Switchable multi-sensor camera system and methods
Various embodiments of the present disclosure may include an imaging system with a plurality of camera modules. The view configuration of the camera modules may be switchable. Thus, the imaging system may switch between, at least, a 180 view configuration and a 360 degree view configuration. A camera module may also be coupled to the imaging system to provide an additional camera.
1. An apparatus comprising:
a base;
a camera guide comprising an inner open area;
a positioning arm; and
a plurality of camera modules coupled to the base, wherein at least one of the plurality of camera modules is a movable camera module coupled to the positioning arm configured to move the movable camera module between at least a plurality of view configurations, wherein the movable camera module is disposed within the inner open area of the camera guide, and wherein the inner open area is configured to control a movement path of the movable camera module.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the view configurations comprise at least a horizontal view and a 360 degree view.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the positioning arm is configured to position the camera module so that at least a portion of the camera module contacts at least a portion of the inner open area.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of camera modules comprises four camera modules and wherein two of the four cameras are movable camera modules, wherein the two movable camera modules are coupled to the positioning arm, and wherein the positioning arm is configured to move the two movable camera modules in concert.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a controller configured to:
receive camera data from the plurality of camera modules;
create a composite image from the camera data; and
and output the composite image to a security controller.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the controller is further configured to determine the view configuration of the at least one movable camera module and create the composite image in response to the view configuration.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the determining the view configuration comprises receiving a signal from one or more configuration switches indicating the view configuration.
8. The apparatus of claim 5 , further comprising a removable camera module comprising:
a module body;
a camera disposed within the module body; and
a plurality of latches, wherein the module body is configured to be disposed within the inner open area when the at least one movable camera module is operating in a first view configuration, and wherein the plurality of latches are configured to couple to a portion of the camera guide to hold the module body within the inner open area.
9. A method of operating the apparatus of claim 8 , the method comprising:
disposing the camera modules in a first view configuration;
disposing the removable camera module within the inner open area;
communicatively coupling the removable camera module to the controller; and
coupling the plurality of latches to a portion of the camera guide to hold the camera module within the inner open area.
10. A removable camera module comprising:
a module body comprising a plurality of cutouts;
a camera disposed within the module body; and
a plurality of latches, wherein the module body is configured to be disposed within an opening of a camera system operating in a first view configuration to couple to the camera system, and wherein the plurality of latches are configured to couple to a portion of a camera guide of the camera system to hold the module body within the opening.
11. The removable camera module of claim 10 , wherein each of the plurality of cutouts is configured to be disposed adjacent to a movable camera module of the camera system.
12. The removable camera module of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of latches each comprise an upper lip and a lower lip.
13. The removable camera module of claim 10 , wherein the first view configuration is a 360 degree view configuration, and wherein the camera system is configured to operate in a plurality of view configurations and the module body is configured to contact a portion of the camera system when the camera system is operating in a second view configuration to prevent coupling of the camera module to the camera system when the camera system is in the second view configuration.
14. The removable camera module of claim 10 , further comprising a module connector communicatively coupled to the camera and configured to couple to a system connector of the camera system to provide image data from the camera to the camera system.
15. The removable camera module of claim 10 , wherein the camera is configured to provide image data for an area below the camera system when camera module is coupled to the camera system.
16. An apparatus comprising:
an imaging system comprising:
a base;
a camera guide comprising an inner open area;
a positioning arm; and
a plurality of camera modules coupled to the base, wherein at least one of the plurality of camera modules is a movable camera module coupled to the positioning arm configured to move the movable camera module between at least a plurality of view configurations, wherein the movable camera module is disposed within the inner open area of the camera guide; and
a removable camera module comprising:
a module body comprising a plurality of cutouts;
a camera disposed within the module body; and
a plurality of latches, wherein the module body is configured to be disposed within the inner open area when the imaging system is operating in a first view configuration, and wherein the plurality of latches are configured to couple to a portion of the camera guide to hold the module body within the inner open area.
17. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein each of the plurality of cutouts is configured to be disposed adjacent to one of the camera modules of the imaging system, and wherein the view configurations comprise at least a horizontal view and a 360 degree view.
18. A method of operating the apparatus of claim 17 , the method comprising:
configuring the imaging system to be in the 360 degree view configuration;
disposing the removable camera module within the inner open area;
communicatively coupling the removable camera module to the imaging system; and
coupling the plurality of latches to a portion of the camera guide to hold the camera module within the inner open area.
19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising:
communicating image data from the camera of the removable camera module to a controller of the imaging system;
receiving, with the controller, camera data from the plurality of camera modules;
creating a composite image from the camera data and the image data; and
and outputting the composite image to a security controller.
20. The method of claim 18 , wherein the communicatively coupling the removable camera module to the imaging system comprises electrically engaging a module connector of the removable camera module with a system connection of the imaging system.