Smart camera with modular expansion capability including a function module that performs image processing
View Patent ↗A smart camera with modular expansion capabilities, including a housing, a camera directly attached to the housing for acquiring an image of an object, a functional unit comprised in the housing and coupled to the camera, where the functional unit is configurable to implement an image processing function, a backplane comprised in the housing and coupled to the functional unit to provide electrical communication, and one or more slots comprised in the housing, where each slot includes a connector that is electrically coupled to the backplane, and where each slot is adapted for receiving a function module. An inserted function module provides modular functionality to the smart camera, such as dedicated image processing functionality, pattern recognition, analysis, communication, sensor, sensor I/O, signal conditioning and/or conversion, control, measurement, and synchronization, among others. The function module may communicate a protocol to the functional unit which may be configured to implement the protocol.
1. A smart camera, comprising:
a housing having a plurality of sides;
a camera attached to the housing for acquiring an image of an object; and
a programmable gate array comprised in the housing and coupled to the camera, wherein the programmable gate array is configurable to implement an image processing function;
a backplane comprised in the housing operable to provide electrical communication, wherein the backplane is coupled to the programmable gate array; and
one or more slots comprised in the housing, wherein each of the one or more slots includes a connector that is electrically coupled to the backplane, and wherein each of the one or more slots is adapted for receiving a function module;
a first function module adapted to be placed in one of the one or more slots and to connect to the connector for electrically coupling to the backplane, wherein, during operation, the first function module performs an industrial control/automation function based on the image of the object.
2. The smart camera of claim 1 , wherein the industrial control/automation function is performed based on the image processing function.
3. The smart camera of claim 1 , wherein the programmable gate array is programmable over a network.
4. The smart camera of claim 1 , wherein the one or more slots comprise a plurality of slots.
5. The smart camera of claim 1 , wherein the first function module is programmable over a network.
6. The smart camera of claim 1 , wherein the first function module comprises a second programmable gate array.
7. The smart camera of claim 1 , wherein the backplane comprises a bus for communication with one or more function modules inserted into the one or more slots, wherein the bus provides for timing and triggering between the smart camera and the one or more function modules.
8. A method for configuring a smart camera, comprising:
configuring a programmable gate array of the smart camera to implement an image processing function, wherein the smart camera comprises a backplane operable to provide electrical communication, wherein the backplane is coupled to the programmable gate array of the smart camera, and wherein the smart camera comprises one or more slots electrically coupled to the backplane for receiving one or more function modules;
inserting a first function module in one of the one or more slots, wherein the first function module provides industrial control/automation functionality for the smart camera;
acquiring an image; and
performing the industrial control/automation functionality based on the image using the first function module.
9. The method camera of claim 8 , wherein the image processing function comprises pattern recognition that compares an instance of a template image to the image of the object, and wherein the industrial control/automation functionality is performed based on the pattern recognition.
10. The method of claim 8 , wherein said configuring the programmable gate array is performed over a network.
11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the one or more slots comprise a plurality of slots.
12. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
configuring the first function module over a network to perform the industrial control/automation functionality.
13. The method of claim 8 , wherein the first function module comprises a second programmable gate array.
14. The method of claim 8 , wherein the backplane comprises a bus for communication with the one or more function modules, wherein the bus provides for timing and triggering between the smart camera and the one or more function modules.
15. The smart camera of claim 1 , wherein the industrial control/automation function comprises signal conditioning or signal conversion of at least one sensor signal received from a sensor coupled to the smart camera.
16. The smart camera of claim 15 , wherein the first function module comprises the sensor.
17. The smart camera of claim 1 , wherein the industrial control/automation function comprises vibration analysis.
18. A smart camera, comprising:
a housing having a plurality of sides;
a camera attached to the housing for acquiring an image of an object; and
a programmable gate array comprised in the housing and coupled to the camera, wherein the programmable gate array is configurable to implement an image processing function;
a backplane comprised in the housing operable to provide electrical communication, wherein the backplane is coupled to the programmable gate array; and
one or more slots comprised in the housing, wherein each of the one or more slots includes a connector that is electrically coupled to the backplane, and wherein each of the one or more slots is adapted for receiving a function module;
a first function module adapted to be placed in one of the one or more slots and to connect to the connector for electrically coupling to the backplane, wherein, during operation, the first function module performs a motion control function based on the image of the object, wherein the motion control function controls at least one actuator to perform a motion task.
19. A smart camera, comprising:
a housing having a plurality of sides;
a camera attached to the housing for acquiring an image of an object; and
a programmable gate array comprised in the housing and coupled to the camera, wherein the programmable gate array is configurable to implement an image processing function;
a backplane comprised in the housing operable to provide electrical communication, wherein the backplane is coupled to the programmable gate array; and
one or more slots comprised in the housing, wherein each of the one or more slots includes a connector that is electrically coupled to the backplane, and wherein each of the one or more slots is adapted for receiving a function module;
a first function module adapted to be placed in one of the one or more slots and to connect to the connector for electrically coupling to the backplane, wherein, during operation, the first function module comprises one or more analog inputs for receiving one or more analog signals, wherein the first function module is configured to perform vibration analysis of the one or more analog signals.
20. A smart camera, comprising:
a housing having a plurality of sides;
a camera attached to the housing for acquiring an image of an object; and
a programmable gate array comprised in the housing and coupled to the camera, wherein the programmable gate array is configurable to implement an image processing function;
a backplane comprised in the housing operable to provide electrical communication, wherein the backplane is coupled to the programmable gate array; and
one or more slots comprised in the housing, wherein each of the one or more slots includes a connector that is electrically coupled to the backplane, and wherein each of the one or more slots is adapted for receiving a function module;
a first function module adapted to be placed in one of the one or more slots and to connect to the connector for electrically coupling to the backplane, wherein, during operation, the first function module provides synchronization functionality to coordinate operation of one or more other smart cameras coupled to the smart camera, thereby implementing a distributed machine vision system.