US4893202A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Video tape recorder control system
Assignee: LECTROLARM CUSTOM SYSTEMS Inc 3120 SUMMER AVENUE MEMPHIS TENNESSEE 38112 A CORP OF
•
Filing: 1988-03-16
•
Granted: 1990-01-09
•
Expires: 2008-03-16
Abstract
Abstract An automatic programming and video camera control system is disclosed in which while the camera operator is operating the video camera system, the control signals generated by the operator are converted to a unique plurality of signals for recordation on a mass storage media, such as a video tape recorder. On playback of the mass storage medium, the recorded signals are reproduced, decoded and used to provide automatic control of the video camera system. A modified video tape recorder may be used in which, during playback of the programmed signals, the video images viewed by the video camera are recorded on the video track portion of the magnetic tape.
Inventors
- 👤 William V. Smith
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 10:26
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N5/00; H04N5/76; H04N5/765; H04N5/77; H04N23/00; H04N23/60; H04N23/66; H04N23/661; H04N23/695
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
141 words
An automatic control system for a video camera, comprising: an input circuit for generating control signals for operating at least one video camera; a converter for converting said control signals to data signals suitable for recording on an audio track of a storage medium; a recording and reproducing apparatus for recording and reproducing said data signals on said storage medium; a decoder for decoding said reproduced data signals such that said recording/reproducing apparatus uses said data signals to directly control said at least one video camera; wherein said recording and reproducing apparatus comprises a video tape recorder comprised of: a recording and reproducing apparatus for recording said data signals and for reproducing said data signals from said audio track while simultaneously recording a video signal from said at least one video camera on a video track of said video tape recorder.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
141 words
An automatic control system for a video camera, comprising: an input circuit for generating control signals for operating at least one video camera; a converter for converting said control signals to data signals suitable for recording on an audio track of a storage medium; a recording and reproducing apparatus for recording and reproducing said data signals on said storage medium; a decoder for decoding said reproduced data signals such that said recording/reproducing apparatus uses said data signals to directly control said at least one video camera; wherein said recording and reproducing apparatus comprises a video tape recorder comprised of: a recording and reproducing apparatus for recording said data signals and for reproducing said data signals from said audio track while simultaneously recording a video signal from said at least one video camera on a video track of said video tape recorder.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said recorded video signal corresponds to the images viewed by said video camera system while under control of said data signals recorded on said video tape recorder.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said data signals comprise audio frequency representations of a plurality of control signals.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 1, wherein said recorder for recording said data signals comprises an audio recording head.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
127 words
A control system for automatically providing a plurality of control signals in which each signal serves to control a function of a video camera system capable of a plurality of different functions, said control system comprising: an input circuit for generating a plurality of different control signals; a converter for converting each of said plurality of different control signals to data signals; a recorder for recording each of said data signals and for reproducing said recorded data signals while simultaneously recording video signals generated by said video camera system using said same recorder; and a decoder for decoding each of said data signals reproduced by said recorder to generate said plurality of control signals for operating said plurality of different control functions of said video camera system.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
127 words
A control system for automatically providing a plurality of control signals in which each signal serves to control a function of a video camera system capable of a plurality of different functions, said control system comprising: an input circuit for generating a plurality of different control signals; a converter for converting each of said plurality of different control signals to data signals; a recorder for recording each of said data signals and for reproducing said recorded data signals while simultaneously recording video signals generated by said video camera system using said same recorder; and a decoder for decoding each of said data signals reproduced by said recorder to generate said plurality of control signals for operating said plurality of different control functions of said video camera system.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 6, wherein said recorder comprises a magnetic tape recorder.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 6, wherein said converter converts said control signals to dual tone multifrequency signals.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 6, wherein said recorder comprises a video tape recorder.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
54 words
The system of claim 6, wherein said video tape recorder is comprised: a recording and reproducing apparatus for recording said data signals and for reproducing said data signals from said audio track while simultaneously recording a video signal from said at least one video camera on a video track of said video tape recorder.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system of claim 9, wherein said recorded video signal corresponds to the images viewed by said video camera system while under control of said data signals recorded on said video tape recorder.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 9, wherein the control of said video camera system and the recording of said video signal from said video camera occurs in real-time.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system of claim 5, further including a positioning device for positioning said video camera system in a predetermined configuration prior to beginning the automatic control of said video camera system.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
122 words
A camera control system comprising: an input device for generating camera movement in a plurality of directions; a converter connected to said input device for generating a data signal in response to signals received from said input device such that said data signal represents the movement of said input device; a video tape recorder for recording said data signal on an audio track of a video tape such that said data signal is reproduced simultaneously while recording a video signal on a video track of said video tape recorder; a decoder for decoding said data signal to a predetermined voltage level; and a sensor for sensing said predetermined voltage level and controlling particular camera functions based upon said sensed predetermined voltage level.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
122 words
A camera control system comprising: an input device for generating camera movement in a plurality of directions; a converter connected to said input device for generating a data signal in response to signals received from said input device such that said data signal represents the movement of said input device; a video tape recorder for recording said data signal on an audio track of a video tape such that said data signal is reproduced simultaneously while recording a video signal on a video track of said video tape recorder; a decoder for decoding said data signal to a predetermined voltage level; and a sensor for sensing said predetermined voltage level and controlling particular camera functions based upon said sensed predetermined voltage level.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 13, wherein said mass storage medium is magnetic tape.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 13, wherein said means for converting converts said control signals to dual tone multifrequency signals.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system of claim 13, wherein said recorded video signal corresponds to the images viewed by said video camera system while under control of said control signals recorded on said video tape recorder.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 16, wherein the control of said video camera system and the recording of said video signal from said video camera occurs in real-time.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
94 words
A method for automatically controlling at least one video camera using a recorder, comprising the steps of: generating camera control signals for controlling said at least one video camera; converting said camera control signals to data signals for recording on a storage medium; recording said data signals simultaneously with controlling said at least one video camera; reproducing said data signals simultaneously with recording a video signal; decoding said data signals; and controlling said at least one video camera through said decoded data signals directly from said recorder to said at least one video camera.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
94 words
A method for automatically controlling at least one video camera using a recorder, comprising the steps of: generating camera control signals for controlling said at least one video camera; converting said camera control signals to data signals for recording on a storage medium; recording said data signals simultaneously with controlling said at least one video camera; reproducing said data signals simultaneously with recording a video signal; decoding said data signals; and controlling said at least one video camera through said decoded data signals directly from said recorder to said at least one video camera.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
GB751360A
Cited
US3686434A
Cited
US3688262A
Cited
US3882545A
Cited
US4244006A
Cited
US4194198A
Cited
US4188644A
Cited
US4172264A
Cited
US4308563A
Cited
US4321625A
Cited
US4570163A
Cited
GB2041622A
Cited
US4261020A
Cited
US4422105A
Cited
US4340903A
Cited
US4326221A
Cited
US4631590A
Cited
US4688105A
Cited
US4688105B1
Cited
GB2178584A
Cited
US4714959A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-01-08 | 1993-07-10 | 1994-01-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-01-08 | 1997-07-10 | 1998-01-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-01-08 | 2001-07-10 | 2002-01-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |