Remote control system for camera or projector

FIELD OFTHE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a camera system, and more particularly to a camera system including a communication device providing a control interface between a camera and a computer. The invention also relates to a projector system including a communication device providing a control interface between a computer and a projector mounted to a gear head.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The camera system of the present invention may be related to the photographer using primarily modern 35 mm SLR still picture camera (Single Lens Reflex) or medium-format SLR camera for various applications. The top professional medium-format SLR camera uses either film with sizes ranging from 6 x 4 to 6 x 8 cm or a digital back. The much more common 35 mm SLR cameras are available from a larger number of different suppliers based on the fact that all modern photos originate from the 24 x 36 mm film format. The film is typically available as rolls with 24 or 36 shots or even more mounted inside the camera house. Recently the celluloid film rolls begin to see a huge competition from digitally SLR cameras. Being of the same physical dimension as the SLR film cameras and often fully compatible with most of the existing accessories.

The SLR and medium-format camera is based on several individual devices, which together may fulfil the advanced expectation from the user. Devices such as: the camera house, interchangeable telephoto lenses, flash lights, distance sensor for night focus application, possible a tri-pod and a number of different other accessories in order to obtain further advantages. The modern camera industry does also offer the less expensive so called compact camera types, where the lens barrel is build-in, non interchangeable and typically include a servo zoom feature.

All modern hand held still-picture and motion-picture cameras always require a person behind the viewfinder in order to assure the correct scene is shot. The SLR, medium format camera or even broadcast equipment user is not able to remotely see the object image until after the exposure. No such device is available, which allow for any remote

adjustment to the camera house angle or rotation on the tri-pod where the camera is mounted or the zoom factor. The pictures taken are once again relying on the cameraman behind the viewfinder for adjustment of the camera in order to get the desired pictures or shots. Only manually remote control are known and limited to a handheld device typically connected with a wire to the camera. From here the shutter and potentially the auto-focus system can be controlled. No other significant features are offered. The camera may be pre-set typically mounted on a tri-pod and adjusted by the photographer so the preferred individual image is known before the shot.

The present invention is further related to the control of projector orientation, where the projector may be for stage projection of illumination lights and motion pictures. Such devices for projections of lights or a picture or motion picture films arranged for entertainment on a stage build with stationary facilities or movable facilities like with the so called trusses.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

The latest, to some extent remote control, accessory appears from manufacturer Nippon Kogaku in Japan combining their Nikon digital SLR cameras and the wireless transmitter WT-1 and WT-2 devices (in corporation with FotoNation, New Hamshire, USA). The WT-1 is mounted underneath the Nikon D2 type of camera houses for some control of the camera from a PC and in specific for download of the digital pictures taken. This device is announced for use in studios or inside buildings for more efficient use of models and other facilities. The WT-1 and WT-2 unit are not compatible with other camera brands. There is no information disclosed about possible remote control of accessories around the camera like a pan-tilt head, a video camera or a servo zoom.

The Japanese manufacturer Canon Ltd. offers a similar wireless hardware option as Nikon ^' s to their latest Canon digital SLR cameras. For transfer of image data directly from the EOS-1-D Mark 2 and the EOS-5-D cameras through either a wireless or Ethernet- based cable LAN system to an FTP server. Users have a choice of two transfer modes: one that automatically sends each photo after every shot, and another that lets users select and send multiple photos after a shooting session. The wireless LAN system is compatible with the IEEE 802.11b and IEEE 802.11g standards. A commercial wireless LAN access point or wireless LAN adapter mounted in a PC or the like is though required.

There is no information disclosed about possible remote control of accessories around the camera like a pan-tilt head, a video camera or a servo zoom.

The so-called "pan-tilt-zoom" functions are well known from the surveillance camera industry where digitally video cameras are integrated with a device to turn the camera around and up and down. The surveillance cameras available indeed lack the high picture quality the latest digitally SLR cameras can offer, and do not allow the most important possible exchange of lenses in order to get the desired scene. Such devices are among others offered from company Axis Communication AB located in Sweden.

In general very limited motorized tripods are available globally and only for telescopes like the Canadian Pacific Telescope Corp designed for compensation of the earth rotation during long exposure. None is designed for remote control or implementation of such as a SLR camera. Or Meade Instrument Corp in USA offer telescopes built onto a heavy-duty tripod with motors for automatic selection of planet or star positions in the universe.

The Dutch company Hissink Videobewaking Service offer an electric DC motor (Direct Current motor) powered panner for 2-axis remote control to mount between a tripod and a camera devise. The axis control is with a handheld devise and through a wire to the panner. Handles any type of camera with less than 2 kilo of weight. No electrical connection of the camera, the lens or wireless remote control is offered or described.

The Japanese electronics company JVC offers the DV-115 Remote Controlled pan-tilt Head, which is very expensive, advanced and designed only for professional broadcasting video camera. May be combined with remote control of the zoom, focus and aperture - on JVC high-end video cameras only.

An ultra small (W22 x H26 x D29 mm) "stand-alone" Panasonic KX121 Color CCD video camera ready to mount onto the viewfinder on compact cameras is commercially available from company Black Widow AV in USA. Designed for Radio Control model airplane use, where the compact camera is rigid mounted to the craft. The transmission of the video signal is a one-way communication via 2.4 GHz radio communication.

Peace River Studio Company in the USA offers the PixOrb system being a 2-axis by wire remote controlled setup, extremely bulky (weight of 25 kilo) and not practical or offered for

anything else than panorama production with a standard SLR or medium format camera. No connection to the camera or wireless remote control or combination of such potentially controlled by software is offered or described. No servo zoom option for the DSLR camera is offered.

The USA based company Mamiya America Corporation offer the PocketWizard being a set of radio communication modules to either mount inside the SLR camera body or on the flash shoe. The series of products do not offer any remote control of pan-tilt, servo- zoom functions or ability to view the image through the view finder.

In U.S. Pat. No. 5,323,203 a wireless camera for remote control is described. The target of this patent is to protect the remotely controlled camera from interference with other household remotely controlled devices.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,172,155 describes an auto-focus camera automatic remote control based on light as media to reach the field target and the light being the source of information for adjusting the cameras lens sharpness.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,475,441 by Parulski et al. describes cameras incorporated into integrated systems for displaying an image, such as a visual surveillance system in a retail store.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,444,483 by Maeda discloses a system including a digital camera with processing circuitry for display on a television screen.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,754,227 by Fukuoka et al. is related to a digital electronic camera and the interfacing of the camera to an external processing device, which monitors and/or controls the camera through an input/output interface. There is no information disclosed about possible remote control of any accessories around the camera like a pan-tilt head, an added video camera or a servo zoom.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,839,002 describes a system to control the focus of the lens via motor in the lens barrel. No zoom control via a motor or the like or remote control is described.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,628,325 by Steinberg et al. describes a communication device for interconnecting a digital camera to a communication network for downloading data back

to a remote computer. There is no information disclosed about possible remote control of any accessories around the camera like a pan-tilt head, an added video camera or even a servo zoom.

The National Geographic Magazine have at least once used a video camera mounted rigid to a radio controlled small electrical driven vehicle with the purpose of taken shots of elephants in short distance from said animals on the savannas in Africa. The interesting devise performed actually in a remote location - far from the cameraman. The vehicle had difficulties operating on the bumpy surface and experienced a dramatic death when one elephant hit the annoying devise with a foot! The camera angles, sharpness and zoom factor was not remotely adjustable.

