US5432597A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Remote controlled tracking system for tracking a remote-control unit and positioning and operating a camera and method
Assignee: GVBB Holdings SARL
•
Filing: 1994-02-14
•
Granted: 1995-07-11
•
Expires: 2014-02-14
Abstract
Abstract The system includes improvements to a remote tracking system for the control of the field of view of a camera. The system provides for improved motor control for PAN and TILT functions and expanded modes of operation in both the automatic and manual operation of the system. These improvements also include several tracking response and command programs for control based upon the error between the desired position of the camera field of view and its actual position. In addition, a universal learning remote unit is provided to learn commands from the IR remote unit for those cameras that have such features.
Inventors
- 👤 Jeffrey L. Parker
- 👤 David F. Sorrells
- 👤 Jonathan D. Mix
- 👤 Richard C. Looke
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 03:41
CPC Classifications
B; B25; B25J; B25J9/00; B25J9/16; B25J9/1694; B25J9/1697; G; G01; G01S; G01S3/00; G01S3/78; G01S3/782; G01S3/785; G01S3/786; G01S3/7864; H; H04; H04N; H04N23/00; H04N23/60; H04N23/61; H04N23/695
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 60
Claim 1
Independent Claim
81 words
A method of controlling the position of the field of view of a camera used to automatically track a subject with the field of view comprising the steps of: A. controlling the movement of the field of view of a camera; B. automatically tracking a subject with the field of view; C. selecting field of view positions of the camera; D. remembering the positions selected; and E. controlling the cessation of automatic tracking to return to any of the selected positions.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
81 words
A method of controlling the position of the field of view of a camera used to automatically track a subject with the field of view comprising the steps of: A. controlling the movement of the field of view of a camera; B. automatically tracking a subject with the field of view; C. selecting field of view positions of the camera; D. remembering the positions selected; and E. controlling the cessation of automatic tracking to return to any of the selected positions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 1 wherein step B includes the step of: F. selecting a field of view of the camera by controlling the position of the field of view of the camera to automatically track the subject with the field of view of the camera to any of the selected positions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 1 further including the step of: F. re-enabling the automatic tracking disabled in step E to begin automatic tracking of the subject by the field of view of the camera.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
62 words
The method of claim 1 wherein step D includes the steps of: F. controlling the movement of the position of the field of view of the camera to move from a position remembered to another position remembered by controlling the movement of the field of view to automatically track the subject to the other selected position; and G. remembering the other position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 1 wherein step E includes the step of: F. controlling the position of the field of view of a camera to move from a selected position to another selected position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 5 further including the step of: G. adjusting the rate at which the position of the field of view is moved between a selected position and another selected position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method of claim 1 further including the steps of: F. controlling the perspective of the field of view to provide a selected perspective; G. adjusting the perspective of the field of view for a selected perspective of the field of view; and H. remembering a selected perspective of the field of view.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 7 further including the step of: I. remembering the selected perspective of the field of view at the remembered selected position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 8 further including the step of: J. automatically recalling the selected perspective when the field of view returns to the selected position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 8 further including the step of: J. remembering a perspective associated with each position remembered.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 10 further including the step of: K. automatically recalling the perspective associated with each position when each position is recalled in step E.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
65 words
The method of claim 1 further including the steps of: F. controlling the cessation of automatic tracking of the subject in step B by the field of view by providing a Direction of Movement command to move the field of view in a direction as determined by the Direction of Movement command so as to control the field of view for determining a selected position.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 12 further including the step of: G. maintaining cessation of automatic tracking until a command is issued to re-establish step B.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 1 further including the step of: F. issuing a Speed command to adjust the rate at which the return to any of the selected and remembered fields of view occur in step E.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 1 further including the step of: F. issuing a Speed Control command to adjust the rate at which the return to each selected and remembered field of view occurs in step E.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
93 words
A method of controlling the field of view of a camera used to automatically track a subject with the field of view comprising the steps of: A. controlling the field of view of a camera; B. controlling the field of view to automatically track a subject with the field of view; C. controlling the cessation of automatic tracking in step B of the subject by the field of view by providing a Direction of Movement command to move the field of view in a direction as determined by the Direction of Movement command.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
93 words
A method of controlling the field of view of a camera used to automatically track a subject with the field of view comprising the steps of: A. controlling the field of view of a camera; B. controlling the field of view to automatically track a subject with the field of view; C. controlling the cessation of automatic tracking in step B of the subject by the field of view by providing a Direction of Movement command to move the field of view in a direction as determined by the Direction of Movement command.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 16 wherein step C further includes the step of: D. providing a Speed Control command to move the field of view at a specific rate.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 16 further including the step of: D. issuing a Speed command to adjust the rate at which the return to any of the selected and remembered fields of view which occur in step C.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 17 wherein step C further includes the step of: E. increasing or decreasing the rate of movement.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 16 further including the step of: D. providing a command to begin control of the field of view to automatically track the subject with the field of view of the camera.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
