In-ground camera

• US 8,638,366 B2
• Filed: 04/09/2009
• Issued: 01/28/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fox Sports Productions, LLC (Fox Corporation), Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Fox Sports Productions, LLC (Fox Corporation)
• Inventors: Silverman, Jeff
• Primary Examiner(s): Hussain, Imad
• Application Number:
  US12/421,157
• Publication Number:
  US 20090256913A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,755 Days
• Field of Search: 348/157, 348/220.1, 348/373, 348/376, 422/58, 340/907, 340/905, 715/769, 705/13, 359/754, 701/28
• US Class Current: 348/157
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/02 Bodies
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 Housings
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/188 Capturing isolated or intermittent images triggered by the occurrence of a predetermined event, e.g. an object reaching a predetermined position signal generation from motion picture films H04N5/253

Abstract

An apparatus and method is provided for a unique camera experience, wherein the camera is placed in an in-ground position permitting recording or broadcast of a camera perspective that is along the surface of or above the surface of the ground. In an exemplary embodiment, the in-ground camera is secured within the surface of a racetrack.

Claims

1. An in-ground camera, comprising:

an in-ground, secure, recessed mounting interface; and

an upper surface portion, the upper surface portion operatively associated with a camera lens, primary camera components, and a media output interface or cable, wherein the upper surface portion is devoid of pointed edges and provides a downwardly concave profile having a lens and lens viewing cutout, wherein the lens and lens viewing cutout is configured to provide a lens view along a surface of or view upward from the surface of the ground, wherein the in-ground camera upper surface incorporates an air or fluid spray system provided through at least one aperture in the lens viewing cutout for cleaning the lens of the camera during use; and

wherein the upper surface portion presents no moving parts such that the upper surface is resistant to the forces of high-speed vehicles passing thereover.

2. An in-ground camera in accordance with claim 1, wherein said upper surface portion and said primary camera components are detachable from said in-ground, secure recessed mounting interface.

3. An in-ground camera in accordance with claim 1, wherein said in-ground, secure, recessed mounting interface comprises a base portion that is secured within a hole in the ground and that is configured to receive the upper surface portion and primary camera components.

4. An in-ground camera in accordance with claim 3, wherein said base portion includes at least one recess for receiving at least a portion of the primary camera components.

5. An in-ground camera in accordance with claim 1, wherein said ground comprises a racetrack surface.

6. An in-ground camera in accordance with claim 1, wherein said surface portion comprises a hardened material that is resistant to the forces of high-speed vehicles passing thereover.

7. An in-ground camera in accordance with claim 1, wherein the upper surface portion of the camera housing comprises an at least partially dome like surface that is devoid of exposed pointed edges.

8. An in-ground camera in accordance with claim 1, wherein the camera rises a maximum distance of about 0.25 inches above the surface of the ground.

9. An in-ground camera in accordance with claim 1, wherein the upper surface has a diameter of about 4 inches to provide a gentle transition between the ground surface and the top surface of the camera housing.

10. An in-ground camera in accordance with claim 1, wherein the in-ground camera upper surface incorporates a microphone to provide audio with camera video.

11. An in-ground camera in accordance with claim 1, wherein the air or fluid spray system comprises plural air or fluid spray apertures provided within the cutout.

12. An in-ground camera in accordance with claim 1, wherein the cutout is configured to direct airflow of such high-speed vehicles passing thereover towards the lens to clear or dry the lens.