IMAGE ORIENTATION CONTROL FOR A PORTABLE DIGITAL VIDEO CAMERA

摘要

An integrated hands-free, point of view, action-sports, digital video camera (or camcorder) (10) includes: a rotary horizon adjustment controller (14) for adjusting the orientation of a horizontal image plane (16) recorded by an image sensor with respect to the orientation of a camera housing (22); a laser alignment system with laser sources (48) capable of projecting light to define a horizontal projection axis (52) that is coordinated with orientation of the horizontal image plane (16); a manually operable switch (80), which covers a microphone (90) whenever the switch (80) is in the OFF position, for controlling video data capture; and a “quick-release” mounting system (120) that retains a desired orientation of the camera (10).

主权项

1. An integrated point of view digital video camera operable for mounting to a person, a vehicle, or equipment and operable for capturing video during motion of the person, the vehicle, or the equipment, comprising:
a camera housing containing a lens and an image sensor, the camera housing defining a housing plane and the image sensor operable for capturing light propagating through the lens and representing a scene during motion of the person, the vehicle, or the equipment, the image sensor producing image data representing an image of the scene that is oriented with respect to a horizontal image plane, and the lens and the image sensor having an orientation that is adjustable with respect to the housing plane; a mounting mechanism adaptable for secure mounting of the camera housing to the person, the vehicle, or the equipment; a horizon adjustment control for adjusting with respect to the housing plane an orientation of the horizontal image plane of the image of the scene, the horizon adjustment control forming part of the housing but operationally independent of the mounting mechanism to enable adjustment of the orientation of the horizontal image plane when the camera housing is securely mounted to the person, the vehicle, or the equipment; and a control axis that extends through the camera housing and the horizon adjustment control including a rotary controller that is operable for rotation about the control axis to rotate the lens and the image sensor which are supported in rotational congruence with the rotary controller and thereby change the orientation of the horizontal image plane with respect to the housing plane such that the image sensor is operable to produce image data with respect to the orientation of the horizontal image plane.