Smart camera with modular expansion capability

A smart camera, comprising:

• a housing having a plurality of sides;
• a camera directly attached to the housing for acquiring an image of an object;
• and
• a functional unit comprised in the housing that is configurable to implement an image processing function;
• a backplane comprised in the housing providing electrical communication, wherein the backplane is coupled to the functional unit;
• and
• a chassis fixedly attached to the housing, wherein the chassis comprises one or more slots, wherein each of the one or more slots includes a connector that is electrically coupled to the backplane, wherein each of the one or more slots is adapted for receiving a function module;
• wherein the housing has dimensions less than 6″ by 6″ by 6″.

A smart camera device, comprising:

• a camera for acquiring an image of an object, wherein the camera includes a camera housing, and wherein the camera housing comprises camera components;
• a housing having a plurality of sides, wherein the camera is directly attached to the housing;
• a functional unit comprised in the housing that is configurable to implement an image processing function;
• a backplane comprised in the housing providing electrical communication, wherein the backplane is coupled to the functional unit;
• and
• one or more slots comprised in the housing, wherein each of the one or more slots includes a connector that is electrically coupled to the backplane, wherein each of the one or more slots is adapted for receiving a function module.