Digital camera synchronization

A synchronization system comprising:

• a base unit including:
• a master time-base adapted to set a time period that samples a frame of video data;
• a memory;
• and
• a base unit communications transceiver adapted to transmit a frame synchronization signal to a video camera communications transceiver, wherein the base unit communications transceiver is operably coupled to the master time-base, the memory and the video camera communications transceiver;
• and
• wherein the video camera includes:
• an image sensor adapted to store the video data;
• an exposure control adapted to control an exposure level of the image sensor;
• wherein the video camera communications transceiver is adapted to transmit the frame synchronization signal to a time-base, and wherein the video camera communications transceiver is operably coupled to the image sensor;
• and
• wherein the time-base is adapted to:
• receive the frame synchronization signal;
• transmit signals to the exposure control to control a length of the exposure;
• transmit signals to the image sensor to read the video data, wherein the time-base is operably coupled to the image sensor, the exposure control, and the video camera communications transceiver;
• wherein the image sensor is adapted to transmit the read video data to the memory via the video camera communications transceiver and the base unit communications transceiver;
• and
• wherein the time-base is converted to the master time-base when the memory receives the read video data.

A base unit comprising:

• a master time-base adapted to set a time period for sampling a scene of a frame of video data from a destination;
• memory that stores the destination video data;
• a communications transceiver adapted to packetize a frame synchronization signal in a communication protocol understood by the destination and transmit the packetized frame synchronization signal to the destination, wherein the communications transceiver is operably coupled to the master time-base, the memory and the destination;
• and
• wherein the master time-base is adapted to dynamically change the time period to contemporaneously alter a rate of the scene sampling from a plurality of different destinations.

A video camera comprising:

• an image sensor adapted to store video data;
• a communications transceiver adapted to receive a frame synchronization signal from an origination and transmit the signal to a time-base, wherein the image sensor is operably coupled to the communications transceiver;
• wherein the time-base is adapted to:
• reset its time and initiate its internal timing sequence based on the received frame synchronization signal;
• transmit signals to an exposure control to control a length of the exposure;
• and
• transmit signals to the image sensor to read the video data, wherein the time-base is operably coupled to the image sensor, the exposure control, and the communications transceiver;
• wherein the exposure control is adapted to control an exposure level of the image sensor and transmit signals to the time-base to stop the length of the exposure;
• wherein the image sensor is adapted to transmit the read video data to the communications transceiver;
• wherein the time-base signals to read the video data are converted to signals of a master time-base when the origination receives the read video data, wherein the received video data is synchronized by its frame period;
• and
• wherein the time-base is adapted to receive a new frame synchronization signal after the length of the exposure has stopped.

A method for generating exposures via a video camera, the method comprising:

• receiving a synchronization signal at a first module;
• resetting a time-base by the received synchronization signal to a starting value;
• clearing a second module of all generated exposures;
• initiating an integration period based on the received synchronization signal;
• storing a duration of the integration period in a third module;
• monitoring, by the third module, the first module until it reaches the duration;
• and
• transmitting, by the third module, a signal to the first module to begin an exposure of the second module.

A method for synchronization comprising:

• receiving a frame synchronization signal at a fourth module;
• storing video data in a second module;
• controlling an exposure level of the second module by a third module;
• transmitting the frame synchronization signal to a first module;
• resetting a time of the first module;
• transmitting signals to the third module to control a length of the exposure;
• and
• transmitting signals to the second module to read the video data.

A computer readable medium comprising instructions for:

• setting a time period for sampling a scene of a frame of video data from a destination;
• storing the destination video data in memory;
• packetizing a frame synchronization signal in a communication protocol understood by the destination;
• transmitting the packetized frame synchronization signal to the destination;
• and
• dynamically changing the time period to alter a rate of the scene sampling from the destination and from a plurality of different destinations.

A computer readable medium comprising instructions for:

• resetting a time and initiating an internal timing sequence based on a received frame synchronization signal from an originator;
• transmitting signals to control a length of an exposure;
• transmitting signals to read the length of the exposure;
• transmitting signals to stop the length of the exposure;
• transmitting the read exposure to the originator;
• and
• converting the time to a time of the originator.

A computer readable medium comprising instructions for:

• receiving frame synchronization signals at a plurality of destinations;
• transmitting frames at various times to an originator based on a synchronization period of the synchronization signals;
• reading the frames based on a time-base of the originator;
• combining the frames;
• and
• displaying the frames.