Auto focus and zoom controller for controlling multiple cameras

• US 20040227819A1
• Filed: 05/13/2003
• Published: 11/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Original Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Inventors: Houlberg, Christian L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,170,549 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/207.99
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/55 Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/634 Warning indications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/67 Focus control based on electronic image sensor signals

Abstract

An Auto Focus and Zoom Controller for controlling multiple cameras and their lens tracking a vehicle in flight at a test range. The Auto Focus and Zoom Controller controls camera lens functions including focus, focal length, and exposure settings, based upon information stored in a track file, in order to obtain optimal recordings of launch events at the test range.

Claims

1. A camera lens control system for use at a test range, said camera lens control system controlling camera lens functions to obtain optimal recordings of launch events of an airborne vehicle at said test range, comprising:

video camera means having a lens, said video camera means tracking a launch and a test flight of said airborne vehicle along a flight path for said airborne vehicle;

said video camera means generating video flight data of the launch and the test flight of said airborne vehicle along the flight path for said airborne vehicle;

controller means connected to said video camera means to receive said video flight data of the launch and the test flight of said airborne vehicle;

video monitoring and recording means connected to said controller means to-receive said video flight data generated by said video camera means, said video monitoring and recording means, responsive to said video flight data received by said video monitoring and recording, displaying the launch and the test flight of said airborne vehicle along the flight path for said airborne vehicle, said video monitoring and recording means recording the launch and the test flight of said airborne vehicle;

said controller means having a memory card, and a computer software program, said memory card storing flight path information which identifies the flight path for said airborne vehicle;

said controller means controlling focus, zoom and iris settings for the lens of said video camera means during the launch and the test flight of said airborne vehicle along the flight path of said airborne vehicle when said first camera means is tracking said airborne vehicle; and

said computer software program handling and interpreting said flight path information stored on said memory card enabling operation of said controller means allowing said controller means to automatically control the focus, zoom and iris settings for the lens of said video camera means during the launch and the test flight of said airborne vehicle along the flight path for said airborne vehicle.

2. The camera lens control system of claim 1 further comprising a switch pad connected to said controller means, said switch pad when connected to said controller means allowing an operator to manually control the focus, zoom and iris settings for the lens of said first camera and the lens of said second camera during the launch and the test flight of said airborne vehicle.

3. The camera lens control system of claim 1 wherein said controller means has a front panel, the front panel of said controller means having first, second and third light emitting diodes mounted on said front panel, said first, second and third light emitting diodes indicating system status for said controller means, said first, second and third light emitting diodes providing a visual indication of adjustments to said focus and zoom settings for the lens of said video camera means.

4. The camera lens control system of claim 1 further comprising:

a focus table computer connected to said Controller means;

a first focus table connected to said focus table computer; and

a second focus table connected to said focus table computer, wherein the computer software program for said controller means controls operation of said focus table computer, said first focus table and said second focus table.

5. The camera lens control system of claim 1 wherein said focus, zoom, and iris settings for the lens of said video camera means are contained in a track file stored on said memory card, said focus, zoom and lens settings being preset in said track file for the flight path of said airborne vehicle which allows said operator to monitor said airborne vehicle without manually adjusting said focus, zoom and iris settings as said airborne vehicle travels along said flight path.

6. A camera lens control system for use at a test range, said camera lens control system controlling camera lens functions to obtain optimal recordings of launch events of an airborne vehicle at said test range, comprising:

a first camera having a lens, said first camera tracking a launch and a test flight of said airborne vehicle along a flight path for said airborne vehicle;

a second camera having a lens, said second camera tracking the launch and the test flight of said airborne vehicle along the flight path for said airborne vehicle;

said first camera and said second camera generating video flight data of the launch and the test flight of said airborne vehicle along the flight path for said airborne vehicle;

an Auto Focus and Zoom Controller connected to said first camera and said second camera to receive said video flight data of the launch and the test flight of said airborne vehicle;

