Transmission of uncompressed video for 3-D and multiview HDTV

• US 8,613,030 B2
• Filed: 05/27/2008
• Issued: 12/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: John E. Nelson, Philip S. Kossin
• Original Assignee: John E. Nelson, Philip S. Kossin
• Inventors: Kossin, Philip S, Nelson, John E
• Primary Examiner(s): Goodarzi, Nasser
• Assistant Examiner(s): GRAHAM, PAUL J
• Application Number:
  US12/451,688
• Publication Number:
  US 20100235871A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,030 Days
• Field of Search: 725/105, 725106-125, 455/403, 455/430, 370/214, 370/249, 370/316, 348169-172, 3482082-2084, 386326-328
• US Class Current: 725/105
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/08 for varying two co-ordinates of the orientation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/194 Transmission of image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/239 using two 2D image sensors having a relative position equal to or related to the interocular distance H04N13/243 takes precedence

Abstract

A wireless video camera system including a single or dual HDTV digital camera; a system for the wireless transmission of uncompressed single or multiple SMPTE 292M, HDSDI data streams over an RF band; and automatic self-pointing transmitting and receiving antennas.

Claims

1. An apparatus for transmission of uncompressed video signals comprising:

a) at least one video camera outputting a video signal;

b) a transmitter connected to said video camera;

c) a transmit gimbal;

d) a transmit horn antenna connected to said transmitter and mounted on said transmit gimbal;

e) a receive gimbal located at a predetermined distance from said transmit gimbal and adapted to detect said transmit gimbal'"'"'s position;

f) a receive horn antenna mounted on said receive gimbal;

g) a receiver connected to said receive horn antenna; and

h) a first tracking means for tracking the position of said transmit gimbal and a second tracking means for tracking said receive gimbal.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:

a) a duplexer/combiner operatively connected to and positioned between said video camera and said transmit horn antenna; and

b) a duplexer/splitter connected to said receive horn antenna.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the beamwidth of said horn antennas is between 3 and 8 degrees.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which said tracking means operates by detecting the positions of said horn antennas which results in maximum signal strength.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which said tracking means operates by detecting the positions of said horn antennas in three dimensional space.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which said tracking means operates by detecting the change in location of said transmit horn antenna in three dimensional space.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which said tracking means comprises:

a) position detecting means on said gimbals for detecting the positions of said gimbals;

b) position controlling means on said gimbals for controlling the positions of said gimbals;

c) a radio frequency transceiver;

d) an antenna connected to said transceiver;

e) a computer connected to said position detecting means, said position controlling means, said radio frequency transceiver;

said transmitter and said receiver;

f) software on said computer for sending and receiving data and control signals via said radio frequency transceiver;

continuously detecting said positions of said gimbals; and

continuously controlling said positions of said gimbals so that signal strength of said video data signal at said receiver is maximized.

8. An apparatus for transmission of uncompressed video signals comprising:

a) a first video camera outputting a first video signal;

b) a second video camera outputting a second video signal;

c) a first transmitter connected to said first video camera;

d) a second transmitter connected to said second video camera;

e) a duplexer/combiner adapted to receive said first video signal, to receive said second video signal and to combine connected to said transmitters or said video cameras;

said first and second video signals into a combined video data signal;

f) a transmit gimbal;

g) a transmit horn antenna mounted on said transmit gimbal;

h) a receive gimbal located at a predetermined distance from said transmit gimbal and adapted to detect said transmit gimbal'"'"'s position;

i) a receive horn antenna mounted on said receive gimbal;

j) a duplexer/splitter operatively connected to said receive horn antenna, adapted to receive said combined video data signal and adapted to split;

said duplexer/splitter splitting said combined video data signal into said first video signal and said second video signal;

k) a first receiver operatively connected to said receiver horn antenna and to said duplex/splitter; and

l) a tracking means for tracking the position of said transmit gimbal and the position of said receive gimbal.

9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 8 in which the beamwidth of each of said transmit horn antenna and said receive horn antenna between 3 and 7 degrees.

10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 8 in which said tracking means operates by detecting the positions of said horn antennas which results in maximum signal strength.

11. An apparatus as claimed in claim 8 in which said tracking means operates by detecting the positions of said horn antennas in three dimensional space.

