Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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VIDEO CAMERA WITH EYEGLASS INTERFACE
This invention relates to portable video cameras.
Portable video cameras have been around for some time. However, such
systems are often bulky and require that the user hold and aim the camera with
at
least one hand, which can be tiring after extended periods of time. Despite
modem
picture stabilization techniques, hand held cameras often produce a shaky
picture
as a result of movement of the user's hand. Hand held cameras can also be
subject
to being sporadically directed away from the user's line of site if the user
is
momentarily distracted. Some video camera devices have been conceived in
attempts to solve these problems. For example, U.S. patent No. 4,516,157
issued
May 7, 1985 to M. G. Campbell discloses a video recording device an~anged to
be
worn by the user like a pair of spectacles. A miniature camera is mounted on
the
spectacle frame to record the scene in front of the user. A view finder is
provided
on one of the lenses of the spectacles for indicating what portion of the
scene is
available to the television camera. However, the view finder consists only of
physical markings located on one of the lenses, and the user is unable to see
the
actual video image being recorded by the video camera while making the
recording..
U.S. patent No. 5,583,571 issued December 10, 1996 to M. Friedland
discloses a hands free video camera system which includes a headband that
allows
a compact camera to be strapped to a user's head. Again, the video camera
system
disclosed in this patent does not provide the user with real time viewing of
the
images being recorded.
It is therefore desirable to provide a compact, hands free video camera
device which will track the user's line of sight while allowing the user to
view a
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real time image of what is being filmed by the video camera. It is also
desirable to
provide such device which allows the user to view the scene directly while
simultaneously looking at the generated image.
According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a video camera
and display device comprising an eyeglass unit adapted to be worn on a user's
head, a camera device mounted to the eyeglass unit for creating a video signal
representing scenes captured by the camera device, and a display screen device
mounted on the eyeglass unit for displaying images in response to the video
signal, the display screen device being positioned to display the images
within a
field of view of the user while simultaneously allowing the user to directly
view
the scene being captured by the camera device.
Preferably, the display screen device is positioned to display said image
only within the field of view of one of the user's eyes and the field of view
of the
user's other eye is substantially unobstructed. The eyeglass unit can include
a
frame with two lenses having forward and rearward surfaces, the lenses being
arranged so that in use one of the lenses will be positioned in front of one
of the
user's eyes and the other of the lenses will be positioned in front of the
other of
the user's eyes, the display screen device having a screen located behind the
rearward surface of one of the lenses, the other lens being substantially
transparent.
The video camera and display device can include a video recording and
control device remote from the eyeglass unit, and transmission means for
transmitting and receiving signals between the camera device and the remote
video recording and control device such that the video signal can be recorded
by,
and the operation of the camera device controlled from, the remote video
recording and control device. Preferably, the camera device has zoom
capability
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that can be controlled by the user through the remote recording and control
device.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a video
camera and display device comprising an eyeglass unit adapted to be worn on a
user's head, a camera device mounted to said eyeglass unit for creating a
video
signal representing scenes located in front of the camera device, a display
screen
device mounted on said eyeglass unit for displaying images in response to the
video signal, the display screen device being positioned to display the images
within a field of view of the user while simultaneously allowing the user to
directly view the scene located in front of the camera device, and
transmission
means for transmitting the video signal to a remote recording device.
According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a video
camera and recording device comprising an eyeglass unit adapted to be worn on
a
user's head, a camera device mounted to the eyeglass unit and arranged to
create a
real-time video signal representing a portion of a nonmal field of view of the
user,
a display screen device mounted on the eyeglass unit for displaying a real-
time
image in response to the video signal, the display screen device being
positioned
to display the image within a field of view of the user, and a recording and
control
device in communication with the camera device for recording the video image
and controlling the operation of the camera device.
Further features and advantages will become apparent from the following
detailed description of a preferred embodiment taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings.
In the drawings,
Figure 1 is a perspective view taken from the front of a video camera and
display device of the present invention;
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Figure 2 is a perspective view of the video camera and display device of
Figure 1 taken from the rear and the right side;
Figure 3 is a front view of an electronic circuit module of the video camera
and display device;
Figure 4 is a cross sectional detail showing a display screen, this cross
section being taken along the line IV-IV of Figure 2;
Figure 5 is a cross sectional detail showing a camera device, this cross
section being taken along the line V-V of Figure 2;
Figure 6 is a perspective view of a portable remote video recording device
for use with the video camera and display device;
Figure 7 illustrates cables that can be used to connect the remote video
recording device to the video camera and display device;
Figure 8 is another perspective view of the video recording device of
Figure 6 showing the device in an upright position and showing the use of an
LCD
viewing panel; and
Figure 9 is a perspective view of a remote control device for controlling the
operation of the video recording device.
With reference to Figure 1, the video camera and display device of the
present invention includes an eyeglass unit, indicated generally by 10, having
a
frame 11 which houses a first lens 12 and a second lens 14. Two rearwardiy
extending side arm supports 16 and 18 are connected by flexible connectors 19
to
the frame 11. The side arm supports 16 and 18 are configured to hook around
the
user's ears in conventional eyeglass manner in order to secure the eyeglass
unit 10
to the user's head. The frame 11 includes a central bridge section 20 designed
to
rest on the user's nose.
Mounted in the bridge section 20 of the frame 11 is a forwardly directed
camera lens 22. The first lens 12 of the eyeglass unit is constructed of
transparent
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or substantially transparent material so that when the eyeglass unit 10 is
worn by a
user, the user's eye that is positioned behind the first lens 12 will have a
largely
unobstructed field of view. An electronic circuit module 24 (shown in phantom
in
Figure 1) is mounted on the back of the second lens 14 and the bridge section
20.
The electronic circuit module 24 includes one or more populated circuit
boards,
and a moulded plastic cover to which the circuit boards are secured. The
circuit
module 24 is shaped so that it substantially confornls to the back of the lens
14
and bridge section 20. The electronic circuit module 24 substantially blocks
the
field of view which would otherwise be provided through the second lens 14.
1~0
With reference to Figure 3, mounted on a circuit board of module 24 is an
image capture device 26 positioned behind the camera lens 22 for capturing
images provided by light entering the lens 22 (see Figure 5). Image capture
device
26 is preferably a commercially available solid-state charge-coupled device
(CCD) which uses discrete light sensing elements to convert light photons into
a
voltage signal representing the image received by the CCD. Module 24 also
includes a frame grabber chip 28 that is connected to the CCD 26 for receiving
the voltage signal output by the CCD 26. The frame grabber chip 28, CCD 26,
and
lens 22 together provide a video camera device 25 which can create a real time
video signal representing the image in front of the lens 22.
The electronic circuit module 24 also includes a display screen device 30
which is connected to the frame grabber chip 28 for displaying a real-time
image
in response to a video signal output by the frame grabber chip 28. As best
seen in
Figures 2 and 4, the display screen device 30 includes a rearward facing
display
screen 32 for displaying the real time video image. The display screen 32 is
positioned so that it can be viewed by the user through the user's eye which
is
located behind the second lens 14 when the eyeglass unit is worn by the user,
which allows the user to view the image that is being captured by the video
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camera device of the eyeglass unit 10. The display screen device 30 is
preferably a
commercially available device having circuit means for converting the video
signal output of the frame grabber chip 28 into a series of real-time images
displayed on the video screen 32, which is preferably a small LCD screen.
The electronic circuit module 24 further includes an audio microphone 34
positioned above the CCD 26. As best seen in Figure 1, a forward portion of
the
microphone 34 is located within a slot 36 provided through the bridge 20 of
the
eyeglass frame 11. An infrared detector 38 is also included in the electronic
circuit
module 24 beneath the CCD 26. As best seen in Figure 1, a hole is provided
through the bridge 20 to accommodate a forward end of the infrared detector 3
8.
The electronic circuit module 24 includes a number of lead lines 40 leading
from
each of the electronic devices 26, 28, 30, 34 and 38 to four electrical
connectors
42 through 48, which are located along the side of the electronic circuit
module 24
that is located closest to the side arm support 18. The electrical connector
42 is
connected to the audio microphone 34, the electrical connector 44 is connected
to
each of the electronic devices 26, 28, 30 and 34 for providing power to these
devices, and the electrical connector 46 is connected to the frame grabber
chip 28,
which in turn is connected to the CCD 26. The electrical connector 48 is
connected to the infrared detector 38.
As shown in Figures 1 and 2, a number of electrical ports are arranged
along one side arm support of the eyeglass unit 10. The electrical ports 50,
52, 54
and 56 are each connected by flexible (not shown) conductors to the electrical
connectors 42, 44, 46 and 48, respectively. These ports are provided to allow
the
eyeglass unit 10 to be connected by conductors 60 (shown in Figure ~ to a
remote
recording and control device 58, shown in Figures 6 and 8. The recording and
control device 58 comprises a generally box-like housing 62, which is small
and
light enough to be easily carried at the user's side by means of a carrying
strap 64
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(or by some other carrying means such as a belt attachment). The housing 62
houses a video recording device 66, which in the preferred embodiment is a
digital
video disk (DVD) recording device, although other types of recording devices
would be suitable as well.
An audio port 68, a power supply port 70, a video signal port 72 and an
infrared port 74 are provided on the housing 62 for connection by electrical
conductors 60 to the ports 50, 52, 54 and 56, respectively, of the eyeglass
unit 10.
These connections allow the recording and control device 58 to control the
operation of, and receive signals from, the video camera device 25, microphone
34
and infrared detector 3 8 which are mounted in the electronic circuit module
24 of
the eyeglass unit 10.
The recording and control device 58 includes a removable battery 76 which
functions as the power supply for the recording and control device 58 and also
the
electronic components of the eyeglass unit 10. The battery 76 is preferably
detachably mounted to the housing 62 so that it can be replaced and recharged
as
required.
As best illustrated in Figure 8, the recording and control device 58
preferably includes an integrally mounted LCD screen 78. The screen 78 is
mounted to the housing 62 in such a manner that it can be rotated as indicated
by
the arrows 80 in order to facilitate viewing, and also folded flat against the
housing 62 when not in use. An audio speaker 82 is also included in the
recording
device. With reference to Figure 6, a further strap 84 may be mounted on one
side
of the housing 58 through which the user's hand can be extended. A number of
control buttons 86, 88 and 90 are preferably located on the housing 58 in such
a
manner that they can be activated by a user who has his or her hand inserted
through strap 84. The button 90 is preferably a main power switch which
activates
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and deactivates the recording and control device 58 and the electronic
circuitry of
the eyeglass unit 10. The button 86 is a recording button which controls the
recording function of the recording and control device 58. Button 88 is a
three
position switch which allows the user to zoom in and zoom out on a particular
scene being captured by the CCD 26. A further lock/standby/record button 92 is
also located on the housing to allow the recording and control device 58 to be
operated in various modes. In lock mode, the device will not record at all,
even if
the recording button 86 is pressed. In standby mode, recording will occur when
the recording button 86 is pressed. In recording mode, recording will occur
continuously regardless of whether the recording button 86 is pressed. The
recording and control device 58 also includes a variety of conventional play-
back
controls, illustrated generally by 94 for playing back and editing an image
which
has been recorded by DVD 66. The recording and control device 58 is preferably
constructed in a manner similar to well known video camera recording devices
which are commonly available, and thus the actual electronic circuitry of the
device 58 will not be disclosed in any greater detail.
The lens 12 and 14 of the eyeglass unit 10 are preferably mirrored or
darkened so that the presence of the electronic circuit module 24 behind the
lens
14 is not readily apparent to other persons. The infrared detector 38 is
provided to
allow the operation of the recording and control device 58 to be controlled by
a
wireless remote infrared controller 96 (see Figure 9). The infrared detector
38
relays commands received from controller 96 to recording and control unit 58
via
ports 56 and 74 and a conductor 60.
Preferably, the video camera device 25 of the present invention includes a
zoom facility which is achieved electronically by having the frame grabber
chip
28 select a smaller or larger area of the image captured by the CCD 26. In
this
regard, the CCD must have sufficient light sensing elements to provide
acceptable
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resolution. Preferably, the lens 22 is a single element lens having a short
focal
length so that the camera device 25 does not need to have focal adjustment.
With reference to the figures, the operation of the present invention will
now be described. In use, the user would place the eyeglass unit 10 on his
head.
Power to and control of the functions of the electronic circuit module 24
would be
provided by the recording and control device 58 via electrical connectors 60
extending from the ports 68 through 72 on the recording and control device 58
to
the ports 50 through 54 located on the support arm 18. When the switch 90 is
in
the "on" position, the camera device 25 will capture images located in the
direction in which the user points his head. In this regard, it will be
appreciated
that the camera device 25 is effectively capturing a portion of the image
which
would normally be in the field of view of the user. The signals generated by
the
CCD are provided to the frame grabber chip 28 which outputs a video signal
suitable for display by the display screen device 30. The video signal
provided to
the display screen device 30 is also provided, via port 46, to the recording
and
control device 58. It will be understood that the image displayed by the
display
screen device 30 is the same image that will be recorded by the DVD recording
device 66, and that the image displayed by the display screen device 30 is
et~ectively a real time representation of the image being captured by CCD 26.
Thus, the eyeglass unit 10 allows the user to have a substantially
unobstructed
direct field of view with one eye through lens 12, while simultaneously
allowing
the user's other eye to view the images that are being sent by the camera
device 25
to the recording and control device 58. This allows the user to record the
exact
images which he wants to obtain without requiring the user to hold a video
camera
up to his eye. Thus, the user is able to record for long periods of time
without
worrying about arm fatigue.
The recording and control device 58 can be operated by the buttons located
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on its housing 62, or by the infrared control device 96 in a conventional
manner in
order to record the images being provided by the video camera device 25.
Activating the zoom button 88 on the housing 62 causes frame grabber chip 28
to
capture the signal from a greater number of the light sensing elements of the
CCD
26 (in the case of zoom-out) and fewer of the signals generated by light
sensing
elements of the CCD 26 (in the case of zoom-in). The result of the zoom-in or
zoom-out operation is immediately displayed by display screen device 30. In
addition to recording the video signal output by the eyeglass unit 10, the
recording
and control device 58 is also able to record an audio signal to accompany the
video signal, via the audio microphone 34.
The video picture which has been recorded by DVD recording device 66
can be played back at any time for display on the I,CD screen 78 that is
mounted
to the housing 62. Accompanying audio playback is provided by speaker 82.
Preferably, the recording and control device 58 and electronic circuit module
24
are configured so that the recorded signal can be transmitted to the
electronic
circuit module 24 and viewed through the display screen device 30.
It will be appreciated that the eyeglass unit 10 could take a number of
different configurations other than that described above and still allow the
user to
view a scene directly and also at the same time view the images being captured
by
the camera device 25. For example, the eyeglass unit 10 could have a single
front
wrap around lens rather than separated lenses 12 and 14. Furthermore, the
camera
lens 22 could be provided in a different location, such as behind lens 14 for
example. Additionally, the eyeglass unit 10 could be packaged as a visor for a
helmet. Also, the module 24 could be constructed so that it did not entirely
obstruct the view from behind lens 14, thus allowing the eye behind lens 14 to
view screen 32 and also the real world beyond the lens 14.
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Although as described above, power for the electronic circuit module 24 is
provided by a battery contained in the remote recording and control device 58,
it
will be appreciated that the eyeglass unit 10 could be constructed with a
local
power source such as a battery removably mounted on unit 10. Having a local
power source would allow the electronic circuit module 24 to use transmission
means other than physical wires 60 for communicating with the recording and
control device 58. For example, radio wave transmission and reception devices
could be located on each of the eyeglass unit 10 and the recording and control
device 58 to allow them to communicate. In such a situation, it may not even
be
necessary for the user to carry around the recording and control device 58, as
the
user could use remote infrared control device 96 to control the functions of
the
recording and control device 58 within a certain physical range.
As will be apparent to those skilled in the art in the light of the foregoing
disclosure, many alterations and modifications are possible in the practice of
this
invention without departing from the spirit or scope thereof. Accordingly, the
scope of the invention is to be construed in accordance with the following
claims.
25
