Abstract: A camera (10) that has four imaging means (12), each arranged to capture a different field of view and each associated with a separate sensor or detector (20). Each imaging means (12) is tilted to capture light from a zenith above the camera. The four imaging means (12) are equally spaced around a central axis, so that each contributes around a quarter of the scene being imaged.
Abstract: A method is provided for generating or updating a virtual 3D model of a structure or environment using a modelling system. The modelling system includes at least one imaging system, at least one processor and data storage. The method involves transferring a part but not all of a model of a structure or environment from an external data store to the data storage of the modelling system; using the at least one imaging system to collect at least one image of the structure or environment; determining or collecting depth information for the structure or environment; and updating the part of the model in the data storage with the at least one image and the depth information to form an updated part of the model. Also described: corresponding modelling system, processing system, computer program product and drone system.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 22, 2017
Date of Patent:
February 23, 2021
Assignee:
NCTech Ltd
Inventors:
Neil Tocher, Cameron Ure, Mansour Ahmadian
Abstract: A processing system for a camera, such as a panoramic camera, and an associated mobile device, vehicle, computer program product and method of use. The processing system being configured to access a data store that stores priority or value data, the priority or value data indicating respective priorities or values for each of a plurality of roads, locations, regions or areas. The processing system is configured to determine or identify a location and determine the priority or value for the determined or identified location from the priority or value data.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
October 17, 2017
Date of Patent:
January 26, 2021
Assignee:
NCTech Ltd
Inventors:
Neil Tocher, Cameron Ure, Mansour Ahmadian
Abstract: A camera and associated method of operation, the camera comprising a plurality of sensor systems, each sensor system comprising at least one spatial sensor and at least one image sensor, wherein at least part of a field of view of one or more or each of the sensor systems differs to at least part of the field of view of at least one or each other of the sensor systems.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 1, 2017
Date of Patent:
June 9, 2020
Assignee:
NCTech Ltd
Inventors:
Neil Tocher, Cameron Ure, Mansour Ahmadian
Abstract: An imaging system having a plurality of imaging sensors, each imaging sensor comprising a plurality of pixels or sensing elements configured to detect incident radiation and output a signal representative thereof. Each imaging sensor is operable to sample different subsets of pixels or sensing elements at different times to collect output signals representative of radiation incident thereon. The imaging system is configured to sample one or more of the subsets of pixels or sensing elements of one or more or each imaging sensor that are towards and/or closest to at least one or each neighboring or adjacent sensor whilst collecting output signals from one or more subsets of pixels or sensing elements of the at least one or each neighboring or adjacent imaging sensor that are towards and/or closest to the imaging sensor.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 1, 2017
Date of Patent:
October 29, 2019
Assignee:
NCTech Ltd
Inventors:
Neil Tocher, Cameron Ure, Mansour Ahmadian
Abstract: A camera (10) that has four imaging means (12), each arranged to capture a different field of view and each associated with a separate sensor or detector (20). Each imaging means (12) is tilted to capture light from a zenith above the camera. The four imaging means (12) are equally spaced around a central axis, so that each contributes around a quarter of the scene being imaged.