SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ADJUSTING AN IMAGE FOR A VEHICLE MOUNTED CAMERA

• US 20140240500A1
• Filed: 03/13/2014
• Published: 08/28/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fox Sports Productions, LLC (Fox Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fox Sports Productions, Inc. (The Walt Disney Company)
• Inventors: Davies, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 11,039,109 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/148
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/28 with an adjustable field of view
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/302 combining image information with GPS information or vehicle data, e.g. vehicle speed, gyro, steering angle data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/63 by using electronic viewfinders
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/631 Graphical user interfaces [GUI] specially adapted for controlling image capture or setting capture parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/68 for stable pick-up of the scene, e.g. compensating for camera body vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/6812 based on additional sensors, e.g. acceleration sensors
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/2628 Alteration of picture size, shape, position or orientation, e.g. zooming, rotation, rolling, perspective, translation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/0117 involving conversion of the spatial resolution of the incoming video signal for graphics images G09G2340/0407
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

A system and method provides an image that adjusts in response to at least one vehicle mounted sensor.

Claims

1. A method for adjusting image horizon for a vehicle mounted camera, comprising:

providing a camera mounted in a vehicle;

providing at least one sensor in said vehicle, the sensor detecting a change in tilt of said vehicle; and

adjusting an image horizon in response to said detected change in tilt of said vehicle.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said image horizon automatically adjusts in response to said detected change in tilt of said vehicle.

3. A method in accordance with claim 2, wherein said image horizon is adjusted as a digital video effect.

4. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said detected change in tilt is provided as vehicle telemetry data.

5. A method in accordance with claim 2, wherein said image horizon is adjusted to match or approximate a skyline horizon during tilting of said vehicle.

6. A method in accordance with claim 2, wherein said image horizon is adjusted with a variation in zoom of the image.

7. A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

capturing a first image or video at a first resolution, which resolution is greater than high definition and higher than a predetermined second, output display resolution;

selecting a first desired portion of the captured, native first image or video, wherein said first portion is at a resolution lower than that of the captured first image or video; and

displaying said selected first portion at said second, output resolution.

8. A method in accordance with claim 7, wherein said selecting of a desired first portion of the first image or video is provided by a graphical user interface having a selectable extraction window.

9. A method in accordance with claim 8, wherein said extraction window is configured to allow an operator to navigate within said captured image or video and select portions thereof for presentation.

10. A system for adjusting image horizon for a vehicle mounted camera, comprising:

a camera mounted in a vehicle;

at least one sensor in said vehicle, the sensor configured to a change in tilt of said vehicle;

a processor configured to access camera image data and data indicating tilt of said vehicle; and

a digital video effects component, the digital video effects component configured to adjust an image horizon in response to said detected change in tilt of said vehicle.

11. A system in accordance with claim 10, wherein said digital video effects component is configured to automatically adjust image horizon in response to said detected change in tilt of said vehicle.

12. A system in accordance with claim 11, wherein said detected change in tilt is provided as vehicle telemetry data.

13. A system in accordance with claim 11, wherein said image horizon is adjusted to match or approximate a skyline horizon during tilting of said vehicle.

14. A system in accordance with claim 10, wherein said image horizon is adjusted with a variation in zoom of the image.

15. A system in accordance with claim 10, wherein said camera is configured to capture a first image or video at a first resolution, which resolution is greater than high definition and higher than a predetermined second, output display resolution, the system further comprising:

a processor in communication with a graphical user interface, said interface configured to select a first desired portion of the native, first image or video, wherein said first portion is at a resolution lower than that of the captured first image or video; and

an output mechanism configured to transport said selected first portion to a router, switcher or server at said second, output resolution.

16. A system in accordance with claim 15, wherein said graphical user interface has a selectable extraction window.

17. A system in accordance with claim 16, wherein said extraction window is configured to allow an operator to navigate within said captured image or video and select portions thereof for presentation.

18. A method for adjusting an image for a vehicle mounted camera, comprising:

providing a camera mounted in a vehicle;

providing at least one sensor in said vehicle, the sensor detecting a data of interest relative to said vehicle; and

adjusting an image in response to said detected data of said vehicle.

19. A method in accordance with claim 18, wherein said sensor data includes one or more of:

gyro data;

vehicle angle;

attitude;

altitude;

speed;

acceleration;

traction; and

navigational data.

20. A method in accordance with claim 18, wherein said sensor data includes environmental conditions for the vehicle, including one or more of:

weather;

sensed track conditions;

wind; and

temperature.

21. A method in accordance with claim 18, wherein said image adjustment includes one or more of:

adjustment of an image horizon;

adjustment of image crop;

selection of image portions;

tracking of objects of interest in images;

rendering selective high definition images from greater than high definition cameras;

selective capture of image points of interest;

or adjustment of the image responsive to environmental conditions.

22. A method in accordance with claim 21, wherein said image adjustment is provided as a digital video effect.

23. A method in accordance with claim 22, wherein said at least a portion of said image adjustment is performed by an on-board vehicle processor.

24. A method in accordance with claim 23, wherein said adjusted image is transmitted via wireless protocol to an external computing device.

25. A method in accordance with claim 18, further comprising:

capturing a first image or video at a first resolution, which resolution is greater than high definition and higher than a predetermined second, output display resolution;

selecting a first desired portion of the captured, native first image or video, wherein said first portion is at a resolution lower than that of the captured first image or video; and

displaying said selected first portion at said second, output resolution.

26. A method in accordance with claim 25, wherein said selecting of a desired first portion of the first image or video is provided by a graphical user interface having a selectable extraction window.

27. A method in accordance with claim 26, wherein said extraction window is configured to allow an operator to navigate within said captured image or video and select portions thereof for presentation.