Components of a portable digital video camera

Abstract

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 ).

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.   
     
     
         2 . The digital video camera of  claim 1 , in which the lens and the image sensor are operable for rotation about the control axis. 
     
     
         3 . The digital video camera of  claim 1 , in which:
 the scene has a level orientation;   the housing plane includes the control axis;   the image sensor and the lens are mounted along an optical axis that is collinear with the control axis; and   the rotary controller adjusts the horizontal image plane with respect to the level orientation of the scene.   
     
     
         4 . The digital video camera of  claim 1 , in which the mounting mechanism includes a slidably engageable mounting feature on the camera housing. 
     
     
         5 . The digital video camera of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the scene has a level orientation;   the person, the vehicle, or the equipment has a mounting surface with an off-axis orientation with respect to the level orientation of the scene;   the mounting mechanism provides positioning adjustment of the camera housing with respect to the level orientation of the scene;   and cooperative adjustment of the mounting mechanism and the rotary controller facilitate adjustments of the horizontal image plane for pitch, yaw, and roll with respect to the level orientation of the scene and permit orientation of the horizontal image plane to be parallel to the level orientation of the scene despite the off-axis orientation of the mounting surface.   
     
     
         6 . The digital video camera of  claim 1 , in which the mounting mechanism includes first and second mounting pieces configured for coupling to, respectively, the camera housing and the person, the vehicle, or the equipment, and in which the first and second mounting pieces are rotationally coupled to assume an adjustable orientation relative to each other and thereby provide rotational positioning adjustment of the camera housing. 
     
     
         7 . The digital video camera of  claim 6 , in which:
 the camera housing has a length;   the first mounting piece comprises a plug mount that has a circumferential edge and is matable to the camera housing to provide for linear positioning adjustment of the first mounting piece along the length of the camera housing; and   the second mounting piece comprises a base mount that has a base mount cavity into which the plug mount fits, the base mount cavity having an inside edge to which the circumferential edge of the plug mount is matable, the matable fit of the base mount and the plug mount providing the rotational positioning adjustment of the camera housing about a mount rotation axis that is transverse to the length of the camera housing to enable setting of the digital video camera to a desired viewing angle.   
     
     
         8 . The digital video camera of  claim 6 , in which the person, the vehicle, or the equipment includes a strap, and in which the second mounting piece includes a strap mount opening through which the strap can pass to facilitate the secure mounting of the camera housing to the person, the vehicle, or the equipment. 
     
     
         9 . The digital video camera of  claim 1 , in which the image sensor has an orientation with respect to the horizontal image plane, and the digital video camera further comprises:
 one or more laser sources being capable of projecting a light emission indicative of a horizontal projection plane, the horizontal projection plane being coordinated with the horizontal image plane such that rotation of the rotary controller changes orientation of the horizontal projection plane and such that the image data is oriented with respect to the horizontal projection plane.   
     
     
         10 . The digital video camera of  claim 9 , in which one or more laser sources include two laser sources that establish a laser mounting axis that bisects the lens. 
     
     
         11 . The digital video camera of  claim 10 , in which the laser sources are operable for rotation about the control axis. 
     
     
         12 . The digital video camera of  claim 1 , in which the horizon adjustment control is a manual horizon adjustment control. 
     
     
         13 . The digital video camera of  claim 1 , in which the mounting mechanism has two or more housing rail cavities and two or more interleaved housing rails on each side of the camera housing for engaging the housing rail cavities of the mounting mechanism. 
     
     
         14 . The digital video camera of  claim 1 , in which the mounting mechanism has a rail plug containing one or more mount rails that are adapted to mate with housing rail cavities on the camera housing. 
     
     
         15 . The digital video camera of  claim 1 , in which the mounting mechanism has a rail plug attachable to or integrated with a base mount. 
     
     
         16 . The digital video camera of  claim 1 , in which the mounting mechanism has a rail plug operable for attachment to the digital video camera, and the mounting mechanism has a base mount, wherein the rail plug can be rotated from zero to  360  degrees within a plane perpendicular to the base mount to capture a desired viewing angle with the digital video camera. 
     
     
         17 . The digital video camera of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a data storage medium for receiving image data directly or indirectly from the image sensor;   a video encoder that cooperates with the image sensor;   a microprocessor that provides instructions to the video encoder;   a microphone for capturing audio data and directly or indirectly providing the audio data to the data storage medium or to a second data storage medium; and   a manually operable switch for controlling operation of the image sensor and the video encoder and/or the microphone.   
     
     
         18 . The digital video camera of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a switch activator for the manually operable switch, wherein the switch activator is movable over a slidably engageable surface of the camera housing.   
     
     
         19 . The digital video camera of  claim 18 , wherein:
 the camera housing has a top surface area; and   the slidably engageable surface forms a major portion of the top surface area.   
     
     
         20 . The digital video camera of  claim 18 , wherein:
 the camera housing has a top surface area;   the switch activator covers a major portion of the top surface area.   
     
     
         21 . The digital video camera of  claim 18 , wherein:
 the housing plane transects the camera housing;   the camera housing has a housing length along the housing plane; and   the switch activator has an activator length that forms a major portion of the housing length.   
     
     
         22 . The digital video camera of  claim 18 , wherein:
 the camera housing presents a top plan view exhibiting a top surface area of the camera housing;   the camera housing presents a front view exhibiting a contour of the top surface area; and   the switch activator has a contour that matches the contour of the top surface area.   
     
     
         23 . The digital video camera of  claim 18 , wherein:
 the camera housing has a housing surface contour;   the switch activator is recessed beneath the housing surface contour; and   the switch activator has a switch surface contour that matches the housing surface contour and is mounted such that the switch surface contour is flush with the housing surface contour.   
     
     
         24 . The digital video camera of  claim 17 , wherein the switch is a magnetically controlled switch. 
     
     
         25 . The digital video camera of  claim 17  wherein the lens, image sensor, and data storage medium are enclosed within a camera housing and the switch controls activation of the image data capturing operation without penetrating the camera housing. 
     
     
         26 . The digital video camera of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the manually operable switch for controls operation of the image sensor, the video encoder, and the microphone, the manually operable switch having an ON position and an OFF position such that when the switch is placed in the ON position, the image sensor, video encoder, and microphone initiate the video and audio data capturing operations.   
     
     
         27 . The digital video camera of  claim 18 , wherein:
 the switch activator covers a major portion of the slidably engageable surface.   
     
     
         28 . The digital video camera of  claim 1 , wherein the mounting mechanism is operable for rotational adjustment between the camera housing and the person, the vehicle, or the equipment. 
     
     
         29 . The digital video camera of  claim 1 , wherein the mounting mechanism is adapted for releasable mounting of the camera housing to at least one of a helmet, snowboard deck, ski, fuel tank, window, door, vehicle hood, ski pole, roll-cage, windsurfing mast, hang glider support, goggle strap, or handle bar. 
     
     
         30 . The digital video camera of  claim 29 , wherein the mounting mechanism is selected from a group of mounting mechanisms having a common mounting feature for securing the camera housing to the mounting mechanism and having different base mount features for securing the mounting mechanism to different ones of the helmet, snowboard deck, ski, fuel tank, window, door, vehicle hood, ski pole, roll-cage, windsurfing mast, hang glider support, goggle strap, or handle bar. 
     
     
         31 . The digital video camera of  claim 1 , wherein the mounting mechanism is operable as a dampener to cushion the camera from the person, the vehicle, or the equipment. 
     
     
         32 . A method for adjusting a horizontal image plane of an image sensor in a digital video camera having a lens and a camera housing that defines a housing plane, the image sensor capturing light propagating through the lens and representing a scene, and the image sensor producing image data representing and image of the scene that is oriented with respect to the horizontal image plane, the method comprising:
 securely mounting the camera housing to a person, a vehicle, or equipment;   activating one or more laser sources, mounted in a rotary controller, to project a light emission indicative of a horizontal projection plane that is parallel to the horizontal image plane of the image sensor, the rotary controller being operable to adjust with respect to the housing plane an orientation of the horizontal image plane of the image of the scene, the rotary controller being operable for rotation about a control axis that is perpendicular to the lens, such that rotation of the rotary controller changes the orientation of the horizontal image plane with respect to the housing plane; and   rotating the rotary controller about the control axis in response to the horizontal projection plane of the light emission, thereby changing the orientation of the horizontal image plane of the image sensor with respect to the housing plane.   
     
     
         33 . A method for employing the digital video camera, comprising:
 mounting a first mounting piece to a camera housing of the digital video camera;   mounting a second mounting piece to a person, vehicle, or equipment;   coupling the first and second mounting pieces to assume an adjustable orientation relative to each other to provide rotational positioning adjustment of the camera housing within a housing plane and with respect to the person, the vehicle, or the equipment;   rotating a rotary controller about the control axis that extends through the camera housing, wherein the control axis is coplanar with the housing plane, the rotary controller supporting an image sensor in rotational congruence with rotation of the rotary controller, the image sensor producing image data representing an image of a scene that is oriented with respect to a horizontal image plane, the rotary controller and the image sensor having an orientation that is adjustable with respect to a housing plane such that rotation of the rotary controller adjusts the orientation of the horizontal image plane of the image of the scene with respect to the housing plane, and the rotary controller is operationally independent of the first and second mounting pieces 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.   
     
     
         34 . A mounting system for securely mounting a camera housing of a video camera to a support, comprising:
 a mounting mechanism including a rail plug containing one or more mount rails that are adapted to mate with housing rail cavities on the camera housing of the video camera; and   a base mount, wherein the rail plug can be rotated from zero to 360 degrees within a plane perpendicular to the base mount to capture a desired viewing angle with the video camera.