Abstract:
A camera array includes a number of TOF cameras. The number of TOF cameras targets a subject to be monitored, and captures images of the subject from different angles at one time to provide a composite image of the subject. The camera array can obtain more information about the subject.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    A relevant subject matter is disclosed in a co-pending U.S. patent application (application Ser. No. 12/580,271) filed on Oct. 16, 2009, and having a same title, which is assigned to the same assignee as this patent application. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Technical Field 
         [0003]    The present disclosure relates to a camera array. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0005]    Many video-equipped security systems utilize only a single camera, providing a single display at a time. As a result, some areas need to be monitored can be neglected, with events occurring therein not captured for display. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of a first exemplary embodiment of a camera array. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of a second exemplary embodiment of a camera array. 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram of a third exemplary embodiment of a camera array. 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram of a fourth exemplary embodiment of a camera array. 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram of a fifth exemplary embodiment of a camera array. 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram of a sixth exemplary embodiment of a camera array. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0012]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a first embodiment of a camera array  1  monitors an subject, such as an alarm clock  100 , for instance. The first embodiment of the camera array  1  includes a plurality of time-of-flight (TOF) cameras  10 . The plurality of TOF cameras  10  are arranged in a circle. Distances between every two adjacent TOF cameras are the same. The alarm clock  100  is located at the center of the circle. All the plurality of TOF cameras  10  aims at the alarm clock  100 . In other embodiments, the distances between every two adjacent TOF cameras may be different. 
         [0013]    In use, the plurality of TOF cameras  10  is turned on at the same time, and captures images of the alarm clock  100  from different angles. The plurality of captured images makes up a surrounding image of the alarm clock  100 , such that complete information is available about the alarm clock  100 . 
         [0014]    Each TOF camera  10  is a camera system that creates distance data between the alarm clock  100  to be shot and the TOF camera  10 . As a result, users can remove some portions in the surrounding image of the alarm clock  100 , to obtain an image without background, but only the alarm clock  100 . For this reason, the users can monitor the alarm clock  100  better. 
         [0015]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , a second embodiment of a camera array  2  monitors the environment surrounding the alarm clock  100 , and comprises a plurality of TOF cameras  11 , arranged in a circle, with distances between every two adjacent cameras the same. The center of the circle is the alarm clock  100 . The plurality of TOF cameras  11  faces outward from the alarm clock  100 . 
         [0016]    In use, the plurality of TOF cameras  11  is turned on at the same time, and captures images of the environment surrounding the alarm clock  100  from as many different angles as there are TOF cameras  11 . As a result, a plurality of images is captured at one time, making up a composite image of the environment surrounding the alarm clock  100 , providing additional information about the alarm clock  100 . 
         [0017]    After obtaining the composite image of the environment, users can remove some portions with a preset distance from the TOF camera  11  in the composite image of the environment. For this reason, the users can monitor the alarm clock  100  better. 
         [0018]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , a third embodiment of a camera array  3  monitors the alarm clock  100 . The third embodiment of the camera array  3  includes a plurality of TOF cameras  12 . The plurality of TOF cameras  12  is arranged in a curve. A center of the curve is the alarm clock  100 . The plurality of TOF cameras  12  aims at the alarm clock  100 . In other embodiments, the plurality of TOF cameras  12  may be arranged in several curves. 
         [0019]    In use, the plurality of TOF cameras  12  is turned on at the same time, and captures image of the alarm clock  100  from different angles. The captured plurality of images make up a composite image of the alarm clock  100 , such that an effective amount of information based on monitoring demand is available about the alarm clock  100 . 
         [0020]    After obtaining the composite image of the alarm clock  100 , the users can remove some portions in the composite image of the alarm clock  100 , to obtain an image without background, but only the alarm clock  100 . For this reason, the users can monitor the alarm clock  100  better. 
         [0021]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , a fourth embodiment of a camera array  4  monitors the alarm clock  100 . The fourth embodiment of the camera array  4  includes a plurality of TOF cameras  13 . The plurality of TOF cameras  13  is arranged in stacked circles. A center of one of the plurality circles is the alarm clock  100 . The plurality of TOF cameras  13  aims at the alarm clock  100 . 
         [0022]    In use, the plurality of TOF cameras  13  is turned on at the same time, and captures images of the alarm clock  100  from different angles. The captured plurality of images make up a composite image of the alarm clock  100 , such that an effective amount of information is available about the alarm clock  100 . 
         [0023]    After obtaining the composite image of the alarm clock  100 , the users can remove some portions in the composite image of the alarm clock  100 , to obtain an image without background, but only the alarm clock  100 . For this reason, the users can monitor the alarm clock  100  better. 
         [0024]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , a fifth embodiment of a camera array  5  monitors the environment surrounding the alarm clock  100 . The fifth embodiment of the camera array  5  includes a plurality of TOF cameras  15  arranged in a curve. The center of the curve is the alarm clock  100 . The plurality of TOF cameras  15  faces away from the alarm clock  100 . In other embodiments, the plurality of TOF cameras  15  may be arranged in multiple curves. 
         [0025]    In use, the plurality of TOF cameras  15  is turned on at the same time, and captures images of the environment surrounding the alarm clock  100  from different angles. The captured images create a composite image of the environment surrounding the alarm clock  100 . In making use of the composite image, an effective amount of information is available about the alarm clock  100 . 
         [0026]    After obtaining the composite image of the environment, users can remove some portions with a preset distance from the TOF camera  15  in the composite image of the environment. For this reason, the users can monitor the alarm clock  100  better. 
         [0027]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , a sixth embodiment of a camera array  6  monitors the environment surrounding the alarm clock  100 . The sixth embodiment of the camera array  6  includes a plurality of TOF cameras  16 . The plurality of TOF cameras  16  is arranged in stacked circles, with a center of one of the circles being the alarm clock  100 . The plurality of TOF cameras  16  faces away from the alarm clock  100 . 
         [0028]    In use, the plurality of TOF cameras  16  is turned on at the same time, and captures images of the environment surrounding the alarm clock  100  from different angles. As a result, a plurality of images can be obtained at the same time. The plurality of images makes up a composite image of the environment surrounding the alarm clock  100 . In making use of the composite image, an effective amount of information about the alarm clock  100  can be obtained than in the second embodiment. 
         [0029]    After obtaining the composite image of the environment, users can remove some portions with a preset distance from the TOF camera  16  in the composite image of the environment. For this reason, the users can monitor the alarm clock  100  better. 
         [0030]    The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiments of the disclosure has been presented only for the purposes of illustration and description and is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above everything. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain the principles of the disclosure and their practical application so as to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the disclosure and various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. Alternative embodiments will become apparent to those of ordinary skills in the art to which the present disclosure pertains without departing from its spirit and scope. Accordingly, the scope of the present disclosure is defined by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description and the exemplary embodiments described therein.