Portable video recording system with automatic camera orienting and velocity regulation of the orienting for recording high quality video of a freely moving subject
First Claim
1. A portable automated video recording system for automated orientation of a camera to point at a freely moving target for recording high quality video, said system comprising:
- a) a positioner configured to orient the camera in angular increments of less than about 0.1 degrees;
b) a remote unit configured to obtain location information and comprising a transmitter configured to transmit said location information; and
c) a base station comprising a receiver to receive said location information from said remote unit and configured to determine turning angles to orient the camera at the freely moving target and driving voltages to regulate the velocity of the orienting by said positioner; and
d) location information received by said base station when said remote unit is collocated with the camera is stored and used as the location of the camera by said base station; and
e) said base station is further configured to command 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; and
f) an enclosure to house said base station and said positioner, said enclosure further comprising at least one feedback device that provides feedback to the freely moving target regarding the orientation of the camera and that is also oriented by said positioner at the freely moving subject along with the camera as the freely moving subject moves.
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Accused Products
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.
140 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A portable automated video recording system for automated orientation of a camera to point at a freely moving target for recording high quality video, said system comprising:
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a) a positioner configured to orient the camera in angular increments of less than about 0.1 degrees; b) a remote unit configured to obtain location information and comprising a transmitter configured to transmit said location information; and c) a base station comprising a receiver to receive said location information from said remote unit and configured to determine turning angles to orient the camera at the freely moving target and driving voltages to regulate the velocity of the orienting by said positioner; and d) location information received by said base station when said remote unit is collocated with the camera is stored and used as the location of the camera by said base station; and e) said base station is further configured to command 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; and f) an enclosure to house said base station and said positioner, said enclosure further comprising at least one feedback device that provides feedback to the freely moving target regarding the orientation of the camera and that is also oriented by said positioner at the freely moving subject along with the camera as the freely moving subject moves. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of automatically following a freely moving target with a camera to record high quality video, said method comprising the steps of:
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a) setting up a camera associated with a positioning device, the positioning device configured to orient the camera with an angular resolution of at least about 0.1 degrees; b) collocating a remote unit that obtains location information with the camera and storing location information obtained as the location of the camera; c) moving the remote unit to a location away from the camera such that the remote unit is at or near the center of the field of view of the camera and storing the location of the remote unit; d) determining an initial pointing angle of the camera using the stored location of the camera and the stored location of the remote unit; e) periodically receiving signals relevant to the location of the remote unit associated with the freely moving target and transmitting information related to the location of the remote unit to the positioning device; f) periodically determining turning angle values for orienting the camera to remain pointed at the remote unit based in part on the initial pointing angle of the camera and computing values for driving voltages for the positioning device; g) commanding the positioning device to orient the camera using the computed driving voltages to regulate the velocity of the orienting; and h) providing a collimated light beam that has an edge that substantially coincides with an axis of the camera that corresponds to a pointing direction of the camera and moving the remote unit with the aid of the collimated light beam to assist the step of locating the remote unit near the center of the field of view of the camera prior to the step of determining the initial pointing angle of the camera using the stored location of the camera and the stored location of the remote unit. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification