Multidirectional video capture assembly

• US 8,692,886 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2007
• Issued: 04/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Timothy James Ennis
• Original Assignee: Timothy James Ennis
• Inventors: Ennis, Timothy James
• Primary Examiner(s): Donabed, Ninos
• Assistant Examiner(s): RICHARDSON, THOMAS W
• Application Number:
  US11/932,883
• Publication Number:
  US 20090109292A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,351 Days
• Field of Search: 348/158, 348/81, 348/E7.085, 345/8
• US Class Current: 348/158
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/042 Optical devices night vision goggles G02B23/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/185 from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control

Abstract

A multidirectional video capture assembly is provided that can include a multidirectional helmet camera with protective housing and plurality of image sensors. The image sensors may be oriented in a plurality of directions for simultaneous capture of image data. A multi channel flexible cable can emerge from said protective housing, said cable adapted to carry image signals from the image sensors to an image recording and/or image display device. The protective housing may also be equipped with a complimentary equipment cavity for inclusion of additional advantageous equipment, as may be included to suit individual circumstances.

Claims

1. A multidirectional helmet camera separate from a helmet and configured to hold a plurality of image sensors and to attach atop said helmet, comprising:

a protective housing comprising;

a longitudinal housing portion defining a forward end and a rear end, and a first longitudinal side surface, a second longitudinal side surface and bottom surface spanning between the forward end and rear end, the longitudinal housing having a length spanning between the forward end and rear end, and a width defined between the first and second side surfaces, wherein the length is greater than the width;

a first transverse housing portion extending transversely from the first longitudinal side surface, wherein an extension length of the first transverse housing portion normal to the first longitudinal side surface is substantially less than the length of the longitudinal housing portion; and

a second transverse housing portion extending transversely from the second longitudinal side surface, wherein an extension length of the second transverse housing portion normal to the second longitudinal side surface is substantially less than the length of the longitudinal housing portion;

an equipment cavity defined in at least the longitudinal housing portion and configured to hold equipment of a user;

wherein a portion of the bottom surface is curved inward in a longitudinal direction and contoured to fit atop said helmet such that the protective housing rises vertically above said helmet by a value less than the longitudinal length of the longitudinal housing portion;

said plurality of image sensors disposed within the protective housing and including at least one image sensor associated with each of the forward end of the longitudinal housing, the rear end of the longitudinal housing, the first transverse housing and the second transverse housing;

a triggering mechanism configured to obtain an attention of the user;

a memory in operable communication with the plurality of image sensors and configured to store image data from the plurality of image sensors for at least a predetermined amount of time;

a processor in operable communication with the plurality of image sensors and configured to control real time viewing of the image data from the plurality of the image sensors, the processor in communication with the triggering mechanism, the processor configured to activate video recording using at least one selected image sensor when the triggering mechanism is activated; and

a display unit attached to the helmet, the display unit in communication with the processor, wherein the processor commands the display unit to display images from at least one of the plurality of image sensors when the triggering mechanism is activated.

2. The multidirectional helmet camera of claim 1, further comprising a multi channel flexible cable emerging from the rear end of the protective housing, said cable configured to carry image signals from the plurality of image sensors the memory, the cable comprising a tension-actuated quick-release.

3. The multidirectional helmet camera of claim 1, further comprising a rotation mechanism for rotating at least one of the plurality of image sensors with respect to said helmet.

4. The multidirectional helmet camera of claim 1, further comprising a brake light located on the rear end of said protective housing.

5. The multidirectional helmet camera of claim 1, further comprising left and right turn signals located on the respective first transverse housing and second transverse housing.

6. The multidirectional helmet camera of claim 1, further comprising a microphone disposed within the equipment cavity in said protective housing.

7. The multidirectional helmet camera of claim 6, wherein said microphone collect audio data on a plurality of audio channels.

8. The multidirectional helmet camera of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of image sensors is configured to sense light in the infrared spectrum.

9. The multidirectional helmet camera of claim 1, further comprising at least one of a vibration mechanism and an alarm mechanism disposed within said equipment cavity in said protective housing, said vibration and alarm mechanisms being activated by face recognition software executed by said image recording device.

10. The multidirectional helmet camera of claim 1, further comprising a laser pointer disposed within the equipment cavity in said protective housing.

11. The multidirectional helmet camera of claim 1, wherein at least one of said plurality of image sensors is configured as a zoom apparatus.

12. The multidirectional helmet camera of claim 1, further comprising an avalanche beacon disposed within the equipment cavity in said protective housing.

13. The multidirectional helmet camera of claim 1, further comprising a Global Positioning System (GPS) locator disposed within the equipment cavity in said protective housing.

14. The multidirectional helmet camera of claim 1, further comprising a cable extending from a rear surface of the longitudinal housing and attaching to a portable video recording device.

15. The multidirectional helmet camera of claim 14, wherein said image recording device comprises a plurality of video input channels and is configured to store simultaneously received video input in a split screen format.

