Patent ID: 12248231

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description is presented to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the present disclosure and is provided in the context of a particular application and its requirements. Various modifications to the disclosed embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments and applications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Thus, the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments shown, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the claims.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular example embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” may be intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprise,” “comprises,” and/or “comprising,” “include,” “includes,” and/or “including” when used in this disclosure, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

It should also be understood that terms such as “top,” “bottom,” “upper,” “lower,” “vertical,” “lateral,” “above,” “below,” “upward(s),” “downward(s),” “left-hand side,” “right-hand side,” “horizontal,” and other such spatial reference terms are used in a relative sense to describe the positions or orientations of certain surfaces/parts/components of a vehicle with respect to other such features of the vehicle when the vehicle is in a normal operating position and may change if the position or orientation of the vehicle changes.

It will be understood that, although the terms “first,” “second,” “third,” “fourth,” etc., may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first element could be termed a second element, and, similarly, a second element could be termed a first element, without departing from the scope of exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

It will be understood that when a unit, engine, module, or block is referred to as being “on,” “connected to,” or “coupled to,” another unit, engine, module, or block, it may be directly on, connected or coupled to, or communicate with the other unit, engine, module, or block, or an intervening unit, engine, module, or block may be present, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

These and other features, and characteristics of the present disclosure, as well as the methods of operation and functions of the related elements of structure and the combination of parts and economies of manufacture, may become more apparent upon consideration of the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, all of which form a part of this disclosure. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration and description only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. It is understood that the drawings are not to scale.

In order to make the purpose, technical solution, and advantages of the present disclosure clearer, the present disclosure will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the present disclosure and are not intended to limit the present disclosure.

The present disclosure relates to a connecting bracket and a camera system. The camera system may include a first lens unit, a second lens unit, a first image sensor unit corresponding to the first lens unit, a second image sensor unit corresponding to the second lens unit, and a connecting bracket. The connecting bracket may be configured to connect the first lens unit and the first image sensor unit to form a first camera component, and connect the second lens unit and the second image sensor unit to form a second camera component. A predetermined angle may be formed between a first optical axis of the first camera component and a second optical axis of the second camera component.

Accordingly, the predetermined angle between the first optical axis of the first camera component and the second optical axis of the second camera component may be achieved by a proper design of the structure of the connecting bracket. Besides, two camera components of the camera system may be integrated into one component using the connecting bracket, thereby improving the installation accuracy of the two camera components.

FIG.1is a schematic diagram illustrating an exemplary monitoring system according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. As illustrated inFIG.1, a monitoring system100may include one or more cameras110, a network120, a terminal device130, a processing device140, and a storage device150.

The camera(s)110may be configured to capture one or more images or videos. In some embodiments, the camera(s)110may include a binocular camera having two camera components. As used herein, a camera component may be a single camera including a lens unit, an image sensor unit, and/or one or more other units (e.g., a processor, a controller, etc.). In some embodiments, the two camera components may capture images or videos simultaneously or not. For example, one of the two camera components can be turned on while the other one can be turned off or on standby. In some embodiments, the two camera components may include the same or different cameras to adapt to different needs. For example, the two camera components may be implemented in the same configuration and may be used cooperatively to achieve a relatively wide capturing range. As another example, one camera component may include a telephoto camera, and the other one may include a wide-angle camera. A capturing range of the telephoto camera may be within a capturing range of the wide-angle camera. The wide-angle camera may have a relatively wide capturing range and provide coarse information of a relatively large area. The telephoto camera may have a relatively narrow capturing range and provide detailed information of a relatively small area (e.g., an area of interest within the relatively large area). In such cases, a fused image or video may be generated by fusing the images or videos captured by the two camera components. The fused image or video may include both coarse information of a relatively large area and detailed information of an area of interest within the relatively large area. In some embodiments, the camera110may transmit the captured images or videos to one or more components (e.g., the processing device140, the terminal device130, and/or the storage device150) of the monitoring system100via the network120.

The network120may facilitate the exchange of information and/or data for the monitoring system100. In some embodiments, one or more components (e.g., the processing device140, the camera110, the terminal device130, or the storage device150) of the monitoring system100may communicate information and/or data with one or more other components of the monitoring system100via the network120. For example, the processing device140may acquire images from the camera110via the network120. As another example, the camera110may transmit images to the storage device150for storage via the network120. In some embodiments, the network120may be any type of wired or wireless network, or combination thereof. The network120may be and/or include a public network (e.g., the Internet), a private network (e.g., a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN)), etc.), a wired network (e.g., an Ethernet network), a wireless network (e.g., an 802.11 network, a Wi-Fi network, etc.), a cellular network (e.g., a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network), a frame relay network, a virtual private network (“VPN”), a satellite network, a telephone network, routers, hubs, switches, server computers, and/or any combination thereof. Merely by way of example, the network120may include a cable network, a wireline network, an optical fiber network, a telecommunications network, an intranet, an Internet, a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), a wireless local area network (WLAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN), a public telephone switched network (PSTN), a Bluetooth™ network, a ZigBee™ network, a near field communication (NFC) network, or the like, or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, the network120may include one or more network access points. For example, the network120may include wired and/or wireless network access points such as base stations and/or internet exchange points through which one or more components of the monitoring system100may be connected to the network120to exchange data and/or information.

The terminal device130may be configured to receive information and/or data from the processing device140, the camera110, and/or the storage device150via the network120. For example, the terminal device130may receive images and/or videos from the camera110. As another example, the terminal device130may transmit instructions to the camera110and/or the processing device140. In some embodiments, the terminal device130may provide a user interface via which a user may view information and/or input data and/or instructions to the monitoring system100. For example, the user may view, via the user interface, image information associated with a traffic violation behavior of a vehicle acquired from the processing device140. As another example, the user may input, via the user interface, an instruction to set a traffic monitoring parameter (e.g., a monitoring range) of the camera110. In some embodiments, the terminal device130may include a mobile device130-1, a computer130-2, a wearable device130-3, or the like, or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, the terminal device130may include a display that can display information in a human-readable form, such as text, image, audio, video, graph, animation, or the like, or any combination thereof. The display of the terminal device130may include a cathode ray tube (CRT) display, a liquid crystal display (LCD), a light-emitting diode (LED) display, a plasma display panel (PDP), a three dimensional (3D) display, or the like, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the terminal device130may be connected to one or more components (e.g., the processing device140, the camera110, and/or the storage device150) of the monitoring system100via the network120.

The processing device140may process data and/or information acquired from the camera110, the terminal device130, and the storage device150. For example, the processing device140may fuse images or videos captured by the camera110(e.g., one or more cameras mounted near a crosswalk). The processing device140may determine whether a traffic violation behavior occurs at the crosswalk based on the fused images or videos. In some embodiments, the processing device140may be a single server or a server group. The server group may be centralized or distributed (e.g., the processing device140may be a distributed system). In some embodiments, the processing device140may be local or remote. For example, the processing device140may access information and/or data stored in or captured by the camera110, the terminal device130, and/or the storage device150via the network120. As another example, the processing device140may be directly connected to the camera110, the terminal device130, and/or the storage device150to access stored or acquired information and/or data. In some embodiments, the processing device140may be implemented on a cloud platform. Merely by way of example, the cloud platform may include a private cloud, a public cloud, a hybrid cloud, a community cloud, a distributed cloud, an inter-cloud, a multi-cloud, or the like, or any combination thereof.

