Hang-timer for providing recording instructions

• US 7,617,069 B2
• Filed: 01/03/2006
• Issued: 11/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Drop Zone (UK) Limited
• Original Assignee: Drop Zone (UK) Limited
• Inventors: Alexander, Jeffrey Michael, Griebling, Erich T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Raymond; Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): Desta; Elias
• Application Number:
  US11/325,212
• Publication Number:
  US 20070156369A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,407 Days
• Field of Search: 702/141, 702/166, 702/156, 731/72, 733/790.4, 733/790.5, 733/790.8, 733/790.1, 733/79, 735/141.5, 396/53
• US Class Current: 702/141
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2244/08 Jumping, vaulting
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 5/00 Apparatus for jumping mats for jumping A63B6/00; for racing or riding sports, e.g. hurdles A63K
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/0891 with indication of predetermined acceleration values G01P15/135 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 1/22 in connection with sports or games

Abstract

A hang-timer device is disclosed that is capable of issuing recording instructions to a recording device, such as a digital camera. The hang-timer can measure a static acceleration profile of a wearer of the hang-timer, and based on this static acceleration profile it can issue recording instructions to a recording device. For example, if the static acceleration profile changes from about 1 g to about 0 g, the hang-timer can issue instructions for the recording device to record; additionally, if the profile changes from about 0 g to about 1 g, it can issue instructions to stop recording. Moreover, the hang-timer can issue instructions for the recording device to record some period of time before a hang-time event and some period of time after a hang-time event. Various other such variations on the general notion described above are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A hang-timer device for issuing instructions to a camera, comprising:

at least one accelerometer configured to measure static acceleration that is used to determine at least one hang-time event, wherein the hang-time event occurs about when the static acceleration is about zero g;

a microprocessor electrically coupled to the at least one accelerometer, wherein the microprocessor is configured to receive static acceleration data from the at least one accelerometer, and wherein the microprocessor is configured to instruct the camera to at least one of begin the act of recording by the camera and cease the act of recording by the camera at least partly based on the change in static acceleration data;

a first memory device electrically coupled to the microprocessor, wherein the first memory device is configured to store the static acceleration data, wherein the static acceleration data is accessible to the microprocessor for instructing the camera; and

a second memory device electrically coupled to the microprocessor, wherein the second memory device is configured to store content recorded by the camera.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the microprocessor is further configured to instruct the camera to begin the act of recording a period of time before the hang-time event.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the microprocessor is further configured to instruct the camera to cease the act of recording a period of time after the hang-time event.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the hang-timer device instructs the camera via a relay component.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the hang-timer device instructs the camera wirelessly.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the hang-timer device instructs the camera via a wire.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the hang-timer device instructs the camera via an application programming interface (API).

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the hang-timer device is further configured to instruct an additional camera to at least one of begin the act of recording by the additional camera and cease the act of recording by the additional camera.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the hang-timer device is configured to instruct the camera at least partly based on altimeter data.

19. The device according to claim 1, wherein the camera is configurable to be at least one of attached to a wearer of the hang-timer device and located within reach of the wearer.

20. The device according to claim 1, wherein the camera is configurable to be located on or about the ground when a wearer of the hang-timer device is engaged in a hang-time event.

10. A method for issuing instructions to camera using a hang-timer device, comprising:

measuring a static acceleration profile of a hang-timer object by using at least one accelerometer to measure at least one hang-time event, wherein the hang-time event occurs about when the static acceleration is about zero g;

determining recording instructions for the camera based at least partly on the change in static acceleration and the hang-time event, wherein the recording instructions comprise of at least letting the camera know when to perform one of begin recording and cease recording;

providing the instructions to the camera; and

storing the instructions.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising providing the instructions to the camera in real time.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising providing the instructions to the camera and an additional camera.

13. The method according to claim 10, further comprising providing the instructions to the camera via a relay component.

14. The method according to claim 10, further comprising providing the instructions to the camera wirelessly.

15. The method according to claim 10, further comprising providing the instructions to the camera via a wire.

16. The method according to claim 10, further comprising providing the instructions to the camera via an application programming interface (API).

17. The method according to claim 10, further comprising providing instructions that cause the camera to record content a period of time before the hang-time event and a period of time after the hang-time event.

18. An application programming interface (API) for instructing a camera when to record data, comprising:

an instruction interface for taking an acceleration profile of a hang-timer device for measuring static acceleration data of an object coupled to the hang-timer during a zero g state, and for instructing a camera based on the change in static acceleration data when to record a hang-time event of the object.

21. A device for measuring a hang-time of an object, comprising:

at least one accelerometer configured to measure a static acceleration, wherein the at least one accelerometer determines the static acceleration based on a restraint force experienced by a reference mass in the at least one accelerometer;

at least one microprocessor configured to determine the hang-time of the object, wherein the hang-time is based on the static acceleration, and wherein the hang-time occurs about when the static acceleration is zero g; and

at least one memory storage device for storing the hang-time;

wherein said device is communicatively coupled to a camera for recording content during at least a portion of the hang-time.

22. The device according to claim 21, wherein the device is associated with at least one of a cellular phone and an MP3 player.