Patent ID: 6697102
Filing Date: 2004-02-24
Classification: E21B,H04N

Abstract:
A bore hole camera comprising:a generally elongate and cylindrical housing configured for insertion into a bore hole and having a longitudinal axis; a first video camera mounted in a forward end of the housing for generating video signals representing an image of a forward field of view extending in a forward direction from the housing; forward illumination means mounted in a forward end of the housing for illuminating the forward field of view; a second video camera mounted in a tube rotatable within the housing behind a cylindrical window mounted in the housing for generating video signals representing an image of a side field of view extending in a side direction from the housing; at least one slip ring coupling providing a conductive path between the rotatable tube and the housing; means for rotating the second video camera around the longitudinal axis of the housing to align the side field of view of the second video camera with a predetermined circumferential region of a side wall of the bore hole; and side illumination means mounted in the housing adjacent the second video camera including light bending means for maximizing an amount of illumination that strikes the predetermined circumferential region.