In some embodiments, the processing device140may include one or more processing engines (e.g., single-core processing engine(s) or multi-core processor(s)). Merely by way of example, the processing device140may include a central processing unit (CPU), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), an application-specific instruction-set processor (ASIP), a graphics processing unit (GPU), a physics processing unit (PPU), a digital signal processor (DSP), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), a programmable logic device (PLD), a controller, a microcontroller unit, a reduced instruction-set computer (RISC), a microprocessor, or the like, or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, the processing device140may be implemented by a computing device (e.g., a computing device including a processor, a storage, an input/output (I/O), and a communication port) or a mobile device (e.g., a mobile device including a communication platform, a display, a graphic processing unit (GPU), a central processing unit (CPU), an I/O, a memory, and a storage.

The storage device150may be configured to store data and/or instructions. The data and/or instructions may be acquired from, for example, the processing device140, the camera110, and/or any other component of the monitoring system100. In some embodiments, the storage device150may store data and/or instructions that the processing device140may execute or use to perform exemplary methods described in the present disclosure. In some embodiments, the storage device150may include a mass storage device, a removable storage device, a volatile read-and-write memory, a read-only memory (ROM), or the like, or any combination thereof. Exemplary mass storage devices may include a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a solid-state drive, etc. Exemplary removable storage devices may include a flash drive, a floppy disk, an optical disk, a memory card, a zip disk, a magnetic tape, etc. Exemplary volatile read-and-write memories may include a random access memory (RAM). Exemplary RAM may include a dynamic RAM (DRAM), a double date rate synchronous dynamic RAM (DDR SDRAM), a static RAM (SRAM), a thyristor RAM (T-RAM), and a zero-capacitor RAM (Z-RAM), etc. Exemplary ROM may include a mask ROM (MROM), a programmable ROM (PROM), an erasable programmable ROM (EPROM), an electrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM), a compact disk ROM (CD-ROM), and a digital versatile disk ROM, etc. In some embodiments, the storage device150may be implemented on a cloud platform. Merely by way of example, the cloud platform may include a private cloud, a public cloud, a hybrid cloud, a community cloud, a distributed cloud, an inter-cloud, a multi-cloud, or the like, or any combination thereof.

In some embodiments, the storage device150may be connected to the network120to communicate with one or more other components (e.g., the processing device140, the camera110, or the terminal device130) of the monitoring system100. One or more components in the monitoring system100may access the data or instructions stored in the storage device150via the network120. In some embodiments, the storage device150may be directly connected to or communicate with one or more components (e.g., the processing device140, the camera110, or the terminal device130) of the monitoring system100. In some embodiments, the storage device150may be part of another component of the monitoring system100, such as the processing device140, the camera110, or the terminal device130.

It should be noted that the above description is merely provided for the purposes of illustration, and not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. For persons having ordinary skills in the art, multiple variations and modifications may be made under the teachings of the present disclosure. However, those variations and modifications do not depart from the scope of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, the monitoring system100may include one or more additional components and/or one or more components of the monitoring system100described above may be omitted. Additionally or alternatively, two or more components of the monitoring system100may be integrated into a single component. A component of the monitoring system100may be implemented on two or more sub-components.

FIG.2Ais a schematic diagram illustrating an exemplary binocular camera200according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.FIG.2Billustrates a side view of the binocular camera200shown inFIG.2Aaccording to some embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown inFIGS.2A and2B, the binocular camera200may include a first lens unit210, a second lens unit220, a first image sensor unit215corresponding to the first lens unit210, a second image sensor unit225corresponding to the second lens unit220, and a connecting bracket230. In some embodiments, the binocular camera200may include two camera components (e.g., a first camera component200aand a second camera component200b).

In some embodiments, the first camera component200amay be formed by the first lens unit210, a first part (e.g., an upper part illustrated inFIG.2A) of the connecting bracket230, and/or the first image sensor unit215. In such cases, a light passing through the first lens unit210may be transmitted to the first image sensor unit215through a first aperture (not shown) on the first part of the connecting bracket230. The first image sensor unit215may convert the light transmitted through the first lens unit210into one or more first electrical signals. Similarly, the second camera component200bmay be formed by the second lens unit220, a second part (e.g., a lower part illustrated inFIG.2A) of the connecting bracket230, and/or the second image sensor unit225. A light passing through the second lens unit220may be transmitted to the second image sensor unit225through a second aperture (not shown) on the lower part of the connecting bracket230. The second image sensor unit225may convert the light transmitted through the second lens unit220into one or more second electrical signals.

In some embodiments, the first camera component200amay include a telephoto camera, a wide-angle camera, an infrared camera, a visible light camera, a thermal imaging camera, or the like, or any combination thereof. The configuration of the second camera component200bmay be the same as or different from the configuration of the first camera component200a. In other words, the first lens unit210may be the same as or different from the second lens unit220, and the first image sensor unit215may be the same as or different from the second image sensor unit225. For example, the first camera component200amay include a wide-angle camera, while the second camera component200bmay include a telephoto camera. A relatively narrow capturing range of the telephoto camera may be within a relatively wide capturing range of the wide-angle camera. In such cases, fused image(s) or video(s) may be generated by fusing images or videos captured by the first camera component200aand the second camera component200b. Therefore, the fused image(s) or video(s) may include both coarse information of an area corresponding to the relatively wide capturing range of the wide-angle camera and detailed information of an area corresponding to the relatively narrow capturing range of the telephoto camera. As another example, both the first camera component200aand the second camera component200bmay be telephoto cameras. In such cases, the first camera component200aand the second camera component200bmay be cooperated to monitor a capturing range larger than any one of the first camera component200aand the second camera component200b.

In some embodiments, the first lens unit210and the second lens unit220may be disposed on one side of the connecting bracket230, and the first image sensor unit215and the second image sensor unit225may be disposed on another side of the connecting bracket230. That is, the first camera component200aand the second camera component200bmay face the same side of the connecting bracket230(e.g., as shown inFIGS.2A and2B). In some embodiments, the first lens unit210and the second image sensor unit225may be disposed on one side of the connecting bracket230, and the second lens unit220and the first image sensor unit215may be disposed on another side of the connecting bracket230. That is, the first camera component200aand the second camera component200bmay face different sides of the connecting bracket230.

