Patent Publication Number: US-2016227099-A1

Title: Short wave infrared camera

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Short wave infrared cameras are useful to, among other things, identify objects through atmospheric obscurants. Many vision technologies Have difficulty seeing images clearly in low light. Short wave infrared cameras can clarify images in low light. That is, images captured with short wave infrared cameras have reduced degradation associated with bright lights and flashes verses many other types of image capturing technologies. 
     Thermal cameras can also clarify images in low light conditions, but thermal cameras cannot image through glass. Short wave infrared cameras can image through glass. 
     Some known standard cameras are converted to capture short wave infrared images by attaching a camera body directly to one end of the short wave infrared portion and a camera lens directly to an opposing end of the short wave infrared portion. Such systems are not conducive to swapping out a short wave infrared portion when short wave infrared imaging is no longer desired. 
     Cradles have been developed that accommodate camera modules, but these known cradles cannot accommodate short wave infrared modules. 
     SUMMARY 
     A camera assembly according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a camera body, a camera lens, a cradle that communicates signals between the camera body and the camera lens, and a short wave infrared sensor module selectively received within the cradle. 
     In a further non-limiting embodiment of the foregoing assembly, the assembly includes a display to display an image received by the short wave infrared sensor module. 
     In a further non-limiting embodiment of any of the foregoing assemblies, the camera body comprises the display. 
     In a further non-limiting embodiment of any of the foregoing assemblies, the display is a first display, and the short wave infrared sensor module comprises a second display to display an image received by the short wave infrared sensor module. 
     In a further non-limiting embodiment of any of the foregoing assemblies, the assembly includes a relay optic within the short wave infrared sensor module. 
     In a further non-limiting embodiment of any of the foregoing assemblies, the cradle selectively receives other modules. 
     In a further non-limiting embodiment of any of the foregoing assemblies, the assembly includes an optical relay within the short wave infrared sensor module. The optical relay magnifies an image captured by the short wave infrared sensor module over a fixed distance between an organic light emitting diode display of the camera body and a sensor of the camera body. 
     In a further non-limiting embodiment of any of the foregoing assemblies, the short wave infrared sensor module communicates with camera body and the camera lens through the cradle. 
     In a further non-limiting embodiment of any of the foregoing assemblies, the camera body and the camera lens are commercial off-the-shelf components. 
     A method of short wave infrared sensor module imaging according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, communicating signals from a camera body through a cradle to control a camera lens, and selectively receiving a short wave infrared sensor module within the cradle. 
     In a further non-limiting embodiment of the foregoing method, the method includes displaying a short wave infrared sensor image on the short wave infrared sensor module. 
     In a further non-limiting embodiment of any of the foregoing methods, the method includes displaying an image from the short wave infrared sensor module on the camera body. 
     In a further non-limiting embodiment of any of the foregoing methods, the method includes selectively replacing the short wave infrared sensor module within the cradle with another type of imaging module. 
     In a further non-limiting embodiment of any of the foregoing methods, the camera body and camera lens are commercial off-the-shelf components. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       The various features and advantages of the disclosed examples will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the detailed description. The figures that accompany the detailed description can be briefly described as follows: 
         FIG. 1  shows a highly schematic view of an example camera assembly. 
         FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of another camera assembly. 
         FIG. 3  shows a cradle of the camera assembly of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  shows a short wave infrared sensor module from the camera assembly of  FIG. 2 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , an example camera assembly  10  includes a camera body  14 , a cradle  18 , and a camera lens  22 . The camera body  14  controls the camera lens  22  through the cradle  18 . The camera body  14  may adjust the camera lens  22  to bring objects into focus, for example. Signals thus communicate between the camera body  14  and the camera lens  22  through the cradle  18 . 
     The cradle  18  selectively receives one of a plurality of imaging modules  28 . At least one of the modules is a short wave infrared sensor (“SWIR”) module  32 . In contrast to the SWIR module  32 , the module  36  is not a short wave infrared sensor module. Instead, the SWIR module  32  is another type of imaging module. For example, the module  36  may be a module comprising intensifier tubes or a module comprising a complementary metal oxide silicon sensor. 
     SWIR images are generally obtained from wavelengths within the infrared band that are from 1.4 to 3 micrometers. Positioning the SWIR module  32  within the cradle  18  converts the camera assembly  10  to a SWIR imager that is capable of capturing SWIR images. 
