Patent US6720987B2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6720987B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Controller for photographing apparatus and photographing system
Assignee: Sony Corp
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Filing: 1998-04-14
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Granted: 2004-04-13
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Expires: 2018-04-14
Abstract
Abstract A picture photographed by a camera portion is sent to a video capturing portion of a computer. The picture is displayed in an operation area of a monitor. A panorama picture of which pictures in part or all moving range of a pan tiler are combined is displayed in a panorama operation area. A pan tilter portion sends positional information of pan and tilt to the computer through a mode controller. With a mouse, the operation area and the panorama operation area are operated so as to select an object. The computer obtains data for driving the pan tilter. Thus, the selected object is displayed at the center of the operation area.
Inventors
- 👤 Masakazu Koyanagi
- 👤 Tadafusa Tomitaka
- 👤 Toshiyuki Iijima
- 👤 Naoyasu Hosonuma
- 👤 Ken Tamayama
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 18:46
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N7/00; H04N7/18; H04N7/183; H04N23/00; H04N23/60; H04N23/63; H04N23/633; H04N23/635; H04N23/66; H04N23/661; H04N23/69; H04N23/695; H04N23/698
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
182 words
A controller for a photographing apparatus having a single photographing camera with driving means that allows a photographing direction of the photographing camera to be varied, the controller comprising: means having a single display screen for displaying a picture photographed by the single photographing camera in a first operation area of said display screen and for displaying a panorama picture photographed by use of only the single photographing camera in a second operation area of said display screen; and picture selecting means for allowing a user to designate a desired point in said second operation area, selecting an object photographed by the photographing camera corresponding to the designated point, and moving the selected object to desired positional coordinates of the driving means, whereby said panorama picture includes said picture and a number of other pictures which are simultaneously displayed in said second operation area and arranged therein in a predetermined manner to provide a panoramic view, and wherein limits of a range representative of a maximum range in which the camera is permitted to be moved is displayable on said panorama picture.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
182 words
A controller for a photographing apparatus having a single photographing camera with driving means that allows a photographing direction of the photographing camera to be varied, the controller comprising: means having a single display screen for displaying a picture photographed by the single photographing camera in a first operation area of said display screen and for displaying a panorama picture photographed by use of only the single photographing camera in a second operation area of said display screen; and picture selecting means for allowing a user to designate a desired point in said second operation area, selecting an object photographed by the photographing camera corresponding to the designated point, and moving the selected object to desired positional coordinates of the driving means, whereby said panorama picture includes said picture and a number of other pictures which are simultaneously displayed in said second operation area and arranged therein in a predetermined manner to provide a panoramic view, and wherein limits of a range representative of a maximum range in which the camera is permitted to be moved is displayable on said panorama picture.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The controller as set forth in claim 1 , wherein an object at a designated position is moved to desired positional coordinates of the driving means in one of the first and the second operation areas.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The controller as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the photographing portion is connected through a transmission line.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The controller as set forth in claim 1 , wherein a current position and an angle of view of the camera are displayed on the panorama picture.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The controller as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising: commanding means for commanding the generation of the panorama picture.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
194 words
A controller for a photographing apparatus having a single photographing camera with driving means that allows a photographing direction of the photographing camera to be varied, the controller comprising: means having a single display screen for displaying a picture photographed by the single photographing camera in a first operation area of said display screen and for displaying a panorama picture photographed by use of only the single photographing camera in a second operation area of said display screen; and picture selecting means for allowing a user to designate a desired area in said second operation area, selecting an object photographed by the photographing camera corresponding to the designated area, and moving an object at the position corresponding to a desired point generated with the desired area to desired positional coordinates of the driving means, whereby said panorama picture includes said picture and a number of other pictures which are simultaneously displayed in said second operation area and arranged therein in a predetermined manner to provide a panoramic view, and wherein limits of a range representative of a maximum range in which the camera is permitted to be moved is displayable on said panorama picture.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
194 words
A controller for a photographing apparatus having a single photographing camera with driving means that allows a photographing direction of the photographing camera to be varied, the controller comprising: means having a single display screen for displaying a picture photographed by the single photographing camera in a first operation area of said display screen and for displaying a panorama picture photographed by use of only the single photographing camera in a second operation area of said display screen; and picture selecting means for allowing a user to designate a desired area in said second operation area, selecting an object photographed by the photographing camera corresponding to the designated area, and moving an object at the position corresponding to a desired point generated with the desired area to desired positional coordinates of the driving means, whereby said panorama picture includes said picture and a number of other pictures which are simultaneously displayed in said second operation area and arranged therein in a predetermined manner to provide a panoramic view, and wherein limits of a range representative of a maximum range in which the camera is permitted to be moved is displayable on said panorama picture.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The controller as set forth in claim 6 , wherein the photographing portion is connected through a transmission line.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The controller as set forth in claim 6 , wherein a current position and an angle of view of the camera are displayed on the panorama picture.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
The controller as set forth in claim 6 , wherein an object at a designated position is moved to desired positional coordinates of the driving means in one of the first and the second operation areas.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The controller as set forth in claim 6 , further comprising: commanding means for commanding the generation of the panorama picture.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
180 words
A photographing system having a single photographing camera with driving means that allows a photographing direction of the photographing camera to be varied and a controller for a photographing apparatus, the controller controlling the photographing camera, wherein the controller comprises: means having a single display screen for displaying a picture photographed by the single photographing camera in a first operation area of said display screen and for displaying a panorama picture photographed by use of only the single photographing camera in a second operation area of said display screen; and picture selecting means for selecting an object photographed by the photographing camera in said second operation area and moving the selected object to desired positional coordinates of the driving means, whereby said panorama picture includes said picture and a number of other pictures which are simultaneously displayed in said second operation area and arranged therein in a predetermined manner to provide a panoramic view, and wherein limits of a range representative of a maximum range in which the camera is permitted to be moved is displayable on said panorama picture.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
180 words
A photographing system having a single photographing camera with driving means that allows a photographing direction of the photographing camera to be varied and a controller for a photographing apparatus, the controller controlling the photographing camera, wherein the controller comprises: means having a single display screen for displaying a picture photographed by the single photographing camera in a first operation area of said display screen and for displaying a panorama picture photographed by use of only the single photographing camera in a second operation area of said display screen; and picture selecting means for selecting an object photographed by the photographing camera in said second operation area and moving the selected object to desired positional coordinates of the driving means, whereby said panorama picture includes said picture and a number of other pictures which are simultaneously displayed in said second operation area and arranged therein in a predetermined manner to provide a panoramic view, and wherein limits of a range representative of a maximum range in which the camera is permitted to be moved is displayable on said panorama picture.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
The photographing system as set forth in claim 11 , wherein the photographing portion and the photographing controller are connected through a transmission line.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
The photographing system as set forth in claim 11 , further comprising: commanding means for commanding the generation of the panorama picture.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
159 words
A method for controlling a single photographing camera with driving means that allows a photographing direction of the photographing camera to be varied, comprising the steps of: displaying a picture photographed by the single photographing camera in a first operation area of a display screen and displaying a panorama picture photographed by use of only the single photographing camera in a second operation area of said display screen; selecting an object photographed by the photographing camera corresponding to a designated point in the second operation area; and moving the selected object to desired positional coordinates of the driving means, whereby said panorama picture includes said picture and a number of other pictures which are simultaneously displayed in said second operation area and arranged therein in a predetermined manner to provide a panoramic view, and wherein limits of a range representative of a maximum range in which the camera is permitted to be moved is displayable on said panorama picture.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
159 words
A method for controlling a single photographing camera with driving means that allows a photographing direction of the photographing camera to be varied, comprising the steps of: displaying a picture photographed by the single photographing camera in a first operation area of a display screen and displaying a panorama picture photographed by use of only the single photographing camera in a second operation area of said display screen; selecting an object photographed by the photographing camera corresponding to a designated point in the second operation area; and moving the selected object to desired positional coordinates of the driving means, whereby said panorama picture includes said picture and a number of other pictures which are simultaneously displayed in said second operation area and arranged therein in a predetermined manner to provide a panoramic view, and wherein limits of a range representative of a maximum range in which the camera is permitted to be moved is displayable on said panorama picture.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method as set forth in claim 14 , wherein the controlling method is performed through a transmission line.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method as set forth in claim 14 , further comprising the step of: commanding the generation of the panorama picture.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method as set forth in claim 14 , wherein the controlling method is performed through a transmission line.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method as set forth in claim 14 , further comprising the step of: commanding the generation of the panorama picture.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
168 words