In some embodiments, the first camera component200amay be disposed in a first direction and the second camera component200bmay be disposed in a second direction. As used herein, a direction in which a specific camera component is disposed may refer to a direction of an optical axis of the specific camera component. In some embodiments, the first direction and the second direction may be coplanar. In such cases, the first direction and the second direction may form an angle on the corresponding plane. For example, the first direction and the second direction may be in a same vertical plane, and the angle between the first direction and the second direction may be a as illustrated inFIGS.2A and2B. Alternatively, the first direction and the second direction may be in a same horizontal plane. In some embodiments, the first direction and the second direction may be in different planes. In such cases, the first direction and the second direction may form an angle in the horizontal direction and an angle in the vertical direction. As used herein, an angle between two optical axes in the horizontal direction may refer to an angle between the projections of the two optical axes on the horizontal plane. An angle between two optical axes in the vertical direction may refer to an angle between the projections of the two optical axes on the vertical plane. For illustration purposes, the first direction and the second direction being in a same vertical plane may be taken as an example which is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

In some embodiments, the relative orientation of the first camera component200aand the second camera component200bmay be characterized by an angle between a first optical axis of the first camera component200aand a second optical axis of the second camera component200b. In some embodiments, if the first camera component200aand the second camera component200bface the same side of the connecting bracket230(e.g., as illustrated inFIG.2A), and the first optical axis of the first camera component200ais parallel to the second optical axis of the second camera component200b, the angle between the first optical axis of the first camera component200aand the second optical axis of the second camera component200bmay be defined as 0°. If the first camera component200aand the second camera component200bface different sides of the connecting bracket230, and the first optical axis of the first camera component200ais parallel to the second optical axis of the second camera component200b, the angle between the first optical axis of the first camera component200aand the second optical axis of the second camera component200bmay be defined as 180°. Therefore, the angle α between the first optical axis (e.g., as illustrated by line A inFIGS.2A and2B) of the first camera component200aand the second optical axis (e.g., as illustrated by line B inFIGS.2A and2B) of the second camera component200bmay be in an angle range from 0° to 180°. In some embodiments, the angle α may be in an angle range from 0° to 90°. In some embodiments, the angle α may be in an angle range from 0° to 60°. In some embodiments, the angle α may be in an angle range from 0° to 30°. In some embodiments, the angle α may be in an angle range from 0° to 20°. In some embodiments, the angle α may be in an angle range from 0° to 15°. In some embodiments, the angle α may be in an angle range from 0° to 10°. In some embodiments, the angle α may be in an angle range from 0° to 5°. In some embodiments, the angle α may be in an angle range from 5° to 15°. In some embodiments, the angle α may be in an angle range from 10° to 15°. For example, the angle α may be 1°, 3°, 5°, 7°, 10°, 15°, 20°, 30°, 45°, 60°, 90°, 150°, or 180°. It should be noted that if the angle α is greater than 90°, it means that the first camera component200aand the second camera component200bface different sides of the connecting bracket230.

In some embodiments, the angle α between the first optical axis and the second optical axis may be determined by a structure of the connecting bracket230. For example, if the first direction of the first camera component200aand the second direction of the second camera component200bis in a same vertical plane, and the first camera component200aand the second camera component200bare arranged opposite to each other (as illustrated inFIG.2B), an angle between a first mounting surface232of the connecting bracket230for mounting the first lens unit210and a third mounting surface236of the connecting bracket230for mounting the second lens unit220may be set as the angle α. Correspondingly, an angle between a second mounting surface234of the connecting bracket230for mounting the first image sensor unit215and a fourth mounting surface238of the connecting bracket230for mounting the second image sensor unit225may be set as the angle α. In some embodiments, the first mounting surface corresponding to the first lens unit210may be parallel to the second mounting surface corresponding to the first image sensor unit215, so that an optical center of the first image sensor unit215can be on an optical axis of the first lens unit210. In some embodiments, the third mounting surface corresponding to the second lens unit220may be parallel to the fourth mounting surface corresponding to the second image sensor unit225, so that an optical center of the second image sensor unit225can be on an optical axis of the second lens unit220. Therefore, after the first lens unit210, the first image sensor unit215, the second lens unit220, and the second image sensor unit225are mounted on the connecting bracket230, the angle between the first optical axis of the camera component200aand the second optical axis of the camera component200bmay be equal to a. In some embodiments, the angle α may be in a range from 0° to 90° such as 1°, 3°, 5°, 7°, 10°, 15°, etc.

As another example, when the first direction of the first camera component200aand the second direction of the second camera component200bis in a same vertical plane, and the first camera component200aand the second camera component200bare arranged facing each other, an angle between the first mounting surface232and the third mounting surface236may also be set as the angle α. Correspondingly, an angle between the second mounting surface234and the fourth mounting surface238may also be set as the angle α. The first mounting surface232corresponding to the first lens unit210may be parallel to the second mounting surface corresponding234to the first image sensor unit215, and the third mounting surface236corresponding to the second lens unit220may be parallel to the fourth mounting surface238corresponding to the second image sensor unit225. Therefore, after the first lens unit210, the first image sensor unit215, the second lens unit220, and the second image sensor unit225are mounted on the connecting bracket230, the angle between the first optical axis of the first camera component200aand the second optical axis of the camera component200bmay be equal to α. In such cases, the angle α may also be in a range from 0° to 90° such as 1°, 3°, 5°, 7°, 10°, 15°, etc. More descriptions regarding the structure of the connecting bracket230may be found elsewhere in the present disclosure (e.g.,FIGS.5A-5B and6A-6Cand the descriptions thereof).

In some embodiments, at least one lens unit of the first lens unit210or the second lens unit220may be mounted on the connecting bracket230through a connecting part of the at least one lens unit and a mounting part on the connecting bracket230corresponding to the connecting part. The connecting part may be implemented in a configuration of a threaded joint, a fixing plate, or the like, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the connecting part may include a threaded joint (e.g., as shown inFIG.4), and the corresponding mounting part may include a threaded connector. Accordingly, the at least one lens unit may be connected to the connecting bracket230through a threaded connection. In some embodiments, the connecting part may include a fixing plate (e.g., as shown inFIG.3), and the corresponding mounting part may include a fixing seat. Accordingly, the at least one lens unit may be connected to the connecting bracket230through one or more screws. In some embodiments, the at least one lens unit may be mounted on the connecting bracket230through other connection ways such as gluing, welding, bonding, riveting, integral forming, suction connection, etc. In some embodiments, the connection between the connecting bracket230and at least one image sensor unit of the first image sensor unit215or the second image sensor unit225may be similar to the connection between the at least one lens unit and the connecting bracket230. For example, the at least one image sensor unit may be mounted on the connecting bracket230through a connecting part of the at least one image sensor unit and another mounting part on the connecting bracket230corresponding to the connecting part. As another example, the at least one image sensor unit may be mounted on the connecting bracket230by gluing, welding, bonding, riveting, integral forming, suction connection, etc. More descriptions regarding the connection of components of a binocular camera may be found elsewhere in the present disclosure (e.g.FIGS.3and4, and the descriptions thereof).

It should be noted that the above description is merely provided for the purposes of illustration, and not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. For persons having ordinary skills in the art, multiple variations and modifications may be made under the teachings of the present disclosure. However, those variations and modifications do not depart from the scope of the present disclosure. For example, the binocular camera200may be mounted in a housing (e.g., the housing700shown inFIG.7). As another example, the terms “first,” “second” are just for the convenience of description, the camera component200ainFIGS.2A and2Bmay represent a second camera component, and the camera component200binFIGS.2A and2Bmay represent a first camera component.

In some embodiments, the angle α between the first optical axis and the second optical axis may be adjustable. For example, when driven by a motor device, the first mounting surface232and the corresponding second mounting surface234may be consistently inclined to a certain angle (e.g., with respect to the horizontal plane), while the third mounting surface236and the corresponding fourth mounting surface238may be maintained. As another example, when driven by one or more motor devices, the first mounting surface232and the corresponding second mounting surface234may be consistently inclined to a first angle (e.g., with respect to the horizontal plane), and the third mounting surface236and the corresponding fourth mounting surface238may be consistently inclined to a second angle (e.g., with respect to the horizontal plane). The first angle may be different from the second angle.

