# US 12,015,877 B2 · Automatic configuration of a plurality of cameras > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,015,877 B2 - Document ID: US12015877B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/217,712 - Filed: 2021-03-30 - Published: 2021-09-30 - Granted: 2024-06-18 - Earliest claimed: 2020-03-31 - Assignees: Sick AG - Applicants: Sick AG - Inventors: Roman Lauer - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12015877B2 ## CPC - H04N 7/18: Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast - H04N 7/181: {for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources} - G06K 7/10722: {Photodetector array or CCD scanning} - G06K 7/10762: {Relative movement} - H04N 17/002: {for television cameras} - H04N 23/56: provided with illuminating means - H04N 23/60: Control of cameras or camera modules - H04N 23/661: Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet - H04N 23/662: {by using camera arrangements where one camera controls another camera to affect the control of camera image capture, e.g. placing the camera in a desirable condition to capture a desired image} - H04N 23/74: by influencing the scene brightness using illuminating means - H04N 23/90: Arrangement of cameras or camera modules, e.g. multiple cameras in TV studios or sports stadiums - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION - G06K: GRAPHICAL DATA READING (image or video recognition or understanding G06V); PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS ## Abstract A method is provided for the automatic configuration of a plurality of cameras that each have an image sensor, an illumination, and a communication interface and that are installed such that they together record objects in a detection zone by partially overlapping, mutually complementary fields of view, wherein the cameras are connected via their communication interfaces to form a network. In this process, the cameras produce sample recordings while only specific cameras activate their illumination, a check is made for the respective cameras with reference to the sample recordings whether there is a proximity relationship to a camera having active illumination, and the relative arrangement of the cameras with respect to one another is determined from the proximity relationships. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for the automatic configuration of a plurality of cameras that each have an image sensor, an illumination, and a communication interface and together record objects in a detection zone by partially overlapping, mutually complementary fields of view, wherein the cameras are connected via their communication interfaces to form a network, wherein the cameras produce sample recordings while selected ones of the cameras selectively activate their illumination and a check is made for the respective cameras with reference to the sample recordings whether they detect the active illumination and thus there is a proximity relationship to a camera having active illumination, and wherein a relative arrangement of the cameras with respect to one another is determined from the proximity relationship of the respective camera to the camera having active illumination. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the objects are present in a stream of objects conveyed through the detection zone, which move relative to the cameras. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein sample recordings are repeatedly produced while exactly one camera alternatingly activates its illumination. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein first, a proximity relationship is determined per camera from an information on the direction in which the camera having active illumination is disposed in accordance with the check of the sample recordings; and wherein the proximity relationships with respect to the relative arrangement of the cameras are subsequently collected. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the cameras form a row arrangement having fields of view partially overlapping in pairs. ### Claim 6 A method for the automatic configuration of a plurality of cameras that each have an image sensor, an illumination, and a communication interface and together record objects in a detection zone by partially overlapping, mutually complementary fields of view, wherein the cameras are connected via their communication interfaces to form a network, wherein the cameras produce sample recordings in accordance with a check made for the respective cameras with reference to the sample recordings whether there is a proximity relationship to a camera having active illumination, wherein a relative arrangement of the cameras with respect to one another is determined from the proximity relationships, and wherein first, the proximity relationship is determined per camera from an information on a direction in which the camera having active illumination is disposed in accordance with the check of the sample recordings, and wherein proximity relationships with respect to the relative arrangement of the cameras are subsequently collected, wherein second, it is determined by checking the sample recordings per camera whether the camera having active illumination is located to the right, left, or not having a predetermined proximity relationship and wherein the proximity relationships thus acquired are subsequently combined to form the relative arrangement of the cameras. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the cameras are of the same construction among one another and/or are configured originally identical with a basic setting. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein an automatic device recognition recognizes the cameras connected in the network. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method in accordance with claim 8, wherein the automatic device recognition determines one camera as a master. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein a provisional network configuration is assigned to every camera. ### Claim 11 A method for the automatic configuration of a plurality of cameras that each have an image sensor, an illumination, and a communication interface and together record objects in a detection zone by partially overlapping, mutually complementary fields of view, wherein the cameras are connected via their communication interfaces to form a network, wherein the cameras produce sample recordings, wherein a check is made for the respective cameras with reference to the sample recordings whether there is a proximity relationship to a camera having active illumination, wherein a relative arrangement of the cameras with respect to one another is determined from the proximity relationships of the respective cameras, and wherein a provisional network configuration is assigned to every camera by a camera configured as a master. ### Claim 12 A method for the automatic configuration of a plurality of cameras that each have an image sensor, an illumination, and a communication interface and together record objects in a detection zone by partially overlapping, mutually complementary fields of view, wherein the cameras are connected via their communication interfaces to form a network, wherein the cameras produce sample recordings, wherein a check is made for the respective cameras with reference to the sample recordings whether there is a proximity relationship to a camera having active illumination, wherein a relative arrangement of the cameras with respect to one another is determined from the proximity relationships of the respective cameras, and wherein a new network configuration is assigned to the cameras that corresponds to the relative arrangement of the cameras with respect to one another. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the cameras each record a reference image while no illumination is active and the reference image is taken into account in the check of sample recordings. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the cameras are synchronized. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein an individual autoconfiguration method is triggered and performed in the cameras by which their own positions with respect to the detection zone are determined, using recordings of a calibration object in a field of view of at least one of the cameras. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method in accordance with claim 15, wherein the individual autoconfiguration method is triggered and performed in the cameras by which their own positions with respect to the detection zone are determined using recordings of a calibration object. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the relative arrangement of the cameras with respect to one another found from the sample recordings is checked using position information of the cameras that is in particular acquired from recordings of a calibration object. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one camera is parameterized; wherein system parameters are distinguished in the cameras that have a parameterization significance for the cameras; and wherein on the setting or changing of a system parameter in a parameterized camera, the system parameter is transferred to the other cameras. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the cameras record images of the objects and read codes affixed thereto in an operating phase after the automatic configuration. ### Claim 20 A multi-camera system having a plurality of cameras, wherein the cameras each have an image sensor, an illumination, and a communication interface and that are installed such that they together record objects in a detection zone by partially overlapping, mutually complementary fields of view; wherein the cameras are connected via their communication interfaces to form a network; and wherein the cameras are configured for performing an automatic configuration in a method for the automatic configuration of the plurality of cameras that together record objects in a detection zone by partially overlapping, mutually complementary fields of view, wherein the cameras are connected via their communication interfaces to form a network, wherein the cameras produce sample recordings while ones of the cameras selectively activate their illumination and a check is made for the respective cameras with reference to the sample recordings whether they detect the active illumination and thus there is a proximity relationship to the camera having active illumination, and wherein a relative arrangement of the cameras with respect to one another is determined from the proximity relationships. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The multi-camera system in accordance with claim 20, further comprising a reading tunnel for reading codes on objects that are conveyed through the reading tunnel.