81 words
A method of controlling the field of view of a camera used to automatically track a subject from the field of view with an automatic tracking device comprising the steps of: A. controlling the field of view; and B. controlling the field of view to automatically track the subject by the field of view; and C. controlling the perspective of the field of view to provide a selected perspective; and D. issuing commands to the tracking device to alter the perspective.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
81 words
A method of controlling the field of view of a camera used to automatically track a subject from the field of view with an automatic tracking device comprising the steps of: A. controlling the field of view; and B. controlling the field of view to automatically track the subject by the field of view; and C. controlling the perspective of the field of view to provide a selected perspective; and D. issuing commands to the tracking device to alter the perspective.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 21 further including the steps of: E. remembering at least one selected perspective of the field of view; and F. recalling at least one selected perspective.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
115 words
A method of controlling the field of view of a camera used to automatically track a subject with the field of view comprising the steps of: A. controlling the field of view of a camera; B. controlling the field of view to automatically track the subject by the field of view; C. selectively remembering a first field of view of the camera; D. selectively remembering a second field of view of the camera; E. controlling the automatic tracking to cease automatic tracking in step B and to return to the first field of view; and F. controlling the field of view to automatically return to the second field of view after a predetermined time period.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
115 words
A method of controlling the field of view of a camera used to automatically track a subject with the field of view comprising the steps of: A. controlling the field of view of a camera; B. controlling the field of view to automatically track the subject by the field of view; C. selectively remembering a first field of view of the camera; D. selectively remembering a second field of view of the camera; E. controlling the automatic tracking to cease automatic tracking in step B and to return to the first field of view; and F. controlling the field of view to automatically return to the second field of view after a predetermined time period.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
105 words
The method of claim 23 further including the step of: G. controlling the field of view in step F such that when the field of view has returned to the second field of view the field of view is controlled to automatically return to the first field of view after a predetermined period; H. controlling the field of view to automatically return to the second field of view after a predetermined time period; and I. controlling the field of view to cycle between the first and the second field of views after waiting a predetermined time period at each selected and remembered field of view.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 23 further including the step of: G. controlling the field of view to automatically track a subject to the first field of view remembered in step C.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 23 wherein step D includes the step of: G. controlling the field of view to automatically track a subject to the second field of view of the camera.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
73 words
The method of claim 23 wherein step C includes the step of: G. selecting the first field of view by ceasing the automatic tracking of the subject by the field of view with a Direction of Movement command to move the field of view in a direction as determined by the Direction of Movement command so as to control the field of view for the purpose of selecting the first field of view.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
74 words
The method of claim 23 wherein step D includes the step of: G. selecting the second field of view by ceasing the automatic tracking of the subject by the field of view by providing a Direction of Movement command to move the field of view in a direction as determined by the Direction of Movement command so as to control the field of view for the purpose of determining the second field of view.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 23 further including the step of: G. issuing a Speed command to adjust the rate at which the return to the first selected and remembered field of view occurs in step E.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 23 further including the step of: G. issuing a Speed command to adjust the rate at which the return to the second selected and remembered field of view of the camera occurs in step F.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 23 further including the step of: G. issuing a Cycle command to accomplish steps E and F.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 24 further including the step of: J. issuing a Cycle command to accomplish steps E, F, G, H, and I.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 31 further including the step of: H. issuing a Stop Cycle command to countermand step G.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 32 further including the step of: K. issuing a Stop Cycle command to countermand step J.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 23 further including the step of: G. issuing a Time Period command which adjusts the predetermined time period established in step F.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 24 further including the step of: H. issuing a Time Period command which adjusts the predetermined time periods established for the first and second fields of view.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 24 further including the steps of: J. selecting additional fields of view of the camera to be remembered; and K. controlling the camera to continuously cycle between each remembered field of view after waiting a predetermined time period at each field of view.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 37 wherein step J includes the step of: L. selecting the additional fields of view of the camera by controlling the field of view to automatically track a subject to the remembered additional fields of view.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
79 words
The method of claim 37 further including the step of: L. selecting the additional fields of view of step J by controlling the-cessation of automatic tracking in step B of the subject by the field of view by providing a direction of movement command to move the field of view in a direction as determined by the direction of movement command so as to control the field of view for the purpose of selecting the additional fields of view.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 37 further including the step of: L. issuing a Speed command to adjust the rate at which the return to the additional selected and remembered fields of view of the camera occurs.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 37 further including the step of: L. issuing a Time Period command which adjusts the predetermined time period established in step F.
