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A smart camera with modular expansion capabilities, including a housing, a camera directly attached to the housing for acquiring an image of an object, a functional unit comprised in the housing and coupled to the camera, where the functional unit is configurable to implement an image processing fun

A smart camera with modular expansion capabilities, including a housing, a camera directly attached to the housing for acquiring an image of an object, a functional unit comprised in the housing and coupled to the camera, where the functional unit is configurable to implement an image processing function, a backplane comprised in the housing and coupled to the functional unit to provide electrical communication, and one or more slots comprised in the housing, where each slot includes a connector that is electrically coupled to the backplane, and where each slot is adapted for receiving a function module. An inserted function module provides modular functionality to the smart camera, such as dedicated image processing functionality, pattern recognition, analysis, communication, sensor, sensor I/O, signal conditioning and/or conversion, control, measurement, and synchronization, among others. The function module may communicate a protocol to the functional unit which may be configured to implement the protocol.

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We claim: 1. A smart camera, comprising: a housing having a plurality of sides; a camera attached to the housing for acquiring an image of an object; and a programmable gate array comprised in the housing and coupled to the camera, wherein the programmable gate array is configurable to implement an

We claim: 1. A smart camera, comprising: a housing having a plurality of sides; a camera attached to the housing for acquiring an image of an object; and a programmable gate array comprised in the housing and coupled to the camera, wherein the programmable gate array is configurable to implement an image processing function; a backplane comprised in the housing operable to provide electrical communication, wherein the backplane is coupled to the programmable gate array; and one or more slots comprised in the housing, wherein each of the one or more slots includes a connector that is electrically coupled to the backplane, and wherein each of the one or more slots is adapted for receiving a function module; a first function module adapted to be placed in the one of the one or more slots and to connect to the connector for electrically coupling to the backplane; wherein, during operation, the first function module provides measurement functionality, wherein to provide the measurement functionality, during operation, the first function module: receives data from one or more measurement devices or sensors; performs one or more measurement functions on the data; and provides the data to the backplane. 2. The smart camera of claim 1, wherein the programmable gate array is programmable over a network. 3. The smart camera of claim 1, wherein the one or more slots comprise a plurality of slots. 4. The smart camera of claim 1, wherein the first function module is programmable over a network. 5. The smart camera of claim 1, wherein the first function module comprises a second programmable gate array. 6. The smart camera of claim 1, wherein the backplane comprises a bus for communication with the first function module, wherein the bus provides for timing and triggering between the smart camera and the first function module. 7. The smart camera of claim 6, wherein said providing for timing and triggering between the smart camera and the first function module comprises providing for timing and triggering between the smart camera and a device coupled to the first function module.