System and method for camera selection tallying for multiple camera video production

• US 20020196329A1
• Filed: 04/17/2002
• Published: 12/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Edmond Dudkowski
• Inventors: Dudkowski, Edmond Louis
• Granted Patent: US 6,816,205 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/48
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/222 Studio circuitry; Studio devices; Studio equipment cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors, or control thereof H04N23/00

Abstract

A method and system for visually signaling the selection of a specific television or video camera source during the live editing of multiple camera sources is disclosed. The system includes an adapter and a power console in combination for receiving a plurality of tally signals from a video switcher and converting each of the tally signals into an encoded sub-audible Continuous Tone Control Squelch System tone. The system also includes a tally system having a plurality of belt-pack assemblies for receiving the encoded sub-audible CTCSS tone and illuminating tally lights corresponding to the camera selected by the switcher.

Claims

1. A system for camera selection tallying for multiple camera video production comprising:

an adaptor for receiving a plurality of tally signals generated in a switcher, each said tally signal generated in response to a given camera being selected, said adaptor further configured for converting each said received tally signal into an encoded signal having data that identifies an address that corresponds to the selected camera;

a tally system for decoding each said encoded signal to retrieve the address data and for displaying at least one visual indicator associated with said address data that identifies the corresponding camera that was selected; and

a power console coupled between said adaptor and said tally system for coupling each said encoded signal from said adaptor to said tally system.

2. The system of claim 1, said adaptor comprising:

a tally sense circuit comprising a plurality of tally input leads for receiving said plurality of tally signals;

a micro-controller coupled to said tally sense circuit for converting each said received tally signal into a Continuous Tone Control Squelch System “

CTCSS”

tone; and

and an encoder coupled to said micro-controller for encoding each said CTCSS tone with data that identifies a CTCSS code address that corresponds to the selected camera.

3. The system of claim 2, said adaptor further comprising a protective circuit coupled to said tally sense circuit for shielding said adaptor as it receives each said tally signal and a low pass filter coupled to said encoder for removing noise from each said encoded signal.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein said adaptor is a printed circuit assembly.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said power console is a private-line voice communication system comprising at least two audio frequency channels and at least one said audio frequency channel is configured for transmitting a Continuous Tone Control Squelch System tone on an intercom line.

6. The system of claim 5, said power console further comprising a power source for providing power to said adaptor and to said tally system.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein each said audio frequency channel is an intercom channel.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein each said intercom channel is a line driver for coupling to said tally system a combined signal comprising an encoded signal and a respective audio signal having verbal information.

9. The system of claim 1, said tally system comprising a plurality of tally subsystems coupled in parallel, wherein each said tally subsystem is associated with a different camera.

10. The system of claim 9, each said tally subsystem comprising a belt-pack coupled to a headset, each said tally subsystem further comprising said at least one visual indicator.

11. The system of claim 10, said belt-pack comprising:

an address dipswitch for setting a dipswitch address for said belt-pack for identifying the camera associated with said belt-pack; and

a decoder coupled to said dipswitch for demodulating said encoded signal to retrieve said address data and for comparing said address data to said dipswitch address setting, such that if said retrieved data matches said dipswitch address, said decoder activates said at least one visual indicator.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein each said visual indicator is a light emitting diode (LED).

13. The system of claim 12, each said tally subsystem comprising at least two LEDs, wherein one said LED is connected via a jack at the rear of said belt-pack and mounted on or near the associated camera, and another said LED is mounted on a microphone boom of said headset.

14. The system of claim 11, said belt-pack further comprising a dual lamp driver coupled between said decoder and said at least one visual indicator for illuminating said at least one visual indicator in response to a prompting from said decoder.

15. The system of claim 11, said belt-pack further configured for private-line communications for receiving a plurality of audio signals having verbal information.

16. The system of claim 15, said belt-pack further comprising:

a buffer and a first and second talk-off filter coupled between said buffer and said decoder for separating said encoded signals from said audio signals.

17. The system of claim 11, said belt-pack further comprising a rear panel having a plurality of connectors comprising at least one connector to said power console, at least one headset connector and at least one connector to each said visual indicator, said belt-pack further comprising a volume control to adjust an audio level of said headset.

18. A system for camera selection tallying for multiple camera video production comprising:

an adaptor comprising a tally sense circuit, a micro-controller and an encoder for receiving a plurality of tally signals generated in a switcher, each said tally signal generated in response to a given camera being selected, said adaptor further configured for converting each said received tally signal into an encoded signal having data that identifies an address that corresponds to the selected camera;

a tally system comprising a plurality of tally subsystems, each said tally subsystem comprising a belt-pack coupled to a headset and at least one visual indicator, said tally system for decoding each said encoded signal to retrieve the address data and for displaying said at least one visual indicator associated with said address data that identifies the corresponding camera that was selected; and

a power console coupled between said adaptor and said tally system for coupling each said encoded signal from said adaptor to said tally system.

