Remote control and camera combination

• US 5,073,824 A
• Filed: 06/15/1990
• Issued: 12/17/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gregory D. Vertin
• Original Assignee: Gregory D. Vertin
• Inventors: Vertin, Gregory D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Britton, Howard W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ho, Tuan V.
• Application Number:
  US07/539,410
• Time in Patent Office: 550 Days
• Field of Search: 358/210, 358/108, 358/185, 358/194.1, 358/209, 358/109, 340/825.71, 340/825.72, 455/603
• US Class Current: 348/211.2
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/08 around a vertical axis , e.g. panoramic heads F16M11/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/18 with mechanism for moving the apparatus relatively to the stand
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2021 around a horizontal axis F16M11/2035 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1963 Arrangements allowing camera rotation to change view, e.g. pivoting camera, pan-tilt and zoom [PTZ]
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19632 Camera support structures, e.g. attachment means, poles
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19634 Electrical details of the system, e.g. component blocks for carrying out specific functions
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19689 Remote control of cameras, e.g. remote orientation or image zooming control for a PTZ camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet

Abstract

A remote control camera apparatus comprising a video camera or motion picture camera mounted on a tripod, and the camera having a first servo motor to rotate the camera throughout a 360 degree horizontal arc, and a second servo motor to pivot the camera throughout a 180 degree vertical arc. Each servo motor is controlled by an electrical circuit having a receiver to receive radio frequency signals transmitted by a remote control transmitter with said radio frequency signals including an operating control signal to signal each of the servo motors when to start, when to stop, and in what direction to rotate. A laser transmitter, capable of being turned on and off by the remote transmitter, is mounted on or adjacent to the camera to direct a visible laser beam parallel to and slightly above the axis of the camera lens so that the visible laser beam hits slightly above and in line with the center of the area the camera lens is focused on. The laser transmitter enables a person manipulating a camera or plurality of cameras from a remote location to see when each camera is focused on the subject to be shown in the picture. After the camera is focused on the subject, the remote control transmitter turns off the laser beam and turns on the camera until the shooting is complete whereupon the remote transmitter turns off the camera.

Claims

1. A remote control and camera combination comprising a camera, indicating means to indicate a selected point within a viewing area of said camera to a camera operator at a location remote to said camera, said selected point being a known distance and direction from the center of a said viewing area, horizontal movement means to move said camera and said indicating means in tandem in a horizontal direction, vertical movement means to move said camera and said indicating means in tandem in a vertical direction, and remote control means to control said vertical movement means, said horizontal movement means, said indicating means, and said camera from a location remote to said camera.

2. A remote control and camera combination as set forth in claim 1, wherein said indicating means includes a generating device that discharges a visible signal.

3. A remote control and camera combination as set forth in claim 2, wherein said generating device includes a laser transmitting having a visible laser beam transmitted therefrom.

4. A remote control and camera combination as set forth in claim 1, wherein said horizontal movement means includes a horizontal servo motor having a shaft protruding therefore, a horizontal drive gear connected to said shaft, a turntable having an upper surface set in a horizontal plane with said horizontal servo motor attached thereto, a support plate to support said turntable and allow said turntable to rotate thereon, a drive ring attached to said support plate, said drive ring having a plurality of ring teeth secured thereto to mesh with said horizontal drive gear, and horizontal power means to supply power to said horizontal servo motor thereby forcing said horizontal servo motor to rotate and move said turntable.

5. A remote control and camera combination as set forth in claim 1, wherein said vertical movement means includes a vertical servo motor having a shaft protruding therefrom, a vertical drive gear connected to said shaft, said vertical drive motor being attached to said turntable, a support rod having a longitudinal axis set in a horizontal plane, a platform secured to said support rod, a plurality of support columns to support said support rod with said support columns secured to said turntable, said support columns separating said support rod from said turntable a distance that allows said platform to pivot throughout a vertical plane without touching said turntable, a support rod gear attached to said support rod to mesh with said vertical drive gear, said camera and said indicating means being secured to said platform, and vertical power means to supply power to said vertical servo motor thereby forcing said vertical servo motor to rotate and move said platform.

