Photo device

• US 5,034,759 A
• Filed: 11/28/1989
• Issued: 07/23/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Air Supply Services Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Air Supply Services Incorporated
• Inventors: Watson, Ronald
• Primary Examiner(s): Gellner, Michael L.
• Application Number:
  US07/442,140
• Time in Patent Office: 602 Days
• Field of Search: 354/65, 354/67, 354/70, 354/74, 354/81, 354/73
• US Class Current: 396/7
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 47/08 Arrangements of cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 20/87 Mounting of imaging devices, e.g. mounting of gimbals
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 15/006 Apparatus mounted on flying objects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/185 from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control

Abstract

An aerial still camera including: a video camera; a device for elevating the video camera relative ground level; structure for suspending the video camera from the elevating device; first self-levelling structure for levelling the video camera in a first direction; second self-levelling structure for levelling the video camera in a second direction; first drive structure for rotating the video camera to control the image scanned by the video camera along a first axis; second drive structure for rotating the video camera to control the image scanned by the video camera along a second axis; a tether attached at one end to the elevating device for holding the elevating device and the video camera in the elevated position, the tether including electrical conductors; and an electrical control device attached at another end of the tether for controlling the first and second drive structure so as to control the image scanned by the video camera, the control structure further including a video display so to display the image scanned by the video camera. The electrical device also includes a still camera shutter activating device for activating the still camera when the video display displays a desired view from the video camera.

Claims

1. In an aerial viewing device including:

(a) video camera means;

(b) means for elevating said video camera means relative to ground level;

(c) means for suspending said video camera means from the said elevating means

(d) first self-leveling means for leveling said video camera means in a first direction;

(e) second self-leveling means for leveling said video camera means in a second direction;

(f) first drive means for rotating said video camera means to control the image scanned by said video camera means along a first axis;

(g) drive means for rotating said video camera means to control the image scanned by said video camera means along a second axis;

(g) second drive means for rotating said video camera means to control the image scanned by said video camera means along a second axis;

(h) tether means attached at one end to said elevating means for holding said elevating means and said video camera means in said elevated position, said tether means including electrical conductor means;

(i) and electrical control means attached to another end of said tether means for controlling said first and second drive means so as to control the image scanned by said video camera means, said control means further including video display means for displaying said image scanned by said video camera means.

2. In an aerial viewing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said elevating means comprise a kite.

3. In an aerial viewing device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said elevating means comprise helium balloon means.

4. In an aerial viewing device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said video camera means comprise video infrared camera means for viewing objects in the dark.

5. In an aerial viewing device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said suspension means comprise cords.

6. In an aerial viewing device as claimed in claim 5 wherein said aerial viewing device further includes a still camera means which may be activated by said electrical control means.

7. In an aerial camera including:

(a) helium balloon means;

(b) gimbal frame means suspended from said balloon means;

(c) camera mounting means suspended from said gimbal frame means;

(d) still camera means carried by said camera mounting means;

(e) video camera means carried by said camera mounting means;

(f) said gimbal frame means including;

(i) first self-leveling means for leveling said camera mounting means in a first horizontal position

(ii) second self-leveling means for leveling said camera mounting means in a second vertical position

(g) first drive means carried by said gimbal frame means for rotating said camera mounting means and said still camera means and for rotationally controlling the image scanned by said video camera means along a vertical axis;

(h) second drive means associated with said camera mounting means for rotating said still camera means and for rotationally controlling the image scan by said video camera means along a horizontal axis;

(i) tether means attached to said helium balloon means for holding said balloon means in said elevated position, said tether means including electrical conductor means;

(j) electrical control means attached to another end of said tether means for controlling said first and second drive means for controlling said first and second drive means so as to control the image scanned by said video camera means, said electrical control means including;

(i) video display means for displaying said image scanned by said video camera means

(ii) shutter activating means for activating said still camera means when said video display means displays a desired view from said video camera means.

8. In an aerial camera as claimed in claim 7 wherein said still camera means photographs substantially the same view scanned by said video camera means.

9. In an aerial camera as claimed in claim 8 including means for connecting and disconnecting said camera mounting means from said gimbal frame means.

10. In an aerial camera as claimed in claim 9 wherein said first drive means are housed in first motor housing means.

11. In an aerial camera as claimed in claim 10 wherein said first self-leveling means includes a first pair of gimbal wire means attached to said gimbal frame means and wherein said pair of gimbal wire means are received by aperture means presented by said first motor housing means for relative slidable movement therebetween.

12. In an aerial camera as claimed in claim 11 wherein said first motor housing means includes nylon slip bearing means pivotally connected to said first motor housing means adjacent each said aperture means, and wherein said first nylon slip bearing means are adapted to receive said first pair of gimbal wire means for relative slidable movement therebetween so as to minimize snagging of such first pair of gimbal wire means with said first motor housing means.

13. In an aerial camera as claimed in claim 12 wherein said second self-leveling means includes:

(a) a second pair of gimbal wire means depending from said first motor housing means;

(b) second nylon slip bearing means connected to said camera mounting means and adapted to receive said second pair of gimbal wire means for slidable relative movement therebetween so as to minimize snagging of said second pair of gimbal wire means with said second nylon slip bearing means.

14. In an aerial camera as claimed in claim 13 wherein said first drive means includes:

(a) first electrical motor means;

(b) first sprocket means driven by said first electrical motor means;

(c) first gear means engageable with said first sprocket means so as to rotate said camera mounting means along a vertical axis when said sprocket means is activated by said first electrical motor means.

15. In an aerial camera as claimed in claim 14 wherein said second drive means include:

(a) second electrical motor means;

(b) second sprocket means driven by said second electrical motor means;

(c) second gear means engageable with said second sprocket means so as to rotate said still camera means and said video camera means along a horizontal axis when said second sprocket means is activated by said second electrical motor means.

16. In an aerial camera including:

(a) helium balloon means;

(b) gimbal frame means suspended from said balloon means;

(c) a first pair of gimbal wire means depending from said gimbal frame means;

(d) a first motor housing means presenting first aperture means adapted to receive said first pair of gimbal wire means for relative slidable movement therebetween, said first motor housing means presently first nylon slip bearing means, pivotally connected adjacent each said aperture means for relative slidable movement therebetween so as to self-level said first motor housing means in a horizontal position;

(e) camera mounting means;

(f) first drive means carried by said first motor housing means;

(g) means for connecting said camera mounting means to said first drive means for rotating said camera mounting means in a vertical axis when driven by said first drive means;

(h) said connecting means including a second pair of gimbal wire means;

(i) second nylon slip bearing means pivotally connected to said camera mounting means and adapted to slidingly receive said second pair of gimbal wire means for relative slidable movement therebetween so as to self-level said camera mounting means in a second horizontal position;

(j) still camera means connected to said camera mounting means;

(k) the video camera means connected to said camera mounting means;

(l) second motor housing means associated with said camera mounting means for rotating said still camera means and said video camera means along a horizontal axis;

(m) tether means attached at one end to said helium balloon means for holding said helium balloon means in an elevated position, said tether means including electrical conductor means;

(n) electrical control means attached at another end of said tether means for controlling said first and second drive means so as to control the image scanned by said video camera means, said control means including;

(i) video display means for displaying said image scanned by said video camera means;

(ii) shutter activating means to activate said still camera means when said video display means displays a desired view from said video camera means.

17. In an aerial camera as claimed in claim 16 wherein said control means includes means for activating said first drive means so as to rotate said camera mounting means, video control means and said still camera means along a vertical axis.

18. In an aerial camera as claimed in claim 17 wherein said electrical control means includes means for rotating said camera mounting means, said video camera means, and said still camera means along a horizontal axis.

19. In an aerial camera as claimed in claim 18 wherein said electrical control means is carried by a shoulder harness.

20. In a self-leveling device for suspending an aerial camera therefrom including:

(a) gimbal frame means adapted to be attached to an elevating device;

(b) first pair of gimbal wire means depending from said gimbal frame means;

(c) first housing means presenting first aperture means adapted to receive said first pair of gimbal wire means for relative slidable movement therebetween;

(d) first nylon slip bearing means pivotally connected adjacent each set of aperture means and adapted to receive said first pair of gimbal wire means for relative slidable movement therebetween so as to self-level said first housing means in a first horizontal position;

(e) camera mounting means for mounting said aerial camera;

(f) means for connecting said camera mounting means to said first housing means;

(g) A second pair of gimbal wire means depending from said connecting means;

(h) second nylon slip bearing means pivotally connected to said camera mounting means and adapted to slidably receive said second pair of gimbal wire means for relative slidable movement therebetween so as to self-level said camera mounting means in a second horizontal position.