JPH0362356B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a portable electronic video recording device.

In the past, video cameras have been bulky and most commonly handheld and sometimes shoulder-mounted. however,
Since such devices do not allow the operator to move his/her hand quickly, images that are accompanied by hand movements are likely to occur. Additionally, it is difficult to photograph without being noticed by the person being interviewed, and as a result, the person being interviewed tends to consciously act aloof.

Hitherto, viewing means have been used in which the user's vision is darkened by an enclosing frame that allows the user to look directly at two separate television screens, and the television viewing device is mounted on the head to obtain a stereo viewing device. Various proposals have been made to construct structures related to this.

For example, US Patent Nos. 2955156, 3504132,
No. 3670097, No. 3784738, No. 42142670, No.
These proposals are made in No. 4310849. U.S. Pat. No. 3,614,314 discloses a head-up optical display for aircraft pilots. This display includes a mirror system that allows the pilot to see the actual scene at the same time as receiving information from the television display reflected from a mirror placed in front of the pilot's eyes to show information that the pilot cannot see. do.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,395,71 teaches a stereoscopic imaging microscope for surgeons that combines a pair of video cameras and a video screen mounted to the user's head. With this device, the surgeon cannot see the actual scene, but only the image displayed on a video screen placed directly in front of him.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a portable electronic video recording device in which the electronic video signal substantially corresponds to the scene directly viewed by the operator.

Accordingly, the present invention broadly relates to (a) eyeglasses that are placed on a user's head; and (b) a field of view provided on the eyeglasses to define the field of view actually and directly seen by the user through the eyeglasses. (c) relating to glasses;
(d) a video imager generating a video signal according to a scene viewed by the user through the viewing means of the glasses;
and transmitting means for transmitting video signals from a video imager to a recording or display device.

The field determining means may consist of marks provided on one or both of the spectacle lenses. Alternatively, a liquid crystal display may be built into the glasses to display the current field of view of the video imager.

The transmitting means may consist of a radio or other transmitter for transmitting the signal to a remote recording station. Alternatively, a conductive wire may simply be used to link the imager and an electronic recording medium that is worn on the operator's body, or it may be part of the eyeglasses.

The recording medium may be a device that permanently records the scene detected by the imager, or may simply be a device for display to someone other than the operator of the device.

In fact, it is also possible to record stereoscopic images by providing two imagers, one for each frame of the glasses.

Also, three or more microphones can be provided in the side frames of the glasses.

Using current technology, the present invention allows the use of CCD chips (charge-coupled devices) separate from the associated camera circuitry.

According to the present invention, the eyeglass frame can be provided with a relatively large camera circuit plus recording circuit device at a separate location without detracting from the appearance of the eyeglasses.

However, according to current advances in microchip technology, it is possible to integrate the entire camera circuit (eventually including the recording circuit) onto the same chip size as the current mass-produced CCD used in the prototype of the present invention. will soon be possible. These technological advances will eventually allow users to move freely.

1 and 2 show a video device 10 according to the invention, which device includes spectacles with side frames 14 and spectacle lenses 16. FIG. Between the lenses there is a further lens 18, behind which is a small camera 20 (generally a CCD device). Attached to one of the lenses 16 is a frame 22, which frame consists of tape or other markings. This frame acts as a viewing means or viewfinder. In other words, what the user sees through the frame when wearing the glasses is the same as the camera 20's field of view.

If the viewfinder frame functioning as the viewfinder 22 is displayed as a marking on the inside of one lens of the glasses, this marking, ie viewfinder, will not be seen by others because the mirror lens operates as a so-called magic lens. Also, the markings that serve as viewfinders cannot be seen by the user when both eyes are open, but they can be seen as viewfinders when one eye is closed.

A convenient viewfinder can be obtained by applying an adhesive matte frame to the inside of one of the lenses, corresponding to the field of view of the camera, before putting on the glasses. Since the distance between the eyes differs from person to person, it must be adjusted for each user. Also, it is generally preferable to adjust the position of the viewfinder on the lens rather than adjusting the image pickup device in the camera up or down. This viewfinder can be moved laterally or up and down, and this movement can also be adjusted by the nose pads of the glasses.

This adhesive viewfinder is a 4mm piece of matte finished material that can be glued to the inside of a single lens.
The width of the tape is more suitable.

Alternatively, the surface of the lens 16 may be colored, a rectangular frame of liquid crystal may be formed on the lens, or other means may be used.

