COMPACT, RUGGED, INTELLIGENT TRACKING APPARATUS AND METHOD

• US 20140098241A1
• Filed: 10/03/2013
• Published: 04/10/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jigabot, LLC
• Original Assignee: Jigabot, LLC
• Inventors: Stout, Richard F., Johnson, Kyle K., Engh, Cameron, Shelley, Kevin J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,699,365 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/169
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/66 Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/222 Studio circuitry; Studio devices; Studio equipment cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors, or control thereof H04N23/00

Abstract

In a video recording environment, a compact, rugged, intelligent tracking apparatus and method enables the automation of labor-intensive operating of cameras, lights, microphones and other devices. Auto-framing of a tracked object within the viewfinder of a supported camera is possible. The device can sense more than one object at once, and includes multiple ways to easy way to switch from one object to another. The methods show how the auto-framing device can be “predictive” of movements, intelligently smooth the tilt and swivel motions so that the end effect is a professional looking picture or video. It is designed to be uniquely small yet rugged and waterproof. And it can accept configuration input from users via a smartphone or extreme-sports camera over wi-fi or bluetooth, including user-programmable scripts that automate the device functionality in easy to use ways.

Claims

1. An apparatus as a tracking system, effective to provide user-defined scripts to control a mounted device and share between users scripts programming control of a cinematic system, the apparatus comprising:

an emitter, a tracker, a user interface, and a mount system;

the emitter, emitting a tracked signal into a space, the emitter being positioned to move with an object to be tracked within the space;

the emitter, fixed to move with at least one of an actor and an object, moving in front of a camera;

the tracker, comprising a detector, a controller, and a positioner;

the tracker, wherein the detector operates as a sensor receiving the tracked signal;

the tracker, wherein the controller is programmed to process the tracked signal to determine the position of the at least one of an actor and an object;

the tracker, wherein the controller is programmed to send positioning data to the positioner;

the user interface comprising a tactile device, a processor, and a communicator;

the user interface, wherein the tactile device is programmed to receive touches from a user and provide user input signals reflecting the touches;

the user interface, wherein the processor is further programmed with an application effective to provide to at least one of the tracker, the mount system, and the emitter at least one of configuration data and script data;

the user interface, wherein the processor is further programmed to receive at least one of the input signals, the configuration data, and the script data;

the mount system, further comprising a mounted device, an adapter, and a mount I/O system;

the mount system, wherein the mounted device is selected from a light, a camera, and a microphone the mount system, wherein the adapter mechanically couples the mounted device to the tracker to move the mounted device in accordance with movement by the tracker; and

the mount system, wherein the mount I/O system is responsible for at least one of sending and receiving mount control data effective to control the mounted device by interfacing between the user interface and the mounted device.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the mount I/O system further comprises a processor programmed to collect and send to the user interface report data reflecting operation of the mounted device;

the user interface is programmed to control at least one of positioning and orientation of the mounted device by controlling the tracker; and

the user interface is programmed to control the mounted device by signaling operating functions embedded within the mounted device.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the mounted device comprises at least two of a light, camera, and microphone;

the adapter is mechanically coupled to move the mounted device in rigid body motion with respect to a movable element of the tracker; and

the mount I/O system is programmed to send and receive mount control data controlling, from the user interface, and reporting to the user interface, movement of the mounted device.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the tracker is configured and programmed to detect and track the emitter;

the mounted device is effective to do at least one of illuminate the emitter with a wave reflected thereby and record information received from the emitter; and

;

the user interface device is programmed to provide and distribute to new users a script, based on inputs by the user, effective to programmatically control the mounted device.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the user interface is programmed to execute at least one of transmitting the tracked signal and receiving inputs from a user for programming the tracker;

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the signal is selected from:

a radio frequency portion of an electromagnetic spectrum;

a visible portion of the electromagnetic spectrum;

an infrared portion of the electromagnetic spectrum; and

an ultrasonic frequency.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the signal is a reflection of at least a portion of illumination by a source signal broadcast from a source within a frequency range selected by a user interactively;

the emitter is recognized by at least one of a frequency corresponding thereto, a shape thereof, a color, and a combination thereof.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the user interface is programmed as an application executing on a smart phone corresponding to a user;

the application is programmed to receive, from the user, inputs configuring the tracker to interpret the tracked signal.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the application is further programmed to output to at least one of the emitter, the tracker, and the mounted device a control signal in accordance with the interpreting.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the user interface is implemented in an application executing on a personal digital device selected from a smart phone, a tablet, a computer, a microprocessor-enabled device, and a processor accessible to the user interface over a network.

