IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,742,964
Granted Patent B2
US 12,742,964 · App. 18/641,992 · Granted Sep 22, 2026

Camera system including at least two light sources

Inventors: Susumu Morimoto (Sakai, JP); Masaya Mori (Fremont, CA); Srikanth Kadiyala (Fremont, CA); Pius Ng (Fremont, CA); Dharma Hariharan Babu (Fremont, CA)
Assignee: KUBOTA CORPORATION
G02B27/0075B60W30/00G03B15/05G03B17/561G05D1/243B25J5/04G03B2215/0557G05D2101/20G05D2105/15
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,742,964
App. No.
18/641,992
Granted
Sep 22, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A camera system includes a camera, a first light source, and a second light source. A main optical axis of the first light source intersects with a main optical axis of the second light source at an intersection point, and the intersection point is not located within a depth of field of the camera.

Claims (66)

1 . A camera system comprising:

a camera;

a first light source;

a second light source;

a plate; and

a robotic arm that is movable along at least one axis; wherein

a main optical axis of the first light source intersects with a main optical axis of the second light source at an intersection point;

the intersection point is not located within a depth of field of the camera;

each of the camera, the first light source, and the second light source is fixed to the plate;

the camera is a line scan camera;

the plate is movable along a scanning direction of the camera; and

the plate is fixed to the robotic arm.

2 . The camera system according to claim 1 , wherein the intersection point is located closer to the camera than a depth of field of the camera.

3 . The camera system according to claim 1 , wherein a distance between the camera and the first light source is equal or substantially equal to a distance between the camera and the second light source.

4 . The camera system according to claim 1 , wherein a main optical axis of the camera intersects with the intersection point.

5 . The camera system according to claim 1 , wherein:

an axis passing through the first light source and the second light source is parallel or substantially parallel to the scanning direction of the camera.

6 . The camera system according to claim 5 , wherein the axis passing through the first light source and the second light source also passes through the camera.

7 . The camera system according to claim 1 , wherein:

the first light source is fixed to a first end of the plate,

the second light source is fixed to a second end of the plate, and

the camera is fixed to a middle portion of the plate.

8 . The camera system according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a slider that is able to slide along the scanning direction of the camera, wherein

the robotic arm is fixed to the slider.

9 . The camera system according to claim 8 , wherein the slider is configured to be mounted to a vehicle.

10 . A vehicle comprising:

the camera system according to claim 1 ; and

a controller configured or programmed to control movement of the vehicle.

11 . The vehicle according to claim 10 , wherein the controller is configured or programmed to control the vehicle to travel in a direction that is parallel or substantially parallel to the scanning direction of the camera.

12 . The vehicle according to claim 10 , wherein the controller is configured or programmed to control the vehicle to stop when an object to be imaged is located within the depth of field of the camera.

13 . A camera system comprising:

a camera;

a first light source;

a second light source;

a plate; and

a slider that is able to slide along the scanning direction of the camera; wherein

a main optical axis of the first light source intersects with a main optical axis of the second light source at an intersection point;

the intersection point is not located within a depth of field of the camera;

each of the camera, the first light source, and the second light source is fixed to the plate;

the camera is a line scan camera;

the plate is movable along a scanning direction of the camera; and

the plate is fixed to the slider.

14 . The camera system according to claim 13 , further comprising:

a cartesian arm that is able to move along at least two axes, wherein

the slider is fixed to the cartesian arm.

15 . A camera system comprising:

a camera;

a first light source;

a second light source;

a first plate;

a second plate; and

a third plate; wherein

a main optical axis of the first light source intersects with a main optical axis of the second light source at an intersection point;

the intersection point is not located within a depth of field of the camera;

the first light source is fixed to the first plate;

the camera is fixed to the second plate; and

the second light source is fixed to the third plate.

16 . The camera system according to claim 15 , wherein:

the first plate is physically connected to the second plate, and

the second plate is physically connected to the third plate.

17 . The camera system according to claim 15 , further comprising:

a first support structure; and

a second support structure, wherein

the first support structure connects the first plate to the second plate, and

the second support structure connects the second plate to the third plate.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 22, 2024
From: MORIMOTO, SUSUMU; MORI, MASAYA; KADIYALA, SRIKANTH; NG, PIUS; BABU, DHARMA HARIHARAN
To: KUBOTA CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 067183/0681 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20250328009A1 · Oct 23, 2025
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