Computerized automatic focusing control system for multiple television cameras

• US 4,581,647 A
• Filed: 09/10/1984
• Issued: 04/08/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/1983
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Richard A. Vye
• Original Assignee: Richard A. Vye
• Inventors: Vye, Richard A.
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lev, Robert G.
• Application Number:
  US06/648,747
• Time in Patent Office: 575 Days
• Field of Search: 358/209, 358/227, 358/210
• US Class Current: 348/211.6
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/67 Focus control based on electronic image sensor signals
• 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

A computerized control system for automatically focusing televison cameras used for televising a sporting, or other event, as the cameras are panned to follow the action, and as the cameras are zoomed in on the action. The system includes a digitizing tablet on which an observer follows the action by moving a stylus continuously or from point-to-point across the plane surface of the tablet. The resulting digital signals generated by the tablet are fed to a computer in which they are converted to digital focusing signals which are fed to the televison cameras. The computer is programmed so that it generates a different set of focus control digital signals for each camera as determined by the actual location of the individual cameras around the playing area. The digital focusing signals are converted to analog signals at each camera, and the analog signals are used at the individual cameras to activate a servo motor which controls the focus of the camera. Then, as each camera is panned and/or zoomed to follow the action, it is automatically maintained in focus. In a second embodiment, the digitizing tablet is transparent, and the operator observes the action on the playing area through the digitizing tablet.

Claims

1. A computerized focusing control system for a television camera, and the like, used for televising a sporting, or other event, in a particular play area, said system comprising:

a stylus moveable across a plane surface to selected ordinate and coordinate positions;

means for generating digital signals representative of the coordinate and ordinate positions of the stylus with respect to the plane surface;

a computer connected to said generating means and responsive to the digital signals therefrom for generating focus control signals for at least one television camera, said computer being programed so that said focus control signals correspond to the position of the camera with respect to the play area of the sporting event being televised;

a television camera having an adjustable focus control; and

an automatic focusing servo drive system connected to the focus control of the television camera and to the computer and responsive to the focus control signals from the computer for automatically controlling the focus of the television camera.

2. The system defined in claim 1, in which said generating means comprised a digitizing tablet having a plane surface and said stylus is moveable over the plane surface of the tablet.

3. The system defined in claim 2, in which said generating means also includes a key pad for actuating focusing to pre-programmable focus locations.

4. The system defined in claim 1, in which said computer responds to voice-actuated commands to actuate focusing to pre-programmable focus locations.

5. The system defined in claim 2, and which include an overlay for the plane surface of the digitizing tablet simulating the play area of the sporting event being televised.

6. The system defined in claim 1, and which includes a digital-to-analog converter connected to the computer for converting the focus control digital signals from the computer into corresponding analog signals for the servo drive system.

7. The system defined in claim 1, and which includes a plurality of television cameras selectively positioned around the play area of the sporting event and each having an adjustable focus control, in which said computer generates different focus control signals for each of said television cameras, and in which each of said television cameras includes a servo drive system connected to the focus control thereof and to the computer and responsive to the focus control signals from the computer corresponding to that camera for automatically controlling the focus of that camera.

8. The system defined in claim 7, in which each camera includes a digital-to-analog converter connected to the computer for converting the focus control digital signals received from the computer into corresponding analog control signals for the corresponding servo drive system.

9. The system defined in claim 7, and which includes multiplexing means for transmitting the focus control digital signals to the television cameras over a common line.

10. The system defined in claim 2, in which the digitizing tablet is transparent and adapted to be positioned so that a person operating the stylus can view the play areas of the sporting event directly through the tablet.