FIG.3is an exploded diagram of an exemplary binocular camera according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown inFIG.3, a binocular camera300may include a first lens unit310, a second lens unit320, a first image sensor unit315, a second image sensor unit325, and a connecting bracket330. The binocular camera300may include two camera components formed based on the first lens unit310, the second lens unit320, the first image sensor unit315, the second image sensor unit325, and the connecting bracket330. The two camera components of the binocular camera300may be similar to the first camera component200aand the second camera component200bas described inFIGS.2A and2B.

The connecting bracket330may include a bracket body configured to support the two camera components of the binocular camera300. The connecting bracket330may further include a first mounting surface for connecting the first lens unit310, a second mounting surface corresponding to the first mounting surface for connecting the first image sensor unit315, a third mounting surface for connecting the second lens unit320, and a fourth mounting surface corresponding to the third mounting surface for connecting the second image sensor unit325. In some embodiments, the connecting bracket330may further include one or more adjustment components (e.g., springs336and338) configured to adjust the second mounting surface corresponding to the first image sensor unit315and/or the fourth mounting surface corresponding to the second image sensor unit325. More descriptions regarding the structure of the connecting bracket230may be found elsewhere in the present disclosure (e.g.,FIGS.5A-5B and6A-6C, and the descriptions thereof).

In some embodiments, the first lens unit310may include a first fixing plate312(also referred to as a first connecting part312). The first fixing plate312may be configured to cooperate with a first fixing seat (also referred to as a first mounting part) (not shown) on the connecting bracket330to enable the first lens unit310to be mounted on the connecting bracket330. Specifically, in some embodiments, the first fixing plate312may be connected to the first fixing seat by one or more screws314. For example, a size of the first fixing plate312may be greater than a size of an end of the first lens unit310close to the connecting bracket330, so that one or more holes can be provided on the first fixing plate312to allow the one or more screws314to pass through the one or more holes to fix the first lens unit310on the connecting bracket330. In some embodiments, the first fixing plate312may be made of a material including metal (e.g., aluminum, gold, copper, iron, etc.), alloy (e.g., aluminum-magnesium alloy, titanium alloy), steel, plastic (e.g., polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polyurethane (PU), silicone resin (SI), etc.), aluminum composite materials, or the like, or any combination thereof. Similarly, the second lens unit320may include a second fixing plate322(also referred to as a second connecting part322). The second fixing plate322may be the same as or different from the first fixing plate312. The second fixing plate322may be configured to cooperate with a second fixing seat (also referred to as a second mounting part) (not shown) on the connecting bracket330to enable the second lens unit320to be mounted on the connecting bracket330. Specifically, in some embodiments, the second fixing plate322may be connected to the second fixing seat by one or more screws324. For example, a size of the second fixing plate322may be greater than a size of an end of the second lens unit320close to the connecting bracket330, so that one or more holes can be provided on the second fixing plate322to allow the one or more screws324to pass through the one or more holes to fix the second lens unit320on the connecting bracket330. In some embodiments, the second fixing plate322may be made of a material including metal (e.g., aluminum, gold, copper, iron, etc.), alloy (e.g., aluminum-magnesium alloy, titanium alloy), steel, plastic (e.g., polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polyurethane (PU), silicone resin (SI), etc.), aluminum composite materials, or the like, or any combination thereof.

In some embodiments, the shape of the fixing plate may include, for example, a rectangular shape, a circular shape, a triangular shape, a hexagon shape, an irregular shape, etc. In some embodiments, the fixing plates312and322may have the same shape or different shapes. For example, the first fixing plate312may have a rectangular shape, while the second fixing plate322may have a circular shape. As another example, both the fixing plates312and322may have a rectangular shape as shown inFIG.3.

The first image sensor unit315may include a first image sensor mounted on a first printed circuit board (PCB)3152. In some embodiments, an image sensor mounted on a PCB may also be referred to as a sensor board. The first sensor board3152may convert one or more optical signals transmitted from the first lens unit310into one or more electrical signals. In some embodiments, the first sensor unit315may be connected to the connecting bracket330through a third connecting part (e.g., a third fixing plate) on the first sensor unit315similar to the first connecting part312. For example, the third connecting part may be connected to the connecting bracket330by one or more screws316, glues, or the like, or any combination. In some embodiments, the first image sensor unit315may further include a heat dissipation plate3154configured to promote heat dissipation of the first sensor board3152. The heat dissipation plate3154may include an aperture corresponding to a first aperture332to transmit the one or more optical signals from the first lens unit310to the first sensor board3152. In some embodiments, the heat dissipation plate3154may also be used as the third fixing plate. In some embodiments, the heat dissipation plate3154may be made of a material including silver, copper, aluminum, steel, copper-aluminum alloy, graphite sheet, thermal paste, ultra-thin heat pipe, phase change material, carbon fiber thermal conductive sheet, or the like, or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, the first image sensor unit315may further include an IR-cut removable (ICR)3156configured to filter out infrared light under a daytime mode to avoid color cast, and allow infrared light to pass through the corresponding aperture under a night mode to enhance the image brightness.

The second image sensor unit325may be similar to the first image sensor unit315. For example, the second image sensor unit325may include a second sensor board3252. The second sensor board3252may convert one or more optical signals transmitted from the second lens unit320into one or more electrical signals. As another example, the second image sensor unit325may further include a heat dissipation plate3254, a shock absorber3256, or the like, or any combination thereof. The heat dissipation plate3254may include an aperture corresponding to a second aperture334to transmit the one or more optical signals from the second lens unit320to the second sensor board3252. As a further example, the second sensor unit325may be connected to the connecting bracket330through a fourth connecting part (e.g., a fourth fixing plate) on the second sensor unit325similar to the first connecting part312, and the fourth fixing plate may be connected to the connecting bracket330by one or more screws326, glues, or the like, or any combination.

FIG.4is an exploded diagram of an exemplary binocular camera according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. A binocular camera400may be similar to the binocular camera300as described inFIG.3. For example, the binocular camera400may include a first lens unit410, a second lens unit420, a first image sensor unit415, a second image sensor unit425, and a connecting bracket430. Specifically, the first image sensor unit415may be similar to the first image sensor unit315. The second image sensor unit425may be similar to the second image sensor unit325. The first lens unit410may be similar to the first lens unit310except that a first connecting part412is different from the first connecting part312. The second image sensor unit425may be similar to the second image sensor unit325except that a second connecting part422is different from the second connecting part322. The connecting bracket430may be similar to the connecting bracket330except that a first mounting part of the connecting bracket330is different from and a first mounting part of the connecting bracket430and a second mounting part of the connecting bracket330is different from and a second mounting part of the connecting bracket430. More descriptions about the components of the binocular camera400may be found elsewhere in the present disclosure (e.g.,FIG.3and the descriptions thereof).

The first lens unit410may include a first threaded joint412(i.e., the first connecting part412). The first threaded joint412may be configured to cooperate with a first threaded connector (not shown) on the connecting bracket430(e.g., a first mounting surface of the connecting bracket430) to enable the first lens unit410to be mounted on the connecting bracket430. Similarly, the second lens unit420may include a second threaded joint422(i.e., the second connecting part422). The second threaded joint422may be configured to cooperate with a second threaded connector (not shown) on the connecting bracket430(e.g., a third mounting surface of the connecting bracket430) to enable the second lens unit420to be mounted on the connecting bracket430.

