Remote controlled tracking system for tracking a remote control unit and positioning and operating a camera and method

• US 5,561,518 A
• Filed: 06/06/1995
• Issued: 10/01/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gvbb Holdings SARL (Vislink Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ParkerVision, Inc.
• Inventors: Sorrells, David F., Parker, Jeffrey L., Mix, John D., Daber, Richard P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Buczinski, Stephen C.
• Application Number:
  US08/470,035
• Time in Patent Office: 483 Days
• Field of Search: 250/231.18, 250/203.3, 250/206.1, 250/206.2, 318/640, 318/648, 356/141.2, 356/141.4, 356/141.5, 356/139.06, 354/81, 352/53, 352/197, 352/243, 348/169
• US Class Current: 356/139.06
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/1697 Vision controlled systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/7864 T.V. type tracking systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/695 Control of camera direction for changing a field of view, e.g. pan, tilt or based on tracking of objects

Abstract

The system includes improvements to a remote tracking system for motion picture as well as still picture cameras. The system provides for improved motor control for PAN and TILT functions including motor turn-off in the event of stall; the use of optical means to provide position feedback through the use of a light-blocking disk graduated on a "gray scale" which eliminates mechanical contacts; mechanical levers that are motor driven for operation of ON/OFF and ZOOM functions of a motion picture camera or shutter control for a still camera via either the base or remote unit command circuitry. The remote unit is formed as a hand-held wand and also provides audio circuitry. A space diversity RF receiver is used to improve the communication link between the remote unit and the base unit.

Claims

1. A system for positioning a camera mounted on an automatic tracking unit comprising a movable remote control unit, a tracking unit, a controller for moving said tracking unit in response to movement of said remote unit, said remote unit being formed as an elongate handheld device and including means for providing a reference position for the tracking unit to track said remote unit and remote signal generating means for sending a remote unit signal to said controller, said controller having receiver means for receiving said remote unit signal and moving said tracking unit in response thereto, said remote unit further including a microphone and audio circuit means for providing an audio signal in said remote unit for transmitting audio to said tracking unit.

2. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for providing a reference to said tracking unit includes sensor means in said target, said sensor means being located closely adjacent said microphone such that when said microphone is being spoken into a preferred orientation of said target is provided by a user to be recorded by the camera.

3. A method of positioning and operating a camera having an audio input mounted on a tracking unit that is movable to automatically track a movable remote control unit comprising the steps of:

A. mounting a camera on the tracking unit that is automatically movable to track the control unit in at least one plane;

B. including in the control unit a transmitter and an audio microphone for providing an audio signal; and

C. transmitting the audio signal from the microphone to the audio input of the camera via the tracking unit.

4. A method of controlling the field of view of a camera by an automatic tracking system used to automatically track a subject with the field of view comprising the steps of:

A. controlling the field of view of a camera by the automatic tracking system;

B. controlling the field of view to automatically track the subject by the field of view;

C. transmitting audio from the subject; and

D. receiving by the automatic tracking system the transmitted audio from the subject.

5. The method of claim 4 further including the step of:

E. recording the audio in association with the video from the field of view of the camera.

6. The method of claim 4 further including the step of:

E. receiving commands by the automatic tracking system from an external communication means.

7. A method of controlling the field of view of a camera by an automatic tracking system used to automatically track a target with the field of view comprising the steps of:

A. controlling the field of view of a camera;

B. controlling the field of view to automatically track the target by tracking a reference means with the field of view; and

C. positioning audio pickup means placed in a known physical relationship to the reference means for transmitting audio to the automatic tracking system.

8. The method of claim 7 further including the step of:

D. transmitting audio from the audio pickup transmitter means and receiving the transmitted audio by the automatic tracking system.

9. The method of claim 8 further including the step of:

E. recording the audio in known relationship with the video from the field of view of the camera.

10. The method of claim 7 further including the step of:

D. including in the audio pickup transmitter means an audio microphone located in known physical relationship with the reference means.

11. The method of claim 7 further including the step of:

D. including control means in the reference means for issuing commands to the tracking system; and

E. positioning the control means in a known physical relationship to the reference means.

12. The method of claim 7 further including the step of:

D. transmitting audio from the audio pickup transmitter means and receiving the transmitted audio for recording the audio in association with the video from the field of view.

