Patent ID: 7979689
Filing Date: 2011-07-12
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A remote inspection apparatus, comprising: a display housing coupled to a proximate end of a cable and configured to be grasped by a user, wherein the cable encapsulates at least two wires that form a serial data bus; an imager housing that detachably couples to a distal end of a cable and houses an imaging device therein, the imaging device being operable to capture an image proximate to the distal end of the cable, convert the image into a video signal and transmit the video signal over the serial data bus; an inspection accessory device that detachably couples to the distal end of the cable in lieu of the imager housing and houses a sensor therein, the sensor being operable to capture data proximate to the distal end of the cable and transmit the data over the serial data bus; wherein the display housing includes a display adapted to receive the video signal and graphically render the image, a computer memory that stores one or more instances of software for operating the inspection apparatus, and a computer processor in data communication with the computer memory to operate a boot loader program that: (a) sends a first inquiry over the serial data bus in accordance with a default interrogation protocol; (b) loads a default instance of software from the computer memory upon receiving a reply to the first inquiry; (c) sends a second inquiry over the serial data bus in accordance with a non-default interrogation protocol upon failing to receive a reply to the first inquiry; (d) loads another instance of software from the computer memory upon receiving a reply to the second inquiry, where the another instance of software operates the inspection apparatus such that the inspection apparatus is compatible with the inspection accessory device.