Image speed calibrating device

• US 5,754,223 A
• Filed: 02/03/1994
• Issued: 05/19/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mark Telemachus John Palmos
• Original Assignee: Mark Telemachus John Palmos
• Inventors: Palmos, Mark Telemachus John
• Primary Examiner(s): Faile, Andrew
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ho, Tuan V.
• Application Number:
  US08/191,159
• Time in Patent Office: 1,566 Days
• Field of Search: 348/207, 348/211, 348/212, 348/213, 348/214, 348/218, 348/333, 352/170, 352/171, 126/213, 340/706, 340/709
• US Class Current: 348/207.99
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 1/122 Speed recorders
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 37/00 Panoramic or wide-screen photography; Photographing extended surfaces, e.g. for surveying; Photographing internal surfaces, e.g. of pipe
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/633 for displaying additional information relating to control or operation of the camera

Abstract

An image speed indicator displayed in a monitor to be used as an aid during the filming process with a video camera and monitor or a film camera being used with a video assist unit. The indicator can be adjusted to move at a selected speed horizontally and/or at a selected speed vertically. When both horizontal and vertical non-zero speeds are set the marker will move at an angle across the monitor. The apparatus displays and saves the speed setting so that it can be reproduced at later time Therefore shots recorded at different times can be shot with the marker set on a desired scene object and the camera panned at the same speed and angle or wholly horizontally or vertically.

Claims

1. An image speed indicator for a camera comprising;

an electronically generated marker movable relative to a monitor for use with a camera;

means for causing the marker to move relative to the monitor at a selected speed and direction during a first operation of a camera;

means for providing an indication of the selected speed and direction that takes place between the marker and the monitor; and

means for causing a marker to move relative to a monitor at the selected speed and direction during operation of a camera, subsequent to said first operation of a camera.

2. An image speed indicator as claimed in claim 1 wherein the marker comprises a single horizontal marker line and/or a vertical marker line.

3. An image speed indicator as claimed in claim 1 wherein the marker has a patterned or grid-like configuration.

4. An image speed indicator as claimed in claim 1 wherein the means for causing the marker to move comprises an electronic circuit including means for adjusting the speed and direction of the movement of the marker.

5. An image speed indicator as claimed in claim 1 wherein the monitor is a viewfinder of a video camera or a video monitor used with a video assist unit and film camera.

6. An image speed indicator as claimed in claim 1 wherein the image speed indicator is integrated as part of a video camera or film camera to be used with a video assist unit.

7. An image speed indicator as claimed in claim 1 wherein the means for adjusting the speed of movement of the marker comprises a variable resistor.

8. An image speed indicator for a video camera system having a monitor which displays the scene being recorded by the camera comprising;

means for electronically generating a selected marker configuration on the monitor;

control means for setting movement of the marker in a selected line of movement and at a selected speed on the monitor;

means for causing the marker to move across the monitor in the same selected line of movement and at the same selected speed during a first operation of a video camera system while recording a selected scene; and

means for reproducing the movement of a marker across a monitor in the same selected line of movement and at the same selected speed during a second operation of a video camera system after said first operation of a video camera system.

9. The image speed indicator of claim 8 wherein the control means comprises a means for controlling the vertical speed of the marker on the monitor from a zero speed to a maximum speed and means for controlling the horizontal speed of the marker on the monitor from a zero speed to a maximum speed whereby wholly vertical movement or wholly horizontal movement or by a combination of vertical and horizontal movement an angled movement may be selected.

10. The image speed indicator of claim 9 wherein the marker comprises selectively a horizontal line element or a vertical line element or both a horizontal and vertical line element.

11. The image indicator of claim 9 wherein the marker comprises a grid of horizontal and vertical line elements.

12. A method of reproducing the relative movement of a recorded selected scene element comprising;

at a first time electronically generating a marker on a video monitor connected to a camera, which video monitor displays the scene being recorded by the camera;

providing means for moving the marker on the video monitor along a selected line of movement and at a selected speed;

placing the marker on a selected scene element and while operating the camera moving the camera in coordination with movement of the marker on the monitor to keep the marker placed on the selected element;

providing means for reproducing the marker line of movement and speed within a video monitor connected to a camera at a later time.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the means for moving the marker on the video monitor includes means for moving the marker at an adjustably selected horizontal and at an adjustably selected vertical speed in each case from a zero speed to a maximum speed whereby vertical movement or horizontal movement or a combination resulting in an angled line of movement may be selected.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the marker may be generated selectively as either horizontal line element and a vertical line element or both.

15. The method of claims 13 wherein the marker may be generated as a grid of horizontal and vertical line elements.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein the marker may be generated selectively as either horizontal line element and a vertical line element or both.

17. The method of claims 12 wherein the marker may be generated as a grid of horizontal and vertical line elements.

18. The method of claim 12 further comprising at a later second time causing the marker to move on a video monitor along the same line of movement as the first time and while operating a camera placing the marker on a selected scene element which may be the same or a different scene element as at the first time and moving the camera in coordination with movement of the marker on the monitor to keep the marker placed on the selected scene element.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising combining the first and second scenes in a single video record.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein said combining is consecutive.

21. The method of claim 12 wherein the selected scene element of the second time is different from the selected scene element of the first time.