Multiple camera sensor system

Abstract

The present invention discloses a multiple camera sensor system and a method for any application and for a large number of different fields. The present invention is solving certain problems related to existing camera technology issues by introducing the possibility of getting several different camera inputs from the same source or moving shots/images without physically moving any cameras. It will minimize the physical presence of existing camera technology, size, weight and design and also to large extent avoid physical laws like gravity, vibrations, acceleration, retardation and speed. This may be implemented by means of a software virtually moving camera using multiple cameras sensors mounted consecutively along some attachment solution. This attachment solution may include e.g. tape or strips. The invention can be utilized in areas like industry and production support, medical appliances, AV production, Video Conferencing, Broadcast, Surveillance and Security among others.

1 . A multi-camera sensor system providing a target image by a movable virtual camera with a virtual camera field of view localized at a virtual camera point of view, comprising:
 a plurality of camera sensors each with respective sensor fields of view consecutively positioned on one or more strips adjusted to be attached to one or more surfaces, defining a 2 or 3-dimensional space when attached to the one or more surfaces spanned by the positions of the camera sensors, a processing device at least adjusted to:
 determine a current virtual camera point of view within the 2 or 3-dimensional space, select image data captured by a first set of the camera sensors having sensor field of views which at least in combination are covering the current virtual camera field of view associated with the current virtual camera point of view, 
 create the target image within the current virtual camera field of view by stitching the selected image data, determine an updated virtual camera point of view within the 2 or 3-dimensional space different from the current virtual camera point of view, 
 re-select image data captured by a second set of the camera sensors if the first set of the camera sensors do not have sensor field of views which at least in combination are covering the updated virtual camera field of view associated with the updated virtual camera point of view, and 
 re-create the target image within the updated virtual camera field of view by re-stitching the selected image data, and 
 
 a transmission media inherently provided in the one or more strips adjusted to in real time transmit image data captured by the camera sensors and control data between the camera sensors and the processing device. 
   
     
     
         2 . A multi-camera sensor system according to  claim 1 , wherein in that the transmission media includes several channels controlled by a switching protocol, and that the processing device further includes an image capturer consisting of hardware interfacing an image sensor circuitry and an image reader module, making data from all camera sensors readable, the image reader further actively selects image sensor data by the switching protocol made ready by the image capturing device. 
     
     
         3 . A method for providing a target image by a movable virtual camera with a virtual camera field of view localized at a virtual camera point of view, comprising:
 determining a current virtual camera point of view within an 2 or 3-dimensional space being defined by the positions of a number of camera sensors, each with respective sensor fields of view, consecutively positioned on one or more strips attached to one or more surfaces,   selecting image data captured by a first set of the camera sensors having sensor field of views which at least in combination are covering the current virtual camera field of view associated with the current virtual camera point of view,   creating the target image within the current virtual camera field of view by stitching the selected image data,   determining an updated virtual camera point of view within the 2 or 3-dimensional space different from the current virtual camera point of view,   re-selecting image data captured by a second set of the camera sensors if the first set of the camera sensors do not have sensor field of views which at least in combination cover the updated virtual camera field of view associated with the updated virtual camera point of view, and   re-creating the target image within the updated virtual camera field of view by re-stitching the selected image data, and   transmitting in real time image data captured by the camera sensors and control data between the camera sensors and the processing device on a transmission media inherently provided in or connected to the one or more attachment devices.   
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 3 , wherein transmission media includes several channels controlled by a switching protocol, and the processing device further includes an image capturer consisting of hardware interfacing an image sensor circuitry and an image reader module, making data from all camera sensors readable, the image reader further actively selects image sensor data by the switching protocol made ready by the image capturing device.