13. The method of claim 7 further including the step of:

D. including the audio pickup transmitter means as an integral component of a movable remote unit to be handheld by the user.

14. The method of claim 13 further including the step of:

E. forming the handheld movable remote unit to include multiple reference means automatically tracking by an automatic tracking system for automatic tracking of the remote unit.

15. The method of claim 7 further including the step of:

D. including the audio pickup transmitter means as an integral component of a movable remote unit to be worn by the user.

16. The method of claim 14 further including the step of:

F. providing multiple references in a physical orientation such that there will be a minimum of at least one such reference means in communication with the automatic tracking system to accommodate more than one physical orientation of the movable remote unit.

17. The method of claim 16 further including the step of:

E. forming the movable remote to include multiple reference means for automatic tracking.

18. The method of claim 17 further including the step of:

F. providing multiple references in a physical orientation such that there will be a minimum of at least one such reference means in communication with the automatic tracking system to accommodate more than one physical orientation of the movable remote unit.

19. The method of claim 13 further including the step of:

E. including control means in the reference means for issuing commands to the tracking system; and

F. positioning the control means in known physical relationship to the reference means.

20. The method of claim 10 further including the step of:

D. including the audio pickup transmitter means as an integral component of a movable remote unit to be worn by the user.

21. A method of controlling the field of view of a camera by an automatic tracking system used to automatically track a subject with the field of view comprising the steps of:

A. controlling the field of view of a camera;

B controlling the field of view to automatically track the subject by tracking a reference means with the field of view by determining the location of the reference means by the automatic tracking system with respect to a reference position as established by the automatic tracking system;

C. transmitting commands to the automatic tracking system;

D. transmitting the commands from step C from a movable remote control means; and

E. locating the reference means of step B to be in known relationship with the control means of step D.

22. The method of claim 21 further including the step of:

F. integrating the reference means and control means such that they are contained within a contiguous physical arrangement.

23. The method of claim 21 further including the step of:

F. positioning a audio pickup means in a known relationship with the reference means of step B.

24. The method of claim 23 further including the step of:

G. transmitting audio from the audio pickup means and receiving the transmitted audio for recording the audio in association with the video from the field of view.

25. The method of claim 21 further including the step of:

G. providing the control means and reference means to be an integral component of a movable remote unit to be handheld by the user.

26. The method of claim 25 further including the step of:

G. forming the handheld movable remote to include multiple reference means for automatic tracking.

27. The method of claim 26 further including the step of:

H. providing multiple references in a physical orientation such that there will be a minimum of at least one such reference means visible to the automatic tracking system to accommodate more than one physical orientation of the movable remote unit.

28. A method of issuing commands with a user interface to control an automatic tracking system, the automatic tracking system used to automatically track a subject with the field of view comprising the steps of:

A. controlling the field of view of a camera;

B. controlling the field of view to automatically track the subject by determining the actual location of the subject by the automatic tracking system with respect to a reference position as established by the automatic tracking system;

C. providing movable remote control means capable of issuing commands to the automatic tracking system;

D. issuing commands to initiate and/or cause the cessation of automatic tracking of the subject; and

E. issuing one or more of the following commands to the automatic tracking system;

a. start recording video from the field of view

b. stop recording video from the field of view;

c. remember one or more field of view perspectives;

d. recall one or more of the field of view perspectives remembered;

e. control the field of view perspective;

f. remember field of view locations;

g. recall field of view locations remembered; and

h. automatically cause the cessation of automatic tracking to manually control the movement of the field of view in one or more planes.

29. The method of claim 28 further including the steps of:

F. determining at least one specific field of view of the camera;

G. issuing a first command to remember at least one selected specific field of view of the camera; and

H. issuing a second command to control the cessation of automatic tracking to return to at least one selected specific field of view of the camera remembered in step G.

30. The method of claim 29 further including the step of:

I. establishing the specific field of view of the camera of step G by automatically tracking the movable remote control unit to the one specific field of view of the camera remembered in step G.

31. The method of claim 29 further including the step of:

I. issuing a third command from the remote control unit to re-enable the automatic tracking which was disabled in step H to begin tracking of the movable remote unit by the camera.

