Patent ID: 7532249

Claim:
A smart camera, comprising: a housing having a plurality of sides; a camera attached to the housing for acquiring an image of an object; and a programmable gate array comprised in the housing and coupled to the camera, wherein the programmable gate array is configurable to implement an image processing function; a backplane comprised in the housing operable to provide electrical communication, wherein the backplane is coupled to the programmable gate array; and one or more slots comprised in the housing, wherein each of the one or more slots includes a connector that is electrically coupled to the backplane, and wherein each of the one or more slots is adapted for receiving a function module; a first function module adapted to be placed in the one of the one or more slots and to connect to the connector for electrically coupling to the backplane; wherein, during operation, the first function module provides measurement functionality, wherein to provide the measurement functionality, during operation, the first function module: receives data from one or more measurement devices or sensors; performs one or more measurement functions on the data; and provides the data to the backplane.