Portable system for high quality video recording

• US 8,704,904 B2
• Filed: 12/23/2012
• Issued: 04/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: H4 Engineering, Inc.
• Original Assignee: H4 Engineering, Inc.
• Inventors: Boyle, Christopher T., Taylor, Scott K., Sammons, Alexander G., O'Callaghan, John, Marton, Denes
• Primary Examiner(s): Vieaux, Gary C
• Application Number:
  US13/726,203
• Publication Number:
  US 20130162852A1
• Time in Patent Office: 485 Days
• Field of Search: 348/211.99, 348/169
• US Class Current: 348/211.99
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/033 Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user , e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor digitisers characterised by the transducing means G06F3/041
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/66 Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/6812 based on additional sensors, e.g. acceleration sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/222 Studio circuitry; Studio devices; Studio equipment cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors, or control thereof H04N23/00

Abstract

This invention relates to the automatic pointing of a pointing device, such as a camera, without the assistance of a person who operates the camera. Systems and methods are disclosed wherein the system is substantially stationary during recording but is portable to the venue of recording. For the purpose of recording, the camera turns automatically to optically follow the person, animal, or object that is being recorded. The present invention provides for high quality video recording; the high quality video recording here refers to features of the inventive systems and methods that provide for smooth camera motion necessary to take enjoyable videos for personal or for commercial use. This invention provides a portable system that automatically records videos from the vantage point of a sports fan, of a spectator or of a competition judge.

Claims

1. A portable system for automated orientation of a camera to point at a freely moving target, said system comprising:

a) a positioner to orient the camera;

b) a remote unit that obtains location information; and

c) a base station configured to command said positioner to orient the camera at the freely moving target and to regulate the velocity of the orienting;

d) wherein said base station comprises a receiver to receive said location information from said remote unit;

e) wherein said remote unit is uniquely paired with said base station;

f) wherein location information received by said base station when said remote unit is collocated with the camera is used as the location of the camera by said base station;

g) wherein said base station commands said positioner to orient the camera at the freely moving target using location information received from said remote unit when said remote unit is collocated with the freely moving target and the location of the camera received by said base station when said remote unit is collocated with the camera;

h) wherein said base station also commands the camera;

i) at least one feedback device that provides feedback to the freely moving target regarding regarding the orientation of the camera;

j) wherein said at least one feedback device comprises at least one collimated light beam;

k) wherein the angle of said at least one collimated light beam is adjusted when the camera is commanded by said base station to zoom in or zoom out.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising the camera.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said positioner further comprises a motor equipped with two encoded wheels to assist determining the orientation of the camera.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein said camera is integrated with said positioner.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising an orientation controller, wherein said orientation controller comprises said positioner and said base station in a common housing.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said remote unit comprises a sensor to receive signals from components of a global positioning system.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said remote unit and said base station are communicatively coupled.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said base station communicates orienting commands to said positioner.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the orienting commands are based at least in part on coordinates computed from data acquired by said sensor to receive signals from components of a global positioning system.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the orienting commands are based at least partly on data regarding an initial orientation of the camera.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the orienting commands are based at least partly on the velocity of the target.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the orienting commands are based on data regarding an original reference orientation of the camera determined when said system is powered on and partly on the velocity of the target.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein said remote unit comprises a user interface that can be used to override the commands of said base station.