Video camera having video image orientation based on vector information
AssigneeKARL STORZ Imaging, Inc.
InventorEric L. Hale
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A camera configured to maintain an image in a preferred orientation when the camera is passed from one user to another is provided. The camera detects a spatial orientation of the camera in at least a first position. The camera detects a vector information generated when the camera is passed from one user to another. The camera processes the spatial orientation and vector information so as to retain the image in a preferred orientation.
Claims17
A camera system configured to display an image onto a display unit as the camera system is handed from a first person to a second person, the camera system comprising:
- a camera head unit having a memory and electric components configured to capture an image, the memory configured to store a preferred orientation of the image established by a user and a second orientation that is different than the preferred orientation, the second orientation being an image of a surgical site;
- an orientation unit disposed on the camera head unit, the orientation unit configured to detect a spatial orientation of the camera head unit and detect vector information of the camera head unit;
- and
- a display control unit configured to process the vector information detected by the orientation unit and the preferred orientation and the second orientation stored in the memory and process the image so as to adjust an orientation of the image captured by the camera head unit to be oriented in the preferred orientation as the camera head unit is handed from the first person to the second person.
A method for maintaining an orientation of a video image on a display unit in a preferred orientation, the video image captured by a video camera, the video camera being handed from a first person to a second person, the method comprising the steps of:
- storing a preferred orientation of an image established by a user;
- pointing the video camera at a surgical site by the first person and establishing a second spatial orientation;
- recording the second spatial orientation;
- handing the video camera to the second person;
- determining a vector information of the video camera as the video camera is handed to the second person;
- and
- providing a display control unit, the display control unit processing the preferred orientation, the second spatial orientation and the vector information so as to maintain the video image in the preferred orientation as the video camera is handed from the first person to the second person.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.