Camera assembly for finger board instruments

• US 20060107816A1
• Filed: 11/23/2004
• Published: 05/25/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Roman Vinoly
• Original Assignee: Roman Vinoly
• Inventors: Deegan, Patrick Alexander, Vinoly, Roman, Hyers, Samuel Thomas Campbell
• Granted Patent: US 7,189,909 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 84/47
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 15/00 Teaching music metronomes G04F5/02
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/455 Camera input, e.g. analyzing pictures from a video camera and using the analysis results as control data

Abstract

A camera assembly for filming the hands of a musician playing a finger board instrument includes a guiding device mounted to the finger board instrument. A stage movably engages the guiding device. A camera is mounted on the stage for filming the hands of the fingerboard user as the hands travel along the finger board. A driving device, such as a linear motor, is connected to the stage for moving the stage along the guiding device. A means for controlling the camera is also provided, either manually from a remote location or by visual tracking. A sensor senses the velocity and position of the stage and outputs a detection signal to the control means. The control means transmits command signals to the driving device for actuating movement of the camera along the guiding device.

Claims

1. A camera assembly for filming hands playing a musical instrument having a finger board, the camera assembly comprising:

a guiding device mounted to the musical instrument;

a stage movably engaged to the guiding device;

a camera mounted to the stage;

a driving device connected to the stage for moving the stage along the guiding device; and

a means for controlling the camera to follow the hands.

2. The camera assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the guiding device is mounted inside a cavity of the musical instrument.

3. The camera assembly as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means for measuring velocity and position of the stage and transmitting data signals to the means for controlling.

4. The camera assembly as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a servo amplifier which receives command signals from said means for controlling, said servo amplifier translating and transmitting said control signals to a linear servomotor attached to said stage, said linear servomotor moving said stage based on said control signals.

5. The camera assembly as claimed in claim 1, further comprising bearings fixed to the stage, said bearings movably engage said guiding device.

6. The camera assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein said bearings are air bearings.

7. The camera assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the guiding device comprises a plurality of guide rails which movably engage openings formed in said stage.

8. The camera assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the guiding device comprises a pair of spaced, parallel tracks and the stage having a plurality of rollers rotatably mounted on said stage and in rolling engagement with said tracks to suspend said stage from said tracks for rolling movement thereon.

9. The camera assembly as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a support frame affixed inside a piano comprising the musical instrument, the guiding device being mounted to the support frame.

10. The camera assembly as claimed in claim 9, further comprising means for dampening vibration caused by movement of the camera.

11. The camera assembly as claimed in claim 10, wherein the means for dampening vibration comprises a elastomer member positioned between the guiding device and the support frame.

12. The camera assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the driving device is a linear servomotor.

13. The camera assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the guiding device is a belt and pulley system.

14. The camera as claimed in claim 1, wherein the stage has a U-shaped housing.

15. The camera assembly as claimed in claim 1, where the stage provides the camera with at least one degree of movement.

16. The camera assembly as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means for pivoting the camera along a vertical axis.

17. The camera assembly as claimed in claim 16, wherein the means for pivoting the camera along the vertical axis comprises a pan pivot and a motor connected to said pan pivot.

18. The camera assembly as claimed in claim 17, further comprising a sensor connected to said motor, said sensor senses pan position and pan velocity of the camera and transmits signals pertaining to the pan position and pan velocity to the means for controlling via a communication link.

19. The camera assembly as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a means for pivoting the camera along a horizontal axis.

20. The camera assembly as claimed in claim 19, wherein the means for pivoting the camera along the horizontal axis comprises a tilt pivot and a motor connected to said tilt pivot.

21. The camera assembly as claimed in claim 20, further comprising a sensor connected to said motor, said sensor senses tilt position and tilt velocity of the camera and transmits signals pertaining to the tilt position and tilt velocity to the means for controlling via a communications link.

22. The camera assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said guiding device has opposite ends, a sensor is affixed to each of said opposite ends, said sensor transmits signals pertaining to location of said stage to means for controlling.

23. The camera assembly as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a servo loop having a servo amplifier connected to said driving device, a motion controller connected to said servo amplifier, a linear optical encoder attached to the stage and connected to said motion controller, limit and home sensors mounted at the ends of the guiding device and connected to said motion controller, and said means for controlling the camera connected to said motion controller.

24. The camera assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said camera comprises an optical assembly mounted on said stage and a camera control unit located remote from said stage, said optical assembly and said camera control unit being electrically connected to each other by a flexible cable.

25. The camera assembly as claimed in claim 24, wherein said optical assembly comprises a charged coupled device and a lens assembly.

26. The camera assembly as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means for displaying video filmed by said camera.

27. A camera assembly for filming hands playing a musical instrument having a finger board, the camera assembly comprising:

a guiding device mounted to the musical instrument;

a stage movably engaged to the guiding device;

a camera mounted to the stage;

a driving device connected to the stage for moving the stage along the guiding device;

a means for controlling the camera to follow the hands; and

a means for measuring velocity and position of the stage and transmitting data signals to the means for controlling.

28. A camera assembly for filming hands playing a musical instrument having a finger board, the camera assembly comprising:

guide rail mounted inside a cavity of the musical instrument;

a stage having bearings which movably engage guide rail;

a camera mounted to the stage;

a linear servomotor connected to the stage for moving the stage along the guide rail;

a means for controlling the camera to follow the hands; and

sensors connected to said linear servomotor for measuring velocity and position of the stage and transmitting data signals to the means for controlling.