Stabilized stereographic camera system
AssigneesJames Cameron, Vincent Pace
InventorPatrick Campbell
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A stabilized stereographic camera system may include an upright support having a longitudinal axis. A camera support coupled to one end of the upright support may mount first and second cameras, the first camera movable with respect to the second cameras. A ballast may be coupled to another end of the upright support. A balance mechanism may move a movable portion of the stereographic camera system relative to the upright support in response to movement of the first camera with respect to the second camera to maintain a constant weight distribution of the stereographic camera system.
Claims14
A stereographic camera system comprising:
- an upright support having a longitudinal axis;
- a camera support coupled to a first end of the upright support, the camera support mounting first and second cameras, the first camera being movable with respect to the second camera to set an interocular distance and a convergence angle between the first and second cameras;
- a ballast coupled to a second end of the upright support;
- a balance mechanism for moving a movable portion of the stereographic camera system relative to the upright support in response to movement of the first camera with respect to the second camera to maintain a constant weight distribution of the stereographic camera system;
- and
- a control system to control the balance mechanism using the following equation:
- Y=m1X1+m2X2+b,
- Where Y=a position of a balance motor that positions the movable portion,
- m1=a predetermined Convergence Factor,
- m2=a predetermined Interocular Factor,
- X1=a position of a convergence motor that sets the convergence angle,
- X2=a position of an interocular motor that sets the interocular distance,
- b=a predetermined Offset.
A stereographic camera system comprising:
- an upright support having a longitudinal axis;
- a camera support mounting first and second cameras, the first camera being movable with respect to the second camera to set an interocular distance and a convergence angle between the first and second cameras;
- a balance mechanism between the upright support and the camera support for moving the camera support relative to the upright support in response to movement of the first camera with respect to the second camera to maintain a constant weight distribution of the stereographic camera system;
- and
- a control system to control the balance mechanism using the following equation:
- Y=m1X1+m2X2+b,
- Where Y=a position of a balance motor that moves the camera support relative to the upright support,
- m1=a predetermined Convergence Factor,
- m2=a predetermined Interocular Factor,
- X1=a position of a convergence motor that sets the convergence angle,
- X2=a position of an interocular motor that sets the interocular distance,
- b=a predetermined Offset.
A stereographic camera comprising:
- a camera support mounting first and second cameras, the first camera being movable laterally with respect to the second camera to set an interocular distance and a convergence angle between the first and second cameras;
- a mounting plate for receiving a first end of an upright support of a movable camera support device;
- a balance mechanism between the mounting plate and the camera support for moving the camera support and the mounting plate relative to each other in response to movement of the first camera with respect to the second camera to maintain a center of gravity of the stereographic camera in a fixed position with respect to the mounting plate;
- and
- a control system to control the balance mechanism using the following equation:
- Y=m1X1+m2X2+b,
- Where Y=a position of a balance motor that moves the camera support relative to the mounting plate,
- m1=a predetermined Convergence Factor,
- m2=a predetermined Interocular Factor,
- X1=a position of a convergence motor that sets the convergence angle,
- X2=a position of an interocular motor that sets the interocular distance,
- b=a predetermined Offset.
A method for compensating for changes in weight distribution of a stereographic camera system, wherein the stereographic camera system comprises an upright support having a longitudinal axis, a camera support coupled to a first end of the upright support, the camera support mounting first and second cameras, the first camera being movable with respect to the second camera, a ballast coupled to a second end of the upright support, and a balance mechanism for moving a movable portion of the stereographic camera system relative to the upright support, the method comprising:
- automatically moving the movable portion of the stereographic camera system relative to the upright support in response to movement of the first camera with respect to the second camera to maintain a constant weight distribution of the stereographic camera system using the following equation:
- Y=m1X1+m2X2+b,
- Where Y=a position of a balance motor that moves the movable portion,
- m1=a predetermined Convergence Factor,
- m2=a predetermined Interocular Factor,
- X1=a position of a convergence motor that sets a convergence angle of one camera relative to the other camera,
- X2=a position of an interocular motor that sets an interocular distance of one camera relative to the other camera,
- b=a predetermined Offset.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.