Camera tracking movable transmitter apparatus
First Claim
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1. Apparatus for mounting and positioning a camcorder which comprises:
- a transmitter for producing a first control signal, said transmitter being dimensioned and configured for being carried on an object to be followed by the camcorder;
a mounting platform, said mounting platform being movable about horizontal and vertical axes;
means for carrying the associated camcorder, said means for carrying being disposed on said mounting platform;
a first control apparatus disposed on said platform including a first plurality of sensors disposed substantially in a first plane at angularly spaced intervals about a first axis, each of said first plurality of sensors being constructed to receive said first control signal radiated by said transmitter, said firstcontrol signal being an infrared control signal having a beam width that normally extends to less than all of said first plurality of sensors at any given time;
means for discriminating which of said first plurality of sensors is receiving said first control signal from said transmitter;
a servomechanism supporting said platform and said means for carrying the associated camcorder; and
means for controlling said servomechanism to position the camcorder, said means for controlling producing a second control signal based on the location of one or more of said first plurality of sensors receiving said signal at any instant.
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Abstract
Apparatus for mounting and positioning an associated device such as a camcorder which includes a transmitter for producing a control signal, a substantially fixed platform and a control apparatus including a plurality of sensors disposed in a plane at angularly spaced intervals about a first axis. Each of the plurality of sensors is constructed to receive a first control signal radiated by the transmitter. The apparatus also includes structure to discriminate which of the plurality of sensors is receiving the control signal from the transmitter and utilizes that information to drive the servomechanism.
60 Citations
18 Claims
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1. Apparatus for mounting and positioning a camcorder which comprises:
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a transmitter for producing a first control signal, said transmitter being dimensioned and configured for being carried on an object to be followed by the camcorder; a mounting platform, said mounting platform being movable about horizontal and vertical axes; means for carrying the associated camcorder, said means for carrying being disposed on said mounting platform; a first control apparatus disposed on said platform including a first plurality of sensors disposed substantially in a first plane at angularly spaced intervals about a first axis, each of said first plurality of sensors being constructed to receive said first control signal radiated by said transmitter, said first control signal being an infrared control signal having a beam width that normally extends to less than all of said first plurality of sensors at any given time; means for discriminating which of said first plurality of sensors is receiving said first control signal from said transmitter;
a servomechanism supporting said platform and said means for carrying the associated camcorder; andmeans for controlling said servomechanism to position the camcorder, said means for controlling producing a second control signal based on the location of one or more of said first plurality of sensors receiving said signal at any instant. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. Apparatus for mounting and positioning an associated camcorder which comprises:
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a mobile transmitter producing a first control signal, said first control signal being an infrared signal; a mounting platform; a first control apparatus disposed on said platform including a first plurality of sensors disposed substantially in a first plane at angularly spaced intervals about a first axis, each of said first plurality of sensors being adapted to receive said first control signal from said transmitter, said first control signal having a beam width which normally does not extend over all of said first plurality of sensors at any given time; first means for determining which of said first plurality of sensors is receiving said first control signal from said transmitter; a servomechanism supporting said platform and the associated device; and first means for controlling said servomechanism to position the camcorder, said first means for controlling producing a second control signal based on the location of one or more of said first plurality of sensors receiving said signal at any given time. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for controlling the location of a camcorder comprises the steps of:
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providing a transmitter producing an infrared signal beam; providing a rotational tracking device; positioning a first plurality of sensors in a first plane for receiving said first signal beam; positioning a second plurality of sensors in a second plane perpendicular to the first plane for receiving the infrared signal beam; determining which of said sensors in said first plurality of sensors are receiving said infrared signal beam and using this determination to operate a first motor to orient said camcorder in one plane; and determining which of said sensors in said second plane are receiving said infrared signal beam and using this determination to operate a second motor to orient said camcorder in another plane. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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Specification