a first video monitor and recorder connected to said Auto Focus and Zoom Controller to receive said video flight data generated by said first camera, said first video monitor and recorder, responsive to said video flight data received by said first video monitor and recorder, displaying the launch and the test flight of said airborne vehicle along the flight path for said airborne vehicle, said first video monitor and recorder recording the launch and the test flight of said airborne vehicle;

a second video monitor and recorder connected to said Auto Focus and Zoom Controller to receive said video flight data generated by said second camera, said second video monitor and recorder, responsive to said video flight data received by said second video monitor and recorder, displaying the launch and the test flight of said airborne vehicle along the flight path for said airborne vehicle, said second video monitor and recorder recording the launch and the test flight of said airborne vehicle and the flight path for said airborne vehicle;

said Auto Focus and Zoom Controller having a memory card, and a computer software program, said memory card storing flight path information which identifies the flight path for said airborne vehicle;

said Auto Focus and Zoom Controller controlling focus, zoom and iris settings for the lens of said first camera and the lens of said second camera during the launch and the test flight of said airborne vehicle along the flight path of said airborne vehicle when said first camera and said second camera are tracking said airborne vehicle; and

said computer software program handling and interpreting said flight path information stored on said memory card enabling operation of said Auto Focus and Zoom Controller allowing said Auto Focus and Zoom Controller to automatically control the focus, zoom and iris settings for the lens of said first camera and the lens of said second camera during the launch and the test flight of said airborne vehicle along the flight path for said airborne vehicle.

7. The camera lens control system of claim 6 further comprising a switch pad connected to said Auto Focus and Zoom Controller, said switch pad when connected to said Auto Focus and Zoom Controller allowing an operator to manually control the focus, zoom and iris settings for the lens of said first camera and the lens of said second camera during the launch and the test flight of said airborne vehicle.

8. The camera lens control system of claim 6 wherein said Auto Focus and Zoom Controller has a front panel, the front panel of said Auto Focus and Zoom Controller having first, second and third light emitting diodes mounted on said front panel, said first, second and third light emitting diodes indicating system status for said Auto Focus and Zoom Controller, said first, second and third light emitting diodes providing a visual indication of adjustments to said focus and zoom settings for the lens of said first camera and the lens of said second camera.

9. The camera lens control system of claim 6 further comprising:

a focus table computer connected to said Auto Focus and Zoom Controller;

a first focus table connected to said focus table computer; and

a second focus table connected to said focus table computer, wherein the computer software program for said Auto Focus and Zoom Controller controls operation of said focus table computer, said first focus table and said second focus table.

10. The camera lens control system of claim 6 wherein said focus, zoom, and iris settings for the lens of said first camera and the lens of said second camera are contained in a track file stored on said memory card, said focus, zoom and lens settings being preset in said track file for the flight path of said airborne vehicle which allows an operator to monitor said airborne vehicle without manually adjusting said focus, zoom and iris settings as said airborne vehicle travels along said flight path.

11. The camera lens control system of claim 10 wherein said track file includes field-of-view and exposure data for monitoring said airborne vehicle as said airborne vehicle travels along said flight path.

12. The camera lens control system of claim 6 further comprising a camera bayonet mount having said first camera and the lens of said first camera mounted thereon and a camera housing having said second camera and the lens of said second camera mounted therein.

13. A camera lens control system for use at a test range, said camera lens control system controlling camera lens functions to obtain optimal recordings of launch events of an airborne vehicle at said test range, comprising:

a first camera having a lens, said first camera tracking a launch and a test flight of said airborne vehicle along a flight path for said airborne vehicle;

a second camera having a lens, said second camera tracking the launch and the test flight of said airborne vehicle along the flight path for said airborne vehicle;

said first camera and said second camera generating video flight data of the launch and the test flight of said airborne vehicle along the flight path for said airborne vehicle;

an Auto Focus and Zoom Controller connected to said first camera and said second camera to receive said video flight data of the launch and the test flight of said airborne vehicle;

