Camera to track an object

• US 9,171,221 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 10/27/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Spatial Cam LLC
• Original Assignee: Spatial Cam LLC
• Inventors: Lablans, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Czekaj, Dave
• Assistant Examiner(s): Beck, Leron
• Application Number:
  US13/844,626
• Publication Number:
  US 20130229529A1
• Time in Patent Office: 956 Days
• Field of Search: 348/169
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 35/08 by simultaneous recording
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 37/04 with cameras or projectors providing touching or overlapping fields of view
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/16 including more than one display unit
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/239 using two 2D image sensors having a relative position equal to or related to the interocular distance H04N13/243 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/243 using three or more 2D image sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/246 Calibration of cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/698 for achieving an enlarged field of view, e.g. panoramic image capture
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/2624 for obtaining an image which is composed of whole input images, e.g. splitscreen

Abstract

Methods and apparatus to create and display screen stereoscopic and panoramic images are disclosed. Methods and apparatus are provided to generate multiple images that are combined into a stereoscopic or a panoramic image. A controller provides correct camera settings for different conditions. A controller rotationally aligns images of lens/sensor units that are rotationally misaligned. A compact controllable platform holds and rotates a camera. A remote computing device with a camera and a digital compass tracks an object causing the camera in the platform to track the object.

Claims

1. A camera system for tracking with a first camera a movement of a moving second camera in a device containing a digital compass, comprising:

a platform including;

a base that is removably attachable attached to a structure,

a housing, the housing being attached to the base,

the housing containing a controller to control an actuator attached to the housing and attached to a holder enabled to removably hold the first camera, the actuator enabled to rotatably move the holder relative to the base;

a communication circuit to transmit data representing an image recorded by the first camera to the moving second camera; and

the communication circuit enabled to receive control data from the second camera for the controller to control the actuator, the second camera containing a processor configured with instructions on the second camera to process the data representing the image recorded by the first camera and data generated by the digital compass to generate the control data; and

the controller is configured to execute instructions that instruct the actuator to rotatably move the holder based on the received control data.

2. The camera system of claim 1, wherein the device is a smart phone.

3. The camera system of claim 1, wherein the moving second camera includes a display enabled to display the image recorded by the first camera and the image recorded by the moving second camera.

4. The camera system of claim 3, wherein the display is configured to display at least one of the images recorded by the first camera and the image recorded by the moving second camera in a transparent mode.

5. The camera system of claim 3, further comprising a window configured by the processor on the moving second camera to be displayed on the display inside which the image recorded by the first camera and the image recorded by the moving second camera are configured to be displayed.

6. The camera system of claim 1, wherein the housing contains a digital compass.

7. The camera system of claim 1, further comprising communication circuitry to establish a communication link between the first camera and a processor in the housing.

8. The camera system of claim 2, wherein the first camera is part of a mobile computing device with communication circuitry to establish a communication link to the mobile computing device where the moving second camera is part of.

9. A platform removably holding a camera to collaborate with a remote mobile computing device containing a digital compass, comprising:

a base enabled to be attached to a structure;

a housing attached to the base, the housing containing a controller;

an actuator attached to the housing, the actuator being controlled by the controller; and

a camera holder attached to the actuator enabled to be rotatably moved by the actuator relative to the housing, the camera enabled to be removably held by the holder, wherein the controller is configured to control the actuator based on control data received from the remote mobile computing device;

the remote mobile computing device containing a processor configured with instructions to process image data representing an image recorded by the camera removably held by the holder and a status of the digital compass contained in the remote mobile computing device to generate the control data.

10. The platform of claim 9, further comprising circuitry to establish a communication link between the controller and the remote mobile computing device.

11. The platform of claim 9, further comprising a digital compass inside the housing.

12. The platform of claim 9, further comprising communication circuitry to establish a communication link between the camera and the controller.