Patent ID: 6288742
Filing Date: 2001-09-11
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
A digital camera system comprising:a plurality of sensor units, each having a lens for capturing an image and a sensor for outputting electrical information corresponding to the image, each said sensor unit being disposed at a distinct equipment location remote from the other sensor units;a processor, disposed at a first equipment location remote from at least one of the plurality of sensor units, and electrically coupled to each of said sensor units, for processing the electrical information output by the plurality of sensors;a selector, for selectively providing the information from a selected one of the plurality of sensors, to the processor, said selector comprising a microcontroller coupled to said processor;said processor and said microcontroller being disposed at said first equipment location remote from the equipment locations of each of said sensor units;said digital camera system further including at said first equipment location, a timing circuit for generating timing signals, and a radio frequency (RF) transmitter operable to RF modulate and wirelessly transmit said timing signals;each of said sensor units including an RF receiver for receiving and demodulating said modulated timing signals transmitted by said RF transmitter, a processing circuitry for driving the sensor therein responsive to said received timing signals, and a further RF transmitter for RF modulating and wirelessly transmitting the respective analog electrical signal provided by the sensor therein; andsaid digital camera system further including at said first equipment location, another RF receiver, selectively controlled by said microcontroller, for receiving and demodulating the analog electrical signals transmitter by the sensor units, the received analog electrical signals being digitized by an A/D converter and provided to said processor for processing.