FIG.5Ais a side view of an exemplary connecting bracket according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, a connecting bracket500amay be used in a camera system (e.g., the camera(s)110, or the binocular camera200) for mounting two or more camera components. Specifically, in some embodiments, the connecting bracket500amay be used to connect two or more optical components (e.g., two or more lens units) and/or two or more electronic components (e.g., two or more image sensor units) of the camera system. As shown inFIG.5A, the connecting bracket500amay include a bracket body510a, and the bracket body510amay be provided with a first connecting portion520aand a second connecting portion530a.

The bracket body510amay be configured to support a first camera component (e.g., the first camera component200ainFIG.2A) and a second camera component (e.g., the second camera component200binFIG.2A). Specifically, the first connecting portion520atogether with the bracket body510may be configured to support the first camera component, and the second connecting portion530atogether with the bracket body510amay be configured to support the second camera component. In some embodiments, the bracket body510amay be made of a rigid material including metal (e.g., aluminum, gold, copper, iron, etc.), alloy (e.g., aluminum-magnesium alloy, titanium alloy), steel, etc. In some embodiments, the bracket body510amay be made of plastic (e.g., polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polyurethane (PU), silicone resin (SI), etc.), aluminum composite materials, or the like, or any combination thereof.

In some embodiments, the first connecting portion520amay include a first mounting part520a1and a second mounting part520a2. The first mounting part520a1and the second mounting part520a2may be disposed on opposite sides of the bracket body510a. The first mounting part520a1may be configured to cooperate with a first connecting part on a first lens unit of the first camera component to enable the first lens unit to be mounted on the connecting bracket500a. The second mounting part520a2may be configured to cooperate with a third connecting part on a first image sensor unit of the first camera component to enable the first image sensor unit to be mounted on the connecting bracket500a. In some embodiments, the first mounting part520a1and/or the second mounting part520a2may be made of various materials including metal (e.g., aluminum, gold, copper, iron, etc.), alloy (e.g., aluminum-magnesium alloy, titanium alloy), steel, plastic (e.g., polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polyurethane (PU), silicone resin (SI), etc.), aluminum composite materials, or the like, or any combination thereof.

In some embodiments, as shown inFIG.5A, the first mounting part520a1may include a first fixing seat, and the first connecting part on the first lens unit of the first camera component may include a first fixing plate corresponding to the first fixing seat. Specifically, the first fixing seat may include one or more fixing units (e.g., fixing units602,604,606, and608illustrated inFIG.6A) whose surfaces are on a same plane. At least one of the one or more first fixing units may include a hole with an inner thread. The first lens unit may be connected to the connecting bracket500aby one or more screws matching with the inner threads of the one or more first fixing units through a first connecting part (or a first fixing plate) on the first lens unit. In some embodiments, the first fixing plate may be connected to the first fixing seat by one or more screws. In some embodiments, the second mounting part520a2may include a third fixing seat, and the third connecting part on the first image sensor unit of the first camera component may include a third fixing plate (e.g., the heat dissipation plate3154illustrated inFIG.3) corresponding to the third fixing seat. The third fixing plate may be connected to the third fixing seat by one or more screws.

Similarly, the second connecting portion530amay include a third mounting part530a1and a fourth mounting part530a2. The third mounting part530a1and the fourth mounting part530a2may be disposed on opposite sides of the bracket body510a. The third mounting part530a1may be configured to cooperate with a second connecting part on a second lens unit of the second camera component to enable the second lens unit to be mounted on the connecting bracket500a. The fourth mounting part530a2may be configured to cooperate with a fourth connecting part on a second image sensor unit of the second camera component to enable the second image sensor unit to be mounted on the connecting bracket500a. In some embodiments, the third mounting part530a1and/or the fourth mounting part530a2may be made of various materials including metal (e.g., aluminum, gold, copper, iron, etc.), alloy (e.g., aluminum-magnesium alloy, titanium alloy), steel, plastic (e.g., polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polyurethane (PU), silicone resin (SI), etc.), aluminum composite materials, or the like, or any combination thereof.

In some embodiments, the first mounting part520a1, the second mounting part520a2, the third mounting part530a1, and/or the fourth mounting part530a2may be the same as or different from each other. In some embodiments, when the material of the bracket body510ais the same as the materials of the first mounting part520a1, the second mounting part520a2, the third mounting part530a1, and/or the fourth mounting part530a2, the first mounting part520a1, the second mounting part520a2, the third mounting part530a1, the fourth mounting part530a2, and/or the bracket body510amay be integrally formed.

In some embodiments, the third mounting part530a1may include a second fixing seat, and the second connecting part on the second lens unit of the second camera component may include a second fixing plate corresponding to the second fixing seat. Specifically, the second fixing seat may include one or more fixing units (e.g., fixing units610,612,614, and616illustrated inFIG.6A) whose surfaces are on a same plane. At least one of the one or more second fixing units may include a hole with an inner thread. The second lens unit may be connected to the connecting bracket500aby one or more screws matching with the inner threads of the one or more second fixing units through a second connecting part (or a second fixing plate) on the second lens unit. The second fixing plate may be connected to the second fixing seat by one or more screws. In some embodiments, the fourth mounting part530a2may include a fourth fixing seat, and the fourth connecting part on the second image sensor unit of the second camera component may include a fourth fixing plate (e.g., the heat dissipation plate3254illustrated inFIG.3) corresponding to the fourth fixing seat. The fourth fixing plate may be connected to the fourth fixing seat by one or more screws.

In some embodiments, the first mounting part520a1and the third mounting part530a1may be disposed on a same side of the bracket body510a(as shown inFIG.5A). Correspondingly, the second mounting part520a2and the fourth mounting part530a2may be disposed on a same side of the bracket body510a. In such cases, the first lens unit of the first camera component and the second lens unit of the second camera component may be disposed on a same side of the bracket body510a. The first image sensor unit of the first camera component and the second image sensor unit of the second camera component may be disposed on another side of the bracket body510a. The first camera component and the second camera component may be used to capture one or more images or videos on a same side of the bracket body510a. In some embodiments, the first mounting part520a1and the fourth mounting part530a2may be disposed on a same side of the bracket body510a. Correspondingly, the second mounting part520a2and the third mounting part530a1may be disposed on a same side of the bracket body510a. In such cases, the first lens unit of the first camera component and the second image sensor unit of the second camera component may be disposed on a same side of the bracket body510a. The first image sensor unit of the first camera component and the second lens unit of the second camera component may be disposed on a same side of the bracket body510a. The first camera component and the second camera component may be used to capture one or more images or videos on different sides of the bracket body510a.

In some embodiments, a mounting part of a connecting portion on a bracket body may define a mounting surface of the connecting portion. As used herein, a mounting surface may refer to a surface of a mounting part on which other components (e.g., a lens unit, an image sensor unit) can be mounted. As shown inFIG.5A, the first connecting portion520amay include a first mounting surface540acorresponding to the first mounting part520a1and a second mounting surface550acorresponding to the second mounting part520a2. The first mounting surface540amay be configured to connect the first lens unit of the first camera component. The second mounting surface550amay be configured to connect the first image sensor unit of the first camera component. As set forth, corresponding to the arrangement of the first mounting part520a1and the second mounting part520a2, the first mounting surface540aand the second mounting surface550amay be disposed on opposite sides of the bracket body510a. The first mounting surface540amay be parallel to the second mounting surface550a. Similarly, the second connecting portion530amay include a third mounting surface560acorresponding to the third mounting part530a1, and a fourth mounting surface570acorresponding to the fourth mounting part530a2. The third mounting surface560amay be configured to connect the second lens unit of the second camera component. The fourth mounting surface570amay be configured to connect the second image sensor unit of the second camera component. As set forth, corresponding to the arrangement of the third mounting part530a1and the fourth mounting part530a2, the third mounting surface560aand the fourth mounting surface570amay be disposed on opposite sides of the bracket body510a. The third mounting surface560amay be parallel to the fourth mounting surface570a.

