Image orienting coupling assembly
US7956887B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 16, 2006 |
| Grant date | Jun 7, 2011 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 5, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B27/642
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A coupling assembly for a scope and an image sensor housing is disclosed generally comprising an image orientation unit having first and second coupling sections for coupling the unit to a scope and an image sensor housing, such as a camera head, an optical assembly with a rotatable optical element for rotating the images, a rotation sensor for monitoring rotation of the optical element, an accelerometer for monitoring rotation of the unit, and a processor for receiving signals from the rotation sensor and the accelerometer and calculating the orientation of the images relative to the direction of gravity. In certain embodiments, the processor causes an actuator to rotate the optical element to level the images. In some embodiments, the processor activates a visual indicator, such as a diode, to indicate the direction of vertical.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.