11. A method of independent, cinematic control of devices, the method comprising:

providing a system comprising an emitter, a tracker, a mounted device, and at least one processor operably connected to process data corresponding thereto;

selecting a subject within a space;

configuring the emitter to be uniquely identifiable by the at least one processor;

attaching the emitter to the subject;

activating the tracker;

configuring, by the processor, the tracker to recognize the emitter;

sensing, by an imaging device within the tracker, the emitter;

determining, by the at least one processor, a physical extent of the subject;

creating, by the at least one processor, a record based on the sensing and a plotting, by the tracker, of the location of the emitter and the physical extent of the subject in the space;

configuring and providing to the tracker, by the at least one processor, based on inputs selected arbitrarily by an operator, a relationship defining at least one of a relative motion and a relative position between the subject and the mounted device; and

directing, by the tracker, the mounted device to interact with the subject within the space, based on the sensing and the relationship.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein:

the mounted device comprises at least one of a light, camera, and microphone;

the mounted device is mechanically coupled to the tracker to move in rigid body motion with a coupler constituting a portion of the tracker and movable thereby; and

the at least one processor is programmed to send and receive device data corresponding to at least one of the tracker and the mounted device.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the device data is selected from control commands to at least one of the tracker and mounted device, feedback of condition data corresponding to at least one of the tracker and mounted device, and substantive content generated by at least one of the tracker and the mounted device.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

executing, by the at least one processor at least one of predicting a future position of the subject;

smoothing motion of the mounted device by providing smoothing data to the tracker, and positioning the mounted device based on at least one of predicting, smoothing, and tracking.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising configuring, by the at least one processor, at least on of a path of expected motion and a framing of the subject in an imaging field corresponding to the mounted device.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein:

the subject is selected from a person and an object, the subject being in relative motion with respect to a frame of reference;

the device is selected to include at least one of a camera, a light, a microphone; and

the method further comprises communicating a script, based on user inputs, the script comprising

a first condition operating as a triggering condition;

an action to be conducted by the tracker based on the first condition and a configuration corresponding to configuration settings of at least one of the tracker, emitter, and mounted device;

a second condition, operating as a terminating condition based upon which the tracker ceases the action.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein communicating the script further comprises at least one of:

sending the script to a new user other than the creator thereof; and

receiving by the new user the script from the creator thereof.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the first condition is selected from:

the existence of more than one emitter visible to the tracker

a specific emitter being visible to a specific tracker

an emitter being not visible to a tracking device

a tracking device detecting more than a single emitter having the same identifier

a specific tracker tracking a specific emitter

an emitter changing direction of motion while being tracked

a tracking device remaining stationary for a pre-selected period of time

an emitter remaining stationary for a pre-selected period of time

a tracking device beginning to tilt, swivel, or both;

a tracking device begins to tilt, swivel, or both in a pre-selected direction;

a specific tracking device is not tracking a specific emitter; and

a pre-selected period of time has passed since a datum in time.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the configuration of the tracker represents at least one of:

a diagram comprising representations of positions of subjects tracked by the tracker;

a path comprising a route to be taken by a subject corresponding to the emitter and moving with respect to the tracker;

an activity comprising a set comprising at least one curve defining a motion that is not monotonic, where monotonic represents a single direction not reversed; and

an offset corresponding to at least one of a direction and a distance by which aiming of the mounted device differs from a line between the emitter and the tracker.

20. An article as a computer readable, non-transitory memory containing data structures, of executable and operational types, as modules, the modules comprising:

an emitter module effective to generate an emitter signal, modulated to be detectable to be tracked;

a mounted device module effective to do at least one of illuminate and record action in a space proximate thereto;

a tracker module, programmed to be effective to position the mounted device by sensing and analyzing the emitter signal;

a user interface module programmable directly by a user through a smart phone to present to the user the operation of the tracker module and send from the user to the tracker module scripts effective to control operation and pointing, in two dimensions, the mounted device.