In some embodiments, a predetermined angle may be formed between the first connecting portion520aand the second connecting portion530asuch that when the first camera component is mounted on the first connecting portion520aand the second camera component is mounted on the second connecting portion530a, an angle between a first optical axis of the first camera component and a second optical axis of the second camera component (e.g., an angle between a first optical axis of the first camera component200aand a second optical axis of the second camera component200billustrated inFIGS.2A and2B) can be equal to the predetermined angle. As used herein, an angle between the first connecting portion520aand the second connecting portion520bmay refer to an angle between two mounting surfaces disposed on the same side of the bracket body510a. For illustration purposes, the first mounting part520a1and the third mounting part530a1being disposed on the same side of the bracket body510amay be taken as an example. Thus, the first mounting surface540aand the third mounting surface560amay be disposed on one side of the bracket body510a, and the second mounting surface550aand the fourth mounting surface570amay be disposed on another side of the bracket body510a. Accordingly, the predetermined angle between the first connecting portion520aand the second connecting portion530amay be equal to an angle α between the first mounting surface540aand the third mounting surface560a, or an angle α between the second mounting surface550aand the fourth mounting surface570aas illustrated inFIG.5A.

In some embodiments, an angle between the first mounting surface540aand the bracket body510a(or a surface of the bracket body510a) may equal to the predetermined angle, while the third mounting surface560amay be parallel to the bracket body510a. Correspondingly, an angle between the second mounting surface550aand the bracket body510amay equal to the predetermined angle, while the fourth mounting surface570amay be parallel to the bracket body510a. Alternatively, an angle between the third mounting surface560aand the bracket body510amay equal to the predetermined angle, while the first mounting surface540amay be parallel to the bracket body510a. Correspondingly, an angle between the fourth mounting surface570aand the bracket body510amay equal to the predetermined angle, while the second mounting surface550amay be parallel to the bracket body510a.

In some embodiments, the predetermined angle may be set in an angle range from 0° to 90° according to actual needs. For example, the predetermined angle may be set as 2°, 3°, 15°, 20°, 30°, 45°, 60°, 90°, etc. In some embodiments, the predetermined angle may be adjusted by a motor device. More descriptions of the predetermined angle between a first optical axis of the first camera component and the second optical axis of the second camera component may be found elsewhere in the present disclosure (e.g.,FIGS.2A and2B, and the descriptions thereof).

In some embodiments, the connecting bracket500amay further include one or more apertures each of which corresponds to a camera component, one or more fences, one or more protruding parts, one or more reinforced structures, or the like, or any combination thereof. More descriptions of the connecting bracket500amay be found elsewhere in the present disclosure (e.g.,FIGS.6A-6C, and the descriptions thereof).

It should be noted that the above description is merely provided for the purposes of illustration, and not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. For persons having ordinary skills in the art, multiple variations and modifications may be made under the teachings of the present disclosure. However, those variations and modifications do not depart from the scope of the present disclosure. For example, the connecting bracket500ain the present disclosure may further be used to connect other components of a camera, such as a processor, a controller, etc.

FIG.5Bis a side view of another exemplary connecting bracket according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. A connecting bracket500bmay be similar to the connecting bracket500adescribed inFIG.5A. For example, as shown inFIG.5B, the connecting bracket500bmay include a bracket body510b, and the connecting bracket500bmay be provided with a first connecting portion520band a second connecting portion530b.

In some embodiments, as shown inFIG.5B, the first connecting portion520bmay include a first mounting part520b1and a second mounting part520b2. The first mounting part520b1may be configured to cooperate with a first connecting part on a first lens unit of the first camera component to enable the first lens unit to be mounted on the connecting bracket500b. The second mounting part520b2may be configured to cooperate with a third connecting part on a first image sensor unit of the first camera component to enable the first image sensor unit to be mounted on the connecting bracket500b. The first mounting part520b1and the second mounting part520b2may be disposed on opposite sides of the bracket body510b.

The first mounting part520b1may include a first threaded connector, and the first connecting part on the first lens unit of the first camera component may include a first threaded joint corresponding to the first threaded connector. The first threaded joint may be connected to the first threaded connector through a threaded connection. Specifically, the first mounting part520b1may include a first specific protruding part (e.g., the first specific protruding part620bshown inFIG.6B) with a first mounting surface. The first specific protruding part may include a hole (not shown) in the middle of the first specific protruding part. The first mounting surface of the first specific protruding part may be a bottom of the hole. The inner or outer surface of the hole may include thread. A size of the hole may match a size of an end of the first lens unit close to the connecting bracket500b, so that the first lens unit can be mounted on the connecting bracket500bthrough a threaded connection, and a surface of the first lens unit can be parallel to the first mounting surface. More descriptions of the first specific protruding part may be found elsewhere of the present disclosure (e.g.,FIG.6Band the descriptions thereof). In some embodiments, the first mounting part520b1and/or the second mounting part520b2may be made of various materials including metal (e.g., aluminum, gold, copper, iron, etc.), alloy (e.g., aluminum-magnesium alloy, titanium alloy), steel, plastic (e.g., polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polyurethane (PU), silicone resin (SI), etc.), aluminum composite materials, or the like, or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, the second mounting part520b2may include a third fixing seat, and the third connecting part on the first image sensor unit of the first camera component may include a third fixing plate (e.g., the heat dissipation plate3154illustrated inFIG.3) corresponding to the third fixing seat. The third fixing plate may be connected to the third fixing seat by one or more screws.

Similarly, the second connecting portion530bmay include a third mounting part530b1and a fourth mounting part530b2. The third mounting part530b1may be configured to cooperate with a second connecting part on a second lens unit of the second camera component to enable the second lens unit to be mounted on the connecting bracket500b. The fourth mounting part530b2may be configured to cooperate with a fourth connecting part on a second image sensor unit of the second camera component to enable the second image sensor unit to be mounted on the connecting bracket500b. The third mounting part530b1and the fourth mounting part530b2may be disposed on opposite sides of the bracket body510b.

The third mounting part530b1may include a second threaded connector, and the second connecting part on the second lens unit of the second camera component may include a second threaded joint corresponding to the second threaded connector. The second threaded joint may be connected to the second threaded connector by a threaded connection. Specifically, the third mounting part530b1may include a second specific protruding part (e.g., the second specific protruding part630bshown inFIG.6B) with third mounting surface. The second specific protruding part may include a hole (not shown) in the middle of the second specific protruding part. The third mounting surface of the second specific protruding part may be a bottom of the hole. The inner or outer surface of the hole may include thread. A size of the hole may match a size of an end of the second lens unit close to the connecting bracket500b, so that the second lens unit can be mounted on the connecting bracket500bthrough a threaded connection, and a surface of the second lens unit can be parallel to the third mounting surface. More descriptions of the second specific protruding part may be found elsewhere of the present disclosure (e.g.,FIG.6Band the descriptions thereof). In some embodiments, the third mounting part530b1and/or the fourth mounting part530b2may be made of various materials including metal (e.g., aluminum, gold, copper, iron, etc.), alloy (e.g., aluminum-magnesium alloy, titanium alloy), steel, plastic (e.g., polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polyurethane (PU), silicone resin (SI), etc.), aluminum composite materials, or the like, or any combination thereof. More descriptions of the connecting bracket500bmay be found elsewhere in the present disclosure (e.g.,FIGS.5A,6B, and6C, and the descriptions thereof).

