Miniature vehicle video production system

• US 5,555,019 A
• Filed: 03/09/1995
• Issued: 09/10/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kevin Dole
• Original Assignee: Kevin Dole
• Inventors: Dole, Kevin
• Primary Examiner(s): Britton, Howard W.
• Application Number:
  US08/401,932
• Time in Patent Office: 551 Days
• Field of Search: 348/82, 348/143, 348/148, 348/158, 348/211
• US Class Current: 348/148
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/185 from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control

Abstract

The toy vehicle video production system for creating full-motion real time video images of a toy target vehicle includes a toy vehicle, a first wireless transmitter, and a first wireless receiver operatively coupled to the toy vehicle and configured to control movement of the toy vehicle in response to signals received from the first wireless transmitter. A video camera mounted to the toy vehicle generates real-time video images of the toy target vehicle while a camera controller connected to the video camera controls movement of the video camera relative to the toy vehicle. The invention also includes a second wireless transmitter and a second wireless receiver operatively coupled to the camera motion controller and configured to control movement of video camera in response to signals received from the second wireless transmitter. A video recorder operatively coupled to the video camera records the real time video images generated by the video camera and a video display device operatively coupled to the video camera displays the real time video images. Movement of the toy vehicle and movement of the video camera are controlled in real time in response to the video images displayed on the display device so that optimal video images of the toy target vehicle are obtained.

Claims

1. A vehicle video production system for creating full-motion real time video images of a target vehicle, the system comprising:

a miniature vehicle;

a first wireless transmitter;

a first wireless receiver operatively coupled to the miniature vehicle and configured to control movement of the miniature vehicle in response to signals received from the first wireless transmitter;

a video camera attached to the miniature vehicle for generating real-time video images of the target vehicle;

a camera controller connected to the video camera to control movement of the video camera relative to the miniature vehicle;

a second wireless transmitter;

a second wireless receiver operatively coupled to the camera controller and configured to control movement of video camera in response to signals received from the second wireless transmitter;

a video recorder operatively coupled to the video camera configured to record the real time video images generated by the video camera, the video recorder operatively mounted in the miniature vehicle; and

a video display device operatively coupled to the video camera for displaying the real time video images where movement of the miniature vehicle and movement of the video camera are controlled in real time in response to the video images displayed on the display device to obtain optimal video images of the target vehicle.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 further including an air blower mounted to the miniature vehicle for directing a stream of air across a lens of the video camera to prevent the accumulation of dust and particles.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the camera controller controls pan and tilt of the video camera.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the video recorder is mounted within in a dust-resistant compartment in the miniature vehicle.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 further including at least one break-away mount for releasably attaching the video camera to the miniature vehicle such that the video camera separates from the miniature vehicle when acted upon by a force greater than a predetermined value.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the miniature vehicle is a toy racing car.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the first and second wireless transmitters and the first and second wireless receivers operate in the radio frequency spectrum.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1 further including a wireless video transmitter operatively coupled to the video camera for transmitting video images generated by the video camera.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8 further including a wireless video receiver for receiving the transmitted video images where the video images are displayed on the video display in real time.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the target vehicle is a toy racing car.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein movement of the target vehicle is controlled by a wireless remote control device.

12. A video production system for creating full-motion real time video images of a target vehicle, the system comprising:

an observer vehicle;

first means for transmitting information remotely;

first means for receiving information remotely, operatively coupled to the observer vehicle and configured to control movement of the observer vehicle in response to signals received from the first means for transmitting;

means for generating real-time video images of the target vehicle, said means being mounted to the observer vehicle;

means for controlling the generating means and operatively coupled thereto for directing the movement of the means for generating real-time video images, relative to the observer vehicle;

second means for transmitting information remotely;

second means for receiving information remotely, operatively coupled to the means for controlling and configured to control movement of the means for generating real-time video images, said means for controlling responsive to signals received from the second means for transmitting;

means for recording the real-time video images operatively coupled to the means for generating, said means for recording facilitating recording of the real time video images, the means for recording operatively mounted in the observer vehicle; and

means for displaying operatively coupled to the means for generating, for displaying the real time video images where movement of the observer vehicle and movement of the means for generating are controlled in real time in response to the video images displayed such that optimal video images of the target vehicle are obtained.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12 further including at least one releasing means for releasably attaching the means for generating real-time video images to the observer vehicle such that the means for generating real-time images separates from the observer vehicle when acted upon by a force greater than a predetermined value.

14. The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein movement of the observer vehicle is controlled by wireless remote control device in communication with the first means for receiving information.

15. The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the first and second means for transmitting information and the first and second means for receiving information remotely operate in the radio frequency spectrum.

16. The apparatus according to claim 12 further including means for remotely transmitting video images operatively coupled to the means for generating, for transmitting the generated video images.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16 further including means for receiving the transmitted video images where the video images are displayed on the means for displaying in real time.

18. The apparatus according to claim 16 further including means for receiving the transmitted video images where the video images are recorded on the means for recording in real time.

19. A vehicle video production system for creating full-motion real time video images of a target vehicle, the system comprising:

a miniature vehicle;

a first wireless transmitter;

a first wireless receiver operatively coupled to the miniature vehicle and configured to control movement of the miniature vehicle in response to signals received from the first wireless transmitter;

a video camera attached to the miniature vehicle for generating real-time video images of the target vehicle, the video camera releasably attached to the miniature vehicle by at least one break-away mount permitting separation of the video camera from the miniature vehicle when acted upon by a force greater than a predetermined value;

a camera controller connected to the video camera to control movement of the video camera relative to the miniature vehicle;

a second wireless transmitter;

a second wireless receiver operatively coupled to the camera controller and configured to control movement of video camera in response to signals received from the second wireless transmitter;

a video recorder operatively coupled to the video camera configured to record the real time video images generated by the video camera; and

a video display device operatively coupled to the video camera for displaying the real time video images where movement of the miniature vehicle and movement of the video camera are controlled in real time in response to the video images displayed on the display device to obtain optimal video images of the target vehicle.