Most of the advanced and costly digital motion-picture video cameras for broadcasting today offer the electromechanical zoom servo function built into the lens. The communication between lenses and camera body goes through the lens mount via a series of electrical contacts corresponding with both the camera and lens. These lenses are not interchangeable to other brands and certainly not to the SLR type of cameras. One example is the Sony HDR-FX1 high-definition digital motion-picture camera with interchangeable lenses, which offer image size resolutions up to 1,440 x 1,080 pixels - far from the 4500 x 3000 pixels or better several journalist professional 35 mm format digital SLR ^' s offer. Or the super professional medium-format (like 6 x 6 cm) cameras, which offer even higher digital resolution like app. 5000 x 5000 from company Phase One A/S in Denmark. It is important to notice that only through the latest digital still-picture cameras the ultra high resolution is available. This is an important fact used as one background for the present invention. And with the invented servo ad-on accessory to the zoom lens for the SLR camera new perspectives is opened for even the ordinary photographer at affordable cost.

The Japanese based camera manufacturer Pentax offers for its Z-1P type of SLR film camera a servo zoom function originally in at least one Pentax lens. The Pentax FA lens is specific for the Pentax type of SLR film camera only and not interchangeable with SLR cameras from either Pentax or other manufactures, or vise versa. The servo zoom function is not available for any digital Pentax SLR's as the motor function originates from a motor inside the Z-1 P camera house. The old Pentax Z-1P 35 mm film camera contains

no function for any communication in order to take advantage of the servo zoom. And by this do not offer to use the camera for any kind of remote control.

Further has FujiFilm with its FinePix S5500 showed that its possible to design a SLR style camera and a servo zoom lens with the motor for the zoom inside the camera house. Though the lens is an integrated part of the camera house and this lens is not interchangeable (removable). This S5500 camera offers no remote control in order to take advantage of the servo zoom.

The modern digital SLR camera typically has a somewhat small LCD monitor (liquid crystal display) mounted on the back / rear side of the camera body offering the photographer a pre-view of the picture right after the shot. An interesting feature, which may not be used for on-line / alive view of the scene as the picture digital sensor inside the camera body is hidden behind both the reflex mirror and the shutter screen. On non SLR cameras such as compact digital cameras with no interchangeable lenses this kind of picture information is known to be useful for on-line or live transmissions. When a monitor is connected to the video out port.

Reference is further made to Patent application PCT/DK/2007/0085 by company Stobbe Tech A/S in Denmark, describing a motorized pan / tilt / angle gear head for carrying stable and remotely control of photographic equipment.

Reference is further made to Patent application DK/2007/00563 by company Stobbe Tech A/S in Denmark, describing a heavy duty motorized pan / tilt gear head for carrying stable and remotely control of heavy illumination equipment.

The above two references by Stobbe Tech A/S do not describe the combination of such electromechanical devices with a communication device according to the present invention for providing a control interface to a computer. However, the systems of the present invention may be designed, so that they may take advantage and incorporate at least one of the systems of the above mentioned applications by Stobbe Tech A/S to form a kit.

Lighting fixtures which can be rotated having various designs, structures and configurations have been disclosed in the prior art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,306,270

discloses an adjustable recessed electrical lighting fixture for a lamp. The lighting fixture is remotely controlled and employs motorized means for effecting adjustment of the beam of light emanating from the lamp. This prior art patent does not disclose the design, structure and configuration of the present invention.

The Danish company Martin Group has shown its possible to implement a remotely controlled light projector onto a two axis gear head for entertainment use typically on a stage. The light projector can not be separated from the two axis gear head as they are one unit. As to this the furthermore low weight capacity gear head cannot be mounted on a film projector or other typically heavy light projectors of different brand. Martin Group also offer a 3D stage person tracking system for the Martin Group equipment only. Each of the performers wears a small tracker that produces real time information about their position on the stage. This information drives a computer, which calculate the exact position of the person and allow a Martin light follow spot to constantly illuminate the moving person. All the equipment from Martin Group are depending on built-in two angle gear heads and do not or in anyway allow adoption with any other equipment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a camera system comprising: a still-picture or motion-picture camera attached to a support, said picture camera being provided a with a camera lens and being adapted for picture or image recording via one or more electrical record control signals and further being adapted or having means for generating electronic video image output signals, a control computer, and a communication device being electrically connected to or in communicative contact with the picture camera to thereby communicate said record control signal(s) to the picture camera and being electrically connected to or in communicative contact with the picture camera or the video image generating means for receiving the video output signals, said communication device further being electrically connected to or in communicative contact with the control computer to thereby forward video image output signals to the control computer and receive record control signals from the control computer. Here, the means for generating electronic video image output signals may be a live-view video camera arranged to record images on a viewfinder of the picture camera.

According to the first aspect of the invention, there is also provided a camera system comprising: a still-picture or motion-picture camera attached to a support, said picture camera being provided a with a camera lens and being adapted for picture or image recording via one or more electrical record control signals, a live-view video camera arranged to record images on a viewfinder of the picture camera, a control computer, and a communication device being electrically connected to or in communicative contact with the picture camera to thereby communicate said record control signal(s) to the picture camera and being electrically connected to or in communicative contact with the live-view video camera for receiving video image output signals from the video camera, said communication device further being electrically connected to or in communicative contact with the control computer to thereby forward video image output signals to the control computer and receive record control signals from the control computer.

It is preferred that the control computer is adapted to show live-view images based on the received image output signals forwarded by the communication device. It is also preferred that the control computer is further adapted for forwarding record control signals via the communication device to the picture camera based on generated record picture input signals.

The first aspect of the invention also covers embodiments wherein the picture camera is further adapted for adjusting image or picture focus via one or more electrical focus control signals, and wherein the communication device is electrically connected to or in communicative contact with the picture camera and the control computer, whereby focus control signals can be communicated from the control computer via the communication device to the picture camera. It is preferred that the control computer is further adapted for forwarding focus control signals via the communication device to the picture camera based on generated focus picture input signals.

It is within an embodiment of the first aspect of the invention that the camera lens is a zoom lens with a rotation ring for adjusting the zoom magnification, said rotation ring being connected to a zoom motor with corresponding zoom motor control electronics,

whereby the zoom magnification can be adjusted by activation of the zoom motor via the zoom motor control electronics. Here, the communication device may be electrically connected to or in communicative contact with the zoom motor control electronics and the control computer, whereby zoom control signals can be communicated from the control computer via the communication device to the zoom motor control electronics. Preferably, the control computer is further adapted for forwarding zoom control signals via the communication device to the zoom motor control electronics based on generated zoom adjustment input signals.

The first aspect of the invention covers embodiments, wherein the picture camera may be both an analog camera or a digital camera. However, it is preferred that the picture camera is a digital camera. Here, the picture camera may be a digital single lens reflex, DSLR, camera. Preferably, the digital picture camera is adapted for generating electronic picture output signals representing recorded pictures, and it is also preferred that the communication device is electrically connected to or in communicative contact with the picture camera for receiving the electronic picture output signals. Here, the communication device may be adapted for storing, in an internal or an external memory, data representing the received electronic picture output signals. However, it is also within an embodiment of the first aspect of the invention that the communication device is electrically connected to or in communicative contact with the control computer to thereby forward picture output signals to the control computer, and that the control computer is adapted for storing, in an internal or an external memory, data representing the electronic picture output signals.

According to one or more embodiments of the first aspect of the invention, the picture camera support may comprise a gear head having at least two gear head rotation axes for regulating the position of the gear head, with each of at least two of said axes being provided with an electric rotation motor and corresponding motor control receive electronics, each of said rotation motors having a motor axis and being arranged to drive the rotation of the corresponding gear head rotation axis. Here, the communication device may comprise motor drive control electronics for communicating with the motor control receive electronics, and the communication device may be electrically connected to or in communicative contact with the control computer, whereby the rotation of the gear head about the rotation axes being provided with an electric rotation motor may be controlled by control signals communicated from the control computer to the communication device.

Here, it is preferred that the motor drive electronics of the communication device comprises a micro-controller for controlling the motor drive electronics. It is also within one or more embodiments of the first aspect of the invention that one or more of the supporting gear heads have three or four rotation axes, each of which is provided with an electric rotation motor and corresponding motor control receive electronics.

According to an embodiment of the first aspect of the invention, the motor drive control electronics of the communication device may comprise a motor driver module for each of the rotation motors. It is also within an embodiment of the invention that the communication device has a parallel connection via the motor control receive electronics to each of the rotation motors being controlled via the communication device. Preferably, the communication device has an electrical connection port for connecting to the receive electronics of each of the rotation motors being controlled via the communication device.

For embodiments of the first aspect of the invention having a the micro-controller for controlling the motor drive electronics, then it is preferred that this micro-controller is adapted for using Pulse Wide Modulation for the control of the motor drive electronics.

It is within an embodiment of the first aspect of the invention that one or more of the gear head rotation axes and/or one or more axes of the electronic rotation motors further have one or more position devices or sensors for forwarding an electrical position signal to the communication device. Here, the communication device may be adapted for receiving the position signal and further adapted for forwarding a corresponding position signal to the control computer. The one or more position sensors may include one or more linear and/or angular displacement sensors.

For camera systems of the first aspect of the invention having one or more motors, then it is within an embodiment of the invention that a magnet or circular magnet is arranged on one or more axes of the motors or electronic rotation motors, and that one or two Hall sensors are arranged in close proximity to each axis having a magnet, whereby an output signal may be produced by a Hall sensor when a magnet is passing the Hall sensor. Preferably, the communication device is electrically connected to the Hall sensor(s) and adapted for receiving said Hall sensor output signal(s). Here, the communication device may further be adapted for forwarding signal(s) corresponding to the received Hall sensor signal(s) to the control computer.

The first aspect of the invention also covers systems, wherein the communication device has a power supply for supplying power to devices being electrically connected to the communication device. Here, the communication device may be adapted for supplying power to one or more of the group consisting of: the picture camera, the video camera, the zoom motor, the zoom motor control electronics, the rotation motors of the gear head, the motor control receive electronics of the gear head, and the position devices of the motors or rotation motors.

For systems of the first aspect of the invention having a gear head, then it is within a preferred embodiment that the rotation axes of the gear head are arranged to provide pan arid tilt movements or horizontal and vertical movements of the gear head. For systems, where the supporting gear head has at least three rotation axes, each of which is provided with an electric rotation motor and corresponding motor control receive electronics, then the rotation axes of the gear head may be are arranged to provide pan, tilt and angle movements of the gear head.

According to a preferred embodiment of the first aspect of the invention, the communication between the communication device and the control computer may be performed via a single communication line. Here, the single communication line between the communication device and the control computer may be a cable communication line or a wireless communication line.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a projector system comprising: a projector attached to a gear head having at least two gear head rotation axes for regulating the position of the gear head, with each of at least two of said axes being provided with an electric rotation motor and corresponding motor control receive electronics, each of said rotation motors having a motor axis and being arranged to drive the rotation of the corresponding gear head rotation axis, a control computer, and a communication device corresponding to the projector and comprising motor drive control electronics for communicating with the motor control receive electronics, a micro-controller for controlling the motor drive electronics, and a wireless communication module for providing wireless communication between the control computer and the

micro-controller, whereby the rotation of the gear head about the rotation axes being provided with an electric rotation motor is controlled by control signals communicated from the control computer via the communication device.

The second aspect of the invention also covers an embodiment, wherein projector system further comprises: a plurality of projectors, each projector being attached to a gear head having at least two rotation axes for regulating the position of the gear head, with each of at least two of said axes being provided with an electric rotation motor and corresponding motor control receive electronics, each of said rotation motors being arranged to drive the rotation of the corresponding rotation axis, a communication device for each of the projectors, each said communication device comprising motor drive control electronics for communicating with the motor control receive electronics, a micro-controller for controlling the motor drive electronics, and a wireless communication module for providing wireless communication between the control computer and the micro-controller, whereby the rotation of the gear head about the axes being provided with an electric rotation motor is controlled by control signals communicated from the control computer via the corresponding communication device.

For the systems of the second aspect of the invention, it is preferred that the wireless communication module and the control computer are adapted for communicating using the ZigBee standard protocol. For systems having a plurality of projectors, then it is preferred that the wireless communication modules are adapted for wireless communication from one wireless communication module to another wireless communication module.

It is within one or more embodiments of the second aspect of the invention that one or more of the gear heads attached to a projector has three or four rotation axes, each of which is provided with an electric rotation motor and corresponding motor control receive electronics.

According to one or more embodiments of the second aspect of the invention, then the motor drive control electronics of a communication device may comprise a motor driver module for each of the rotation motors.

The second aspect of the invention also covers embodiments, wherein a communication device has a parallel connection via the motor control receive electronics to each of the rotation motors being controlled via said communication device. It is also within embodiments of the second aspect of the invention that a communication device has an electrical connection port for connecting to the receive electronics of each of the rotation motors being controlled via said communication device.

According to an embodiment of the second aspect of the invention, then for one or more communication devices, the micro-controller for controlling the motor drive electronics is adapted for using Pulse Wide Modulation for said control of the motor drive electronics.

It is within one or more embodiments of the second aspect of the invention that one or more of the gear head rotation axes and/or one or more axes of the electronic rotation motors further have one or more position devices or sensors for forwarding an electrical position signal to the communication device, and that the communication device is adapted for receiving said position signal and further adapted for forwarding a corresponding position signal via the wireless communication module to the control computer. Here, the one or more position sensors may include one or more linear and/or angular displacement sensors.

The second aspect of the invention also covers embodiments, wherein a magnet or circular magnet is arranged on one or more axes of the electronic rotation motors, and wherein one or two Hall sensors are arranged in close proximity to each axis having a magnet, whereby an output signal is produced on a Hall sensor when a magnet is passing the Hall sensor. Here, a communication device may be electrically connected to the Hall sensor(s) and adapted for receiving said Hall sensor output signal(s). It is preferred that the communication device is further adapted for forwarding signal(s) corresponding to the received Hall sensor signal(s) to the control computer.

According to one or more embodiments of the second aspect of the invention, one or more of the communication devices may further comprise a power supply for supplying power to one or more of the group consisting of: the corresponding projector, the corresponding rotation motors and the corresponding control receive electronics.

It should be understood that the projector systems of the second aspect of the invention may be used for different kind of projectors. Thus, according to one or more embodiments, one or more of the projectors are image projectors. However, it is also within one or more embodiments that one or more of the projectors are light projectors. For systems comprising one or more light projectors, then it is preferred that one or more of the communication devices further comprises a light power control module for power control of a corresponding light projector, said light power control module being adapted for controlling the power of the light projector based on a control signal communicated from the control computer via the wireless communication module.

