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US 7,057,647 B1Granted
Dual-mode camera system for day/night or variable zoom operation
AssigneeE-Watch Inc.
InventorDavid A. Monroe
Life of this patent
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AssigneeE-Watch Inc.
InventorDavid A. Monroe
Estimating the term…
A dual camera system uses a single lens and no moving parts in the optical path. A single lens directs a desired scene to a partially reflective beamsplitting mirror, thence to a pair of image sensors. For day/night operation, one sensor may be optimized for nighttime sensitivity, while the other is optimized for daytime operation. Alternatively, one optical path may have greater magnification, thus allowing electronic zooming with no resolution loss. The system may be enhanced with an image intensifier for nighttime operation; digital sensors for improved resolution, or orthogonal gyroscopic accelerometers for image stabilization. Additionally, the monochrome and color images may be produced simultaneously and ‘fused’ algorithmically, yielding an improvement in sensitivity and color resolution compared with a conventional color camera.
A multi-imager camera operable under extremes of illuminations from high ambient lighting conditions to low ambient lighting conditions without the need for multiple optical paths, comprising:
A camera, comprising:
A module, comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.