Device for monitoring the proper functioning of a transmission path, particularly of a camera
View Patent ↗The present invention relates to a device for monitoring the proper functioning of a transmission path, particularly of a camera ( 12 ), comprising a camera ( 12 ), particularly a digital camera, for capturing a detection area ( 14 ) and for generating corresponding first signals (S 1 ), a display unit ( 26 ) for displaying the detection area ( 14 ) captured by the camera ( 12 ) using the first signals (S 1 ), a light source array ( 18 ) arranged in the detection area ( 14 ) of the camera ( 12 ), a detection unit ( 30 ) with an optical measuring sensor array ( 32 ) for detecting the display output of the display unit ( 26 ) and for generating corresponding second signals (S 2 ), a monitoring unit ( 36 ) that actuates the light source array ( 18 ) using a pre-definable pattern (M) and checks whether the second signals (S 2 ) detected by the detection unit ( 30 ) contain the pattern (M), during evaluation of the display output of the display unit ( 26 ), and a communication unit ( 24 ) for transmitting the first and second signals (S 1 , S 2 ) and the pre-definable pattern (M). The invention further relates to a corresponding method and a corresponding computer program.
1. A device comprising
a camera configured to capture a detection area and generate corresponding first signals;
a display unit configured to display the detection area captured by the camera using the first signals;
a light source array located in the detection area of the camera;
an optical measuring sensor array configured to detect the display output of the display unit and generate corresponding second signals; and
a computer configured to transmit a pre-definable pattern to the light source array, wherein the light source array is configured to actuate using the pre-definable pattern, and wherein the computer is configured to check whether the second signals generated by the optical measuring sensor array include the pre-definable pattern during evaluation of the display output of the display unit.
2. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the camera is configured to transmit the first signals towards the display unit through a first channel, and wherein the optical measuring sensor array is configured to transmit the first signals to the computer through a second channel.
3. The device according to claim 2 , further comprising a transmitter unit disposed in the first channel and configured to transmit the first signals from the camera to the display unit.
4. The device according to claim 3 , wherein the transmitter unit is configured to communicate with the computer.
5. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the computer is further configured to check the functioning of the light source array.
6. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the computer is further configured to check the functioning of the optical measuring sensor array.
7. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the light source array is located in an edge region of the detection area of the camera.
8. The device according to claim 1 , further comprising a brightness sensor configured to determine brightness conditions in the detection area.
9. A method comprising:
capturing, by a camera, a detection area and generating first signals corresponding to the captured detection area;
reproducing, by a display unit, the detection area captured by the camera using the first signals;
generating, by an optical measuring sensor array, second signals corresponding to a display output of the display unit transmitting, by a computer, a pre-definable pattern to a light source array, which actuates the light source array with a pre-definable pattern;
detecting, by the computer, the second signals do not include at least a portion of the pre-definable pattern; and
generating, by the computer, a warning signal in response to the detection that the second signals do not include at least the portion of the pre-definable pattern.
10. The method according to claim 9 , further comprising:
actuating the light source array with the pre-definable pattern at a first time; and
determining, by the computer at a second time, when the second signals include the pre-definable pattern, wherein generating the warning signal is performed when the difference between the first time and the second time exceeds a pre-definable threshold value.
11. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the light source array is actuated with a pre-definable pattern variously over time.
12. The method according to claim 9 , further comprising adjusting, by the computer, the pre-definable pattern based on a functioning of the light source array.
13. The method according to claim 9 , further comprising adjusting, by the computer, the pre-definable pattern based on a functioning of the optical measuring sensor array.
14. The method according to claim 9 , further comprising:
detecting, by the computer, a loss of functioning in a transmitter; and
generating, by the computing system, a warning signal based on the detected loss of functioning in the transmitter.
15. The method according to claim 9 , further comprising checking, by a transmitter, whether the first signals include the pre-definable pattern, wherein the detecting, by the computer, that the second signals do not include at least the portion of the pre-definable pattern is based on the check of the whether the first signals include the pre-definable pattern.
16. The method according to claim 9 , further comprising determining, by a brightness sensor, light conditions in the detection area, wherein the light source array actuates based on the determined light conditions.