High definition camera pan tilt mechanism

• US 7,473,040 B2
• Filed: 10/14/2005
• Issued: 01/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lifesize, Inc. (Enghouse Systems Limited)
• Original Assignee: Lifesize, Inc. (Enghouse Systems Limited)
• Inventors: Kenoyer, Michael L., Oxford, William V., Vanderwilt, Patrick D., Haenlein, Hans-Christoph, Kaplan, Jonathan I., Lukic, Branko
• Primary Examiner(s): Mahoney; Christopher E
• Assistant Examiner(s): PARKER, AUTUMN H
• Application Number:
  US11/251,083
• Publication Number:
  US 20060104633A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,180 Days
• Field of Search: 396/427, 348/14.08, 348/14.09, 348/143, 352/69
• US Class Current: 396/428
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/10 around a horizontal axis F16M11/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/18 with mechanism for moving the apparatus relatively to the stand
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2014 around a vertical axis F16M11/2035 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/02 for supporting on, or attaching to, an object, e.g. tree, gate, window-frame, cycle
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1607 Arrangements to support accessories mechanically attached to the display housing G06F1/1603, G06F1/1605 take precedence
• 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

In various embodiments, a High Definition (HD) camera may be controlled by one or more motors in a base of the HD camera. Cables and other components may be used to manipulate the camera lens through the side arms of the HD camera. Putting the motors in the base may reduce the size of the outer case of the HD camera and add stability. In some embodiments, images from the HD camera may be converted into a serialized stream and transported over a cable from the lens through a center shaft of the HD camera. Other components may also be used to increase the functionality of the HD camera. In some embodiments, a camera support mechanism may be provided to couple a camera to a display. The camera support mechanism may include a front lip and rear leg to hold camera in place.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a high definition (HD) camera, comprising;

a lens portion;

a base coupled to the lens portion;

a first motor;

a second motor;

a first plate engaged by the first motor to pan the lens portion; and

a second plate engaged by the second motor to tilt the lens portion;

wherein the first plate and the second plate are substantially coplanar with each other and wherein the first plate and the second plate are substantially parallel with an exterior bottom surface of the base.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a thin cable coupled to the HD camera, wherein the thin cable transmits a high speed serial digital stream.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the thin cable carries digitized microphone data and digital image data.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the thin cable carries bi-directional control data for controlling the first motor, the second motor, focus motor, zoom motor, iris motor, or power to the HD camera.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an opto-interrupter on at least one of the first plate and the second plate, wherein the opto-interrupter detects motion of the at least first plate or second plate past a predefined point.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein if the opto-interrupter detects motion past the predefined point, the opto-interrupter signals the first motor or second motor, corresponding to the plate the opto-interrupter is coupled, to stop.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a remote control sensor coupled to the HD camera.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a field programmable gate array (FPGA) configured to control the first motor or the second motor in the base of the HD camera.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

an arm assembly coupling the base to the lens portion, wherein the arm assembly comprises one or more arms, wherein the lens portion is coupled to at least one of the one or more arms through a rod; and

a tilt cable coupling the second plate and the rod, wherein rotation of the second plate pulls the tilt cable to rotate the rod to tilt the lens portion.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the tilt cable runs through an interior of the at least one of the one or more arms and is spaced from a side of the interior of the at least one of the one or more arms through at least one offsetting connector operable to pivot to allow movement of the tilt cable in the interior of the at least one of the one or more arms.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first motor and the second motor are in the base of the HD camera.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

an array of microphones coupled to the HD camera, wherein signals from the array of microphones may be beamformed to detect a direction to a sound source.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a field programmable gate array (FPGA) in the HD camera receives the first and second signal and controls the first motor and the second motor.

14. The apparatus of claim 1,

wherein the first plate comprises:

a first planar surface substantially perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the first plate; and

a first side surface configured to engage a gear coupled to the first motor;

wherein the second plate comprises;

a second planar surface substantially perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the second plate; and

a second side surface configured to engage a gear coupled to the second motor;

wherein the first planar surface and the second planar surface are substantially coplanar with each other and substantially parallel with an exterior bottom surface of the base.

15. A high definition (HD) camera, comprising:

a lens portion;

a base coupled to the lens portion, wherein the base comprises one or more motors, wherein the one or more motors are operable to pan the lens portion and tilt the lens portion;

a plate configured to engage at least one of the one or more motors;

an arm assembly coupling the base to the lens portion, wherein the arm assembly comprises one or more arms, wherein the lens portion is coupled to at least one of the one or more arms through a rod; and

a tilt cable coupling the plate and the rod, wherein rotation of the plate pulls the tilt cable to rotate the rod to tilt the lens portion;

wherein the tilt cable extends through an interior of the at least one of the one or more arms and is spaced from a side of the interior of the at least one of the one or more arms through at least one offsetting connector to allow movement of the tilt cable in the interior of the at least one of the one or more arms.

16. The HD camera of claim 15, wherein the one or more arms comprise a first arm and a second arm, wherein both the first arm and the second arm extend approximately to a midpoint of opposing sides of the lens portion and wherein the first arm and the second arm are coupled to the lens portion through the rod, wherein the rod is coupled to the side of the lens portion at approximately the midpoints of the side of the lens portion.

17. The HD camera of claim 15, wherein the at least one offsetting connector is operable to pivot to allow the movement of the tilt cable in the interior of the at least one of the one or more arms.