     When the SWIR module  32  is installed within the cradle  18 , the SWIR module  32  receives SWIR wavelengths through the camera lens  22 . The wavelengths land on a focal point of a sensor within the SWIR module  32 . Notably, a first portion of the cradle  18  is positioned axially between the camera body  14  and the SWIR module  32 , and a second portion of the cradle  18  is positioned axially between the SWIR module  32  and the camera lens  22 . 
     The example SWIR module  32  displays an image on a visual display  40  within the SWIR module  32 . The image is based on the wavelengths sensed by the sensor within the SWIR module  32 . 
     The SWIR module  32  further includes a relay optic  44  that sends a signal through the cradle  18  to the camera body  14  to enable the camera body  14  to reimage the wavelengths sensed by the sensor onto a sensor of the camera body  14 . The camera body  14  may include a display  48  to provide a visual representation of an image based on the reimaged wavelengths from the sensor of the camera body  14 . 
     The SWIR module  32  can include an eyepiece to allow for direct viewing of the SWIR imagery. The SWIR module  32  can further include an output to send analog video of the SWIR imagery that a user can then view or record. 
     The modularity of the camera assembly  10  provides the camera body  14  with the ability to obtain SWIR imagery via relatively few connections. 
     When obtaining SWIR imagery is no longer desired, the SWIR module  32  can be removed from the cradle  18  and replaced with the module  36 . Disconnecting the camera body  14  from the cradle  58  is not required when swapping the SWIR module  32  for the module  36 . Disconnecting the camera lens  22  from the cradle  58  is not required when swapping the SWIR module  32  for the module  36 . 
     When converted to a SWIR imager, the camera assembly  10  has an enhanced ability to view images through haze, smoke, and dust. Military and security operators may utilize SWIR imaging during intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance activities. 
     When converted to a SWIR imager, the camera assembly  10  can recognize SWIR markers and beacons, as well as provide an operator of the camera assembly  10  with enhanced battlefield laser awareness. 
     When converted to a SWIR imager, the camera assembly can obtain imagery through glass and images are not substantially influenced by lights and flashes. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 to 4 , another example camera assembly  50  includes a camera body  54 , a cradle  58 , and a camera lens  62 . The camera body  54  and the camera lens  62  are commercial off-the-shelf components. In one example, the camera body  14  is a Canon  5 D camera. 
     A SWIR module  66  is selectively received within the cradle  58 . The cradle  58  may include a lid  70  that is secured to other portions of the cradle  58  to secure the SWIR module  66  within the cradle  58 . 
     The SWIR module  66  connects to the side of the cradle  58  interfacing with the camera lens  62  via a custom bayonet mount. The SWIR module  66  slides into the cradle  58  and is rotated a quarter turn to “click” the SWIR module  66  into an installed position within the cradle  58 . 
     The SWIR module  66  is supported within the cradle  58  near the camera body  54  by a relay optic barrel  69  that holds the relay optic. The barrel  69  presses into a back of the SWIR module  66  to hold the SWIR module  66   
     The example SWIR module  66  can image light wavelengths from 0.9 to 1.7 micrometers, and thus can image light wavelengths below the standard short wave infrared range. 
     The example SWIR module  66  includes a battery pack  72  and a main body portion having a first section  74   a  and a second section  74   b . The first section  74   a  and the second section  74   b  are axially aligned when received within the cradle  58 . The battery pack  72  is secured to a radially outer surface of the first section  74   a . The first section  74   a  houses a SWIR sensor, and the second section  74   b  houses a display. An eyepiece (not shown) can connect to an end  80  to allow for direct viewing of the SWIR imagery on the display within the second section  74   b.    
     In some examples, the SWIR module  66  can be used as a stand-alone SWIR viewer. That is, when the SWIR module  66  is outside the cradle  58 , SWIR imagery can be viewed on the display  80  of the SWIR module  66  without using the camera body  54  or the camera lens  62 . The eyepiece would replace the camera body  54 , as well as part of the cradle assembly  58  that would typically hold the relay optic and adapt the cradle assembly  58  to the camera body  54 . When the camera body  54  is removed from the cradle assembly  58  and the camera lens  62  still attached, the eyepiece can be attached to the end  80 . 
     The SWIR module  66  can include an optical relay that magnifies an image captured by the SWIR module  66  over a fixed distance between an organic light emitting diode display of the camera body  54  and a sensor of the camera body  54 . 
     The preceding description is exemplary rather than limiting in nature. Variations and modifications to the disclosed examples may become apparent to those skilled in the art that do not necessarily depart from the essence of this disclosure. Thus, the scope of legal protection given to this disclosure can only be determined by studying the following claims.