12. An apparatus as claimed in claim 8 in which said tracking means operates by detecting the change in location of said transmit horn antenna in three dimensional space.

13. An apparatus as claimed in claim 8 in which said tracking means comprises:

a) transmit position detecting means on said transmit gimbal for detecting the positions of said transmit gimbal;

b) receive position detecting means on said receive gimbal for detecting the positions of said receive gimbal;

c) transmit position controlling means on said transmit gimbal for controlling the position of said transmit gimbal;

d) receive position controlling means on said receive gimbal for controlling the position of said receive gimbal;

e) a receive radio frequency transceiver;

f) a transmit radio frequency transceiver;

g) a receive antenna connected to said receive transceiver;

h) a transmit antenna connected to said transmit transceiver;

i) a transmit computer connected to said transmit position detecting means, said transmit position controlling means, said transmit radio frequency transceiver;

said transmitter and said receiver;

j) a receive computer connected to said receive position detecting means, said receive position controlling means, said receive radio frequency transceiver; and

said receiver;

k) software on said computers for sending and receiving data and control signals via said radio frequency transceiver;

continuously detecting said positions of said gimbals;

and continuously controlling said positions of said gimbals so that signal strengths of said video signals at said receiver is maximized.

14. A method for transmission of uncompressed video signals comprising the steps of:

a) providing at least one video camera outputting a video signal;

b) providing a transmitter;

c) connecting said video camera to said transmitter;

d) providing a transmit gimbal;

e) providing a transmit horn antenna;

f) mounting said transmit horn antenna on said transmit gimbal;

g) providing a receive gimbal located at a predetermined distance from said transmit gimbal and adapted to detect said transmit gimbal'"'"'s position;

h) providing a receive horn antenna;

i) mounting said receive horn antenna on said receive gimbal;

j) providing a receiver connected to said receive horn antenna;

k) providing a tracking means for determining the position of said transmit horn antenna, determining the position of said receive horn antenna and keeping said transmit horn antenna and said receive horn antenna continuously pointed at each other;

l) capturing images with said video camera and outputting said images as a video signal;

m) amplifying and modulating said video signal onto a microwave carrier in said transmitter to produce a video data signal;

n) transmitting said video data signal from said transmit horn antenna;

o) receiving said video data signal at said receive horn antenna;

p) demodulating said video data signal in said receiver to provide a demodulated video data signal;

q) outputting said demodulated video data signal.

15. A method as claimed in claim 14 further comprising the steps of:

a) providing a duplexer/combiner;

b) connecting said duplexer/combiner between said video camera and said transmit horn antenna;

c) providing a duplexer/splitter;

d) connecting said duplexer/splitter after said receive horn antenna;

e) combining video signals in said duplexer/combiner; and

f) splitting video signals in said duplexer/splitter.

16. A method as claimed in claim 14 in which the beamwidth of said horn antennas is between 3 and 8 degrees.

17. A method as claimed in claim 14 in which said tracking system operates by detecting the positions of said horn antennas which results in maximum signal strength.

18. A method as claimed in claim 14 in which said tracking system operates by detecting the positions of said horn antennas in three dimensional spaces.

19. A method as claimed in claim 14 in which said tracking system operates by detecting the change in location of said transmit horn antenna in three dimensional space.

20. A method as claimed in claim 14 in which the step of keeping said horn antennas continuously pointed at each other comprises the steps of:

a) providing position detecting means;

b) attaching said position detecting means on said gimbals;

c) providing position controlling means;

d) attaching said position controlling means on said gimbals;

e) providing a radio frequency transceiver;

f) providing an antenna;

g) connecting said antenna to said transceiver;

h) providing a computer;

i) connecting said computer to said position detecting means, said position controlling means, said radio frequency transceiver;

said transmitter and said receiver;

j) installing software on said computer for sending and receiving data and control signals via said radio frequency transceiver;

continuously detecting said positions of said gimbals; and

continuously controlling said positions of said gimbals;

k) sending and receiving data and control signals via said radio frequency transceiver; and

l) continuously detecting said positions of said gimbals; and

continuously controlling said positions of said gimbals so that signal strength of said video data signal at said receiver is maximized.