6. A remote control and camera combination as set forth in claim 1, wherein said remote control means includes a transmitter and a receiver, said transmitter including a camera control member, a camera on-off member, and a laser on-off member, said receiver including a plurality of wire pairs connecting said receiver to said camera, said laser transmitter, said horizontal drive motor, and said vertical drive motor.

7. A remote control and camera combination as set forth in claim 6, wherein said transmitter instructs said receiver to activate and de-activate said horizontal drive motor, said vertical drive motor, said camera, or said laser transmitter.

8. A remote control and camera combination as set forth in claim 6, wherein said transmitter and said receiver are linked via radio wave.

9. A remote control and camera combination as set forth in claim 6, wherein said camera control member includes a switch having an inactive neutral position and four active positions corresponding to four directions of motion of said camera.

10. A remote control and camera combination as set forth in claim 6, wherein said camera on-off member includes a two position switch that turns said camera on and off.

11. A remote control and camera combination as set forth in claim 6, wherein said laser on-off member includes a two position switch that turns said laser on and off.

12. A remote control and camera combination as set forth in claim 4, wherein said horizontal power means includes a power member, a first relay coil energized by a first electronic component means and a second relay coil energized by a second electronic component means, said first relay coil having a movable contact normally biased to the open position and a stationary contact whereby said movable contact of said first relay coil moves into a contact closed position in contact with said stationary relay contact of said first relay coil when said first relay coil is energized, said second relay coil having a movable contact normally biased to the open position and a stationary contact whereby said movable contact of said second relay coil moves into a contact closed position in contact with said stationary relay contact of said second relay coil when said second relay coil is energized, electrical conductor members to electrically connect said power member to said movable contact and said stationary contact of said first relay coil, and to said horizontal servo motor to rotate said horizontal servo motor in a first direction, and electrical conductor members to electrically connect said power member to said movable contact and said stationary contact of said second relay coil, and to said horizontal servo motor to rotate said horizontal servo motor in a second direction.

13. A remote control and camera combination as set forth in claim 5, wherein said vertical power means includes a power member, a third relay coil energized by a third electronic means and a fourth relay coil energized by a fourth electronic component means, said third relay coil having a movable contact normally biased to the open position and a stationary contact whereby said movable contact of said third relay coil moves into a contact closed position in contact with said stationary relay contact of said third relay coil when said third relay coil is energized, said fourth relay coil having a movable contact normally biased to the open position and a stationary contact whereby said movable contact of said fourth relay coil moves into a contact closed position in contact with said stationary relay contact of said fourth relay coil when said fourth relay coil is energized, electrical conductor members to electrically connect said power member to said movable contact and said stationary contact of said third relay coil, and to said vertical servo motor to rotate said vertical servo motor in a first direction, and electrical conductor members to electrically connect said power member to said movable contact and said stationary contact of said fourth relay coil, and to said vertical servo motor to rotate said vertical servo motor in a second direction.

14. A remote control and camera combination as set forth in claim 6, wherein said receiver includes a fifth relay coil energized by electronic component means, said fifth relay having a movable contact normally biased to the open position and a stationary contact whereby said movable contact of said fifth relay coil moves into a contact closed position in contact with said stationary relay contact of said fifth relay coil when said fifth relay coil is energized, a camera run circuit within said camera, and electrical conductor members to electrically connect said movable contact and said stationary contact of said fifth relay coil to said camera run circuit to start camera when said fifth relay coil is energized and to stop said camera when said fifth relay coil is de-energized.

15. A remote control and camera combination as set forth in claim 6, wherein said receiver includes a sixth relay coil energized by electronic component means, said sixth relay coil having a movable contact normally biased to the open position and a stationary contact whereby said movable contact of said sixth relay coil moves into a contact closed position in contact with said stationary relay contact of said sixth relay coil when said sixth relay coil is energized, a laser transmitter run circuit within said laser transmitter, and electrical conductor members to electrically connect said movable contact and said stationary contact of said sixth relay coil to said laser transmitter run circuit to start said laser transmitter when said sixth relay coil is energized and to stop said laser transmitter when said sixth relay coil is de-energized.