16. The multidirectional helmet camera of claim 1, wherein at least one of said plurality of image sensors is configured to produce a video signal.

17. The multidirectional helmet camera of claim 1, wherein the triggering mechanism includes a vibration producing device.

18. The multidirectional helmet camera of claim 1, wherein real time viewing includes viewing an environment of the user without video recording the environment.

19. The multidirectional helmet camera of claim 1, wherein the memory stores image data from the real time viewing for at least a predetermined amount of time.

20. The multidirectional helmet camera of claim 1, wherein the processor commands the memory to permanently store at least a portion of the image data that was obtained before the triggering mechanism was activated.

21. The multidirectional helmet camera of claim 1, wherein the processor activates a heads up display device when the triggering mechanism is activated.

22. The multidirectional helmet camera of claim 1, wherein a respective lens is disposed adjacent each of the forward end of the longitudinal housing, the rear end of the longitudinal housing, a distal end of the first transverse housing and a distal end of the second transverse housing such that each respective lens is flush with each of said ends.

23. A helmet camera comprising:

a housing, comprising;

a longitudinal housing portion defining a forward end and a rear end, and a first longitudinal side surface, a second longitudinal side surface and bottom surface spanning between the forward end and rear end, the longitudinal housing having a length spanning between the forward end and rear end, and a width defined between the first and second side surfaces, wherein the length is greater than the width;

a first transverse housing portion extending transversely from the first longitudinal side surface, wherein an extension length of the first transverse housing portion normal to the first longitudinal side surface is substantially less than the length of the longitudinal housing portion; and

a second transverse housing portion extending transversely from the second longitudinal side surface, wherein an extension length of the second transverse housing portion normal to the second longitudinal side surface is substantially less than the length of the longitudinal housing portion;

an equipment cavity defined in at least the longitudinal housing and configured to hold equipment of a user;

a plurality of image sensors located within the housing wherein at least one associated with each of the forward, rear, first side and second side of the helmet to which the housing is attached;

an alert notification device configured to obtain the helmet wearer'"'"'s attention;

a memory configured to store image data from the image sensors for at least a predetermined amount of time;

a processor configured to control real time viewing of image data from the image sensors, the processor in communication with the alert notification device, the processor configured to activate video recording using at least one selected image sensor when the alert notification device is activated; and

a display unit attached to the helmet, the display unit in communication with the processor, wherein the processor commands the display unit to display images from at least one of the plurality of image sensors when the alert notification device is activated.

24. The helmet camera of claim 23, wherein the triggering mechanism includes a vibration producing device.

25. The helmet camera of claim 23, wherein real time viewing includes viewing an environment of the helmet wearer without video recording the environment.

26. The helmet camera of claim 23, wherein the memory stores image data from the real time viewing for at least a predetermined amount of time.

27. The helmet camera of claim 23, wherein the processor commands the memory to permanently store the image data that was obtained before the alert notification device was activated.

28. The helmet camera of claim 23, wherein each of the first transverse housing portion and second transverse housing portion each have a bottom surface that includes an inward curved portion generally conforming to a helmet curvature.

29. A method for operating a helmet camera in an environment, the method comprising:

disposing a helmet camera housing on the top portion of a helmet, the housing defining a longitudinal bottom surface having an inward curved portion generally conforming to a curvature of the top of the helmet such that the camera housing does not extend vertically above the helmet in a dimension greater than a longitudinal length of the housing, the housing further defining a longitudinal housing portion having a forward end and a rear end, and a first longitudinal side surface and a second longitudinal side surface spanning between the forward end and rear end, the housing including a first transverse housing extending transversely from the first longitudinal side surface, a second transverse housing extending transversely from the second side surface, and an equipment cavity defined in at least the longitudinal housing and configured to hold equipment of a user;

disposing a plurality of image sensors in the housing and arranging them such that at least one of the plurality of image sensors is associated with each of the front end, rear end, first transverse housing and second transverse housing;

viewing the environment to the front, rear and both transverse sides of the helmet using a plurality of helmet mounted image sensors in which at least one of the image sensors is oriented for viewing a portion of the environment outside of a helmet wearer'"'"'s forward field of vision;

identifying an object of interest with the at least one image sensor;

providing an alert notification to the helmet wearer;

continually storing image data from the image sensors for at least a predetermined amount of time;

activating a video recording using the at least one image sensor when the alert notification is provided; and

displaying at least a portion of the image data on a display unit visible by the helmet wearer when the alert notification is provided.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein identifying the object includes identifying a person using face recognition software.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein providing the alert notification includes causing a vibration of the helmet camera.

32. The method of claim 29, wherein activating the video recording, includes permanently storing the image data captured during a predetermined amount of time that preceded the alert notification.

33. The method of claim 29, further comprising activating a heads up display unit upon receiving the alert notification.