Application dependent video recording device architecture
First Claim
1. An image capturing device for recording images of a subject or by a subject, comprising:
- an imaging unit, said imaging unit comprising optics, an image sensor, an image processor, and a storage device;
said image capturing device further comprising a mounting support unit wherein said mounting support unit supports and orients said imaging unit but wherein said mounting support unit is housed separately from said imaging unit;
a user control interface unit wherein said user control interface unit is connected to said imaging unit and controls said imaging unit but is housed separately from said imaging unit;
one or more power supply units wherein at least one power supply unit provides power to said imaging unit but is housed separately from said imaging unit; and
wherein at least one of said mounting support unit, said user control interface unit, and said power supply units are co-located with the subject when said image capturing device is used to record images; and
said mounting support unit, user control interface unit, and power supply unit are housed together in a common housing.
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Abstract
The video recording systems disclosed herein comprise recording devices built in a variety of system architectures depending on the type of intended use. The guiding principle of the system architectures is that an optimal recording device will have optics, sensor, control electronics, and communication capability designed for the purpose of use. User controls, as well as power sources may be separated from the optimal recording device. Different applications may demand a variety of accessories including camera mounts, automatic camera orientation capabilities, remote control devices, and remote power sources, all of which may be designed as use-specific devices and optimized for the purpose of use.
144 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An image capturing device for recording images of a subject or by a subject, comprising:
- an imaging unit, said imaging unit comprising optics, an image sensor, an image processor, and a storage device;
said image capturing device further comprising a mounting support unit wherein said mounting support unit supports and orients said imaging unit but wherein said mounting support unit is housed separately from said imaging unit;
a user control interface unit wherein said user control interface unit is connected to said imaging unit and controls said imaging unit but is housed separately from said imaging unit;
one or more power supply units wherein at least one power supply unit provides power to said imaging unit but is housed separately from said imaging unit; and
wherein at least one of said mounting support unit, said user control interface unit, and said power supply units are co-located with the subject when said image capturing device is used to record images; and
said mounting support unit, user control interface unit, and power supply unit are housed together in a common housing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
- an imaging unit, said imaging unit comprising optics, an image sensor, an image processor, and a storage device;
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5. An automatic video recording system comprising:
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a digital camera module, an orienting device, a first power supply module, a second power supply module, a control device, and a user interface; wherein said digital camera module and said orienting device receive power from said first power supply module; wherein said control device controls said digital camera module and said orienting device; wherein said orienting device orients said digital camera module; wherein said digital camera module also comprises user controls; and wherein said user interface communicates user input to said control device but does not directly control said digital camera module and said orienting device, and wherein said user interface is powered by said second power supply module.
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6. A method of providing a user with image-capturing and related components wherein the components are selected and arranged by a user to record a variety of activities, said method comprising:
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providing modular units that may be assembled in a variety of ways into an image capturing device, wherein each of said modular units, may have multiple variants, wherein said variants have common functions as modular units of said image capturing device, said modular units comprising a) a first modular component comprising an imaging unit, said imaging unit comprising optics, an image sensor, an image processor, and a data storage device having a storage capacity to store images captured by said image sensor and processed by said image processor; b) a second modular component comprising a mounting support that mechanically engages the image capturing device to support and orient the image capturing device; c) a third modular component, housed separately from said image capturing device and from all other modular components, comprising a user interface control unit and a power supply wherein the user interface control unit and power supply of the second modular component are in a common housing; d) a fourth modular component, housed separately from said image capturing device and from all other modular components, comprising a user interface control unit; e) a fifth modular component, housed separately from said image capturing device and from all other modular components, comprising at least one power supply; and f) a sixth modular component, housed separately from said image capturing device and from all other modular components, comprising a mounting support, a user control interface, and a power supply in a common housing; permitting a user to select, based on the user-desired activity to be recorded, from said modular components to interface with said imaging unit to provide user-desired optics, user control, mounting, and power suitable for the activity to be recorded. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An image capturing device for recording images of a subject or by a subject, comprising:
- an imaging unit, said imaging unit comprising optics, an image sensor, an image processor, and a storage device;
said image capturing device further comprising a mounting support unit wherein said mounting support unit supports and orients said imaging unit but wherein said mounting support unit is housed separately from said imaging unit;
a user control interface unit wherein said user control interface unit is connected to said imaging unit and controls said imaging unit but is housed separately from said imaging unit;
one or more power supply units wherein at least one power supply unit provides power to said imaging unit but is housed separately from said imaging unit; and
wherein at least one of said mounting support unit, said user control interface unit, and said power supply units are co-located with the subject when said image capturing device is used to record images; and
said mounting support unit and at least one power supply unit are housed together in a common housing and are co-located with the subject when said image capturing device is used to record images, and said user control interface unit is also co-located with the subject, when said image capturing device is used to record images, but is housed separately from said common housing comprising said mounting support unit and said at least one power supply unit. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
- an imaging unit, said imaging unit comprising optics, an image sensor, an image processor, and a storage device;
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14. An image capturing device for recording images of a subject or by a subject, comprising:
- an imaging unit, said imaging unit comprising optics, an image sensor, an image processor, and a storage device;
said image capturing device further comprising a mounting support unit wherein said mounting support unit supports and orients said imaging unit but wherein said mounting support unit is housed separately from said imaging unit;
a user control interface unit wherein said user control interface unit is connected to said imaging unit and controls said imaging unit but is housed separately from said imaging unit;
one or more power supply units wherein at least one power supply unit provides power to said imaging unit but is housed separately from said imaging unit; and
wherein at least one of said mounting support unit, said user control interface unit, and said power supply units are co-located with the subject when said image capturing device is used to record images; and
said mounting support unit is capable of automatically orienting said imaging unit at the subject and wherein the subject is co-located with said user control interface unit, when said image capturing device is used to record images. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
- an imaging unit, said imaging unit comprising optics, an image sensor, an image processor, and a storage device;
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17. An automatic video recording system comprising:
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a digital camera module, an orienting device, a first power supply module, a second power supply module, a control device, and a user interface; wherein said digital camera module and said orienting device receive power from said first power supply module; wherein said control device controls said digital camera module and said orienting device; wherein said orienting device orients said digital camera module; wherein said user interface communicates user input to said control device but does not directly control said digital camera module and said orienting device, and wherein said user interface is powered by said second power supply module; and wherein said digital camera module, said orienting device, said first power supply module, and said control device are housed in a common housing.
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18. An automatic video recording system comprising:
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a digital camera module, an orienting device, a first power supply module, a second power supply module, a control device, and a user interface; wherein said digital camera module and said orienting device receive power from said first power supply module; wherein said control device controls said digital camera module and said orienting device; wherein said orienting device orients said digital camera module; wherein said user interface communicates user input to said control device but does not directly control said digital camera module and said orienting device, and wherein said user interface is powered by said second power supply module; and wherein said digital camera module, said orienting device, and said first power supply module are housed in a common housing and wherein each said control device and said user interface are housed individually. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. An automatic video recording system comprising:
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a digital camera module, an orienting device, a first power supply module, a second power supply module, a control device, and a user interface; wherein said digital camera module and said orienting device receive power from said first power supply module; wherein said control device controls said digital camera module and said orienting device; wherein said orienting device orients said digital camera module; wherein said user interface communicates user input to said control device but does not directly control said digital camera module and said orienting device, and wherein said user interface is powered by said second power supply module; and wherein said digital camera module, said orienting device, and said first power supply module are housed in a common housing and wherein said control device and said user interface are housed separately in a common housing.
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Specification