System for Emulating Continuous Pan/Tilt Cameras

• US 20110032368A1
• Filed: 08/07/2009
• Published: 02/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nicholas John Pelling
• Original Assignee: Nicholas John Pelling
• Inventors: PELLING, NICHOLAS JOHN
• Application Number:
  US12/537,845
• Publication Number:
  US 20110032368A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/211.9
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 37/02 with scanning movement of lens or cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/50 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/60 Control of cameras or camera modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/66 Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices

Abstract

A system for emulating a continuous pan/tilt camera includes a camera having an image sensor for capturing an image. A camera orientation system includes a tip/tilt orientation mechanism having two axes of rotation with constrained range of movement for positioning the camera to capture the image within a hemispherical space. The two axes of rotation are generally orthogonal to each other and generally parallel to a plane forming a back side of the hemispheric space. An image transformation system rotates a portion of the captured image to emulate the continuous pan/tilt camera. The camera further includes a control system for adjusting an active area of the image sensor in response to a divergence between an optical center of the image sensor and a mechanical center of camera orientation system. The image transformation system is configurable in response to a spatial orientation of the hemispherical space.

Claims

1. A system for emulating a continuous pan/tilt camera, the system comprising:

means for capturing an image;

non-continuous means for orienting said capturing means to capture said image within a hemispherical space; and

means for rotating said captured image to emulate the continuous pan/tilt camera.

2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said means for orienting further comprises a tip/tilt orientation mechanism.

3. The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising means for adjusting said capturing means in response to a divergence between an optical center and a mechanical center of orienting means.

4. The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising means for configuring said rotating means in response to a spatial orientation of said hemispherical space.

5. The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising means for transmitting said image and rotation information to said rotating means.

6. The system as recited in claim 5, further comprising means for compressing said image before transmitting to said rotating means.

7. The system as recited in claim 6, further comprising means for reducing a size of said compressed image.

8. A system for emulating a continuous pan/tilt camera, the system comprising:

a camera comprising an image sensor for capturing an image;

a camera orientation system comprising a constrained range of movement for positioning said camera to capture said image within a hemispherical space; and

an image transformation system for rotating a portion of said captured image to emulate the continuous pan/tilt camera.

9. The system as recited in claim 8, wherein said camera orientation system further comprises a tip/tilt orientation mechanism having two axes of rotation, where said two axes of rotation are generally orthogonal to each other and generally parallel to a plane forming a back side of said hemispheric space.

10. The system as recited in claim 8, wherein said camera further comprises a control system for adjusting an active area of said image sensor in response to a divergence between an optical center of said image sensor and a mechanical center of camera orientation system.

11. The system as recited in claim 8, wherein at least said image transformation system is configurable in response to a spatial orientation of said hemispherical space.

12. The system as recited in claim 8, wherein said camera transmits said image and rotation information to said image transformation system.

13. The system as recited in claim 12, wherein said camera compresses said image before transmitting to said image transformation system.

14. The system as recited in claim 13, wherein pixels outside a desired rotated image space are processed to reduce a size of said compressed image.

15. A system for emulating a continuous pan/tilt camera, the system comprising:

a camera comprising an optical imaging system and an image sensor for capturing an image;

a camera orientation system comprising a tip/tilt orientation mechanism having two axes of rotation with constrained range of movement for positioning said camera to capture said image within a hemispherical space, wherein said two axes of rotation are generally orthogonal to each other and generally parallel to a plane forming a back side of said hemispheric space; and

an image transformation system for rotating a portion of said captured image to emulate the continuous pan/tilt camera.

16. The system as recited in claim 15, wherein said camera further comprises a control system for adjusting an active area of said image sensor in response to a divergence between an optical center of said image sensor and a mechanical center of camera orientation system.

17. The system as recited in claim 15, wherein at least said image transformation system is configurable in response to a spatial orientation of said hemispherical space.

18. The system as recited in claim 15, wherein said camera transmits said image and rotation information to said image transformation system.

19. The system as recited in claim 18, wherein said camera compresses said image before transmitting to said image transformation system.

20. The system as recited in claim 19, wherein pixels outside a desired rotated image space are processed to reduce a size of said compressed image.