Mechanical pan, tilt and zoom in a webcam
US7917935B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 1, 2004 |
| Grant date | Mar 29, 2011 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 5, 2027 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04N7/142
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A system and method for mechanically panning, tilting, and/or zooming a webcam to track a user's face. In one embodiment, such movement is controlled by kernel software in a host to which the webcam sends video data. In this way, a driver in the host kernel handles the face tracking, transparent to the application programs that would access the video. In an alternate embodiment, such movement is controlled by firmware in the webcam itself. The video and control signals are sent over the same standard cable, such as a USB bus. In one embodiment, the video is supplied to an instant messaging application. The use of a standard bus (e.g., USB) and the offloading of the face tracking to the webcam and driver allows easy use by the instant messaging application.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.