Patent US6005704A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6005704A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Cable driven image steering and focusing device
Assignee: Sensar Inc
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Filing: 1997-11-28
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Granted: 1999-12-21
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Expires: 2017-11-28
Abstract
Abstract A compact image steering and focusing device has a generally rotatable platform that carries a pan/tilt mirror. The rotatable platform, at least one motor driven lens and a camera are mounted on a housing. Two drive motors each with an associated cable are provided to rotate the rotatable platform and tilt the mirror. Light reflected from a subject is captured by the mirror and directed through the lens to the camera. The device can fit behind the cover plate of an automated teller machine. This system is preferably used with a narrow field of view camera and two wide field of view cameras. Images from the wide field of view cameras are used to focus the narrow field of view camera on one eye of the automated teller machine user to identify the user by iris analysis and comparison to an iris image on file.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas A. Chmielewski, Jr.
- 👤 Michael Negin
- 👤 Glen Van Sant
- 👤 Chris Killion
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 10:53
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07F; G07F19/00; G07F19/20; G02; G02B; G02B26/00; G02B26/08; G02B26/0816; G06; G06V; G06V40/00; G06V40/10; G06V40/18; G06V40/19; G07C; G07C9/00; G07C9/30; G07C9/32; G07C9/37; G07F19/201; G07F19/207; H; H04; H04N; H04N13/00; H04N13/20; H04N13/204; H04N13/207; H04N13/239; H04N13/254; H04N13/296; H04N13/246; H04N2013/0074; H04N2013/0081
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
189 words
A compact image steering and focusing device comprising: a. a housing; b. a platform rotatably attached to the housing for rotation about a pan axis; c. a first stepper motor; d. a cable drive connected between the platform and the first stepper motor to enable the first stepper motor to rotate the platform about the pan axis; e. a pair of substantially parallel, spaced apart arms extending from the platform, there being a tilt axis passing between and equidistant from the arms; f. a primary mirror pivotably attached between the arms and able to be rotated around the tilt axis; g. a mirror drive motor attached to the platform; h. a mirror cable drive connected between the primary mirror and the mirror drive motor in a manner to be able to rotate the primary mirror about the tilt axis; i. a primary lens positioned on the housing and aligned with the primary mirror; and j. a lens motor attached to the housing and connected to the primary lens in a manner to be able to move the lens along an optical path toward and away from the primary mirror.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
189 words
A compact image steering and focusing device comprising: a. a housing; b. a platform rotatably attached to the housing for rotation about a pan axis; c. a first stepper motor; d. a cable drive connected between the platform and the first stepper motor to enable the first stepper motor to rotate the platform about the pan axis; e. a pair of substantially parallel, spaced apart arms extending from the platform, there being a tilt axis passing between and equidistant from the arms; f. a primary mirror pivotably attached between the arms and able to be rotated around the tilt axis; g. a mirror drive motor attached to the platform; h. a mirror cable drive connected between the primary mirror and the mirror drive motor in a manner to be able to rotate the primary mirror about the tilt axis; i. a primary lens positioned on the housing and aligned with the primary mirror; and j. a lens motor attached to the housing and connected to the primary lens in a manner to be able to move the lens along an optical path toward and away from the primary mirror.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the mirror cable drive is comprised of a. an axle connected to the primary mirror; b. a pulley on the axle; and c. a cable connected between the mirror drive motor and the pulley.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
The device of claim 2 wherein the pulley is a split pulley.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The drive of claim 2 also comprising at least one angular contact bearing over which the cable runs.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the mirror drive motor has an output shaft and is positioned so that the output shaft is coincident with the pan axis.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The device of claim 1 also comprising a camera aligned with the primary lens in a manner so that light passing through the primary lens will go into the camera.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The device of claim 1 also comprising at least one secondary mirror positioned between the primary mirror and the primary lens.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
The device of claim 1 also comprising a light source positioned so that a light beam emitted from the light source will be reflected from a subject to the primary mirror.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
The device of claim 8 wherein the light source can emit at least one of infrared light, visible light, a select band of frequencies, and both infrared and visible light.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device of claim 8 wherein the light source is a strobe light.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
58 words
The device of claim 10 also comprising: a. a camera positioned to receive a light beam emitted from the light source, reflected by the primary mirror and reflected back from a scene; and b. a synchronizer connected to the camera and the light source for synchronizing the operation of the camera with the strobing of the light source.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The device of claim 8 also comprising a strobing device connected to the light source.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device of claim 8 wherein the light source is a light emitting diode.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
The device of claim 1 also comprising at least one limit switch connected to one of the motors.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
34 words
The device of claim 1 also comprising at least one position sensor mounted in a manner to determine positions of at least one of the primary mirror, the primary lens and the rotatable platform.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device of claim 1 also comprising a second camera attached to the housing.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
The device of claim 16 also comprising a third camera attached to the housing wherein the second camera and the third camera have overlapping fields of view.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
65 words
The device of claim 17 also comprising an image processor which receives images of a subject in the overlapping fields of view from both the second camera and the third camera and processes those images to determine an x, y, z coordinate position relative to the second and third cameras for a point on the subject forward which point the first camera can be directed.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
122 words
The device of claim 16 also comprising: a. a first camera aligned with the primary lens in a manner so that light reflected from the primary mirror and passing through the primary lens will go to the first camera; b. an image processor which receives images from the second camera and identifies at least one point in the images corresponding to a point on a subject being photographed by the second camera; and c. a controller connected to the image processor and the mirror drive motor which activates the mirror drive motor to position the primary mirror so that light reflected from the point on the subject to the primary mirror will be reflected by the primary mirror to the first camera.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
44 words
The device of claim 19 wherein the image processor is programmed to compare images from the second camera to determine if the subject is moving, calculate a motion path of a moving subject and direct the mirror drive motor to compensate for such motion.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
84 words
The device of claim 1 also comprising: a. a narrow field of view camera which receives light reflected from a subject to the primary mirror and is reflected from the primary mirror to the narrow field of view camera; b. a wide field of view camera; and c. an image processor which receives images from both cameras and identifies at least one point in images received from at least one camera which point corresponds to a point of interest on a subject being imaged.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
35 words
The device of claim 21 wherein the image processor identifies the at least one point in images received from the one of the narrow field of view camera and the whole field of view camera.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
43 words
The device of claim 1 also comprising a controller connected to the first stepper motor and a position sensor connected to the controller wherein the position sensor provides signals to the controller and the controller supplies the stepper motor with corresponding drive signals.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-12-20 | 2003-06-21 | 2003-12-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-12-20 | 2007-06-21 | 2007-12-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-12-20 | 2011-06-21 | 2011-12-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |