U.S. patent application number 10/124108 was filed with the patent office on 2002-08-15 for digital record and replay binoculars.
Invention is credited to Hammack, Jack C., Hammack, Steven R..
Application Number | 20020109785 10/124108 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 24730807 |
Filed Date | 2002-08-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020109785 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hammack, Jack C. ; et
al. |
August 15, 2002 |
Digital record and replay binoculars
Abstract
A combined binocular viewing and digital recording device
includes a binocular telescope wherein the binocular telescope
includes a pair of monocular components (12a, b). Each monocular
component (12a, b) has an image viewing end and an image receiving
end. The monocular components (12a, b) include a focusing mechanism
(18) to adjust images viewed through the image viewing end of the
monocular components. Also, the device includes a digital video
camera (15) mounted to and displaced between each monocular
component. The camera includes a receiving lens (21) for receiving
images with the camera lens' line-of-sight approximately parallel
to the line-of-sight of the monocular components. The camera
further includes random access memory (RAM) (56) and a display
device (16). Processors (46, 48, 50, 52, 54) are also included
within the camera for generating compressed digital video images of
the received images, storing the compressed digital video images in
the RAM, and displaying the received or stored images on the
display device. The camera includes control mechanisms (26, 28, 30,
32) for controlling the generating, storing, and displaying of the
video images.
Inventors: |
Hammack, Jack C.; (Bellevue,
WA) ; Hammack, Steven R.; (Ocean Shores, WA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CHRISTENSEN, O'CONNOR, JOHNSON, KINDNESS, PLLC
1420 FIFTH AVENUE
SUITE 2800
SEATTLE
WA
98101-2347
US
|
Family ID: |
24730807 |
Appl. No.: |
10/124108 |
Filed: |
April 15, 2002 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10124108 |
Apr 15, 2002 |
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09480840 |
Jan 10, 2000 |
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09480840 |
Jan 10, 2000 |
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08924546 |
Aug 27, 1997 |
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6088053 |
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08924546 |
Aug 27, 1997 |
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08680367 |
Jul 15, 1996 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
348/376 ;
348/E13.014; 348/E13.025; 348/E13.041; 348/E13.061; 348/E13.062;
348/E13.071; 348/E13.073; 348/E5.024 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 13/167 20180501;
H04N 13/15 20180501; H04N 13/296 20180501; H04N 5/225 20130101;
G02B 23/18 20130101; H04N 19/597 20141101; H04N 13/344 20180501;
H04N 13/189 20180501; H04N 13/194 20180501; H04N 13/239
20180501 |
Class at
Publication: |
348/376 |
International
Class: |
H04N 005/225 |
Claims
The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or
privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
1. A hand-held unit comprising: binoculars having a pair of
monocular components, each component having an image viewing end
and an image receiving end and defining a line-of-sight; and a
digital video camera mounted to the binoculars with the camera
lens' line-of-sight approximately parallel to the lines-of-sight of
the monocular components, the digital video camera comprising: a
receiving lens for receiving images; a digital memory storage unit
integral with the hand-held unit; a display device; a processing
system for generating compressed digital video images of said
received images, storing the compressed digital video images in the
memory storage unit and displaying at least one of the received or
stored images on the display device; and means for controlling the
generating, storing and displaying of the video images.
2. The device of claim 1, wherein the monocular components include
a focus mechanism for focusing images viewed through the image
viewing end of the monocular components
3. The device of claim 1, wherein the control means includes
forward and reverse video viewing controls.
4. The device of claim 3, wherein the forward and reverse viewing
controls are multi-speed video viewing controls.
5. The device of claim 1, wherein the means for controlling
includes a zoom control.
6. The device of claim 1, wherein the camera further comprises a
removable memory storage unit for storing the compressed video
images.
7. The device of claim 6, wherein the removable memory storage unit
is a PC card.
8. The device of claim 1, wherein the camera further comprises
means for transmitting data video images off the camera.
9. The device of claim 1, wherein the display is a liquid crystal
display.
10. The device of claim 1, wherein the memory storage unit is
random access memory (RAM).
11. The device of claim 1, wherein the display is remote of the
image viewing end of the binoculars.
12. The device of claim 2, wherein the focusing mechanism is an
auto-focus mechanism for focusing on targeted images.
13. The device of claim 2, wherein the focusing mechanism is a
manual focus mechanism for focusing on targeted images.
14. The device of claim 1, wherein the display is rotatably
attached to the digital video camera.
15. The device of claim 1, wherein the digital video camera further
comprises a solar power converter for converting solar rays into
electrical energy for powering the digital video camera.
16. The device of claim 15, wherein the solar power converter is
remotely located from the digital video camera and electrically
connected to the digital video camera.
17. A hand-held unit comprising: binoculars having a pair of
monocular components, each component having an image viewing end
and an image receiving end and defining a line-of-sight; and a
digital video camera mounted to the binoculars with the camera
lens' line-of sight approximately parallel to the lines-of-sight of
the monocular components, the digital video camera comprising: a
receiving lens for receiving images; a removable digital memory
storage unit; a display device; a processing system for generating
compressed digital video images of said received images, storing
the compressed digital video images in the removable digital memory
storage unit and displaying at least one of the received or stored
images on the display device; and means for controlling the
generating, storing and displaying of the video images.
18. The device of claim 17, wherein the removable memory storage
unit is removable from a location internal to the hand-held
unit.
19. The device of claim 18, wherein the removable memory storage
unit is a PC card.
20. A hand-held unit comprising: binoculars having a pair of
monocular components, each component having an image viewing end
and an image receiving end and defining a line-of-sight; and a
digital video camera mounted to the binoculars with the camera
lens' line-of-sight approximately parallel to the lines-of-sight of
the monocular components, the digital video camera comprising: a
receiving lens for receiving images; a digital memory storage unit
integral with the hand-held unit; a display device; a processing
system for generating compressed digital video images of said
received images, storing the compressed digital video images in the
memory storage unit and displaying at least one of the received or
stored images on the display device; means for controlling the
generating, storing and displaying of the video images; and a solar
power converter for converting solar rays into electrical energy
for powering the components of the digital video camera.
21. The device of claim 20, wherein the solar power converter is
remotely located from the digital video camera and electrically
connected to the digital video camera.
22. A hand-held unit comprising: binoculars having a pair of
monocular components, each component having an image viewing end
and an image receiving end and defining a line-of-sight; a display
device remote of the image viewing end of the binoculars; and a
digital video camera mounted to the binoculars with the camera
lens' line-of-sight approximately parallel to the lines-of-sight of
the monocular components, the digital video camera comprising: a
receiving lens for receiving images; a digital memory storage unit
integral with the hand-held unit; a processing system for
generating compressed digital video images of said received images,
storing the compressed digital video images in the memory storage
unit and displaying at least one of the received or stored images
on the display device; and means for controlling the generating,
storing and displaying of the video images a display device.
23. A hand-held unit comprising: a central housing portion; first
and second eyepiece viewing ports with internal displays; and first
and second digital video cameras with processors mounted to the
central housing portion of the unit for receiving images and for
generating first and second sets of digital video images of said
received images, wherein the central housing portion comprises: a
memory storage unit; a processing system for compressing the
generated first and second sets of digital video images, storing
the compressed digital video images in the memory storage unit and
displaying the first and second sets of digital video images on the
internal displays; and means for controlling the generating,
storing and displaying of the video images.
24. The device of claim 23, wherein the first set of digital video
images generated by the first digital video camera are displayed on
the display within the first eyepiece viewing port and the second
set of digital video images generated by the second digital video
camera are displayed on the display within the second eyepiece
viewing port.
25. The device of claim 23, wherein the means for controlling
includes a zoom control.
26. The device of claim 23, further comprising an external display
remote of the image viewing end of the binoculars.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to binoculars, and more particularly
relates to a digital video camera incorporated into a one-piece,
hand-held binocular unit.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] For the general public, recording images as they happen has
become a national pastime. Camera and video recording technology
has been incorporated into many commonly known products, such as
microscopes, telescopes and binoculars.
[0003] Recording of video images from a common set of binoculars
allows the user to identify and record events at great distances.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,067,027 to Yamazaki discloses a binocular telescope
containing a camera for photographing object scenes through the
binocular lenses. Yamazaki's invention is useful for users that
wish to capture still images, but fails to allow the user to
capture full video images.
[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 4,571,628 to Thornton discloses a binocular
video viewing assembly having an integral object lens. The object
lens observes the predetermined field of viewing and a processing
assembly converts the resulting video image into electrical video
signals. The electrical video signals are transferred to and stored
in a remotely located video recorder. A liquid crystal display
device is located within the video viewing assembly to display
playback of video recorded on the remotely located video recorder.
Thornton's device includes two eyepieces, like binoculars, and a
single viewing lens. Although Thornton's device has the appearance
and feel of binoculars, the single viewing lens generates only a
single two-dimensional image, whereas binoculars allow the user to
view a three-dimensional image. Also, Thornton's device fails to be
fully portable because the video recorder is remotely located and
must accompany the device in order to record images.
[0005] There is a need for a completely portable combined video
camera and binocular system that permits storage of a visual image.
Preferably, such a device will permit three dimensional viewing of
objects simultaneous to recording of those objects. SUMMARY OF THE
INVENTION
[0006] In accordance with this invention, a one-piece, hand-held
binocular and digital recording device is provided. The device
permits simultaneous three dimensional viewing of an object through
the binoculars and recording of the visual image of the object. The
recording device converts the video image to digital video signals
and records the digital video signals in a memory storage device
within the hand-held unit. The recorded video signal may be viewed
on a display that is also located on the hand-held unit.
[0007] More particularly described, the present invention provides
a combined binocular viewing and digital recording device. The
device includes binoculars having a pair of monocular components,
each monocular component having an image viewing end and an image
receiving end. The monocular components include a focusing
mechanism to adjust images viewed through the image viewing end of
the monocular components. Also, the device includes a digital video
camera mounted to the binoculars. The camera includes a receiving
lens for receiving images within the camera lens' line-of-sight and
aligned approximately parallel to the line-of-sight of the
monocular components. The camera further includes random access
memory (RAM) and a display device. A processor is also included
within the camera for generating compressed digital video images of
the received images, storing the compressed digital video images in
the RAM and displaying the received or stored images on the display
device. Finally, the camera includes control mechanisms for
controlling the generating, storing, and displaying of the video
images.
[0008] In accordance with other aspects of this invention, the
control means includes forward and reverse viewing controls. The
viewing controls preferably are multiple speed viewing
controls.
[0009] In accordance with further aspects of this invention, the
control means includes tint, brightness, and color controls.
[0010] In accordance with still other aspects of this invention,
the camera includes a removable storage medium for storing the
compressed video images.
[0011] In accordance with still further aspects of this invention,
the camera further includes a data transmission mechanism for
transmitting video images from the camera to a remote source.
[0012] In accordance with yet other aspects of this invention, the
display is a liquid crystal display.
[0013] In accordance with still yet other aspects of this
invention, the display is rotatable so that it may be viewed from
different directions.
[0014] In accordance with other aspects of this invention,
comprises a solar power converter for converting solar rays into
electrical energy for powering the digital video camera, wherein
the solar power converter is remotely located from the digital
video camera and electrically connected to the digital video
camera.
