# US 12,010,438 B2 · Camera array > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,010,438 B2 - Document ID: US12010438B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/149,051 - Filed: 2022-12-30 - Published: 2023-05-18 - Granted: 2024-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2020-07-10 - Applicants: Drivingplates.com LLC - Inventors: Michael Shawn Lawler; Ian Sharples - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12010438B2 ## CPC - H04N 23/90: Arrangement of cameras or camera modules, e.g. multiple cameras in TV studios or sports stadiums - G03B 17/561: {Support related camera accessories} - G03B 37/04: with cameras or projectors providing touching or overlapping fields of view - H04N 7/18: Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast - H04N 23/54: Mounting of pick-up tubes, electronic image sensors, deviation or focusing coils - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION - G03B: APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR (optical parts of such apparatus G02B; photosensitive materials or processes for photographic purposes G03C; apparatus for processing exposed photographic materials G03D) ## Abstract A plurality of outward-facing cameras, arranged in nodal clusters surrounding and mounted to the top plate of a plate structure, with the plate structure having an elevated platform for an additional upward-facing camera. The nodal clusters and the configuration of clusters on the top plate enable overlaps in coverage between clusters and more informationally dense coverage within each cluster. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A camera array system comprising a plurality of cameras, with the plurality of cameras comprising a first camera, a second camera, and a third camera, with the first camera having a first optical axis, the second camera having a second optical axis and the third camera having a third optical axis; a. with each camera of the plurality of cameras configured to mount to a moving vehicle; b. with the first optical axis and the second optical axis each angled between approximately 30 degrees and approximately 75 degrees upward from a ground along which the moving vehicle is moving; c. with the third optical axis angled approximately 90 degrees upward from the ground along which the moving vehicle is moving; d. with the first and second camera being disposed approximately equidistantly around a center point, with the third camera being disposed at the center point; e. with footage from the third camera configured to be stitched together with footage from the first and second camera. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The camera array system of claim 1, with the first and second optical axes each angled between approximately 45 degrees and approximately 75 degrees upward from the ground along which the moving vehicle is moving. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The camera array system of claim 1, with the plurality of cameras configured to mount to the moving vehicle via a common intermediary structure. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The camera array system of claim 3, with the common intermediary structure being a plate. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The camera array system of claim 1, with the first, second, and third optical axes having a point of intersection. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The camera array system of claim 5, with the point of intersection being disposed behind fields of view of the first, second, and third cameras. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The camera array system of claim 5, with the point of intersection being disposed before fields of view of the first, second, and third cameras. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The camera array system of claim 1, a. with the moving vehicle moving in a forward path; b. with the first and second cameras being in a line, with the line being substantially perpendicular to the forward path. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The camera array system of claim 1, a. with the moving vehicle moving in a forward path; b. with the first and second cameras being in a line, with the line being substantially parallel to the forward path. ### Claim 10 A camera array system comprising a plurality of cameras; a. with the plurality of cameras comprising a first camera, a second camera, a third camera, and a fourth camera, with the first camera having a first optical axis, the second camera having a second optical axis, the third camera having a third optical axis, and the fourth camera having a fourth optical axis; b. with the first optical axis, second optical axis, third optical axis, and fourth optical axis having a point of intersection; c. with the plurality of cameras configured to mount to a moving vehicle; d. with the first, second, and third optical axis each angled between approximately 30 degrees and approximately 75 degrees upward from a ground along which the moving vehicle is moving; e. with the fourth optical axis angled approximately 90 degrees upward from the ground along which the moving vehicle is moving; f. with the first, second, and third cameras being disposed approximately equidistantly around a center point, with the fourth camera being disposed at the center point; g. with footage from the fourth camera configured to be stitched together with footage from the first, second camera, and third camera. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The camera array system of claim 10, with the optical axes of each of the first, second, and third cameras angled between approximately 45 degrees and approximately 75 degrees upward from the ground along which the moving vehicle is moving. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The camera array system of claim 11, with the point of intersection being disposed behind fields of view of the first, second, third, and fourth cameras. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The camera array system of claim 10, with the plurality of cameras configured to mount to the moving vehicle via a common intermediary structure. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The camera array system of claim 13, with the common intermediary structure being a plate.