Device for recording lens data

Abstract

A data recording system for camera metadata comprises respective inputs receiving: focus control ring data relating to a lens 3 focus control ring position; zoom control ring data relating to lens zoo

Claims

1. A data recording system for camera metadata, the system comprising a main unit, the main unit comprising:an input for receiving focus control ring data relating to the position of a focus control ring of a lens;an input for receiving zoom control ring data relating to the position of a zoom control ring of a lens;an input for receiving iris control ring data relating to the position of an iris control ring of a lens;an input for receiving a camera run signal;an input for receiving a timecode signal conveying timecode ;an input for receiving a camera stop command;an input for receiving lens identification data associated with a specific lens;a data store for storing an algorithm for converting the focus control ring data to a lens distance value for a specific lens or for storing conversion data to convert the focus control ring data to a lens distance value for a specific lens;a data store for storing an algorithm for converting zoom control ring data to a focal length value for a specific lens or for storing conversion data to convert zoom control ring data to a focal length value for a specific lens;a data store for storing an algorithm for converting iris control ring data to an iris T-stop value for a specific lens or for storing conversion data to convert iris control ring data to an iris T-stop value for a specific lens;a processor for using a received camera run signal, a received timecode signal, a received camera stop signal, received lens identification data and stored algorithms and / or conversion data, to generate or store for each frame, indentified by the time code signal of a shot, triggered by the camera run signal, a timecode, a lens distance value, a lens focal length value, a lens iris stop value and a frame rate.

2. A data recording system as claimed in Claim 1, further comprising one or more motors for rotating respective ones of a focus control ring, zoom control ringand iris control ring of a lens, the system further comprising a motor driver for controlling each of the motors and a motor output associated with each respective motor for generating, in real time, respective ones of the focus control ring data, the zoom control ring data and the iris control ring data.

3. Adata recording system as claimed in Claim 2, further comprising a motor encoder associated with each motor, wherein each motor encoder provides a respective one of the motor outputs.

4. A data recording system as claimed in Claim 2 or 3, further comprising a wireless hand unit for remotely controlling the motor driver.

5. Adata recording system as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising: an input for receiving for each of at least two items of focus control ring data corresponding true lens distance values; an input for receiving for each of at least two items of zoom control ring data respective true focal length values; and an input for receiving for each of at least two items of iris control ring data respective true T-stop values; the system being further arranged to generate algorithms or conversion data for each of the focus control ring data, zoom control ring data and iris control ring data from said true values.

6. A data recording system as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the true values are at least two values provided by the lens manufacturer associated with at least two known positions of each of the focus control ring, zoom control ring and iris control ring, with each control ring being able to be set in turn to each of the at least two known positions to generate corresponding control ring data, which data is subsequently processed to generate the respective algorithm or conversion data for each of the focus control ring, zoom control ring and iris control ring.

7. Adata recording system as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the true values are measured values associated with at least two known positions of each of the focus control ring, zoom control ring and iris control ring, with each control ring being ableto be set in turn to each of the at least two known positions to generate corresponding control ring data which is subsequently processed to generate the respective algorithm or conversion data for each of the focus control ring, zoom control ring and iris control ring.

8. A data recording system as claimed in Claim 5, 6 or 7, wherein the system is arranged to generate algorithms or conversion data for each of the focus control ring data, zoom control ring data and iris control ring data from respective sets of true values, each set comprising at least ten true values.

9. A data recording system as claimed in any one of Claims 5 to 8, comprising an associated display and input to enable a user to input lens identification data and associated true values.

10. A data recording system as claimed in any one of Claims 5 to 8, further comprising an App to be downloaded onto a phone or other computing device, the App being arranged to be used for inputting lens identification data and the associated true values.

11. Adata recording system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the main unit comprises a port for a removable data card and the system stores on the data card a copy of the lens values generated for each frame.

12. Adata recording system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the processor comprises multiple microcontrollers, each working in parallel and in synchronization and with each, for each frame, processing a respective one of lens distance values, focal length values and iris stop values.

13. Adata recording system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the main unit further comprises a two-way serial communication port for connecting to a two-way serial communication port of a camera and wherein the main unit isarranged to write one or more of the lens distance values, lens focal length values, lens iris stop values to RAW files of a camera.

14. Adata recording system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the main unit further comprises a two-way serial communication port for connecting to a two-way serial communication port of a camera and wherein the main unit is arranged receive camera metadata from the camera and to stream this to external devices together with one or more of the lens distance values, lens focal length values and lens iris stop values.

15. Adata recording system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the main unit is further arranged to store, for each frame, camera angle data and camera position data.

16. Adata recording system as claimed in Claim 15, wherein the main unit is further arranged to store, for each frame, camera height and camera acceleration data.

17. Adata recording system as claimed in Claim 15 or 16, wherein the main unit further comprises an input for receiving camera angle and camera position data.

18. Adata recording system as claimed in Claim 15 or 16, wherein the main unit is integral with a camera or is arranged to be mounted on a camera and wherein the main unit further comprises an inertial measurement unit for providing at least the camera angle and camera position data.

19. Adata recording system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the main unit is arranged to be mounted on a camera.

20. Adata recording system as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 18 further comprising a camera and wherein the main unit is integral to the camera.

21. Adata recording system as claimed in Claim 19, further comprising:a camera to which the main unit is mounted;three motors for rotating respective ones of a focus control ring, zoom control ring and iris control ring of a lens mounted on the camera;a motor driver for controlling each of the three motors; andthree motor encoders associated with respective ones of the three motors for generating respectively the focus control ring data, the zoom control ring data and the iris control ring data, and providing this data, in real time, to respective ones of the inputs for receiving focus control ring data, zoom control ring data, and iris control ring data, and wherein;a run signal port on the camera provides a signal to the input for receiving a camera run signal and the input for receiving a camera stop signal; anda timecode port on the camera provides a signal to the input for receiving a timecode signal conveying timecode from a camera timecode port.

22. A data recording system for camera data, the system comprising a main unit, the main unit comprising:an input for receiving a camera run signal;an input for receiving a timecode signal conveying timecode;an input for receiving a camera stop command;a processor for using a received camera run signal, a received timecode signal and a received camera stop signal to generate for each frame, indicated by the camera run signal, a timecode and to store, for each frame camera angle data and camera position data.

23. A system as claimed in Claim 22, wherein the main unit is further arranged to store for each frame camera height and camera acceleration.

24. A system as claimed in Claim 22 or 23, wherein the main unit further comprises an input for receiving at least camera angle and camera position data.

25. A system as claimed in Claim 22, 23 or 24, wherein the main unit is integral with a camera, or is arranged to be mounted on a camera, and wherein the main unit further comprises an inertial measurement unit for providing at least the camera angle and camera position data.

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