a first video monitor and recorder connected to said Auto Focus and Zoom Controller to receive said video flight data generated by said first camera, said first video monitor and recorder, responsive to said video flight data received by said first video monitor and recorder, displaying the launch and the test flight of said airborne vehicle along the flight path for said airborne vehicle, said first video monitor and recorder recording the launch and the test flight of said airborne vehicle;

a second video monitor and recorder connected to said Auto Focus and Zoom Controller to receive said video flight data generated by said second camera, said second video monitor and recorder, responsive to said video flight data received by said second video monitor and recorder, displaying the launch and the test flight of said airborne vehicle along the flight path for said airborne vehicle, said second video monitor and recorder recording the launch and the test flight of said airborne vehicle and the flight path for said airborne vehicle;

said Auto Focus and Zoom Controller having a memory card, and a computer software program, said memory card storing flight path information which identifies the flight path for said airborne vehicle;

said Auto Focus and Zoom Controller controlling focus, zoom and iris settings for the lens of said first camera and the lens of said second camera during the launch and the test flight of said airborne vehicle along the flight path of said airborne vehicle when said first camera and said second camera are tracking said airborne vehicle;

said computer software program handling and interpreting said flight path information stored on said memory card enabling operation of said Auto Focus and Zoom Controller allowing said Auto Focus and Zoom Controller to automatically control the focus, zoom and iris settings for the lens of said first camera and the lens of said second camera during the launch and the test flight of said airborne vehicle along the flight path for said airborne vehicle;

a switch pad connected to said Auto Focus and Zoom Controller, said switch pad when connected to said Auto Focus and Zoom Controller allowing an operator to manually control the focus, zoom and iris settings for the lens of said first camera and the lens of said second camera during the launch and the test flight of said airborne vehicle, said switch pad having a plurality of switches including a lens one switch, a lens two switch, a focus switch, a zoom switch and an iris switch which said operator selectively activates to control the focus, zoom and iris settings for the lens of said first camera and the lens of said second camera.

14. The camera lens control system of claim 13 wherein said lens one switch and said lens two switch comprise push button switches and said focus switch, said zoom switch and said iris switch comprise toggle switches.

15. The camera lens control system of claim 14 wherein said focus, zoom, and iris settings for the lens of said first camera are controlled with said toggle switches when said lens one switch is pressed and said focus, zoom, and iris settings for the lens of said second camera are controlled with said toggle switches when said lens two switch is pressed.

16. The camera lens control system of claim 13 wherein said Auto Focus and Zoom Controller has a front panel, the front panel of said Auto Focus and Zoom Controller having first, second and third light emitting diodes mounted on said front panel, said first, second and third light emitting diodes indicating system status for said Auto Focus and Zoom Controller, said first, second and third light emitting diodes providing a visual indication of adjustments to said focus and zoom settings for the lens of said first camera and the lens of said second camera.

17. The camera lens control system of claim 13 further comprising:

a focus table computer connected to said Auto Focus and Zoom Controller;

a first focus table connected to said focus table computer; and

a second focus table connected to said focus table computer, wherein the computer software program for said Auto Focus and Zoom Controller controls operation of said focus table computer, said first focus table and said second focus table.

18. The camera lens control system of claim 13 further comprising a camera bayonet mount having said first camera and the lens of said first camera mounted thereon and a camera housing having said second camera and the lens of said second camera mounted therein.

19. The camera lens control system of claim 13 wherein said focus, zoom, and iris settings for the lens of said first camera and the lens of said second camera are contained in a track file stored on said memory card, said focus, zoom and lens settings being preset in said track file for the flight path of said airborne vehicle which allows said operator to monitor said airborne vehicle without manually adjusting said focus, zoom and iris settings as said airborne vehicle travels along said flight path.

20. The camera lens control system of claim 19 wherein said track file includes field-of-view and exposure data for monitoring said airborne vehicle as said airborne vehicle travels along said flight path.