FIG.6Ais a front view of an exemplary connecting bracket according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. In some embodiments,FIGS.6A and5Amay be different views of a same connecting bracket from different directions. As illustrated inFIG.6A, a connecting bracket600amay include a bracket body610a. Two mounting parts (including a first mounting part620aand a third mounting part630a) of the connecting bracket600afor mounting two lens units (e.g., a first lens unit and a second lens unit) may be disposed on a same side of the connecting bracket600a.

As illustrated inFIG.6A, the first mounting part620a(or a first fixing seat, indicated by the dotted frame) may include one or more first fixing units (e.g., first fixing units602,604,606, and608) configured to connect the first lens unit. In some embodiments, one or more second fixing units may also be referred to as a fixing seat. In some embodiments, at least one of the one or more first fixing units may include a hole with an inner thread. The first lens unit may be connected to the connecting bracket600aby one or more screws matching with the inner threads of the one or more first fixing units through a first connecting part (or a first fixing plate) on the first lens unit. Similarly, the third mounting part630a(or a second fixing seat, indicated by the dotted frame) may include one or more third fixing units (e.g., third fixing units610,612,614, and616) configured to connect the second lens unit. The second lens unit may be connected to the connecting bracket600aby one or more screws through a second connecting part (or a second fixing plate) on the second lens unit. In some embodiments, at least one of the one or more third fixing units may be the same as at least one of the one or more first fixing units.

The bracket body610amay include a first aperture622acorresponding to the first lens unit and a second aperture632acorresponding to the second lens unit. The first aperture622amay be configured to transmit one or more optical signals from the first lens unit to a corresponding first image sensor unit. The second aperture632amay be configured to transmit one or more optical signals from the second lens unit to a corresponding second image sensor unit. In some embodiments, the first aperture622aand/or the second aperture632amay have the shape of a square, a rectangle, a triangle, a polygon, a circle, an ellipse, an irregular shape, or the like.

In some embodiments, the bracket body610amay further include a first protruding part622disposed around the first aperture622aand/or a second protruding part624disposed around the second aperture632a. The protruding part (i.e., the first protruding part622or the second protruding part624) may be configured to limit a position of the corresponding lens unit, provide a protection function, block an interference light, etc. For example, an inner diameter of the protruding part may match an outer diameter of the corresponding lens unit, so that the corresponding lens unit can be accurately and stably mounted on the corresponding mounting surface. As another example, the first protruding part622may prevent contaminants (e.g., dust) from reaching the first lens unit to protect the first lens unit. In some embodiments, the first protruding part622and/or the second protruding part624may have the shape of a square, a rectangle, a triangle, a polygon, a circle, an ellipse, an irregular shape, or the like.

FIG.6Bis a front view of an exemplary connecting bracket according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. In some embodiments,FIGS.6B and5Bmay be different views of a same connecting bracket from different directions. As illustrated inFIG.6B, a connecting bracket600bmay include a bracket body610b. The bracket body610bmay include a first aperture622band a second aperture632b. Two mounting parts (e.g., a first mounting part620band a third mounting part630b) of the connecting bracket600bfor mounting two lens units (including a first lens unit and a second lens unit) may be disposed on a same side of the connecting bracket600b. As illustrated inFIG.6B,

The first mounting part620b(also be referred to as a first threaded connector or a first specific protruding part) may be disposed around the first aperture622band be configured to connect to the first lens unit. The first lens unit may be connected to the connecting bracket600bthrough a first connecting part (or a first threaded joint) on the first lens unit that matches with the first threaded connector. Thus, the first lens unit may be connected to the connecting bracket600bby a threaded connection. For example, the first threaded connector may have an inner thread and an outer surface of the first threaded joint on the first lens unit may have an outer thread matching the inner thread of the first threaded connector. The first lens unit may be connected to the connecting bracket600bbased on the inner thread of the first threaded connector and the outer thread of the first threaded joint by a threaded connection. As another example, the first threaded connector may have an outer thread and an inner surface of the first threaded joint on the first lens unit may have an inner thread matching the outer thread of the first threaded connector. The first lens unit may be connected to the connecting bracket600bbased on the inner thread of the first threaded joint and the outer thread of the first threaded connector by a threaded connection. In some embodiments, the first threaded connector may be used as a first protruding part to limit a position of the corresponding lens unit, provide a protection function, block an interference light, etc. Similarly, the third mounting part630b(also be referred to as a second threaded connector or a second specific protruding part) may be disposed around the second aperture632band be configured to connect to the second lens unit. The second lens unit may be connected to the connecting bracket600bthrough a second connecting part (or a second threaded joint) on the second lens unit that matches with the second threaded connector. Thus, the second lens unit may be connected to the connecting bracket600bby a threaded connection. In some embodiments, the second threaded connector may be used as a second protruding part to limit a position of the corresponding lens unit, provide a protection function, block an interference light, etc.

FIG.6Cis a back view of an exemplary connecting bracket according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, the connecting bracket500aillustrated inFIG.5Aand the connecting bracket500billustrated inFIG.5Bmay include a same back structure as illustrated inFIG.6C. As illustrated inFIG.6C, a connecting bracket600cmay include a bracket body610c. The bracket body610cmay include a first aperture622cand a second aperture632c. Two mounting parts (including a second mounting part620cand a fourth mounting part630c) of the connecting bracket600cfor mounting two image sensor units (including a first image sensor unit and a second image sensor unit) may be disposed on a same side of the connecting bracket600c.

As illustrated inFIG.6C, the second mounting part620c(or a third fixing seat, indicated by the dotted frame) may include one or more second fixing units (e.g., second fixing units638,640, and644) configured to connect to the first image sensor unit. In some embodiments, at least one of the one or more second fixing units may include a hole with an inner thread. The first image sensor unit may be connected to the connecting bracket600cby one or more screws matching with the inner threads of the one or more second fixing units through a third connecting part (or a third fixing plate) on the first image sensor unit. Similarly, the fourth mounting part630c(or a fourth fixing seat, indicated by the dotted frame) may include one or more fourth fixing units (e.g., fourth fixing units650,654, and656) configured to connect the second image sensor unit. The second image sensor unit may be connected to the connecting bracket600cby one or more screws through a fourth connecting part (or a fourth fixing plate) on the second image sensor unit. In some embodiments, the fourth fixing units may be the same as or similar to the second fixing units.

In some embodiments, the connecting bracket600cmay further include a first fence642disposed around the first aperture622cor the second mounting part facing the first image sensor unit and/or a second fence652disposed around the second aperture632cor the fourth mounting part facing the second image sensor unit. The fence (i.e., the first fence642or the second fence652) may be configured to strengthen the bracket body610c, limit a position of the corresponding image sensor unit, provide a protection function, block an interference light, etc. For example, a size of the fence may match a size of the corresponding image sensor unit, so that the corresponding image sensor unit can be accurately and stably mounted on the corresponding mounting surface. As another example, the first fence642(or the second fence652) may prevent contaminants (e.g., dust) from reaching the first image sensor unit (or the second image sensor unit) to protect the first image sensor unit (or the second image sensor unit). In some embodiments, the first fence642and/or the second fence652may have the shape of a square, a rectangle, a triangle, a polygon, a circle, an ellipse, an irregular shape, or the like.

