Shooting a motion picture scene with a self-propelled camera dolly
US6520641B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignees
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 15, 2000 |
| Grant date | Feb 18, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 15, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF16M11/425
- WIPO fieldMechanical elements
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
The invention includes a method of shooting a scene in a motion picture. A track is provided as including two outer rails and a center rail. The center rail is located somewhere between the two outer rails. The center rail includes a top, a first side, and a second side. A self-propelled camera positioning device is also provided. The self-propelled camera positioning device includes a camera support unit having wheels and a camera.The self-propelled camera positioning device also includes a drive unit coupled to the camera support unit. The drive unit includes at least one drive roller, two guide rollers positioned adjacent to the at least one roller. The guide rollers are biased against the first side and the second side of the center rail. The wheels on the two outer rails are positioned on the two outer rails. The camera support unit is moved along the track to define information of the motion. This information is stored. A scene is shot by operating the camera while moving the camera support unit along the track as a function of the stored information of the motion.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.