Smart Frame for Camera System
AssigneeGoPro, Inc.
InventorStepan Moskovchenko
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A camera smart frame is configured to enclose and communicatively couple to a camera. The camera smart frame includes one or more sets of input mechanisms, such as buttons. Each input mechanism can be programmed by a user to perform a selected camera function or configure a camera based on a selected camera configuration. A user can select, via a camera interface, a function or configuration, a smart frame input mechanism, and can associate the selected input mechanism and the selected function or configuration. When the smart frame is subsequently coupled to the camera, and a user interacts with the selected input mechanism, a camera controller identifies the function or configuration associated with the selected input mechanism and configures the camera accordingly.
Claims20
A camera frame comprising:
- an enclosure body configured to removably enclose a camera, the enclosure body comprising:
- a plurality of interior faces, each interior face configured to abut one of a top surface of the camera, a right surface of the camera, a left surface of the camera, and a bottom surface of the camera when the enclosure body encloses the camera;
- a communication port protruding from one of the plurality of interior faces, the communication port substantially aligning with and configured for insertion into a reciprocal camera communication port when the enclosure body encloses the camera;
- a plurality of exterior faces, the plurality of faces comprising a top face, left face, right face, and bottom face, one or more of the plurality of faces including one or more programmable input mechanisms, each programmable input mechanism associated with a pre-determined camera function, wherein each programmable input mechanism, when interacted with by a user of the camera frame, generates a signal transmitted to the camera via the communication port, the camera configured to, in response to receiving the signal, perform the camera function associated with the input mechanism interacted with by the user;
- and
- a coupling mechanism configured to couple with a camera mount.
A method comprising:
- communicatively coupling a camera to a camera frame enclosing the camera, the camera frame comprising one or more programmable input mechanisms;
- associating a first input mechanism of the camera frame with a camera function;
- receiving an input from a user at the first input mechanism;
- and
- responsive to receiving the input, performing, by the camera, the camera function associated with the first input mechanism.
A camera frame comprising:
- an interior surface configured to abut an outside surface of a camera when the camera is enclosed by the camera frame;
- a communication port protruding from the interior surface, the communication port substantially aligning with and configured for insertion into a reciprocal camera communication port;
- an exterior surface including one or more programmable input mechanisms, each programmable input mechanism associated with a pre-determined camera function, wherein each programmable input mechanism, when interacted with by a user of the camera frame, instructs the camera, via the communication port, to perform the camera function associated with the input mechanism.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.