In some embodiments, the connecting bracket600cmay further include one or more adjustment components configured to adjust a second mounting surface of the second mounting part620c. Additionally or alternatively, the connecting bracket600cmay further include one or more adjustment components configured to adjust a fourth mounting surface of the fourth mounting part630c. For example, during a process for assembling a camera component, after the first lens unit is mounted on the connecting bracket600c, a screw may be firstly used to approximately position the first image sensor unit. The second mounting surface may be adjusted to a certain location using the one or more adjustment components until a distance between an optical center of the first lens unit and an optical center of the first image sensor unit is less than a threshold. Then one or more other screws (or together with a glue) may be used to fix the first image sensor unit on the connecting bracket600c. In some embodiments, the adjustment components may include one or more elastic components including springs, metal sheets, etc. In some embodiments, when the elastic components includes springs, the springs may be disposed within a region defined by a fence (e.g., the first fence642or the second fence648) on the connecting bracket600c. For example, the springs may be disposed in the second fixing units (e.g.,638,640, or644) and/or the fourth fixing units (e.g., fixing units650,654, or656).

In some embodiments, the connecting bracket600cmay further include one or more reinforced structures configured to strengthen the bracket body610c. In some embodiments, the first fence642and/or the second fence648may be used as the reinforced structures. The one or more reinforced structures may be disposed on edge, middle, or inside of the bracket body610c. For example, as shown inFIG.6C, two reinforced structures646and648may be disposed on one or more edges of the bracket body610c.

FIG.7is a schematic diagram of an exemplary housing of a binocular camera according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. As illustrated inFIG.7, a front surface of a housing700may have two openings (e.g., openings710and720) corresponding to two camera components of a binocular camera. The two camera components of the binocular camera are arranged in a vertical direction. In some embodiments, the two camera components of the binocular camera may be arranged in a horizontal direction. The binocular camera may be mounted anywhere that needs to be monitored. For example, the binocular camera may be mounted near a crosswalk to detect traffic violation behaviors. As another example, the binocular camera may be mounted in a classroom to monitor the behaviors of students.

Having thus described the basic concepts, it may be rather apparent to those skilled in the art after reading this detailed disclosure that the foregoing detailed disclosure is intended to be presented by way of example only and is not limiting. Various alterations, improvements, and modifications may occur and are intended to those skilled in the art, though not expressly stated herein. These alterations, improvements, and modifications are intended to be suggested by this disclosure and are within the spirit and scope of the exemplary embodiments of this disclosure.

Moreover, certain terminology has been used to describe embodiments of the present disclosure. For example, the terms “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” and/or “some embodiments” mean that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. Therefore, it is emphasized and should be appreciated that two or more references to “an embodiment” or “one embodiment” or “an alternative embodiment” in various portions of this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures or characteristics may be combined as suitable in one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

Further, it will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, aspects of the present disclosure may be illustrated and described herein in any of a number of patentable classes or context including any new and useful process, machine, manufacture, or composition of matter, or any new and useful improvement thereof. Accordingly, aspects of the present disclosure may be implemented entirely hardware, entirely software (including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.) or combining software and hardware implementation that may all generally be referred to herein as a “unit,” “module,” or “system.” Furthermore, aspects of the present disclosure may take the form of a computer program product embodied in one or more computer-readable media having computer readable program code embodied thereon.

A non-transitory computer readable signal medium may include a propagated data signal with computer readable program code embodied therein, for example, in baseband or as part of a carrier wave. Such a propagated signal may take any of a variety of forms, including electromagnetic, optical, or the like, or any suitable combination thereof. A computer readable signal medium may be any computer readable medium that is not a computer readable storage medium and that may communicate, propagate, or transport a program for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device. Program code embodied on a computer readable signal medium may be transmitted using any appropriate medium, including wireless, wireline, optical fiber cable, RF, or the like, or any suitable combination of the foregoing.

Computer program code for carrying out operations for aspects of the present disclosure may be written in any combination of one or more programming languages, including an object-oriented programming language such as Java, Scala, Smalltalk, Eiffel, JADE, Emerald, C++, C#, VB. NET, Python or the like, conventional procedural programming languages, such as the “C” programming language, Visual Basic, Fortran, Perl, COBOL, PHP, ABAP, dynamic programming languages such as Python, Ruby, and Groovy, or other programming languages. The program code may execute entirely on the user's computer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user's computer through any type of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external computer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider) or in a cloud computing environment or offered as a service such as a Software as a Service (SaaS).

Furthermore, the recited order of processing elements or sequences, or the use of numbers, letters, or other designations, therefore, is not intended to limit the claimed processes and methods to any order except as may be specified in the claims. Although the above disclosure discusses through various examples what is currently considered to be a variety of useful embodiments of the disclosure, it is to be understood that such detail is solely for that purpose and that the appended claims are not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, are intended to cover modifications and equivalent arrangements that are within the spirit and scope of the disclosed embodiments. For example, although the implementation of various components described above may be embodied in a hardware device, it may also be implemented as a software-only solution, e.g., an installation on an existing server or mobile device.

Similarly, it should be appreciated that in the foregoing description of embodiments of the present disclosure, various features are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description thereof to streamline the disclosure aiding in the understanding of one or more of the various inventive embodiments. This method of disclosure, however, is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed object matter requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, inventive embodiments lie in less than all features of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment.

In some embodiments, the numbers expressing quantities, properties, and so forth, used to describe and claim certain embodiments of the application are to be understood as being modified in some instances by the term “about,” “approximate,” or “substantially.” For example, “about,” “approximate” or “substantially” may indicate ±20% variation of the value it describes, unless otherwise stated. Accordingly, in some embodiments, the numerical parameters set forth in the written description and attached claims are approximations that may vary depending upon the desired properties sought to be acquired by a particular embodiment. In some embodiments, the numerical parameters should be construed in light of the number of reported significant digits and by applying ordinary rounding techniques. Notwithstanding that the numerical ranges and parameters setting forth the broad scope of some embodiments of the application are approximations, the numerical values set forth in the specific examples are reported as precisely as practicable.

Each of the patents, patent applications, publications of patent applications, and other material, such as articles, books, specifications, publications, documents, things, and/or the like, referenced herein is hereby incorporated herein by this reference in its entirety for all purposes, excepting any prosecution file history associated with same, any of same that is inconsistent with or in conflict with the present document, or any of same that may have a limiting affect as to the broadest scope of the claims now or later associated with the present document. By way of example, should there be any inconsistency or conflict between the description, definition, and/or the use of a term associated with any of the incorporated material and that associated with the present document, the description, definition, and/or the use of the term in the present document shall prevail.

In closing, it is to be understood that the embodiments of the application disclosed herein are illustrative of the principles of the embodiments of the application. Other modifications that may be employed may be within the scope of the application. Thus, by way of example, but not of limitation, alternative configurations of the embodiments of the application may be utilized in accordance with the teachings herein. Accordingly, embodiments of the present application are not limited to that precisely as shown and described.