It should be understood that gear head may be moved in different directions according to the arrangement of the rotation axes. It is within an embodiment of the second aspect of the invention that the rotation axes of a gear head are arranged to provide pan and tilt movements or horizontal and vertical movements of the gear head. When a gear head has at least three rotation axes, each of which is provided with an electric rotation motor and corresponding motor control receive electronics, then it is preferred that the rotation axes of the gear head are arranged to provide pan, tilt and angle movements of the gear head.

It should be understood that the systems of the first aspect of the invention may cover a system having a central communication module with connections to a servo zoom / pan / tilt angle control device and a commercial available electronic miniature camera and a zoom control device and a camera connection, which may allow to remote control any brand or type of photographic equipment. The advantage for the photographer may be from a genuine remote location to view the actual image on-line / alive on a PC alike device through the camera viewfinder and from the same remote location adjust among others the camera, the camera angles and zoom factor for the optimum high quality photo.

It should also be understood that the systems of the second aspect of the invention may allow stage personal easily to remote adjust a large number of light and/or image projectors, mounted on motor driven gear heads being part of the invented systems. The system of the second aspect of the invention may allow the stage controllers to operate the projectors manually from a PC or PDA in a wireless environment.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more readily apparent from the detailed description of the preferred embodiments set forth below, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 illustrates a camera system according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which data is communicated between a camera setup and a computer via a communication device,

Fig. 2 is a block diagram illustrating parts of the system of Fig. 1 and transfer of data between parts of the system,

Fig. 3 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a communication device for the camera system of Figs. 1 and 2,

Fig. 4 illustrates a projector system according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which data is communicated between a projector unit and a computer via a communication device,

Fig. 5 is a block diagram illustrating parts of the system of Fig. 4 and transfer of data between parts of the system,

Fig. 6 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a communication device for the projector system of Fig. 5, and

Fig. 7 illustrates a projector system according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which data is communicated between a computer and a plurality of projector units, each of which are connected to a communication device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Trough-out the description of the current invention, terms covering different electronic terms, communication forms, standards and sensors are used, a number of which are described below.

Wire LAN or copper wire based Local Area Network is a Ethernet technology covering a smaller geographic area and capable of high digital data transfer rates like 1000 MBit/s operating without the need for telecommunication lines. Distances of several hundred meters are realistic though depending on cable quality. The cabling consists of 4 sets of twisted wires where half of the eight wires handle the transmission. The remaining 4 wires are not in operation.

Wireless LAN or wireless Ethernet 10/100 MBit/s technology operates in the 2.4 - 5 GHz radio wave band typically with either 11 MBit/s or 54 MBit/s max transfer sped. Wireless LAN is used to cover limited areas like a house or an office. In order to cover a football stadium many access points must be linked via wires together create a backbone infrastructure. Wireless LAN is based on a dedicated wireless access point creating a point-to-point structure from each access point to the clients within less than 50 meters radius. So in other words, the Wireless LAN system is recognized as a star-topology concentrated around its access or base points and further limited by the fact that each access points need connection to mains supply and further constrained by building construction.

Ethernet over Mains Supply - also known as dLAN - direct Local Area Network is a well proven technology operating in the 4-21 MHz band, which provides network connectivity between two or more devices if a 110-230 VAC power cable exists between the devices. Typically its offering speeds as high as 14 MBit/s or even 85 Mega Bits per second with transmission distances typically being maximum 200 meter.

ZigBee is a Wireless Personal Area Network WPAN technology operating in the 0.868 - 2.4 GHz band. ZigBee protocols are intended for use in embedded applications requiring low data rates and low power consumption. ZigBee's technology is designed for industrial control, embedded sensing, medical data collection, smoke and intruder warning, building automation, home automation, etc. The resulting network will use very small amounts of power so individual devices might run for a year or two using the originally installed battery. The raw, over-the-air data rate is 250 kBits/s per channel in the 2.4 GHz band, 40 kBits/s per channel in the 915 MHz band, and 20 kBit/s in the 868 MHz band. Transmission range is between 10 and 75 meters although it is heavily dependent on the particular environment.

Bluetooth is an industrial specification for wireless Personal Area Networks (PANs) operating on 2.45 GHz. Bluetooth provides a way to connect and exchange information between devices such as mobile phones, laptops, PCs, printers, digital cameras, and video game consoles over a secure, globally unlicensed short-range radio frequency. Bluetooth is a radio standard and communications protocol primarily designed for low power consumption, with a short range (power-class-dependent: 1 metre, 10 metres) based on low-cost transceiver microchips in each device. Transfer rates are typically low and in the order of max 2 Mbit/s.

Wi-Fi, Wireless Fidelity is a competitor to Wireless LAN and commonly used wireless network in computer systems, which enable connection to the internet or other machines that have Wi-Fi functionalities. Wi-Fi networks broadcast radio waves that can be picked up by Wi-Fi receivers that are attached to different computers.

Universal Serial Bus (USB) is a wire type of serial communication standard to interface as much as 127 devices on one host controlled by its own dedicated CPU. The presently fastest technology is named USB 2.0 being capable of transferring as much as 480 Mbit/s of information though only a very short distances like less than 5 meter.

An image sensor is a device which converts a visual image to an electric signal. Since 1930s this was performed by the cathode-ray-tube (CRT). Since the 1990s capturing images with electronic sensor is performed with either a CCD or CMOS sensors. A charge-coupled-device (CCD) is an image sensor, consisting of an integrated circuit containing an array of linked, or coupled, light-sensitive capacitors. Complementary- metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) is a major class of integrated circuits containing highly packed transistors of which one type is suitable as a light sensing devise. Both types are produced by a small number of manufactures like OmniVision Inc. and Micron Inc. in US, Sony Ltd. and Fuji Ltd. in Japan. Both types of sensors may be used in camera devices delivering either an analog or an digital output signal. Company Watec Ltd. from Korea primarily use CCD only for surveillance industry analog imaging cameras. Company IQeye Inc. from USA and IDS GmbH from Germany use both CMOS and CCD sensors for industrial compact imaging cameras.

A position sensor is any device that enables position measurement. Position sensors can be either linear or angular displacement sensors. Systems of the present invention may take advantage of one angular potentiometer designed as a variable resistor used as a voltage divider and electrical connected directly to the controlling μ-controller.

The Hall effect sensor is a low cost transducer that varies its output voltage in response to changes in magnetic field density. In this invention the sensor is combined with circuitry that allows the device to act in a digital (on/off) mode, called a switch in this configuration for positioning and speed detection though directly returning a voltage signal. On each of the DC gear motors used in this application a circular magnet may be mounted on the motor axle in close contact to two Hall effect sensors. This setup allows the μ-controller to determine the relative position of the motor.

Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) power supply provide 5-48 VDC for multiple PoE-equipped Ethernet device by "Injecting" DC power through two of the eight wires of the CAT5 LAN cable. A Power over Ethernet system comprises of an Ethernet switch and a Power-Hub or a Power over Ethernet enabled Ethernet switch, which serves as the power source, and a number of Power enabled devices, which are the loads. The system is a Star topology, where each load is connected with a dedicated connection to the centralized Power-Hub.

Description of preferred embodiments

In the following is given a description of figures illustrating the built-up of camera systems and projector systems according to the present invention.

Fig. 1 illustrates a camera system according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which data is communicated between a camera setup and a computer via a communication device. In Fig. 1 , a communication device, designated TheBox, is mounted close to a motorized gear head in order not to restrict the motion of the camera setup and avoid long cables. A DSLR camera body with a suitable zoom lens, like a Canon 70-200 mm, is mounted to the motorized gear head mount via a 1/4" threaded socket on top of a tripod. The zoom lens is further connected via a manually action rotation ring to a sprocket wheel on a servo zoom gear motor axle with a rubber band for remote operation of the zoom magnification. The camera body is in electrical contact with

the communication device, TheBox, via a USB cable for bi-directional control and one- direction picture data transmission, cabling for shutter release and further potentially a power cable for endurance usage. One physically small color video camera, which may be an IP camera with for example 1.3 Mega pixel resolution, may be mounted via a C- mount to a Pentax C-mount industrial lens, which via a lens adaptor may cover the whole viewfinder eyecup on the rear of the DSLR camera body. The live-view video camera may further be connected via a LAN cable to the communication device, TheBox, for communication and PoE power supply. The motorized gear head, supporting the complete camera setup, may be electrical connected via wires from each gear motor to the communication device, TheBox. The communication device may also have a 12 VDC power input being connected via cable to an external power supply being feed with 110- 230 VAC or alternatively directly from a 13.8 VDC automobile type of battery. Furthermore, the communication device, TheBox, may via a LAN / Ethernet cable be connected to a computer or PC running programs for live-view pictures to be transferred from the video camera via the communication device, TheBox, and programs allowing the cameraman to control the whole setup via the communication device, TheBox. Alternatively, the communication device, TheBox, may be connected via wireless Ethernet to a computer or PC/MAC running programs for low amount of live-view pictures to be transferred and additional programs allowing the cameraman to control the whole setup.

Fig. 2 is a block diagram illustrating parts of the camera system of Fig. 1 and transfer of data between parts of the system. The communication device of Fig. 2 has an internal communication bus connecting the individual parts and modules of the setup. The communication device of Fig. 2 has a variety of external cable connections, including: standard USB connection to the DSLR camera body, on/off connection to the DSLR camera focus and shutter release, potentially an external low voltage DC power supply to the camera, connections to the motorized gear head, which may be a pan-tilt-angle gear head, connection to the live-view video camera mounted onto the viewfinder, which may be connected via a LAN cable, connection to the zoom lens servo mechanism, potentially a motorized lifting trolley, connection to a personal computer for communication by the Ethernet protocol via a LAN (local area network) cable. Alternatively a wireless Ethernet module may be part of the communication device, which module may offer the freedom of radio wave type of communication from a PC/MAC to the communication device though with limited data transmission speed. There may also be connection to an external power

supply, which could be based on 110-230 VAC power mains, battery power, solar cell power, fuel cell power or combinations hereof.

Fig. 3 is a principle block diagram of an embodiment of a communication device for the camera system of Figs. 1 and 2. The communication device hardware, including a CPU, may be implemented in a compact board area of approx 10x10 cm and a height determined by the connectors used, typically around 2-3 cm. The communication device may comprise a stack of several separate hardware modules, where stack of modules may be accompanied by a commercially available power supply unit, possible external PSU, e.g. for converting 230 VAC to different voltages ranging from 5 VDC for the CPU to 24VDC, depending mainly on the input voltage of the DC motors for the application.

External communication may be via 1000Base-T switch with internal port for CPU and external port for remote terminal and at least two external ports with 5 VDC PoE for IP video cameras. Furthermore the communication device may comprise a mini-PCI for commercial 802.11 ABG module as an add-on board as well as an USB/FireWire controller on-board module. Additionally a Mini-PCI slot add-on module for optional video compression for USB video cameras is possible. The communication device may further contain a μ-controller with PWM (pulse width modulation) outputs controlling DC motor power drivers, inputs for counting pulses from Hall sensors mounted on the DC motors axle - as well as an extra number of general analog and digital I/O lines. The μ-controller may get commands from a host through the central serial communication bus. The communication device may contain an internal host, which may be a powerful CPU, e.g. a NS9750 (ARM9 with PCI and Ethernet MAC), running Linux software. The CPU module has USB and FireWire interfaces, and wired and/or wireless Ethernet interfaces. Two wired Ethernet interfaces connected to an Ethernet switch on the module offers PoE for powering external network devices such as IP video cameras. The CPU module may have a socket for an optional video compression module. The CPU module has a serial communication bus for internal connection like to a ZigBee module and motor control modules.

The software components for the communication device corresponding to the block diagram of Fig. 3 may be based on Linux. A host web server platform being integrated in the communication device may be operating a Linux Operating System configured to

support the hardware platform integrated in the communication device, which may handle the following tasks:

System Monitor: Handles different monitoring tasks on system level independent of the application layer.

Motor Control: Command handler interface; speed Control - handles Motor speed control; position Control - handles motor position feedback signals.

Camera Interface: Control interface for camera configuration and picture taking; picture handling for packing and transmitting the picture to the external computer or PC. Video Interface: Collect and reads the frames from the video camera; compresses the video frames and packs; transmission of the packed video frames to the external computer or PC.

Communication Platform - Network Services: HTTP = Web Server based on Java software applets integrated in memory; FTP = File Transport Protocol for file transport; Telnet for system control: wireless communication depending on protocol chosen.

The user interface application for the camera system of Figs. 1 and 2 may be a standard web browser being integrated on the external computer or PC/MAC, alternatively a custom-made application developed for Apple and/or Windows, which then must be installed on the external computer, PC or MAC. Both principles may be connecting to a Linux based embedded web server running on the CPU system in the communication device.

Fig. 4 illustrates a projector system according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which data is communicated between a projector unit and a computer via a communication device. In Fig. 4 a communication device box (shown on top of the unit is integrated with a somewhat heavier motorized gear head, which may be a Manfrotto gear head, (shown in the middle of the unit) in order not to restrict the motion when mounted with an image projector or smaller light projector. In Fig. 4 the projector is shown at the bottom of the unit. The heavier motorized gear head may be designed for close-loop operation with DC motors for movement and built-in motion detectors preferable on each of the axes. Motion detectors may be of the potentiometer type with constant DC voltage on the total resistor and thus variable voltage read from a movable third leg connected to the moving part of the gear head. The communication device box may continuously receive an electrical voltage response relative to the actual position from each of the gear

axes in order to inform the operator about the exact individual axis angle. Built in end stops may inform the μ-controller about each axis dual end position. As the communication device box may have an integrated 110-230 VAC power supply, then only one external power supply cable may be needed. Optionally the communication device box may further be equipped with an extra digital output channel in order to control an inbuilt SSR module for on/off action. The communication device box may also have a phase angle power control unit / thyristor for dynamic power control of an electrically connected illumination or light projector. All control communication may take place through the antenna via wireless communication being the Ethernet or Zigbee protocol for single unit setup and potentially the Zigbee protocol for multi unit setup. Potentially also the broadly used DMX communication protocol from the stage, theater, studio business may be built in.

Fig. 5 is a block diagram illustrating parts of the system of Fig. 4 and transfer of data between parts of the system. In Fig. 5 the communication device has an internal communication bus connecting the individual parts and modules of the system. It is preferred that the communication device is an integrated part of the projector system, then no external communication cable connection is required between the communication device and the gear head. The power supply cable, which preferable is with a 110-230 VAC line input, may insure power for the motors. Alternatively the communication device is able to control an extra gear motor capable to carry the weight of the gear head and the projector can offer vertical motion. The gear head in Fig. 5 offers two axis movement, which may be pan and tilt. By use of installed software programs on the control computer or PC, control signals are communicated to the communication device via radio communication by use of the ZigBee module to the μ-controller, which directs analog and digital signals both ways via the internal communication bus. An example of a gear head, which can be used for the unit shown in Fig. 4, is described in patent application DK2007/00563, which is hereby included by reference.

