NZ537769A - Camera system integrated within helmet - Google Patents

Abstract

A camera system (1) suitable for use in adventure sports is disclosed. A helmet (2) includes housings (3) for mounting the camera lens, an image storage device, and control componentry of the camera. The camera's power supply is mounted within a housing inside, or at least flush with the exterior surface of, the helmet.

Description

£3 PATENTS FORM NO. 5 PATENTS ACT 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION After Provisional No: 537769 Dated: 19 January 2005 CAMERA SYSTEM I, Rhys Tristan Kempen, a New Zealand Citizen, of unit 4, 9 Southberg Avenue, Queenstown, New Zealand, do hereby declare this invention to be described in the following statement: jy | Office of f\i.£.

I I 2 ? APR 2057 I RECEIVFD CAMERA SYSTEM Statement of corresponding applications This application is based on the Provisional specification filed in relation to New Zealand Patent Application Number 537769, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein by reference.

Technical Field The present invention relates to improvements in and relating to camera systems.

In particular the present invention relates to an improved integrated helmet and camera system.

Background Art The present invention relates to a camera integrated into a helmet and has particular application in adventure sports such as, for example, skydiving, diving, motor-sports, mountain biking, though this should not be seen to be limiting as the principles of the present invention may have application to other sports, recreational, safety, industrial, commercial and military uses. For ease of reference the present invention will be described in relation to adventure sports and in particular sky-diving.

For such activities cameras are usually stored in a backpack or pocket and require the photographer to stop what they are doing and retrieve the camera to take a picture and capture any moment of interest. These moments can quite often take place over short time periods and pass before the photographer has a chance to prepare the camera to take a picture. Furthermore, typical cameras have to be held by a hand or two for correct use. In adventure sports, ordinary photography may not be possible if the photographer is capturing his/her own footage while performing the activity in question. 2 There are a number of existing helmets that hold certain makes and models of video and/or still cameras. Many such products are available for skydiving photography.

There are a number of significant disadvantages with prior art helmet mounted camera systems, including the inconvenience and encumbrance of the often heavy weight and large bulk of the camera system once a still camera and video camera is mounted to the helmet and the user. Furthermore, a certain element of technical assembly is required to set up the different components of typical camera systems required for functional use and these components must often be purchased separately.

Another typical prior art device available includes an external lens that mounts onto a helmet and plugs into an external camera that must be worn or carried by the operator. Once again, the helmet, camera and external lens have to be purchased separately and require a certain extent of technical assembly. The external camera also adds an encumbrance and inconvenience to the operator as they must restrain and maneuver separately to the lens.

Thus, the object of the present invention is to provide a helmet mounted camera system that provides one or more of the following advantages: - fast and easy access to the camera, - 'hands-free' operation, and/or - no, or at least minimal external (to the helmet) componentry required for operation.

All references, including any patents or patent applications cited in this specification are hereby incorporated by reference. No admission is made that any reference ifitellc-oiual Property Office of N.Z. 3 2 7 APR 2007 constitutes prior art. The discussion of the references states what their authors assert, and the applicants reserve the right to challenge the accuracy and pertinency of the cited documents. It will be clearly understood that, although a number of prior art publications are referred to herein, this reference does not constitute an admission that any of these documents form part of the common general knowledge in the art, in New Zealand or in any other country.

It is acknowledged that the term 'comprise' may, under varying jurisdictions, be attributed with either an exclusive or an inclusive meaning. For the purpose of this specification, and unless otherwise noted, the term 'comprise' shall have an inclusive meaning - i.e. that it will be taken to mean an inclusion of not only the listed components it directly references, but also other non-specified components or elements. This rationale will also be used when the term 'comprised' or 'comprising' is used in relation to one or more steps in a method or process.

It is an object of the present invention to address the foregoing problems or at least to provide the public with a useful choice.

Further aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the ensuing description which is given by way of example only.

Disclosure of Invention According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a camera system, said system including: - a camera having operational components including: control componentry, at least one power supply, at least one camera lens, and at least one image storage device, intellectual Propertv Office of N.Z. 2 7 APR 2007 ■5| F P IT 11/ r characterised in that the, or each power supply is at least partially mounted in a housing inside and/or substantially flush with the exterior surface of a helmet, the helmet including one or more housings each configured for mounting therein one or more of: the camera lens, image storage device and/or control componentry of said camera.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a camera system, said system including: - a camera having operational components including: control componentry, at least one power supply, at least one camera lens, and at least one image storage device, characterised in that said operational components are mounted in a housing inside and/or substantially flush with the exterior surface of a helmet, the helmet including one or more housings each configured for mounting therein one or more of: the camera lens, power supply, image storage device and/or control componentry of said camera.

As aforementioned and used herein, reference to a "housing" should be understood to include any space, compartment, recess, container, or the like formed, or releasably attachable, inside and/or substantially flush with the exterior surface of the helmet.

It will be understood by one skilled in the art, that the housing(s) may be located between the interior and exterior surfaces of the helmet.

It will also be appreciated that there need not be a housing for each operational component and in some embodiments multiple operational components may be contained within a single housing. inteKeuual Property \ Office of N.Z. 2 7 APR 2007 I A H As aforementioned, and used herein, reference to "mounting" of operational components in the housing(s) should be understood to also include releasably attached, affixed, screwed, bolted, adhered, retained, immured, or loosely enclosed, encased or the like.

It will be appreciated that a said housing may be configured to accommodate two or more, or each, of the camera lens, the power supply, the image storage device and the control componentry of said camera.

Preferably the, or each camera lens is mounted in a said housing having an aperture through which the lens may receive light. It will be appreciated that in some applications the lens may protrude from said aperture and reference herein to the lens being mounted "inside" said housing should be construed as including a lens only partially enclosed by said housing.

Preferably at least one said aperture is located on, or adjacent the 'forehead' region of the helmet.

Preferably the helmet includes an accessible camera control panel having a switch(s) and/or a button(s) to control one or more of: the power on/off, standby, record and photo functions of the camera.

Preferably the control panel further includes one or more of: - plugs and jacks for connection to other devices, - a screen to view the captured images, and/or - a touch screen to control any functions the camera may have.

Intellectual Propertyj Office of N.Z. I 2 7 APR 2007 RECEIVED I Brief Description of Drawings Further aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description which is given by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying photographs in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a camera system according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a rear view of the camera system shown in figure 1 with the door of a control panel open; Figure 3 is a rear view of the camera system shown in figures 1 and 2, with the door of the control panel closed; Figure 4 is a side view of the camera system as shown in figures 1-3 with the door of the control panel open, and Figure 5 is a side view of the camera system as shown in figures 1-4 with the door of the control panel closed.

Figure 6 is a close-up view of the control panel shown in figure 2.

Best Modes for Carrying out the Invention With respect to figures 1-5 there is provided a camera system according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the camera system, generally indicated by arrow 1, is composed of a helmet (2) made of a suitable material and has two housings (3, 4) for accommodating the operational components of the camera. A lens housing (3) includes an aperture (5) situated at the centre of the forehead region Intellectual Property " Office of N.Z. 7 2 7 APR 2007 BECEIVEDi of the helmet (2) for permitting light to travel to a camera lens (6) which is mounted inside the lens housing (3) for capturing images.

The second 'control' housing (4) accommodates a control panel (8), which controls the functions of the camera system (1) via touch-screen (11), and an input/output (I/O) interface (12) that includes various I/O sockets such as S-video, DVI, Mic, USB, Audio in/out, and the like.

The remaining components (not shown) of the camera system (1), i.e. the storage device (e.g. hard drive, memory card, CD/DVD, Video cassette or the like), power supply, and control componentry, are stored inside the helmet (2) in housings (not shown), between the outer and inner surfaces of the helmet (2).

The camera system (1) includes all of the components of a digital still and/or video camera mounted inside the helmet (2). A button (9) protrudes from the helmet (2) and can be used to control the power and recording features of the camera. The button (9) is located at a position on the helmet (2) to permit easy access.

The control panel (8) can be covered by a door (10) with the touch-screen (11) thereon. The touch-screen is used to control the camera and present an image of any captured images taken by the camera. The door (10) helps to protect the touchscreen (11) and I/O interface (12) when closed.

The camera system (1) is preferably constructed from lightweight materials and the control panel (8) provides easy to use functionality.

In operation, the helmet (2) is placed on an operator's head and buckled into place with a chinstrap or chin cup (7). The unit is turned on with the button (9) and an additional tap of the button (9) will activate recording of video footage, or alternatively take a still image depending on the settings chosen.

Intellectual Property Office of N.Z. 2 7 APR 2007 RECEIVED The desired distance at which the operator would like the camera to centre on in the image could also be set in a menu option.

Accessories such as ring sights and mouth switches could be made available or even incorporated into the design and are considered within the scope of the present invention.

Aspects of the present invention have been described by way of example only and it should be appreciated that modifications and additions may be made thereto without departing from the scope thereof.

Iiitelleuuai Property Office of N.Z. 9 2 7 APR 2007

Claims (9)

Claims:

1. A camera system, said system including: - a camera having operational components including: control componentry, at least one power supply, at least one camera lens, and at least one image storage device, characterised in that the, or each power supply is at least partially mounted in a housing inside and/or substantially flush with the exterior surface of a helmet, the helmet including one or more housings each configured for mounting therein one or more of: the camera lens, image storage device and/or control componentry of said camera.

2. The camera system as claimed in claim 1 wherein a said housing is configured to accommodate two or more of the: camera lens, power supply, image storage device and/or control componentry of said camera.

3. The camera system as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the, or each camera lens is mounted in a said housing having an aperture through which the lens may receive light.

4. The camera system as claimed in claim 3 wherein said aperture is located on or adjacent the 'forehead' region of the helmet.

5. The camera system as claimed in any one of the previous claims wherein the helmet includes an accessible camera control panel having a switch(s) and/or a button(s) to control one or more of: the power on/off, standby, record and/or photo functions of the camera.

6. The camera system as claimed in any of the previous claims including one or Intellectual Property 10 0ffice of N.Z. 21 APR 2007 more of: - plugs and jacks for connection to other devices, - a screen to view captured images, and/or - a touch screen to control any functions the camera may have.

7. A helmet, including a camera system as claimed in any one of claims 1-6.

8. A method of operating a helmet-mounted camera system, using a helmet as claimed in claim 7, said method including the steps; - activating said power supply; - acquiring image data via said camera lens, and - storing said image data on said image storage device.

9. A camera system, substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to the accompanying figures. Rhys Tristan Kempen by his Attorneys JAMES & WELLS Intesifxiua! Property OfnCD Of M,g. 2 7 APR 2807 *»«««