Patent ID: 6445884
Filing Date: 2002-09-03
Classification: B60Q,F21S,G01C,G01S,G02B,H04N

Abstract:
A camera with through-the-lens lighting, comprising:a modulated light source; a photosensitive surface; focusing optics, having an optical axis, that forms an image of a scene, within a field of view, on the photosensitive surface, wherein light from the light source is boresighted with the optical axis and directed toward the scene, illuminating substantially only the field of view of the camera; a modulator which modulates radiation striking the photosensitive surface or the sensitivity of the photosensitive surface, wherein the modulator does not modulate the light source; and a controller, controlling the modulator and the modulation of the light-source, to block a reaction of the photosensitive surface whenever the modulated source of light is on, while insuring that all the desired radiation reflected from the scene is collected.