19. A system for camera selection tallying for multiple camera video production comprising:

an adaptor for receiving a plurality of tally signals generated in a switcher, each said tally signal generated in response to a given camera being selected, said adaptor comprising a tally sense circuit comprising a plurality of tally input leads for receiving said plurality of tally signals, a micro-controller coupled to said tally sense circuit for converting each said received tally signal into a Continuous Tone Control Squelch System “

CTCSS”

tone, and and an encoder coupled to said micro-controller for encoding each said CTCSS tone with data that identifies a CTCSS code address that corresponds to the selected camera;

a tally system coupled to said adaptor, said tally system comprising a plurality of tally subsystems coupled in parallel, wherein each said tally subsystem is associated with a different camera, each said tally subsystem comprising a belt-pack coupled to a headset, each said tally subsystem further comprising at least one visual indicator, each said belt-pack comprising an address dipswitch for setting a dipswitch address for said belt-pack for identifying the camera associated with said belt-pack and a decoder coupled to said dipswitch for demodulating said encoded CTCSS tone to retrieve said address data and for comparing said address data to said dipswitch address setting, such that if said retrieved data matches said dipswitch address, said decoder activates said at least one visual indicator; and

a power console coupled between said adaptor and said tally system for coupling each said encoded signal from said adaptor to said tally system, wherein said power console is a private-line voice communication system comprising at least two audio frequency channels and at least one said audio frequency channel is configured for transmitting a Continuous Tone Control Squelch System tone on an intercom line, said power console further comprising a power source for providing power to said adaptor and to said tally system.

20. A method for camera selection tallying for multiple camera video production comprising:

(a) causing a tally signal to be received into an adaptor, said tally signal generated in response to a given camera being selected;

(b) causing said tally signal to be converted by said adaptor into an encoded signal having data that identifies an address that corresponds to the selected camera;

(c) causing said tally signal to be coupled from said adaptor to a tally system using a power console;

(d) causing said encoded signal to be decoded by said tally system to retrieve the address data; and

(e) causing a visual indicator associated with said address data to be displayed for identifying the corresponding camera that was selected and repeating steps (a)-(e) until said video production has ceased.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein said encoded signal is an encoded Continuous Tone Control Squelch System tone.

22. The method of claim 20, further comprising causing said encoded signal to be combined with an audio signal having verbal information by said power console before being coupled to said tally system.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein each said encoded signal is coupled to said tally system via a three-connector microphone cable.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein each said encoded signal is coupled to said tally system as a wireless radio frequency.

25. The method of claim 20 further comprising a step between steps (d) and (e) of causing said retrieved address data to be compared to a dipswitch setting for each of a plurality of belt-packs included in said tally system, each said dipswitch setting for setting an address that identifies a camera associated with the belt-pack, wherein a visual indicator coupled to said belt-pack having a dipswitch setting that matches the retrieved address data is displayed.

26. A method for camera selection tallying for multiple camera video production comprising:

(a) causing a tally signal to be received into an adaptor, said tally signal generated in response to a given camera being selected;

(b) causing said tally signal to be converted by said adaptor into an encoded signal having data that identifies an address that corresponds to the selected camera;

(c) causing said tally signal to be coupled from said adaptor to a tally system using a power console;

(d) causing said encoded signal to be decoded to retrieve the address data;

(e) causing said retrieved address data to be compared to a dipswitch setting for each of a plurality of belt-packs included in said tally system, each said dipswitch setting for setting an address that identifies a camera associated with the belt-pack; and

(f) causing a visual indicator coupled to said belt-pack having a dipswitch setting that matches the retrieved address data to be displayed for identifying the corresponding camera that was selected and repeating steps (a)-(f) until said video production has ceased.

27. A method for camera selection tallying for multiple camera video production comprising:

(a) causing a tally signal to be received into an adaptor, said tally signal generated in response to a given camera being selected;

(b) causing said tally signal to be converted by said adaptor into an encoded Continuous Tone Control Squelch System (CTCSS) tone having data that identifies an address that corresponds to the selected camera;

(c) causing said tally signal to be coupled from said adaptor to a tally system using a power console;

(d) causing said encoded signal to be decoded to retrieve the address data;

(e) causing said retrieved address data to be compared to a dipswitch setting for each of a plurality of belt-packs included in said tally system, each said dipswitch setting for setting a CTCSS code address that identifies a camera associated with the belt-pack; and

(f) causing a visual indicator coupled to said belt-pack having a CTCSS code address that matches the retrieved address data to be displayed for identifying the corresponding camera that was selected and repeating steps (a)-(f) until said video production has ceased.