Patent ID: 6985780

Claim:
A camera system comprising: an image sensor that acquires image data; a control module that is positioned on or about the image sensor; an actuator that receives position commands from the control module; and a host computer, the control module connected to the host computer via a network, said control module comprising: a communications unit including: a component that specifies a unique identification for the communications unit; a processor; a non-volatile memory that provides a bootstrap load program of instructions for the processor; and a volatile program memory that stores a program of instructions for controlling the processor to process the image data, and stores data blocks of desired control state commands and current state control variables for the control module; and a function unit that drives the actuator, said communications unit electrically coupled to said function unit, the control module uses the acquire image data and the data blocks to send the position commands to the actuator using the function unit without communicating with the host computer.