32. The method of claim 29 further including the step of:

I. issuing a command from the remote control unit to control the field of view of the camera to go from the one remembered specific field of view of the camera in step G to another.

33. A method of controlling the field of view of a camera used with an automatic control system for the automatic tracking of a movable remote unit comprising the steps of:

A. including in the movable remote unit an audio microphone for providing an audio signal to the automatic control system;

B. controlling the field of view of a camera when automatically tracking the movable remote unit by determining the actual location of the remote unit by the automatic control system with respect to a reference position as established by the automatic tracking system;

C. providing reference means on the remote unit for use in the automatic tracking of the remote unit;

D. locating the audio microphone in a known relationship to the reference means so as to encourage a predetermined orientation of the movable remote by a user; and

E. issuing commands by the remote unit for controlling the field of view of a camera.

34. The method of claim 33 further including the step of:

F. issuing a first command to cause the cessation of automatic tracking of the remote control unit.

35. The method of claim 34 further including the step of:

G. issuing a second command to cause the automatic tracking of the remote control unit to begin.

36. An automatic tracking system comprising a movable remote unit, a base station, said base station including control circuit means for determining the relative position and movement of said remote unit with respect to said base station and providing control output signals in response thereto, said base station including movable means responsive to said control circuit means for moving said base station in response to said control output signals, said remote unit being formed as a collar adapted to be worn around the neck of a user and including command circuit means for transmitting commands to said base station, said collar including an audio microphone and transmitter circuit means for transmitting a signal having an audio component to said base station.

37. A method of controlling the field of view of a camera by an automatic tracking system used to automatically track a subject with the field of view comprising the steps of:

A. controlling the field of view of a camera;

B. controlling the field of view to automatically track the subject by tracking a reference means with the field of view by determining the actual location of the reference means by the automatic tracking system with respect to a reference position as established by the automatic tracking system;

C. positioning audio pickup transmitter means placed in a known physical relationship to the reference means; and

D. including the audio pickup transmitter means as an integral component of a movable remote unit to be handheld by the user for sending audio to the automatic tracking system.

38. A method of controlling the field of view of a camera by an automatic tracking system used to automatically track a subject with the field of view comprising the steps of:

A. controlling the field of view of a camera;

B. controlling the field of view to automatically track the subject by tracking a reference means with the field of view by determining the actual location of the reference means by the automatic tracking system with respect to a reference position as established by the automatic tracking system;

C. positioning audio pickup transmitter means placed in a known physical relationship to the reference means; and

D. including the audio pickup transmitter means as an integral component of a movable remote unit to be worn by the user for sending audio to the automatic tracking system.

39. A method of controlling the field of view of a camera by an automatic tracking system used to automatically track a subject with the field of view comprising the steps of:

A. controlling the field of view of a camera;

B. controlling the field of view to automatically track the subject by tracking a reference means with the field of view by determining the actual location of the reference means by the automatic tracking system with respect to a reference position as established by the automatic tracking system;

C. positioning audio pickup transmitter means placed in a known physical relationship to the reference means; and

D. including the audio pickup transmitter means as an integral component of a movable remote unit to be worn by the user for sending audio to the automatic tracking system.

40. A method of controlling the field of view of a camera by an automatic tracking system used to automatically track a subject with the field of view comprising the steps of:

A. controlling the field of view of a camera;

B. controlling the field of view to automatically track the subject by tracking a reference means with the field of view by determining the actual location of the reference means by the automatic tracking system with respect to a reference position as established by the automatic tracking system;

C. transmitting commands to the automatic tracking system;

D. transmitting the commands from step C from a movable remote control means;

E. locating the reference means of step B to be in known relationship with the control means of step D; and

F. providing the control means and reference means to be an integral component of a movable remote unit to be handheld by the user.

41. A method of controlling the field of view of a camera by an automatic tracking system used to automatically track a subject with the field of view comprising the steps of:

A. controlling the field of view of a camera;

B. controlling the field of view to automatically track the subject by tracking a remote unit with the field of view by determining the actual location of the remote unit by the automatic tracking system with respect to a reference position as established by the automatic tracking system;

C. forming the remote unit as a collar adapted to be worn around the neck of the subject and including in the remote unit command means for transmitting commands to the automatic tracking system; and

D. positioning audio pickup transmitter means in the collar for sending audio to the automatic tracking system.