Camera tripod having speech recognition for controlling a camera

• US 5,980,124 A
• Filed: 08/24/1998
• Issued: 11/09/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Stephany, Thomas M., Bernardi, Bryan D., Henry, Chad M.
• Primary Examiner(s): BLANKENSHIP, HOWARD BENNETT
• Application Number:
  US09/138,487
• Time in Patent Office: 442 Days
• Field of Search: 396/24, 396/56-59, 396/263, 396/376, 396/419, 396/428, 396/429
• US Class Current: 396/428
• 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 11/245 Members limiting spreading of legs, e.g. "umbrella legs" for supports with three or more telescoping legs F16M11/34
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/28 Undercarriages for supports with one single telescoping pillar
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/561 Support related camera accessories

Abstract

A camera tripod for receiving a camera, the camera tripod comprises: a tripod foundation for providing a structure on which the camera may be disposed; a voice receiving mechanism disposed on said tripod foundation for receiving vocal instructions; a speech recognition system disposed in the foundation for recognizing the vocal instructions, and for initiating signals to the camera for implementation of the received vocal instruction.

Claims

1. A camera tripod for receiving a camera, the tripod comprising:

(a) a tripod foundation for providing a structure on which the camera may be disposed;

(b) a voice receiving mechanism disposed on said tripod foundation for receiving vocal instructions;

(c) a speech recognition system disposed in said foundation for recognizing the vocal instructions, and for initiating signals to the camera for implementation of the received vocal instruction.

2. The camera tripod as in claim 1, wherein said speech recognition system includes a microcontroller for directing operations according to the received vocal instructions.

3. The camera tripod as in claim 2, wherein said voice receiving mechanism includes a microphone that receives vocal instructions.

4. The camera tripod as in claim 1 further comprising a motor disposed in said foundation for permitting either or both height adjustment of the camera and/or rotational movement of the camera.

5. A camera tripod and camera combination, the combination comprising:

(a) a tripod foundation for providing a structure on which the camera is disposed;

(b) a voice receiving mechanism disposed on said tripod foundation for receiving vocal instructions;

(c) a speech recognition system disposed in said foundation for recognizing the vocal instructions, and for initiating a signal to the camera for implementation of the received vocal instruction; and

(d) a microcontroller positioned in said camera that receives the initiating signals from said speech recognition system and then directs operations of the camera according to the received signal.

6. The camera and camera tripod combination as in claim 5 further comprising a moveable display attached to said camera for permitting viewing of an image to be captured by said camera.

7. The camera and camera tripod combination as in claim 5, wherein said speech recognition system includes a microcontroller for directing operations according to the received vocal instructions.

8. The camera and camera tripod combination as in claim 7, wherein said voice receiving mechanism includes a microphone that receives vocal instructions.

9. The camera and camera tripod combination as in claim 8 further comprising a motor disposed in said foundation for permitting either or both height adjustment of the camera and/or rotational movement of the camera.