Camera to Track an Object

• US 20130229529A1
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Published: 09/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Peter Lablans
• Original Assignee: Peter Lablans
• Inventors: Lablans, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 9,171,221 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/169
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 35/08 by simultaneous recording
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 37/04 with cameras or projectors providing touching or overlapping fields of view
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/16 including more than one display unit
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/239 using two 2D image sensors having a relative position equal to or related to the interocular distance H04N13/243 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/243 using three or more 2D image sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/246 Calibration of cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/698 for achieving an enlarged field of view, e.g. panoramic image capture
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/2624 for obtaining an image which is composed of whole input images, e.g. splitscreen

Abstract

Methods and apparatus to create and display screen stereoscopic and panoramic images are disclosed. Methods and apparatus are provided to generate multiple images that are combined into a stereoscopic or a panoramic image. A controller provides correct camera settings for different conditions. A controller rotationally aligns images of lens/sensor units that are rotationally misaligned. A compact controllable platform holds and rotates a camera. A remote computing device with a camera and a digital compass tracks an object causing the camera in the platform to track the object.

Claims

1. A method for tracking an object with a camera, comprising:

the camera removably positioned in a holder attached to an actuator attached to a housing, the actuator enabled to rotate the holder relative to the housing, the camera recording an image of the object;

a second camera located at a remote location including a display displaying the image of the object recorded by the camera and an image of the object recorded by the second camera being part of a mobile computing device including a digital compass and a processor; and

a user tracking the object with the second camera causing the camera to track the object based on data from the digital compass.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the image of the object recorded by the camera and the image of the object recorded by the second camera are displayed within a window displayed on the display.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile computing device is a smart phone.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile computing device provides data that controls the actuator.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining an initial azimuth of the housing.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a plurality of positions of the actuator relative to a neutral position.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising estimating a speed of the second camera by the processor.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein an error angle is minimized.

9. A camera for tracking a movement of a moving camera in a device containing a digital compass, comprising:

a platform including a base that is attached to a structure, a housing attached to the base, the housing containing a controller to control an actuator attached to the housing and attached to a holder enabled to removably hold the camera, the actuator enabled to rotatably move the holder relative to the base;

a communication link enabled to transmit data representing an image recorded by the camera; and

the communication link enabled to receive control data for the controller based on the data representing the image recorded by the camera and data generated by the digital compass.

10. The camera of claim 9, wherein the device is a smart phone.

11. The camera of claim 9, wherein the moving camera includes a display enabled to display the image recorded by the camera and the image recorded by the moving camera.

12. The camera of claim 11, wherein the display displays at least one of the image recorded by the camera and the image recorded by the moving camera in a transparent mode.

13. The camera of claim 11, further comprising a window displayed on the display inside which the image recorded by the camera and the image recorded by the moving camera are displayed.

14. The camera of claim 9, wherein the housing contains a digital compass.

15. The camera of claim 9, further comprising a communication link between the camera and a processor in the housing.

16. The camera of claim 10, wherein the camera is part of a mobile computing device with a communication link to the mobile computing device where the moving camera is part of.

17. A platform removably holding a camera to collaborate with a remote mobile computing device containing a digital compass, comprising:

a base enabled to be attached to a structure;

a housing attached to the base, the housing containing a controller;

an actuator attached to the housing, the actuator being controlled by the controller; and

a camera holder attached to the actuator enabled to be rotatably moved by the actuator relative to the housing, the camera enabled to be removably held by the holder, wherein the controller controls the actuator based on an image recorded by the camera and a status of the digital compass.

18. The platform of claim 17, further comprising a communication link between the controller and the remote mobile computing device.

19. The platform of claim 17, further comprising a digital compass inside the housing.

20. The platform of claim 17, further comprising a communication link between the camera and the controller.