Hand-held remote control and display system for film and video cameras and lenses
First Claim
1. A system for remotely controlling the operation of a camera having a video signal tap and a lens including the operation of at least a start/stop switch of the camera and lens focus and T-stop adjustment motors of the lens, comprising:
- a motor driver unit for connection to and controlling of the camera start/stop switch and the lens motors;
a controller having means for selectively connecting to said motor driver unit by hardwire or wireless for communicating between said motor driver unit and said controller, said controller being portable and sized for holding by an operator in one hand;
said controller having separate control means manually operable by the operator for operating the motor driver unit to separately and independently control at least the camera start/stop switch and the lens motors; and
said controller having a display screen and means for selectively displaying either a scene from the video signal tap of the camera or a plurality of lens data concerning at least the lens focus adjustment and lens T-stop adjustment.
12 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system (30) for remotely controlling the operation of a camera (10) having a video signal tap and a lens having lens focus, zoom and T-stop adjustment motors (24, 26, 28). A digital motor driver unit (32) is connected to and controls the camera and the lens motors. A portable digital controller (34) has either a hardwire (36) or wireless connection to the motor driver unit and is sized for holding in one hand. The controller has separate controls (52, 62, 66, 70) that are manually adjustable for controlling the motor driver unit to separately and independently control the camera and the lens motors. The controller also has a display screen (56) for selectively displaying a scene from the video signal tap of the camera or data from the lens motors. The system includes a memory and processing means for selective operation with a plurality of different cameras and lenses and to calibrate the lenses to the controller and motor driver unit.
93 Citations
37 Claims
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1. A system for remotely controlling the operation of a camera having a video signal tap and a lens including the operation of at least a start/stop switch of the camera and lens focus and T-stop adjustment motors of the lens, comprising:
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a motor driver unit for connection to and controlling of the camera start/stop switch and the lens motors;
a controller having means for selectively connecting to said motor driver unit by hardwire or wireless for communicating between said motor driver unit and said controller, said controller being portable and sized for holding by an operator in one hand;
said controller having separate control means manually operable by the operator for operating the motor driver unit to separately and independently control at least the camera start/stop switch and the lens motors; and
said controller having a display screen and means for selectively displaying either a scene from the video signal tap of the camera or a plurality of lens data concerning at least the lens focus adjustment and lens T-stop adjustment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 22, 23, 24, 26)
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11. A system for remotely controlling the operation of a camera having a video signal tap and a lens including the operation of at least a start/stop switch of the camera and lens focus and T-stop adjustment motors of the lens, comprising:
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a motor driver unit for connection to and controlling of the camera start/stop switch and the lens motors;
a controller having means for selectively connecting to said motor driver unit by hardwire or wireless for communicating between said motor driver unit and said controller, said controller being portable and sized for holding by an operator in one hand;
said controller having separate control means manually operable by the operator for operating the motor driver unit to separately and independently control at least the camera start/stop switch and the lens motors;
said controller having a display screen and means for selectively displaying either a scene from the video signal tap of the camera or a plurality of lens data concerning the lens; and
said controller and motor driver unit having memory and processing means for selective operation with a plurality of different cameras and lenses, said controller having means for entering an identification of the camera and lens currently being used into said memory and processing means, and said memory and processing means functioning to calibrate that currently used lens to said controller and motor driver unit. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 27)
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28. In a system for remotely controlling a start/stop switch and one or more lens motors of a camera having a video signal tap and a lens, the camera further including a motor driver unit for controlling the start/stop switch and the one or more lens motors, a handheld controller communicatively couplable to the motor driver unit, the controller comprising:
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separate controls manually operable by the operator for operating the motor driver unit to separately and independently control at least the start/stop switch and the lens motors; and
a display screen for selectively displaying either a scene from the video signal tap or a plurality of lens data concerning one or more lens adjustments. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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Specification