It is preferable to use magic mirror lenses for the lenses of your glasses, like sunglasses, as this will hide the presence of the camera. Also, if you color the lens or make it look like a magic mirror, you can create a view frame 2.
2 can also be hidden. Camera lenses can be difficult to spot if they are designed or covered with the same material as eyeglass lenses.

The user places the glasses on his or her face and turns toward the camera's field of view. The imager within the camera then generates an electronic signal according to the scene in front of the user as seen through frame 22. This signal is sent via lead 24 to the video recorder or to a radio or transmitter at or near the user.

Optionally, a microphone 26 may be provided within one of the side frames, allowing an audio signal to be sent to the lead 24 along with the video signal. The microphone can be located elsewhere on the glasses or outside the glasses or near the user.

An aperture adjustment control device 28 can be provided below the camera, and an aperture display LED 30 can be provided on the side of the camera. This aperture adjustment control device 28
consists of a slide (not shown), which can be moved by turning an aperture adjustment screw. This control device is connected to an LED 30 that turns on when the incident light on the CCD is within its operating bandwidth, turns off when the image is too dark, and turns off when the image is too dark.
Provide a circuit that blinks when the incident light on the CCD is too strong.

3 and 4 illustrate a second video device or camera unit 40 according to the present invention. This device is similar to the device 10 of FIGS. 1 and 2, except that there are two cameras 42 instead of one central camera. One camera is provided for each hinge 44 of the glasses. Each camera consists of 48 CCD chips,
When the chip receives light, it can generate an electronic signal responsive to the image received by the charge coupled optical device. This chip 48 is placed behind a single lens 50 (typically a 16 mm, F2 wide angle lens) and a mirror 52.

Lens 50 has an aperture adjustment control device on its lower surface.

A lead wire 54 is connected to the frame of the glasses,
Connected to a video tape recorder or transmitter as described above.

The lenses of these glasses are preferably magic mirror-shaped or colored as described above.

Preferably, over one of the lenses 56 there is provided a view index frame 58 which acts as a view index.

Aperture indicator LED on each side of the lens frame
60 can be provided.

Furthermore, a stereo microphone 62 can be embedded in the side frame 64 of the glasses.

FIG. 5 shows another camera unit 70 similar to unit 10. This unit has one camera 72 between the lenses 74 of the glasses. An aperture adjustment control knob 78, an aperture indicator LED 80 and a single viewfinder frame 82 are provided.
There is another LED display 84 inside the main frame.
may be provided to display "record", "low battery voltage", "charging good", "zoom position" and "other functions".

If a zoomed display is required, this can be done electronically. That is, the LED
This allows the user to be informed of the zoom mode.

Light off = No zoom Slow flashing = Slow zoom Faster flashing = Faster zoom Fully lit = Full zoom In such a display, it is preferable that the CCD provides an acceptable resolution in zoom mode.

If the optical lens is a short focus type, the camera unit does not need to have a focus adjustment function. If necessary, a focusing device can be provided to adjust the lens using a simple screw. If it is preferred to make this focus screw adjustment device invisible, a small slide lever can be mounted on the back of the frame. For example, a color-coded focus indicator can be placed on the side of the CCD and visible only to the user. Automatic focusing may also be accomplished by other electronic or other means.

The aperture can be controlled manually as described above, or by simple electronic means such as a liquid crystal device placed immediately after the camera lens. Furthermore, when the aperture function is performed by an automatic gain control circuit within the recording device, it is necessary to select a CCD that has a sufficient optical tolerance band.

It is preferable that the video camera is connected to a recorder attached to the user's body.
It is preferable to attach it to the belt so that it cannot be seen as shown in the figure. The recorder is divided into two parts for easy portability. for example,
The battery and camera circuitry are housed in one separate container. Other means of storing signals from CCD include magnetic disk, magnetic bubble memory,
The recorder can use moving magnetic tape, which is currently used in video cameras, although digital electronic memories such as other electronic memories can also be used.

The device shown in FIG. 6 has a flap for concealing the deck. A connector is provided inside this deck, and the shoot and zoom control device is
It is hidden from view on the underside of the deck for easy access. These parts are designed to look like a traveler's coin purse belt, so you won't see them as electronic devices.

For most uses, it is best to hide the camera lens inside the glasses and the recorder on the belt, but for some applications, such as recording for film training, it is best to hide the camera lens in this way. Not necessary.

Cables are used to connect the portable camera to a suitable recorder as shown, but optical waveguides or radio, ultrasound, etc. transmitters can also be used as means for transmitting image information.

With such means, the video imager on the glasses does not need to be connected directly to a signal recorder or monitor.

For example, if the glasses are equipped with a transmitting device, a signal containing the image information can be transmitted to a recorder attached to the human body, for example on or near a belt, or to a recorder in a storage case in the same or adjacent room. For short-range transmission, it is also possible to use relatively small transmitters for transmitting image information, such as small radio transmitters or ultrasound or other acoustic transmitters. transmitter size,
The type depends on the amount of image information that must be transmitted. For example, electronic still cameras use a small buffer memory connected to the portable camera that stores information from a particular frame and transmits this information at a somewhat slower rate than it was received into the buffer memory. This allows the transmitter to be used in a narrower band than transmitters that send moving images. Since the image information can be generated as a series of binary numbers, this information can be transmitted as a series of on-off acoustic or radio pulses. Analog signals can also be used to send this information to an appropriate receiver.

As another example, a transmitter associated with a portable camera may transmit farther or use a booster or relay transmitter closer to the user.
In either case, it can be transmitted to a distant receiver or monitor, or via a modem to a telephone line, or via a satellite or other transmitting device. Image information can be stored by connecting an appropriate recorder to a receiver placed at any point on the transmission relay network, or the information can be processed via a monitor as is done in live news TV broadcasts. You can also do it.

Therefore, by sending signals from the video imager to the receiver via a suitable transmitter or receiver, the portable camera can be operated relatively freely and easily without being bothered by cables or wires. Furthermore, this allows the user to easily store information captured by the camera while concealing the presence of the camera, thereby allowing the user to record the scene as it is seen.

FIG. 7 shows another embodiment of the camera device according to the present invention. In this embodiment, the hat or helmet 90 includes an eyeglass frame 9 extending from the prim.
A single or dual unit camera 94 mounted on the helmet is aligned with a viewfinder device on the glasses.

A variation of this embodiment would be to replace the cap 90 with a headband or equivalent. Glasses 92 may be removed from the hat or headband, but must be manually aligned with them during use.

It will be apparent that the principles of the present invention for attaching electronic lenses and viewfinders to eyeglasses, goggles, etc. have a variety of applications. Conventional recording using videotape or electronic still image capture can be performed with minimal effort and without manual intervention. This allows you to operate the camera while skiing, driving, flying, etc. The present invention also allows for the creation of homemade training tapes. For example, an instructor can create a videotape of his or her movements and instruction so that the student can practice the instructor's movements while watching the videotape. Other uses include industrial, training tape making, field recording, as handicap cameras, and security and military applications where it is preferred to keep the camera quiet.

It goes without saying that in addition to the above, various design changes can be easily made within the scope of the gist of the present invention.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective rear view of a video device according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective front view of the video device of FIG.
3 is a schematic plan view of another video device according to the invention, FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the camera of FIG. 3, FIG. 5 is a diagram of another camera of the invention, and FIG. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the tape recorder used, and FIG. 7 is a diagram showing another camera of the present invention. 10... Video device, 14... Side frame, 16... Lens, 20... Camera, 22...
Beautiful view.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. (a) Glasses worn on the head of a user; (b) Field-of-view means provided on the glasses to define the field of view actually and directly seen by the user through the glasses; (c) a video imager associated with the eyeglasses for generating a video signal in accordance with the scene viewed by the user through the viewing means of the eyeglasses; and (d) a transmission for transmitting the video signal from the video imager to a recording or display device. A portable electronic video recording device comprising means. 2. A portable electronic video recording device according to claim 1, wherein a video imager is mounted on the glasses. 3. The portable electronic video recording device of claim 1, wherein the video imager is removable from and affixed to the user's head in alignment with the eyeglasses. 4. A portable electronic video recording device as claimed in claim 1, including a signal transmitter for transmitting the video signal to a remote receiving station. 5. The portable electronic video recording device according to claim 1, which includes a recording device attached to the user's body. 6. A portable electronic video recording device according to claim 1, comprising two video imagers generating stereo video signals. 7. A portable electronic video recording device according to claim 1, including a microphone for transmitting an electronic audio signal along with the video signal. 8. Claim 7, in which a total of two microphones are provided, one on each side frame of the glasses.
Portable electronic video recording device as described in Section 1.