MODULAR TIME LAPSE CAMERA SYSTEM

• US 20090262202A1
• Filed: 04/15/2009
• Published: 10/22/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Barney Leonard
• Original Assignee: Barney Leonard
• Inventors: Leonard, Barney
• Application Number:
  US12/423,867
• Publication Number:
  US 20090262202A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/207.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/66 Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/90 Arrangement of cameras or camera modules, e.g. multiple cameras in TV studios or sports stadiums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/77 between a recording apparatus and a television camera

Abstract

A modular system for the capture of images and associated methods are provided. The system comprises a plurality of lens modules, each comprising a lens, an image sensor, and a communication interface, and a controller unit comprising a housing, a battery, a memory, at least one communication interface, and a processor operative to acquire images from one or more of the plurality of lens modules responsive to at least one of: a determination that a time interval has passed, a sensor input, or a user input, store the images in the memory, and provide the stored images via one of the at least one communication interface.

Claims

1. A modular system for the capture of images comprising:

a plurality of lens modules each comprising a lens, an image sensor, and a communication interface; and

a controller unit comprising;

a housing;

a battery;

a memory;

at least one communication interface; and

a processor operative to;

acquire images from one or more of said plurality of lens modules responsive to at least one of;

a determination that a time interval has passed, a sensor input, or a user input;

store said images in said memory; and

provide said stored images via one of said at least one communication interface.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the time interval for acquisition from a first lens module of said plurality of lens modules is different than the time interval for acquisition of images from a second lens module of said plurality of lens modules.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein images are acquired at a first time interval during a first time period and at a second time interval during a second time period.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said housing comprises a switch for selecting one of a plurality of image acquisition modes.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein said plurality of image acquisition modes comprises at least two of:

time lapse, program, and burst.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said processor is further operative to receive a command to change the mode of image acquisition via at least one of said at least one communication interface.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein at least one of said at least one communication interface of said controller unit is a cellular radio interface.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein said communication interface of at least one of said plurality of lens modules comprises a wireless transceiver.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein said wireless transceiver utilizes at least one of an 802.11, Bluetooth, or ZigBee protocol.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein said interface of said lens module comprises a wired interface.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein said wired interface complies with at least one of USB or IEEE 1394 standards.

12. The system of claim 1 further comprising a mount attached to said housing.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein said sensor input is indicative of motion.

14. The system of claim 1 further comprising a microphone.

15. The system of claim 1 further comprising a display.

16. The system of claim 1 wherein said memory comprises a flash memory card.

17. The system of claim 1 further comprising a trigger button on said housing.

18. The system of claim 1 further comprising a GPS receiver.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein said processor stores said images with location information derived from data from said GPS receiver.

20. The system of claim 1 wherein said housing further comprises a connector allowing direct connection of a lens element.

21. The system of claim 1 wherein at least one of said lenses is one of a fisheye lens or a wide angle lens.

22. The system of claim 1 wherein the focal length of a first lens module of said plurality of lens modules is different from the focal length of a second lens module of said plurality of lens modules.

23. The system of claim 1 wherein the field of view of a first lens module of said plurality of lens modules is substantially different from the field of view of a second lens module of said plurality of lens modules.

24. A method for gathering time lapse imagery comprising the steps of, in a controller unit:

acquiring images from one or more of a plurality of lens modules, each comprising a lens, a sensor, and a communication interface, responsive to at least one of;

a determination that a time interval has passed, a sensor input, or a user input;

storing said images in a memory; and

providing said stored images via a communication interface of said controller unit.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the time interval for acquisition of images from a first lens module of said plurality of lens modules is different than the time interval for acquisition of images from a second lens module of said plurality of lens modules.

26. The method of claim 24 wherein the focal length of a first lens module of said plurality of lens modules is different from the focal length of a second lens module of said plurality of lens modules.

27. The method of claim 24 wherein the field of view of a first lens module of said plurality of lens modules is substantially different from the field of view of a second lens module of said plurality of lens modules.

28. A method for time lapse capture of images comprising:

acquiring first image data from a first lens module;

storing said first image data from said first lens module in a memory;

receiving second image data from a second lens module;

storing said second image data from said second lens module in a memory;

acquiring third image data from said first lens module responsive to a determination that a first time interval has passed;

storing said third image data from said first lens module in a memory;

acquiring fourth image data from a second lens module responsive to a determination that a second time interval has passed; and

storing said fourth image data from said second lens module in a memory;

wherein said first lens module and said second lens module each comprise a lens, an image sensor, and a communication interface; and

wherein said first time interval differs from said second time interval.