16. A remote control and camera combination as set forth in claim 12, wherein said first electronic component means includes an amplifier to amplify a radio frequency signal, an oscillator to generate an oscillating signal, a mixer to mix an amplified radio frequency signal from said amplifier with said oscillating signal thereby producing an output signal from said mixer having a lower intermediate frequency, an intermediate frequency amplifier to amplify said intermediate frequency signal, and a discriminator to receive an amplified intermediate frequency signal from said intermediate frequency amplifier, said discriminator producing an output voltage to energize said first relay coil.

17. A remote control and camera combination as set forth in claim 12, wherein said second electronic component means includes an amplifier to amplify a radio frequency signal, an oscillator to generate an oscillating signal, a mixer to mix an amplified radio frequency signal from said amplifier with said oscillating signal thereby producing an output signal from said mixer having a lower intermediate frequency, an intermediate frequency amplifier to amplify said intermediate frequency signal, and a discriminator to receive an amplified intermediate frequency signal from said intermediate frequency amplifier, said discriminator producing an output voltage to energize said second relay coil.

18. A remote control and camera combination as set forth in claim 13, wherein said third electronic component means includes an amplifier to amplify a radio frequency signal, an oscillator to generate an oscillating signal, a mixer to mix an amplified radio frequency signal from said amplifier with said oscillating signal thereby producing an output signal from said mixer having a lower intermediate frequency, an intermediate frequency amplifier to amplify said intermediate frequency signal, and a discriminator to receive an amplified intermediate frequency signal from said intermediate frequency amplifier, said discriminator producing an output voltage to energize said third relay coil.

19. A remote control and camera combination as set forth in claim 13, wherein said fourth electronic component means includes an amplifier to amplify a radio frequency signal, an oscillator to generate an oscillating signal, a mixer to mix an amplified radio frequency signal from said amplifier with said oscillating signal thereby producing an output signal from said mixer having a lower intermediate frequency, an intermediate frequency amplifier to amplify said intermediate frequency signal, and a discriminator to receive an amplified intermediate frequency signal from said intermediate frequency amplifier, said discriminator producing an output voltage to energize said fourth relay coil.

20. A remote control and camera combination as set forth in claim 14, wherein said fifth electronic component means includes an amplifier to amplify a radio frequency signal, an oscillator to generate an oscillating signal, a mixer to mix an amplified radio frequency signal from said amplifier with said oscillating signal thereby producing an output signal from said mixer having a lower intermediate frequency, an intermediate frequency amplifier to amplify said intermediate frequency signal, and a discriminator to receive an amplified intermediate frequency signal from said intermediate frequency amplifier, said discriminator producing an output voltage to energize said fifth relay coil.

21. A remote control and camera combination as set forth in claim 14, wherein said sixth electronic component means includes an amplifier to amplify a radio frequency signal, an oscillator to generate an oscillating signal, a mixer to mix an amplified radio frequency signal from said amplifier with said oscillating signal thereby producing an output signal from said mixer having a lower intermediate frequency, an intermediate frequency amplifier to amplify said intermediate frequency signal, and a discriminator to receive an amplified intermediate frequency signal from said intermediate frequency amplifier, said discriminator producing an output voltage to energize said sixth relay coil.

22. A remote control and camera combination comprising a camera, indicating means to generate and transmit an identifiable locating signal to a selected point within the viewing area of said camera, said locating signal being recognizable to camera operator at a location spaced apart from said camera, horizontal movement means to move said camera and said locating signal generated by said indicating means in a horizontal direction, and remote control means to control said horizontal movement means to move said camera and said locating signal in said horizontal direction, said locating signal generated and transmitted by said indicating means being separate and apart from the objects within said viewing area of said camera prior to transmission of said locating signal thereto.