US 7,643,063 B2Granted

Dual loop stabilization of video camera images

AssigneeThe Boeing Company

InventorPatrick J. Trescott

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Abstract

Dual loop stabilization of video images is disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a video camera having a first image stability control component configured to stabilize a video image in a first motion environment. A second image stability control component is coupled between the video camera and a moveable platform and is configured to stabilize the video image in a second motion environment. A motion sensing device detects movement of the video camera and transmits a control signal to adjust a stabilization response of the second image stability control component according to the movement. In some embodiments, a first amplitude range of the first motion environment is at least partially lower than a second amplitude range of the second motion environment, and a first frequency range of the first motion environment is at least partially higher than a second frequency range of the second motion environment.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An apparatus for providing video images using dual loop image stabilization, comprising:

a video camera positioned on a moveable platform and configured to provide a video image of a scene, the video camera including an internal image stability control device configured to at least partially stabilize the video image when the video camera is subjected to a first motion environment including a first amplitude range and a first frequency range;
at least one external image stability control device coupled between the video camera and the moveable platform and configured to apply an opposing force along an axis in response to the video camera being subjected to a force in a linear direction along the axis in a second motion environment including a second amplitude range and a second frequency range, wherein the at least one external image stability control device includes a biasing member and a dampening member mounted approximately parallel to the axis, and wherein the biasing member and the dampening member operate in parallel to apply the opposing force along the axis;
and
a motion sensing device coupled to the video camera and configured to detect movement of the video camera relative to the scene and to transmit a control signal to the at least one external image stability control device to adjust a stabilization response of the at least one external image stability control device according to the movement of the video camera.

1 more element

A method of providing a video image from a moveable platform, comprising:

capturing a first video image of a first view from the moveable platform using a first video camera;
and
capturing a second video image of a second view from the moveable platform using a second video camera;
stabilizing the first video image and the second video image using wherein first and second stabilization devices are associated with each of the first video camera and the second video camera, wherein the first and second stabilization devices are configured to reduce an adverse effect of one or more movements of the moveable platform on the first video image and the second video image wherein the first stabilization device includes a stability control device coupled between the first video camera and the moveable platform and configured to apply an opposing force along an axis in response to the video camera being subjected to a force in a linear direction along the axis, and wherein the stability control device includes a biasing member and a dampening member mounted approximately parallel to the axis, and wherein the biasing member and the dampening member operate in parallel to apply the opposing force along the axis;
adjusting a frame delivery of at least one of the first video image and the second video image to at least partially improve stabilization of the first video image and the second video image;
enabling a user to select the video image to be viewed, wherein the video image includes at least one of the first video image and the second video image;
and
delivering the selected video image to a video display.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.