[0015] As will be readily appreciated from the foregoing summary,
the invention provides for compactly storing and reviewing of
recorded video images while viewing those images through a
binocular telescope.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages
of this invention will become more readily appreciated as the same
becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed
description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings, wherein:
[0017] FIG. 1 is a top view of the one piece, hand-held, combined
binoculars and video recording unit incorporating the present
invention;
[0018] FIG. 2 is a sectional top view of the unit of FIG. 1, with
parts removed for detail;
[0019] FIG. 3 is a sectional rear view of the unit of FIG. 1, with
parts removed for detail;
[0020] FIG. 4 is a block diagram displaying the processing and
control features of the unit of FIG. 1;
[0021] FIG. 5 is a top view of the unit of FIG. 1, with an added
solar power converter;
[0022] FIG. 6 is a sectional rear view of the unit of FIG. 1 with
an optional display positioning feature;
[0023] FIG. 7 is a top view of a one piece, hand-held, combined
three-dimensional video image recording unit;
[0024] FIG. 8 is a sectional top view of the unit of FIG. 7 with
parts removed for detail;
[0025] FIG. 9 is a top view of the unit of FIG. 1, with an added,
remote solar power converter; and
[0026] FIG. 10 is a top view of a three-dimensional recording unit
as in FIG. 7, with an external display added to the top.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0027] Referring now to the drawings, in which like reference
numerals represent like parts throughout the several views, FIG. 1
sets forth a one piece, hand-held unit 10 incorporating the present
invention. Briefly described, the hand-held unit 10 includes
conventional binoculars 12 combined with a miniature digital video
camera 15. A display, preferably a liquid crystal display (LCD) 16,
is mounted on top of the binoculars 12. The hand-held unit 10 is
designed to permit simultaneous three dimensional viewing of an
object through the binoculars 12 and recording of the visual image
of the object by the digital video camera 15. The recorded image
may then be viewed on the LCD 16.
[0028] The binoculars 12 include two monocular components 12a and
12b positioned parallel to each other. Each monocular component
12a, 12b, includes focus adjusting eyepieces 18 at a rear end, and
magnifying lenses (not shown, but well known in the art) at a
forward end. The focus-adjusting eyepieces 18 and the magnifying
lenses are arranged so as to permit observation of distant objects.
The monocular components 12a and 12b thus provide a magnified
stereoscopic or 3 D image to a user of the hand-held device 10.
Thus, the binoculars 12 perform a telescopic function. It can be
appreciated to one of skill in the art that various focus adjusting
mechanisms may be incorporated with the monocular components 12a,
12b.
[0029] The digital video camera 15 is attached between the top
inner portion of the monocular components 12a and 12b and provides
lateral support and separation of the monocular components. The
digital video camera 15 includes a video camera lens 21 at the
forward end of the digital video camera 15. The digital video
camera 15 may be automatically focusing, such as is known in the
art, or may have its focusing mechanism mechanically tied to the
focus of the binoculars 12, thus allowing a user to zoom in on a
specific action of interest. Top longitudinal edges 22, 24 (FIG. 3)
of the digital video camera 15 slope downwardly away from the top
of the digital video camera 15 to the upper portion of the
monocular components 12a, 12b. Located at the rear end of the left
downwardly sloping edge 22, collocated with the left monocular
element 12a, are a forward/play button 26 and a reverse/play button
28. On the rear end of the right downwardly sloping edge,
collocated with the right monocular element 12b, is a record button
30.
[0030] The LCD 16 is positioned on the forward half of the top
surface of the digital video camera 15. The LCD 16 is preferably
mounted flush with the top surface of the digital video camera 15.
However, the LCD may also be a flip up variety 17 (FIG. 6), or may
be located in any convenient location on the hand-held unit 10.
[0031] As shown on FIG. 2, the rear vertical edge of the digital
video camera 15 includes an on/off control 32, a brightness control
34, a color control 36 and a tint control 38. Each of the controls
32, 34, 36, 38 are used to adjust and set the LCD 16 in a manner
known in the art. Located below the controls 32, 34, 36, 38 is an
opening to a personal computer (PC) Card receiving port 40, shown
in FIG. 3, for receiving a PC Card 42 within the digital video
camera 15.
[0032] A printed circuit board 44 (FIG. 2) is located internally
along the length of the digital video camera 15. The printed
circuit board 44 includes a processing system, which has a
microprocessor 46, an image processor 48, a signal processor 50, a
display driver 52, ROM video logic 54, and video cache RAM 56.
[0033] A power unit, such as a rechargeable battery 58 (FIG. 3), is
inserted beneath the PC Card receiving port 40. Optional power
supplies, such as a car adapter (not shown, but well known in the
art), an AC power converter (not shown, but well known in the art),
or solar (described below), may also be used.
[0034] The operation of the hand-held unit 10 can be understood
with reference to the above description. A user may utilize the
binoculars 12 in a traditional manner; i.e., the binoculars may be
pointed at an object and the eyepieces 18 may be manipulated so as
to draw the object into focus. This feature does not require a
power supply such as the battery 58.
[0035] To record an event targeted by the binoculars 12, the user
depresses the record button 30, causing the digital video camera 15
to process and store images. The video camera lens 21 receives
images and relays the images to the image processor 48, which in
turn processes the images and forwards the images to the signal
processor 50. The signal processor 50 digitizes the video images
processed by the image processor 40 and stores the digitized video
images in the video cache RAM 56. Optionally, the digitized video
images may be stored on the PC card 42. The destination for the
digitized video images of either the video cache RAM 56 or the PC
card 42 is determined according to control programs stored in the
microprocessor 46 and associated programs in the ROM Video Logic
54. The digitized video images are preferably stored in the video
cache RAM 56 and/or the PC card 42 using high speed image
compression algorithms that provide maximum performance and storage
capability.
[0036] The PC card 42 provides retaining and transferring of
recorded images for future review on the digital video camera 15 or
other PC card enabled devices such as a computer or a television.
In addition, PC cards with PCMCIA standards support networking and
telecommunications may be utilized for remote storing and viewing
of recorded video images. It can be appreciated to one of skill in
the art that the PC card 42 could be replaced by more conventional
RAM if desired.
[0037] Depression of the forward/play button 26 initiates the
viewing of stored images from the video cache RAM 56 or the PC card
42. A decompression algorithm is utilized to restructure the
compressed, digitized video images. The retrieved images are viewed
on the LCD 16. Alternatively, the reverse button 28 may be
depressed for playing stored images in reverse. The forward/play
and reverse buttons 26, 28 are preferably tri-state such that each
press of the buttons alters the replay flow from normal motion to
slow motion to frozen motion. It can be appreciated by one of skill
in the art that the buttons 26, 28 can perform multiple functions
relating to video viewing, such as high speed scanning. A single
play control button could be used in place of the forward/play and
reverse buttons 26, 28 for performing similar functions.
[0038] FIG. 4 illustrates a block diagram of the process and
features control of the present invention. The processing system
receives control signals from the buttons 26, 28, 30, 32 and DC
power from the battery 58. If the processing system receives a
"record" control signal from the record button 30, the processing
system delivers recorded images to memory (the video cache RAM 56
or the PC card 42) for storage. If a "playback" control signal is
delivered by the forward/play button 26 to the processing system,
the processing system retrieves images from the memory (the video
cache RAM 56 or the PC card 42) and sends the images to the display
(the LCD 16). The controls 32, 34, 36, 38 and control circuitry
(not shown, but well known in the art) provide a user control of
image processing for the display of the processed images.
[0039] FIG. 5 illustrates an alternate feature for powering the
unit 10. Located on the top of the video camera 15, adjacent to the
LCD 16, is a solar power converter 59, such as is known in the art.
The solar power converter 59 converts solar energy to DC electric
current to power the digital video camera 15 and charge the
rechargeable battery 58. The solar power converter 59 may be
remotely connected, as shown by solar converter 59a in FIG. 9,
either stand alone or attachable to an object surface that receives
a considerable amount of solar rays, such as a hat worn on a user's
head, an umbrella, a backpack, etc.
[0040] FIG. 6 illustrates a LCD 17 that is rotatable on the top of
the digital video camera 15, while still maintaining an electrical
connection to the processing system. Preferably, the LCD 17 rotates
about the rear edge of the LCD 17, the edge closest to the
eyepieces 18, to a vertical position for optimal viewing by the
user. Rotation of the LCD 17 through any number of angles up to
approximately 180.degree. from a flush mounted position allows
viewing of images without rotation of the unit 10. This feature is
important if moving the unit 10 to view displayed images would
cause the loss of an image targeted by the user.
[0041] FIGS. 7, 8 and 10 illustrate a three-dimensional image
recording and playback unit 60 of the present invention. The unit
60 includes a central housing 61 mounted at its front left bottom
corner to the top of a left digital video camera 62a and at its
front right bottom corner to the top of a right video camera 62a.
The unit 60 also includes eye viewing members 64a, 64b, each
mounted under the rear corners of the central housing 61. Each
video camera 62a, 62b includes a lens 21a, 21b, an image processor
48a, 48b and a signal processor 50a, 50b. The camera lenses 62a,
62b, the image processors 48a, 48b and the signal processors 50a,
50b generate two sets of digital video images, thus replacing the
single lens and corresponding processors of the video camera 15,
described above.
[0042] The eye viewing members 64a, 64b include display devices
66a, 66b and drivers 68a, 68b. The other processing, controlling
and storing components within the housing are similar to those
found in the previous embodiment. However, the control logic in
unit 60 must be programmed to properly store the two sets of
generated digital video images and properly retrieve and process
the two sets of stored images or generated two sets of digital
images for display on the display devices 66a, 66b. This embodiment
can also perform recording from only one camera, thus allowing for
storage of a greater number of images. The displaying of the two
sets of generated digital video images is done stereoscopically,
holographically or by another commonly known two-display
three-dimensional viewing technique. When viewed through the eye
viewing members 64, a user sees a three-dimensional image, similar
to what the user sees through conventional binoculars.
[0043] Unit 60 further includes a zoom control button 70. As shown
in FIG. 8, the zoom control button 70 includes a zoom portion 70a
and an unzoom portion 70b. Depressing the zoom portion 70a of the
zoom button 70 causes the camera lenses 62a, 62b to increase focal
length, thus zooming in on the scene being viewed. Depressing the
unzoom portion 70b of the zoom button 70 causes focal length of the
camera lenses 62a, 62b to decrease, thus expanding on the scene
being viewed. Focus is maintained by an auto-focus feature.
[0044] The processing system may be a general purpose video
processing system of a type well known to those skilled in the art.
Furthermore, the microprocessor 46 and the processing system may be
programmed by a programmer of ordinary skill to accept the inputs,
perform the functions, and provide the outputs required for
operation of the present invention, given the description contained
herein.
[0045] The hand-held unit 10 provides a variety of features and
advantages not offered in the prior art. The hand-held unit 10 may
be used similarly to typical binoculars, without using the digital
video camera 15. The digital video camera 15 provides recording and
playback of a viewed event. All of the features of the binoculars
12 and the digital video camera 15 are contained within the single,
handheld unit 10, thus providing a user with a completely portable
system.
[0046] Although not shown, it can be contemplated that the camera
portion may be remotely located from the other components of the
unit with conventional non-wire data transmission techniques
performing two-way data communication between the camera and the
unit. The camera portion can transmit video images and the unit can
transmit controlling signals, such as motion signals directing
motorized motion control of the camera. Locating the camera portion
in hazardous environments greatly reduces the risks to the
user.
[0047] Another feature not shown is a coupling feature that allows
the hand-held unit to connect to various like devices, such as
computers, televisions, etc. The coupling feature provides for the
data transmission, such as downloading of stored images, powering
the unit, recharging of the unit's battery, etc.
[0048] While the embodiments of the invention have been illustrated
and described, it will be appreciated that various changes can be
made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the
invention, as defined in the appended claims. For example, a
central computer can control multiple units to automatically record
an event from multiple positions. In another example, image
recording can be performed at various resolutions, black and white
or color, etc. as determined by manual or automatic control. More
images can be stored when recording is performed at lower
resolutions.
* * * * *