Fig. 6 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a communication device for the projector system of Fig. 5. The communication device hardware, which may be without CPU, may be implemented on a compact PCB board area of less than 10x10 cm and a height determined by the connectors used, typically less than 2 cm. The communication device may comprise several different hardware modules, which may be stacked, including a ZigBee module, which may be implemented on a very small board, which can "fall down

onto" a motor control module, sharing height with the motor control module's larger components. Each stack of modules may be accompanied by a commercially available PSU, e.g. for converting 230VAC to 12, 24 or even 48VDC, depending mainly on the input voltage on the motors for the application. Externally the communication device may communicate wirelessly with a host, which may be a control computer or PC/MAC, using the ZigBee standard protocol. Internally the wireless communication module is connected to a central serial communication bus. The communication device may also contain a μ- controller with PWM (pulls width modulation) outputs controlling at least two possible three to four motor power drivers, inputs for counting pulses from Hall sensors if DC motors is used, digital inputs for detecting end stops, analog inputs for detecting relative position and motor current - as well as a number of extra general analog and digital I/O lines. Such output suitable for driving at least one SSR and/or a phase angle power control unit / thyristor for power control of the connected projector. The μ-controller gets commands from the external host through the serial communication bus.

The software components for the communication device corresponding to Fig. 6 may use a software platform being a ZigBee Operating System, which may be configured to support the hardware platform, which may handle the following tasks:

System Monitor: Handles different monitoring tasks on system level independent of the application layer.

Motor Control: Command handler interface; speed Control - handles motor speed control; position Control - handles motor position feedback signals.

Communication Platform - ZigBee: ZigBee Operating System for wireless communication depending on hardware manufacturer.

The user interface application for the projector system of Fig. 5 may be a custom-made application running on an external computer or PC or additionally a PDA. Additionally, the software components for the motor control / A/D I/O μ-controller and the ZigBee processor may be custom designed.

Fig. 7 illustrates a projector system according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which data is communicated between a computer and a plurality of projector units, each of which are connected to a communication device. The projector system of Fig. 7 comprises 11 individual projector units, each of which may be similar to the projector unit

of Fig. 4, and each of which is equipped with and integrated with a communication devise. Only a 230 VAC power supply cabling is needed to each of the units (not shown). Communication in between the 11 units and the control computer or PC is performed by the ZigBee protocol and ZigBee radio wave based modules being part of the communication devices. The physical distance between the units may easily be as much as 30 meters or even higher, which allow the concept to cover an area like a concert stage, a theater and even a football stadium. The control computer or PC is equipped with an USB port type of plug-in ZigBee communication module and on the PC appropriate software is further installed.

One of the objects of the systems of the present invention is to allow a combination of various devices with a communication device. Such as a servo zoom motion device, a servo pan / tilt / angle motion device, a miniature live-view camera, a DSLR camera housing, and a computer device among others. Such combinations may allow to fully remote control any brand or type of photographic equipment. A PC keyboard / mouse / joystick may give access for the operator to control rotation, angle, zoom, motion, camera adjustments, possible extra light and others.

Another object of the systems of the present invention is to provide a communication device, which may combine a heavy-duty servo pan / tilt motion device, an illumination or image projector, and a computer device with an operator.

PC connection

The above-mentioned computer or PC (personal computer) device could be minimized to a less bulky hand help device including a reasonable sized LCD screen and means for remote control. Potentially a small handheld PC, an iPod, a Palmtop alike micro computer or a PDA alike mobile telephone, possible with build in storage device like the new Samsung model 7710 from South Korea. The PC could be located in any distance from the camera setup like between 0.1 meter to 100,000 km. And the cameraman could control more than one camera from the same computer or PC .

Vision and remote operation

The image, which the cameraman may see in the viewfinder of a camera, may be converted to a electronic analog or digital type of information with a small CCD or CMOS type of camera mounted behind or integrated with the viewfinder eyecup attachment of the camera. The image information could be transmitted to the cameraman equipped with potentially a portable PC or other types of monitors, where the camera image is visible in real time.

Two types of video cameras have been evaluated. They offer similar optical performance, they may even be based on the same CCD video sensor - but their interfaces towards the communication device are fundamentally different.

USB camera:

The first video camera type has a USB interface and is intended for connection to a local host, e.g. a PC. As this local host is expected to be sufficiently powerful to handle the video data from the camera, and as Hi-speed USB 2.0 offers a bandwidth of nominally 480 Mbps, the USB video camera has a "pipe" sufficiently wide so that it can simply pump raw video data into its USB interface towards the local host. 480 Mbps is sufficient for e.g. 30 frames per second of 1.3 Mpixel (1280x1024 pixels) video with 12 color-coding bits per pixel - 30 frames per second is considered good quality video - and a modern PC has sufficient power to handle data at this rate. Hence the USB video camera type will typically be physically "small" and have "low" power requirements - but for the a camera system according to an embodiment of the present invention it may require a powerful local host within the approx 3 meters range offered by USB, simply to convert USB data to e.g. Ethernet data, which can be transmitted 100 meters as offered by 100Base-T..

IP camera:

The second video camera type has an Ethernet interface which carries standard Internet Protocol (IP) packets from the video camera. Plain vanilla 100Base-T Ethernet offers a bandwidth of nominally 100 Mbps, but the IP video camera type is intended for connection also to lower-speed interfaces such as an Internet access port, e.g. an 8 Mbps ADSL line. Hence the IQeye IP video camera has sufficient inherent processing power for compressing video data, and intelligence to alter e.g. compression ratio and frame rate so that the resulting video data stream output from the camera can be limited to the available bandwidth. 8 Mbps is sufficient for e.g. 10 frames per second of 1.3 Mpixel (1280x1024 pixels) video with 12 color-coding bits per pixel - below 10 frames per second video is

considered low quality. Hence the IP video camera type will typically be physically "large" and have "high" power requirements (in order to hold the compression system) - but it does not need a powerful local host and it can independently transmit video data e.g. 100 meters as offered by the Ethernet interface.

Digital storage

Storage of photos from the digital camera to a digital storage system could take place as usually on the memory cards inside the camera body. Or be downloaded via the communication device to a remote device like a PC with larger storage capacity than the memory cards in the camera. One other feature of the present invention is that the video signal can be stored on the PC for later use. But the essentials documented by a series of ultra high quality digital still-pictures by the SLR camera. Shots may be taken based on time or manual human selection or event controlled.

Camera orientation control

Within the industry of surveillance camera language the low-resolution video camera adjustment is called "pan-tilt-zoom" function and according to an embodiment of the present invention one could ad "view and shoot". The devices available to day offer only the "pan-tilt" function in low resolution quality. The camera operator through an embodiment of the present invention will be able to "view-tilt-zoom-shoot" from a remote location with ultra high resolution via a connected SLR camera.

Zoom lens control

A significant feature according to an embodiment of the present invention is the ability also to remote control via the communication device the zoom factor of the standard interchangeable SLR camera zoom lens. An externally mounted electric actuator mounted on / close to said zoom lens may overcome the lack of such control of servo from all interchangeable lens suppliers.

Camera motion

At least one digital or on/off output and at least one digital input are preferable available on a communication device according to an embodiment of the invention for control of other features such as a motion-on-track system for moving the complete camera setup vertically or horizontally at distances ranging between 0.1 meter to 500 meter.

Projector motion

At least one analog input is available on a communication device according to an embodiment of the invention for control of positioning of the axis, such as a motion-on- track system for moving the projector setup vertically or horizontally. The positioning respond information may come from a positioning device mechanically linked to each axis and either giving an analog or digital return signal to the communication device.

Power supply for the camera version

A power source for the increased number of electricity demanding features may be needed in specific when placed in very remote areas for extended periods of time. Extra batteries could via cabling connect the accessories. On the zoom lens a few batteries mounted close to the motor could eliminate power drag from the camera. Several research projects in both Europe and USA are presently seeking to develop a fuel cell based portable auxiliary power unit. Similar to the well-known Honda gasoline operated combustion engine power unit with the size like a small suitcase. Such a fuel-cell power unit may be completely silent, produce no emissions and be able to operate on any hydrocarbon rich fluids for extended periods of time.

The advantages of some of the embodiments of the camera system of the present invention may see huge interest among nature photographers, constructions photographers, scientific documentation, surveillance documentation for easier recognition of robbers, etc.

Power supply for the projector version

For the projector system, it is within a preferred embodiment that 230 VAC or for some destinations 110 VAC power supply is built into a communication device container and

thus very easy to connect to the stage power grid. Here, the power supply line may be the only wire to be connected as the communication is done via wireless communication.

Stage projectors

An embodiment of the projector system of the present invention may allow stage personal to remotely adjust a large number of illumination and/or movie projectors, mounted on gear heads being part of the system. Such adjustment may need the potential lights support being aluminum trusses to be lowered by appropriate cranes or the stage people and the stage people may risk their lives operating from high ladders. The projector system of the present invention may allow the stage people to control and to safely operate the projectors manually from a PC in a wireless environment. An embodiment of the projector system may even be able to follow or track the movements of persons equipped with a tracking alike device on stage and hereby eliminate the traditional (follow spot) projector controller.

Communication devices according to systems of the present invention

Camera system: Combination of a dedicated central communication device with a servo zoom connection, a servo pan / tilt invention, and a miniature camera, may in combination allow to remote control any brand or type of photographic equipment.

The advantage for the photographer is the option from a genuine remote location to view the actual image on-line / alive on a computer or PC through the camera viewfinder and from the same remote location adjust among others the camera, the camera angles and zoom factor for an optimum high quality photo.

The communication device may insure transmission of data in between the parts of the combined photographic equipment setup.

The communication device of a camera system is not being locked in use to a specific camera or projector brand. The communication device may be connected via cables to pan-tilt or pan-tilt-angle gear head, to a compact electronic camera within the viewfinder path, to an ad-on zoom lens servo function, potentially to a motion-on-track system, and

to the camera among others. Even older film based cameras may be controlled via relay output. The communication device may get its power supply via a power supply or a closely located battery pack, solar cell or fuel cell for endurance use.

The communication device may split the data stream inside the communicator device and from here to each devise or module accordingly. Like the camera itself, the pan-tilt actuator head, the zoom function actuator and the viewfinder video camera. Each data segment with its own address may be guided to either the camera or to the pan-tilt head or the zoom actuator, the PC or other devices. The viewfinder video camera may have its own digital address and communicate in one direction - from the camera to the PC.

Typically a USB protocol based webcam type of video camera may fulfil the needs of VGA color resolution and 5 VDC power supply through the USB plug.

Different combinations of connection of the lens servo functions to the camera communication system are obvious for the person experienced in the art. Wire connection is preferred from dedicated ports. But for the lens, the USB port or radio communication not passing the lens, standard mount electrical contacts are possible. Such will avoid conflict or do not restrict any SLR camera of taking advantage of the camera system of this invention.

One important feature of embodiments of the communication device of the camera system of the present invention is the ability to work together with any camera brands equipped with either LAN (local area network) or USB (universal serial bus) ports or FireWire protocol or the ZigBee wireless control technology. At distances less than 50 meters, even the latest "Bluetooth" (version 2.0 radio transmission protocol, max transfer speed of 2 Mbit/sec) could be used for connection. Bluetooth is also possible as transmission principle in between the electronic camera on the viewfinder, the pan-tilt head, the zoom servo and the communicator in order to avoid rigid cables. In such case each of the devices could also contain a number of batteries in suitable size. And hereby further reduce the need for cabling.

Communication between a computer or PC/MAC and the communication device: The communication device may insure transmission of data collected from the combined photographic equipment setup with the PC alike interfaces potential next to the cameraman. One preferred method of communication is to use the broadly used FTP (file

transfer protocol) or PTP (picture transfer protocol) with the LAN (local area network) protocol. The camera system of the present invention may allow the cameraman to operate via wireless transmission or through a long wire and not in the front of lethal animals or human beings, but in a safe location. Or remotely control over the Internet anywhere on the globe via satellite or cable. And be able to shoot high quality photos with relatively low cost equipment.

Embedded communication device:

In one specific version ( A ) of the present invention, the communication device may be based on the PC104 type of stand-alone industrial computer format with the Intel IXP425 network communication processor selected as the prime CPU (Central Processing Unit) for the Communication Module device. And combined with the Phillips ISP1561 USB HOST communication integrated circuit. Such allow at least one or preferably two PCs LAN and at least four PCs USB version 2.0 HOST connectors all operating at high speed being ranging between 0.1 Mbit/sec and 10 Gbit/sec preferably close to 480 Mbit/sec data transfer individually and at the same time. The PC104 format with physical size of 90x96x16 mm is very compact and through its 104 pin ISA bus easy to combine with other needed functions from other PC104 boards as digital input and output as well as analog input and output. The PC104 format electronic devices are available from about 30 different manufactures around the globe. More information can be obtained on the website www.pc104.org

In another version ( B ) the PCB board is not based on the PC104 principle but takes advantage of and use one of a variation of commercially available Central Processing Units. Like the CPU type AT91RM9200 from manufacturer Atmel Inc. connected to at least one set of Philips type ISP1750 + ISP1520BD Integrated Circuit devices for control of more than 2 PCs preferably 6 PCs high-speed USB ports and one Micrel 8993 IC from Micrel for control of at least one Ethernet ports operating at least at 50 Mbit/sec. This single PCB setup combines also other needed functions like digital input and output as well as analog input and high power analog output for the drive of the pan-tilt and zoom functions. DC motor control is implemented in a μ-controller such as an Atmel AVR. The μ-controller communicates through a serial command interface towards a host system, e.g. a CPU. The μ-controller controls motor speed through PWM outputs controlling a DC motor power driver such as the ST L298 full-bridge driver. The μ-controller reads Hall sensors in the DC motor to determine actual motor speed. This version may preferably

also have build-in GPS and one PC/104 bus transceiver expansion interface. And further operate on an external 8-30 volt DC supply.

In yet another version ( C ) the PCB board is custom made for the application and being designed for implementation in a box easy to integrate together with the gear head as described in PCT2007/DK/0085.

For embodiments of the communication device of the present invention, three modules may be stacked for different applications:

A. A ZigBee module. Externally this communicates wirelessly using the ZigBee standard protocol. Internally this may offer a serial communication bus for connection to a host module.

B. A motor control module. This contains a μ-controller with PWM outputs controlling DC motor power drivers, inputs for counting pulses from Hall sensors in the DC motors, and digital inputs for detecting end stops - as well as a number of general analog and digital I/O lines. The μ-controller gets commands from a host through a serial communication bus.

C. A CPU module. This contains a powerful CPU, e.g. an ARM9, running Linux. The CPU module has USB and FireWire interfaces, and wired and/or wireless Ethernet interfaces. Two wired Ethernet interfaces connected to an Ethernet switch on the module offers PoE for powering external network devices such as IP video cameras. The CPU module has a socket for an optional video compression module. The CPU module has a serial communication bus for connection to the ZigBee and/or motor control modules.

Modules A+B may offer a low cost motor control unit for dense installations, where a single PC can control a large number of motors wirelessly.

Modules B+C may offer an intelligent motor control unit with plenty of expansion options, e.g. for adding DSLRs and/or video cameras.

Modules A+C may offer an Ethernet to ZigBee bridge, e.g. for controlling a dense installation of modules A+B through Ethernet.

Each module sandwich may be accompanied by a commercially available power supply unit, PSU, e.g. for converting 230VAC to 12VDC or 48VDC, depending mainly on the input voltage of the DC motors for the application.

Each module may be implemented in a compact board area of approx 10x10 cm and a height determined by the connectors used, e.g. 2cm. The CPU module is most dense, the ZigBee module is least dense. Possibly the Zigbee module may be implemented as a very small board which can "fall down onto" the motor control module, sharing height with the motor control module's larger components.

In general any of the setups or module combinations mentioned above is preferably coupled internally to further features such as a number of high power analog low voltage DC output (like in the range of 3-24 VDC) and low power analog signal and digital inputs. This may allow a control loop principle for controlling the pan-tilt-angle gear-head as described in the PCT/DK/2007/0085 application and a single high power analog medium voltage.

The above-described setups or embodiments of a communication device may allow access to at least one external memory device. Such as a flash devise or the like in sizes from 0.5 MB to 1024 GB memory preferably ranging 2 to 32 GB as intermediate storage in order to speed up the camera download and free camera build-in memory. Such could be a Compact Flash card, a USB memory flash card, a SD flash card or the like. Memory devices could also be movable hard disc drives connected through the USB port or the Ethernet port with sizes exceeding 10 GB of memory space.

Internal Software (embedded in the module):

An embedded version of a communication device according to an embodiment of the invention may involve its own control software preferably based on Linux and stored in on- board memory on the PCB board. Such a setup may give a communication device according to an embodiment of the present invention a stand-alone capability, whereby it may not have to depend on external calculating abilities or support from computers or PC alike computers. The embedded software may control all of the functions and features of the communication device. An other feature of the built-in software are the functions associated to communication with the various actuators and sensors for control of the

pan-tilt, servo zoom, motion-on-track, and other functions being primarily cameraman controlled on-the-fly from a connected PC. Features like automatic control could be software controlled. Such as exposures and camera orientation based on movement information or infra-red information from a target being followed by a fully automatic tracking system. Suitable software could control the camera setup for operation without any interference from human beings. So when a pre-described event takes place, the remote controller, like a PC, will remote control the camera to take pictures in the desired angles and zoom magnification of very high resolution and quality. In one version of the communication device setup of the present invention, the Global Positioning System (also known as GPS) may be included by adding the necessary hardware parts and allow the built-in software to ad the global positioning information to the picture file being transferred from the camera to the storage device.

Software based video compression in the communication device: It is expected that the functions of communication devices of the present invention (such as motor control, analog and digital I/O, and DSLR control and image download), except for transfer (from USB to Ethernet) and compression of video data from a USB video camera, can be handled by an approx 200 MIPS 32-bit CPU, e.g. ARM9-based. This type of CPU is readily available with a power consumption of less than 1W.

If the CPU is to handle transfer (from USB to Ethernet) and compression of video data from a USB video camera, it has to be much more powerful. An IBM application note (http://www.306.ibm.com/chips/techlib/techlib.nsf/techdocs/7 6DC9CC2F622BCAE87256E 39005925C3/$file/video_security_powerpc.pdf) indicates that a 300 MIPS 32-bit CPU with optimized software can handle compression of 12 frames per second of CIF PAL video data, i.e. 100 kpixel (288x360 pixels) with 24 color-coding bits per pixel. Extrapolating to 10 frames per second of 1.3 Mpixel video with 12 color-coding bits per pixel, this suggests that approx 1500 MIPS is needed just for video transfer and compression! This amount of additional CPU power presently implies a hefty power consumption, e.g. 25W or more, and is hence not a feasible option for TheBox.

External Software:

One feature of embodiments of the present invention is the ability to allow communication from a camera connected by wire to the communication device, and via the communication device to the controlling computer or PC, with the camera preferably being

a single lens type of camera. The camera system may allow such information packages passing unaffected via the communication device in either direction. The camera may simultaneously be able to download pictures to a storing device like a PC and stored in an appropriate electronic format, such as RAW file or JPG file format. The storing device could also be an independent USB hard disc drive or an independent USB port memory device.

The preferred software setup on a computer, PC or MAC, may involve two in principle different pieces of software; the camera control software and the actuator software. The camera control software could be the Nikon Capture program or the Breezesys Ltd. from UK kind of software to control the Canon DLSR cameras or similar software. These types of software are dedicated and needs to be installed on the PC. The actuator software may involve access from a dedicated window on the monitor of the controlling computer to the various motors and sensors associated with the pan/tilt, motion, zoom functions, etc. Return information like angle and speed will visualize the function of the equipment and allow the cameraman to adjust for the desired photographic target. It is preferred to take advantage of a platform independent type of software known as a browser. Such browser software may work equally well on a PC a MAC a PDA a Linux a Unix a mobile telephone or the like.

The box:

The core of the systems of the present invention is the communication device, which may be a setup with at least one PCB (Printed Circuit Board) inside preferably a box-like construction. The box may be fabricated from metals or rubber and or plastics or combinations hereof, and may give mechanical support and improved resistance to dust and water. The box may be equipped with a number of physical openings through which the communication ports on the PCB correspond to its surroundings or peripherals.

Low cost end stop and/or angle or position information system

Low cost equipment for photographic systems taking advantage of the camera system of the present invention may need to inform the operator about the angle / motion limitation of the axis of the equipment. For a low cost camera system setup, it is too expensive to install motion sensors on the axis for angle control and on/off sensors end-stop control, both in order to create electrical information for the communication device. The following

software based process has been developed in order to simplify the procedure of establishing information about the physical end-stop location on each axis and hereby the calculated angle control. This software process may be used for both a camera system and a projector system of the present invention. Here, when the communication device of the camera or projector system is powered up, the built-in memory will load to the CPU a series of integrated processes to be performed. One process is to start an angle / end- point identification process on each of the three axis. By turning one axis to one end point and measure the amp increase to more than double the consumption over less than 0.1 second the CPU will determine that and end-point is reached and zero the Hall counter. By reversing the DC connected voltage, the DC motor will rotate the said axis in opposite direction while the Hall sensor count now from zero. Two counts per motor rotation until the drive systems reaches the opposite mechanical end-stop will for a 90 degree movement be approximate 1250 counts. When reaching the other end-stop, the CPU will measure the amp increase to more than double over less than 0.1 second and determine that the opposite end-point is reached, and the Hall sensor count the total counts and store this information. The number of counts allow the communication device to perform in absolute mode and inform the operator about the actual position at any time. As long as the communication device is under power the present axis end-stops are known and the μ-controller will be able to perform speed, angle, and end position services.

For a person skilled in the art of designing such equipment other technical or electrical or software solutions or combinations will be obvious based on the above principles.