on the ground surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional camera heads are used with limited exposure range, then the device complexity is reduced, but the measurement precision and ability to discern pipe elements deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple camera sensors with different exposure ranges (e.g., wide dynamic range camera, narrow dynamic range camera) into a single integrated camera head assembly. This merging allows the system to capture both bright and dark areas of pipe interiors simultaneously, resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and device complexity by achieving enhanced discernment capability through sensor integration rather than through complex mechanical or optical adjustments.
Solution Approach 2:
The camera head is designed with multi-functional capabilities including high dynamic range imaging, standard dynamic range imaging, and the ability to switch between different exposure modes. This universal design allows a single device to handle various lighting conditions and pipe interior scenarios, improving measurement precision across different situations while avoiding the need for multiple specialized devices, thus managing device complexity effectively.
2Loss of information
If traditional camera heads without multi-axis sensors are used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the loss of information regarding pipe location and movement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates multi-axis inertial sensors (accelerometers, gyroscopes) and cable measurement sensors directly into the camera head assembly. This merging of navigation and imaging functions ensures that location and movement data are captured simultaneously with visual data, eliminating information loss while managing device complexity through integrated sensor fusion rather than separate systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a data processing and fusion system that acts as an intermediary between the multiple sensors (camera, inertial sensors, cable sensors) and the final output. This intermediary processes and correlates data from all sensors, ensuring that location, movement, and visual information are accurately combined and stored, thereby preventing information loss while avoiding the need for complex manual data integration procedures.
3Measurement precision
If high dynamic range image sensors and multi-axis sensors are integrated, then the measurement precision and data comprehensiveness are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the camera head into functional modules: imaging module (with multiple camera sensors), navigation module (with inertial sensors), measurement module (with cable sensors), and processing module. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently while maintaining overall system precision, managing device complexity through modular design that facilitates easier integration, maintenance, and data processing.
Data Source
AI summary
Camera heads and associated systems, methods, and devices for inspecting and/or mapping pipes or cavities are disclosed. A camera head may be coupled to a push-cable and may include one or more image sensors to capture images and/or videos from interior of the pipe or cavity. One or more multi-axis sensors may be disposed in the camera head to sense data corresponding to movement of the camera head within the pipe or cavity. The images and/or videos captured by the image sensors may be used in conjunction with the data sensed by the multi-axis sensors to generate information pertaining to the pipe or cavity may be generated.