Pan-tilt camera continuous rotation via coordinate inversion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pan-tilt cameras are limited by mechanical stops, restricting their panning range to less than 360 degrees and tilting range to 90 or 180 degrees, which hinders their viewing capabilities and user control experience.
Innovation Solution
The method involves identifying the mechanical pan stop and inverting the camera to move it to a complementary pan-tilt coordinate system, allowing for 360-degree continuous panning by freezing and unfreezing the image, and using digital image processing to maintain upright image orientation, enabling simultaneous pan and tilt movements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the camera uses mechanical stops to limit pan-tilt movement, then the mechanical structure is simple and reliable, but the panning range is restricted to less than 360 degrees and tilting range to 90 or 180 degrees
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical pan stop limitation with a software-based coordinate system transformation. Instead of modifying the mechanical structure to allow continuous 360-degree panning, the system uses digital image processing and coordinate inversion to create a virtual complementary coordinate system that enables unlimited panning range while keeping the mechanical stops in place.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a complementary coordinate system that is essentially a copied and transformed version of the original pan-tilt coordinate system. When the camera reaches a mechanical stop, the system switches to the complementary coordinate system, which is a mathematical copy of the original system but inverted, allowing the camera to continue panning in the same direction without physical modification.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the camera inverts to move past the mechanical pan stop, then continuous 360-degree panning is achieved, but the image orientation becomes upside down
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the physical inversion of the camera with a digital image processing operation. Instead of actually flipping the camera hardware which would make the image upside down, the system uses software to detect when a mechanical stop is reached and applies an image flip transformation to maintain correct orientation while allowing the camera to continue panning in the same direction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces digital image processing as an intermediary between the mechanical camera movement and the displayed image. This intermediary layer handles the orientation correction by detecting mechanical stop positions and applying appropriate image transformations, allowing the mechanical system to operate freely while maintaining proper image orientation for the user.
3Ease of operation
If the camera freezes the image during mechanical stop transition, then seamless continuous panning perception is achieved, but the transition time is not visible to the user
Solution Approach 1:
The patent maintains the continuity of the useful action (image display) during the mechanical stop transition by freezing the image. This allows the camera to physically move and switch coordinate systems without interrupting the user's perception of continuous panning. The frozen image acts as a bridge that maintains visual continuity while the mechanical transition occurs in the background.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary detection of mechanical stop positions and prepares the coordinate system switch and image freeze in advance. By detecting when the camera is approaching a mechanical stop and proactively freezing the image and switching to the complementary coordinate system, the system ensures a seamless transition without noticeable interruption to the user experience.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for moving a maneuverable part of a pan-tilt camera from a first pan-tilt position, having a first pan coordinate and a first tilt coordinate, to a second pan-tilt position, having a second pan coordinate and a second tilt coordinate. A mechanical pan stop is identified. The maneuverable part is moved from the first pan coordinate to the second pan coordinate by inverting the maneuverable part of the camera and panning to the second pan coordinate. The first pan coordinate is part of a pan-tilt coordinate system and the second pan coordinate is part of a complementary pan-tilt coordinate system, which represents positions of the inverted maneuverable part (140). The maneuverable part is moved from the first tilt coordinate to the second tilt coordinate. The first tilt coordinate is part of the pan-tilt coordinate system and the second tilt coordinate is part of the complementary pan-tilt coordinate system. The invention also relates to a corresponding device and a corresponding computer program. As a result, the present invention wholly or partly eliminates the effect of the pan/tilt stop for a user and achieves a perceived continuous pan rotation of the pan-tilt camera, similar to the functionality of a conventional dome camera.