Patent · US Active

Ultrasonic camera tracking system and associated methods

US8249298B2 · kind B2 · utility

5Cited by
86References
25Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 15, 2007
Grant dateAug 21, 2012
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 1, 2031

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04N7/15
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A camera tracking system includes a controllable camera, an array of microphones, and a controller. The microphones are positioned adjacent the controllable camera and are at least responsive to ultrasound emitted from a source. The microphones may additionally be capable of responding to sound in the audible spectrum. The controller receives ultrasound signals communicated from the microphones in response to ultrasound emitted from the source and processes the ultrasound signals to determine an at least approximate location of the source. Then, the controller sends one or more command signals to the controllable camera to direct at least approximately at the determined location of the source. The camera tracking system tracks the source as it moves and continues to emit ultrasound. The source can be an emitter pack having one or more ultrasonic transducers that produce tones that sweep form about 24-kHz to about 40-kHz.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.