A method for controlling a single photographing camera with driving means that allows a photographing direction of the photographing camera to be varied, comprising the steps of: displaying a picture photographed by the single photographing camera in a first operation area of a single display screen and displaying a panorama picture photographed by use of only the single photographing camera in a second operation area of said single display screen; selecting an object photographed by the photographing camera corresponding to a designated point in the second operation area; and moving an object at the position corresponding to the designated point to desired positional coordinates of the driving means, whereby said panorama picture includes said picture and a number of other pictures which are simultaneously displayed in said second operation area and arranged therein in a predetermined manner to provide a panoramic view, and wherein limits of a range representative of a maximum range in which the camera is permitted to be moved is displayable on said panorama picture.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
168 words
A method for controlling a single photographing camera with driving means that allows a photographing direction of the photographing camera to be varied, comprising the steps of: displaying a picture photographed by the single photographing camera in a first operation area of a single display screen and displaying a panorama picture photographed by use of only the single photographing camera in a second operation area of said single display screen; selecting an object photographed by the photographing camera corresponding to a designated point in the second operation area; and moving an object at the position corresponding to the designated point to desired positional coordinates of the driving means, whereby said panorama picture includes said picture and a number of other pictures which are simultaneously displayed in said second operation area and arranged therein in a predetermined manner to provide a panoramic view, and wherein limits of a range representative of a maximum range in which the camera is permitted to be moved is displayable on said panorama picture.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method as set forth in claim 19 , wherein the controlling method is performed through a transmission line.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method as set forth in claim 19 , further comprising the step of: commanding the generation of the panorama picture.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
160 words
A method for controlling a single photographing camera with driving means that allows a photographing direction of the photographing camera to be varied, comprising the steps of: displaying a panorama picture photographed by use of only the single photographing camera in a first operation area of a single display screen; displaying a respective picture photographed by the photographing camera in a second operation area of the single display screen; selecting an object photographed by the photographing camera corresponding to a designated point in the first operation area; and moving the selected object to desired positional coordinate of the driving means, whereby said panorama picture includes said picture and a number of other pictures which are simultaneously displayed in said first operation area and arranged therein in a predetermined manner to provide a panoramic view, and wherein limits of a range representative of a maximum range in which the camera is permitted to be moved is displayable on said panorama picture.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
160 words
A method for controlling a single photographing camera with driving means that allows a photographing direction of the photographing camera to be varied, comprising the steps of: displaying a panorama picture photographed by use of only the single photographing camera in a first operation area of a single display screen; displaying a respective picture photographed by the photographing camera in a second operation area of the single display screen; selecting an object photographed by the photographing camera corresponding to a designated point in the first operation area; and moving the selected object to desired positional coordinate of the driving means, whereby said panorama picture includes said picture and a number of other pictures which are simultaneously displayed in said first operation area and arranged therein in a predetermined manner to provide a panoramic view, and wherein limits of a range representative of a maximum range in which the camera is permitted to be moved is displayable on said panorama picture.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
167 words
A method for controlling a single photographing camera with driving means that allows a photographing direction of the photographing camera to be varied, comprising the steps of: displaying a panorama picture photographed by use of only the single photographing camera in a first operation area of a single display screen; displaying a respective picture photographed by the photographing camera in a second operation area of the single display screen; selecting an object photographed by the photographing camera corresponding to a designated point in the first operation area; and moving an object at the position corresponding to the designated point to desired positional coordinates of the driving means, whereby said panorama picture includes said picture and a number of other pictures which are simultaneously displayed in said first operation area and arranged therein in a predetermined manner to provide a panoramic view, and wherein limits of a range representative of a maximum range in which the camera is permitted to be moved is displayable on said panorama picture.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
167 words
A method for controlling a single photographing camera with driving means that allows a photographing direction of the photographing camera to be varied, comprising the steps of: displaying a panorama picture photographed by use of only the single photographing camera in a first operation area of a single display screen; displaying a respective picture photographed by the photographing camera in a second operation area of the single display screen; selecting an object photographed by the photographing camera corresponding to a designated point in the first operation area; and moving an object at the position corresponding to the designated point to desired positional coordinates of the driving means, whereby said panorama picture includes said picture and a number of other pictures which are simultaneously displayed in said first operation area and arranged therein in a predetermined manner to provide a panoramic view, and wherein limits of a range representative of a maximum range in which the camera is permitted to be moved is displayable on said panorama picture.
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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) | 2007-04-13 | 2007-10-13 | 2008-04-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-04-13 | 2011-10-13 | 2012-04-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-04-13 | 2015-10-13 | 2016-04-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |