# US 2014/0153916 A1 · 360 Degree Camera Mount and Related Photographic and Video System

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- Number: US 2014/0153916 A1
- Document ID: US20140153916A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/072,656
- Filed: 2013-11-05
- Published: 2014-06-05
- Earliest claimed: 2012-11-05
- Assignees: 360 Heros, Inc.
- Applicants: 360 Heros, Inc.
- Inventors: Michael J. Kintner
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140153916A1

## CPC

- G03B 17/561: {Support related camera accessories}
- G03B 37/04: with cameras or projectors providing touching or overlapping fields of view
- H04N 13/243: using three or more two-dimensional [2D] image sensors
- H04N 23/45: for generating image signals from two or more image sensors being of different type or operating in different modes, e.g. with a CMOS sensor for moving images in combination with a charge-coupled device [CCD] for still images
- H04N 23/698: for achieving an enlarged field of view, e.g. panoramic image capture
- H04N 2101/00: Still video cameras
- H04N 2213/001: Constructional or mechanical details
- G03B: APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR (optical parts of such apparatus G02B; photosensitive materials or processes for photographic purposes G03C; apparatus for processing exposed photographic materials G03D)
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION

## Abstract

A camera holding assembly that is configured to hold a plurality of cameras in a predetermined orientation includes a support having a plurality of receptacles. Each of the receptacles include at least one feature enabling a camera to be releasably retained therein as well as at least one and preferably at least three attachment features configured for enabling the camera holding assembly to be secured to another object. The receptacles are oriented about the support so that each camera, when loaded into the defined receptacles, is aimed in a different angular orientation. Images obtained from each retained camera can be stitched to create either a composite 360 degree×180 degree full spherical image or a composite 360 degree composite image of a scene of interest.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A holding assembly configured to releasably retain a plurality of cameras in a predetermined orientation, said holding assembly comprising:
a support;
a plurality of receptacles disposed radially about said support, each of said receptacles being configured for retaining a photographic camera and having at least one feature for enabling the camera to be releasably retained within the receptacle wherein the receptacles are oriented about said support such that each camera provides a different field of view, the cameras being disposed to create either a 360 degree by 180 degree full spherical composite image or a 360 degree composite image.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A holding assembly as recited in claim 1, further comprising at least one attachment feature configured for enabling the holding assembly to be secured to another object.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

A holding assembly as recited in claim 2, further comprising at least three attachment features.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A holding assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said support includes a plurality of radially extending arms and in which a receptacle is retained at a distal end of each arm.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

A holding assembly as recited in claim 4, wherein the receptacles are integral to the support.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

A holding assembly as recited in claim 4, wherein each radially extending arm includes an attachment member at a distal end for securing a receptacle thereto.

### Claim 7 (depends on 2)

A holding assembly as recited in claim 2, wherein at least some of said camera receptacles are oriented about a common plane.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

A holding assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein each said camera receptacle is defined by an enclosure having a releasably securable latch, enabling the enclosure to be selectively opened and closed about a camera retained therein.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

A holding assembly as recited in claim 1, including a plurality of camera receptacles disposed within a common spherical plane and at least one camera receptacle disposed above or below the common spherical plane.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

A holding assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the frame includes a center support that retains a plurality of radially extending arms and in which at least one radially extending arm is configured to extend and retract from an initial radial position.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

A holding assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of at least one radially extending arm is configured to pivot.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

A holding assembly as recited in claim 1, including at least one adaptive member attachable to a secured photographic camera to enable use underwater.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

A holding assembly as recited in claim 12, wherein the adaptive member includes a transparent dome coupled to the lens barrel of an attached photographic camera and in which the dome corrects for refractive effects of surrounding water.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

A holding assembly as recited in claim 12, wherein the at least one adaptive member includes at least one photographic filter.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

A holding assembly as recited in claim 14, wherein the at least one adaptive member permits replacement of the at least one filter.

### Claim 16

A method for enabling capture of 360 degree images of a scene of interest, said method comprising:
providing a holding assembly having a plurality of receptacles, each said receptacle being configured for receiving at least one camera body and in which each said receptacle is disposed in a specific angular or spherical orientation.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

A method as recited in claim 16, wherein the holding assembly includes a supporting member and a plurality of arms that radially extend from the supporting member and in which a camera receptacle is disposed at the distal end of each arm.

### Claim 18 (depends on 16)

A method as recited in claim 16, including the step of supporting a plurality of cameras within a common spherical plane.

### Claim 19 (depends on 16)

A method as recited in claim 16, including the step of providing stereographic spherical images.

### Claim 20 (depends on 17)

A method as recited in claim 17, wherein at least one of the arms is configured to radially extend or contract relative to an initial radial position.

### Claim 21 (depends on 17)

A method as recited in claim 17, wherein the camera receptacles are integral to the supporting fixture.

### Claim 22 (depends on 17)

A method as recited in claim 17, wherein the camera receptacles are attached to the distal end of each arm.

### Claim 23

A system for creating 360 degree images of a scene of interest, the system comprising:
a holding assembly configured to releasably retain a plurality of cameras in a predetermined orientation, the holding assembly comprising:
a supporting frame;
a plurality of receptacles disposed radially about the supporting frame, each of said receptacles having a receiving cavity sized to accommodate a camera wherein the retaining ports are oriented about said frame such that each camera, when loaded into the receptacles provides a different field of view, the cameras being disposed to create a 360 degree by 180 degree full spherical composite image or a 360 degree composite image.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

A system as recited in claim 23, in which the holding assembly includes at least one feature enabling the camera to be releasably retained within the receptacle.

### Claim 25 (depends on 23)

A system as recited in claim 23, further comprising at least one attachment feature configured for enabling the holding assembly to be secured to another object.

### Claim 26 (depends on 25)

A system as recited in claim 25, wherein the holding assembly includes at least three spaced attachment features.

### Claim 27 (depends on 23)

A system as recited in claim 23, wherein each of the receptacles are integral to the supporting frame.

### Claim 28 (depends on 23)

A system as recited in claim 23, wherein the receptacles are secured to the supporting frame using fasteners.

### Claim 29 (depends on 25)

A system as recited in claim 25, in which the receptacles are defined by an enclosure having a latch that enables a portion of the enclosure to be selectively opened and closed about a retained camera.

### Claim 30 (depends on 23)

A system as recited in claim 23, wherein the holding assembly is manufactured from a durable molded plastic.

### Claim 31 (depends on 23)

A system as recited in claim 23, wherein the holding assembly is manufactured from a flexible nylon.

### Claim 32 (depends on 23)

A systems as recited in claim 23, wherein the holding assembly retains multiple pairs of cameras in tandem to permit stereographic images to be created.