Digital observation system

Abstract

A digital observation system and method for processing and transmitting video data between a video camera, or video cameras, and a base unit. The video data is transmitted, for example, by a communication protocol that is compliant with Ethernet physical drivers for transmitting and receiving data at around 100 Mbps. Video is captured at a sensor in the video camera, digitally processed and transmitted, thus overcoming limitations associated with analog processing and allowing unique features to be added. Images and other data may be transmitted efficiently in their native format, with reduced overhead, and in a non-compressed format due to the data transmission rate at or below 100 Mbps.

1. A digital observation system comprising:
 a digital camera including:
 a charge coupled device (CCD) image sensor memory adapted to store video data; 
 a CCD image sensor adapted to transmit the stored video data in analog RGB color space format native to the CCD image sensor (analog RGB data), wherein the CCD image sensor comprises the CCD image sensor memory; 
 a correlated double sampling (CDS) circuit adapted to receive the analog RGB data from the CCD image sensor and convert the analog RGB data into digital RGB data, wherein the CDS circuit is operably coupled to the CCD image sensor; and 
 a physical interface adapted to receive the digital RGB data and transmit the digital RGB data with reduced operational overhead and increased operational functionality, wherein the physical interface is operably coupled to the CDS circuit; 
 a programmable logic device (PLD) adapted to delay one line of the digital RGB data when a transmission error correction occurs; and 
 
 a base unit including:
 a base unit physical interface adapted to receive the digital RGB data with the reduced operational overhead and the increased operational functionality from the digital camera physical interface; 
 a base unit programmable logic device (PLD) operably coupled to the base unit physical interface; and 
 a display adapted to display the digital RGB data with reduced operational overhead and increased operational functionality, wherein the display is operably coupled to the PLD. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The digital observation system of  claim 1 , wherein the base unit PLD is adapted to control timing signals to display the digital RGB data with the reduced operational overhead and the increased operational functionality. 
     
     
       3. The digital observation system of  claim 1 , wherein the digital camera PLD is adapted to control timing signals to the CCD image sensor to transmit the analog RGB data to the CDS circuit, wherein the digital camera PLD interfaces to the CDS circuit. 
     
     
       4. The digital observation system of  claim 1 , wherein the digital RGB data with the reduced operational overhead and the increased operational functionality is transmitted from the digital camera physical interface and received by the base unit physical interface via a physical layer device. 
     
     
       5. A digital observation system comprising:
 a digital camera including:
 a charge coupled device (CCD) image sensor memory adapted to store video data; 
 a CCD image sensor adapted to transmit the stored video data in analog RGB color space format native to the CCD image sensor (analog RGB data), wherein the CCD image sensor comprises the CCD image sensor memory; 
 a correlated double sampling (CDS) circuit adapted to receive the analog RGB data from the CCD image sensor and convert the analog RGB data into digital RGB data, wherein the CDS circuit is operably coupled to the CCD image sensor; and 
 a physical interface adapted to receive the digital RGB data and transmit the digital RGB data with reduced operational overhead and increased operational functionality, wherein the physical interface is operably coupled to the CDS circuit; and 
   a base unit including:
 a base unit physical interface adapted to receive the digital RGB data with the reduced operational overhead and the increased operational functionality from the digital camera physical interface; 
 a base unit programmable logic device (PLD) operably coupled to the base unit physical interface; and 
 a display adapted to display the digital RGB data with reduced operational overhead and increased operational functionality, wherein the display is operably coupled to the PLD; and 
   operational overhead reduction by elimination of at least one of:
 error detection; 
 source addressing; and 
 destination addressing. 
   
     
     
       6. A digital observation system comprising:
 a digital camera including:
 a charge coupled device (CCD) image sensor memory adapted to store video data; 
 a CCD image sensor adapted to transmit the stored video data in analog RGB color space format native to the CCD image sensor (analog RGB data), wherein the CCD image sensor comprises the CCD image sensor memory; 
 a correlated double sampling (CDS) circuit adapted to receive the analog RGB data from the CCD image sensor and convert the analog RGB data into digital RGB data, wherein the CDS circuit is operably coupled to the CCD image sensor; 
 a programmable logic device (PLD) adapted to:
 receive the transmitted digital RGB data from the CDS circuit; 
 convert the received digital RGB data into YUV color space format (digital YUV data); 
 transmit the digital YUV data to a Y average circuit which determines an average brightness; 
 transmit the average brightness to an exposure control circuit, which generates an automatic gain control signal; and 
 transmit the automatic gain control signal back to the CDS circuit; and 
 
 a physical interface adapted to receive the digital YUV data and transmit the digital YUV data with reduced operational overhead and increased operational functionality, wherein the physical interface is operably coupled to the CDS circuit and wherein the digital camera PLD interfaces to the physical interface; and 
 
 a base unit including:
 a base unit physical interface adapted to receive the digital YUV data with the reduced operational overhead and the increased operational functionality from the digital camera physical interface; 
 a base unit PLD operably coupled to the base unit physical interface; and 
 a display adapted to display the digital YUV data with reduced operational overhead and increased operational functionality, wherein the display is operably coupled to the base unit PLD. 
 
 
     
     
       7. The digital observation system of  claim 6 , wherein the digital camera PLD is further adapted to control timing signals to the CCD image sensor to transmit the digital YUV data to the CDS circuit. 
     
     
       8. The digital observation system of  claim 6 , wherein the digital camera PLD is further adapted to delay one line of the digital YUV data with the reduced operational overhead and the increased operational functionality transmission when a transmission error correction occurs. 
     
     
       9. The digital observation system of  claim 6 , wherein the digital YUV data with reduced operational overhead and increased operational functionality is transmitted from the digital camera physical interface and received by the base unit physical interface via a physical layer device. 
     
     
       10. A digital camera programmable logic device (PLD) configured to:
 control timing signals to a CCD image sensor to transmit analog RGB data to a CDS circuit where the analog RGB data is converted to digital RGB data; and 
 delay one line of the digital RGB data transmission when a transmission error correction occurs; 
 wherein the digital RGB data transmission comprises reduced operational overhead, with respect to a protocol standard; 
 wherein the operational overhead includes at least one of:
 error detection; 
 source addressing; 
 destination addressing; and 
 multi-speed operation. 
 
 
     
     
       11. The digital camera PLD of  claim 10  further comprising a two video line delay memory configured to delay the one line of the digital RGB data transmission when the transmission error correction occurs. 
     
     
       12. A digital camera programmable logic device (PLD) configured to:
 receive digital RGB data from a correlated double sampling (CDS) circuit; 
 convert the received digital RGB data into digital YUV data; 
 transmit the digital YUV data to a Y average circuit which determines the average brightness; 
 transmit the average brightness to an exposure control circuit, which generates an automatic gain control (AGC) signal; and 
 transmit the AGC signal to the CDS circuit, wherein the digital camera PLD interfaces to the CDS circuit. 
 
     
     
       13. A digital observation system comprising:
 a digital camera including:
 an image sensor memory adapted to store video data; 
 an image sensor adapted to transform the stored video data into analog RGB color space format native to the image sensor (analog RGB data), wherein the image sensor comprises the image sensor memory; 
 an analog-to-digital converter adapted to receive the analog RGB data and convert the analog RGB data into digital RGB data, wherein the analog-to-digital converter is associated with the image sensor; 
 a physical interface adapted to receive the digital RGB data and transmit the digital RGB data with reduced operational overhead and increased operational functionality, wherein the physical interface is operably coupled to the analog-to-digital converter; and 
 a programmable logic device (PLD) adapted to delay the digital RGB data prior to transmission, wherein the programmable logic device (PLD) is adapted to delay one line of the digital RGB data when a transmission error occurs; and 
   a base unit including:
 a base unit physical interface adapted to receive the digital RGB data with the reduced operational overhead and the increased operational functionality from the digital camera physical interface; and 
 a base unit programmable logic device (PLD) operably coupled to the base unit physical interface; and 
   a memory associated with the base unit and being adapted to store the digital RGB data with reduced operational overhead and increased operational functionality prior to displaying a video image based on the digital RGB data.   
     