Claim 46
Independent Claim
107 words
A method of controlling the field of view of a camera used to automatically track a subject with the field of view with an automatic tracking device comprising the steps of: A. controlling the field of view of a camera; B. controlling the field of view to automatically track the subject by the field of view; and C. issuing a first command to the automatic tracking device and to automatically move the field of view in the same direction and to discontinue automatic tracking of the subject by the field of view at generally the same rate of movement existing at the time the command was issued.
Claim 47
Independent Claim
107 words
A method of controlling the field of view of a camera used to automatically track a subject with the field of view with an automatic tracking device comprising the steps of: A. controlling the field of view of a camera; B. controlling the field of view to automatically track the subject by the field of view; and C. issuing a first command to the automatic tracking device and to automatically move the field of view in the same direction and to discontinue automatic tracking of the subject by the field of view at generally the same rate of movement existing at the time the command was issued.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 42 further including the step of: D. discontinuing the first command to the automatic tracking device to resume controlling the field of view to automatically track the subject with the field of view.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 43 wherein step D includes the step of: E. discontinuing movement of the field of view if tracking of the subject is not possible.
Claim 50
Independent Claim
94 words
A method of controlling the field of view of a camera used to automatically track a subject with the field of view with an automatic tracking device comprising the steps of: A. controlling the field of view of a camera to automatically track the subject by the field of view; B. issuing a command to the automatic tracking device for automatically moving the field of view until the subject can be automatically tracked; and C. automatically tracking the subject with the field of view of the camera when the subject can be automatically tracked.
Claim 51
Independent Claim
94 words
A method of controlling the field of view of a camera used to automatically track a subject with the field of view with an automatic tracking device comprising the steps of: A. controlling the field of view of a camera to automatically track the subject by the field of view; B. issuing a command to the automatic tracking device for automatically moving the field of view until the subject can be automatically tracked; and C. automatically tracking the subject with the field of view of the camera when the subject can be automatically tracked.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 45 wherein step C includes the step of: E. discontinuing movement of the field of view if a subject cannot be found in a predetermined amount of time or in a predetermined amount of movement of the field of view.
Claim 53
Independent Claim
92 words
A method of controlling the field of view of a camera used to automatically track a subject with the field of view by an automatic tracking device and record images therein comprising the steps of: A. controlling the field of view of a camera; B. controlling the field of view to automatically track the subject in the field of view; C. recording the image in the field of view; and D. issuing commands to the automatic tracking device to control the starting or stopping of the recording of the field of view.
Claim 54
Independent Claim
92 words
A method of controlling the field of view of a camera used to automatically track a subject with the field of view by an automatic tracking device and record images therein comprising the steps of: A. controlling the field of view of a camera; B. controlling the field of view to automatically track the subject in the field of view; C. recording the image in the field of view; and D. issuing commands to the automatic tracking device to control the starting or stopping of the recording of the field of view.
Claim 55
Independent Claim
69 words
A method of controlling the field of view of a camera used to automatically track a subject with the field of view with an automatic tracking device comprising the steps of: A. controlling the field of view of a camera; B. controlling the field of view to automatically track a subject with the field of view; and C. controlling the functions of a camera by the automatic tracking device.
Claim 56
Independent Claim
69 words
A method of controlling the field of view of a camera used to automatically track a subject with the field of view with an automatic tracking device comprising the steps of: A. controlling the field of view of a camera; B. controlling the field of view to automatically track a subject with the field of view; and C. controlling the functions of a camera by the automatic tracking device.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 48 wherein step C includes the step of: D. remotely controlling the camera using commands to the automatic tracking device.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 49 further including the step of: E. controlling the functions of a camera by programming in the automatic tracking device such that commands received by the automatic tracking device for controlling the operation of the functions of a camera will be remembered and controlled by the tracking device.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method of claim 50 wherein step E includes the step of: F. controlling the field of view by programming to provide for the accepting and remembering of camera commands by the automatic tracking device for more than one camera wherein each camera has different camera commands for the same functions.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 48 further including the step of: D. issuing commands to the automatic tracking device to control the functions of the camera.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-07-10 | 1999-01-09 | 1999-07-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-07-10 | 2003-01-09 | 2003-07-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-07-10 | 2007-01-09 | 2007-07-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |