Camera Control

• US 20120062691A1
• Filed: 04/06/2011
• Published: 03/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Youbiq LLC
• Original Assignee: Youbiq LLC
• Inventors: Mednieks, Zigurd, Fowler, Gordon, Yonkers, E. Hubbard
• Granted Patent: US 9,213,220 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/36
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/10 around a horizontal axis F16M11/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2014 around a vertical axis F16M11/2035 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/242 by spreading of the legs F16M11/32 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/56 Accessories carrying-cases A45C11/38
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/561 Support related camera accessories
• 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 23/62 Control of parameters via user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/66 Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/698 for achieving an enlarged field of view, e.g. panoramic image capture

Abstract

A system including a camera that includes a lens having an aperture, a tripod configured to support the camera, a mount configured to be coupled the tripod and to the camera, the mount including a pivot that is configured such that the camera is rotatable around an axis that is aligned with the aperture of the camera, a motor configured to control the rotation of the mount, a memory containing computer readable instructions, that when executed by a processor, cause the processor to, calculate a desired position of the camera using sensor information, control the motor such that the camera is moved to the desired position, control the shutter of the camera to capture an image, and store the captured image.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a camera that includes a lens having an aperture;

a tripod configured to support the camera;

a mount configured to be coupled the tripod and to the camera, the mount including a pivot that is configured such that the camera is rotatable around an axis that is aligned with the aperture of the camera;

a motor configured to control the rotation of the mount;

a memory containing computer readable instructions, that when executed by a processor, cause the processor to;

calculate a desired position of the camera using sensor information;

control the motor such that the camera is moved to the desired position;

control the shutter of the camera to capture an image; and

store the captured image.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is included in the camera.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the motor is configured to control the rotation of the mount around a vertical axis that is aligned with the aperture of the camera.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer readable instructions are further configured to cause the processor to capture a plurality of images that are combinable to create a composite image.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the composite image is selected from the group consisting of a panoramic image, a cylindrical image, a spherical image, and a high dynamic range image.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the wherein the computer readable instructions are further configured to cause the processor to combine the plurality of images to create a composite image.

7. A non-transitory computer readable medium including computer readable instructions that, when executed by a processor, are configured to cause the processor to:

control the operation of a camera;

collect information from a sensor in the camera;

process the sensor information to calculate a position of the camera;

control a motor attached to the camera to position the camera using the calculated position, wherein the motor is configured to rotate the camera around an axis that is aligned with an aperture of the camera;

capture an image using the camera; and

store the captured image.

8. The computer readable instructions of claim 7, wherein the computer readable instructions are executed in a processor included in the camera.

9. The computer readable instructions of claim 7, wherein controlling the motor includes controlling the rotation of the camera around a vertical axis that is aligned with the aperture of the camera.

10. The computer readable instructions of claim 7, wherein the computer readable instructions are further configured to cause the processor to capture a plurality of images that are combinable to create a composite image.

11. The computer readable instructions of claim 10, wherein the computer readable instructions are further configured to cause the processor to create a plurality of images that are combinable into at least one of a panoramic image, a cylindrical image, an spherical image, and a high dynamic range image.

12. The computer readable instructions of claim 10, wherein the computer readable instructions are further configured to cause the processor to combine the plurality of images to create a composite image.