     
       14. A digital observation system comprising:
 a digital camera including:
 an image sensor memory adapted to store video data; 
 an image sensor adapted to transform the stored video data into analog RGB color space format native to the image sensor (analog RGB data), wherein the image sensor comprises the image sensor memory; 
 an analog-to-digital converter adapted to receive the analog RGB data and convert the analog RGB data into digital RGB data, wherein the analog-to-digital converter is associated with the image sensor; 
 a physical interface adapted to receive the digital RGB data and transmit the digital RGB data with reduced operational overhead and increased operational functionality, wherein the physical interface is operably coupled to the analog-to-digital converter; and 
 a module adapted to delay the digital RGB data prior to transmission, wherein the module is adapted to delay one line of the digital RGB data when a transmission error occurs; and 
   a base unit including:
 a base unit physical interface adapted to receive the digital RGB data with the reduced operational overhead and the increased operational functionality from the digital camera physical interface; and 
 a base unit programmable logic device (PLD) operably coupled to the base unit physical interface; and 
   a memory associated with the base unit and being adapted to store the digital RGB data with reduced operational overhead and increased operational functionality prior to displaying a video image based on the RGB data, wherein the digital camera is adapted to reduce operational overhead by elimination of at least one of:
 error detection; 
 source addressing; and 
 destination addressing. 
   
     
     
       15. A digital observation system comprising:
 a digital camera including:
 an image sensor memory adapted to store video data; 
 an image sensor adapted to transform the stored video data into analog RGB color space format native to the image sensor (analog RGB data), wherein the image sensor comprises the image sensor memory; 
 an analog-to-digital converter adapted to receive the analog RGB data and convert the analog RGB data into digital RGB data, wherein the analog-to-digital converter is associated with the image sensor; 
   a programmable logic device (PLD) adapted to:
 receive transmitted digital RGB data from the analog-to-digital converter; 
 convert the received digital RGB data into YUV color space format (digital YUV data); 
 transmit the digital YUV data to a Y average circuit which determines an average brightness; and 
 transmit the average brightness to an exposure control circuit, which generates an automatic gain control signal; and 
 physical interface adapted to receive the digital YUV data and transmit the digital YUV data with reduced operational overhead and increased operational functionality; 
   a base unit including:
 a base unit physical interface adapted to receive the digital YUV data with the reduced operational overhead and the increased operational functionality from the digital camera physical interface; and 
 a base unit PLD operably coupled to the base unit physical interface; and 
   a memory associated with the base unit and being adapted to store the digital YUV data with reduced operational overhead and increased operational functionality prior to displaying a video image based on the RGB data.   
     
     
       16. The digital observation system of claim 15, wherein the digital observation system further includes a correlated double sampling circuit (CDS) and wherein the digital camera PLD is further adapted to control timing signals to the image sensor to transmit the digital YUV data to the CDS circuit. 
     
     
       17. The digital observation system of claim 16 wherein the CDS includes the analog-to-digital converter. 
     
     
       18. The digital observation system of claim 15, wherein the digital camera PLD is further adapted to delay the digital YUV data with the reduced operational overhead and the increased operational functionality prior to transmission. 
     
     
       19. The digital observation system of claim 18, wherein the digital camera PLD is further adapted to delay one line of the digital YUV data with the reduced operational overhead and the increased operational functionality transmission when a transmission error correction occurs. 
     
     
       20. The digital observation system of claim 15, wherein the digital YUV data with reduced operational overhead and increased operational functionality is transmitted from the digital camera physical interface and received by the base unit physical interface via a physical layer device. 
     
     
       21. The digital observation system of claim 15 wherein the base unit further includes a module adapted to process CFA data from the digital camera to create data corresponding to a color image. 
     
     
       22. A digital camera programmable logic device (PLD) configured to:
 control timing signals to an image sensor to transmit analog RGB data to an analog-to-digital converter where the analog RGB data is converted to digital RGB data; and   selectively delay digital RGB data transmission;   wherein the PLD is configured to delay one line of the digital RGB data transmission when a transmission error correction occurs;   wherein the digital RGB data transmission comprises reduced operational overhead with respect to a protocol standard; and   wherein the operational overhead includes at least one of:
 error detection; 
 source addressing; 
 destination addressing; and 
 multi-speed operation. 
   
     
     
       23. The digital camera PLD of claim 22 further comprising a two video line delay memory configured to delay the one line of the digital RGB data transmission when the transmission error correction occurs.