Patent ID: 7158168
Filing Date: 2007-01-02
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. A camera lens control system for use at a test range, said camera lens control system controlling camera lens functions to obtain optimal recordings of launch events of an airborne vehicle at said test range, comprising: a first camera having a lens, said first camera tracking a launch and a test flight of said airborne vehicle along a flight path for said airborne vehicle; a second camera having a lens, said second camera tracking the launch and the test flight of said airborne vehicle along the flight path for said airborne vehicle; said first camera and said second camera generating video flight data of the launch and the test flight of said airborne vehicle along the flight path for said airborne vehicle; an Auto Focus and Zoom Controller connected to said first camera and said second camera to receive said video flight data of the launch and the test flight of said airborne vehicle; a first video monitor and recorder connected to said Auto Focus and Zoom Controller to receive said video flight data generated by said first camera, said first video monitor and recorder, responsive to said video flight data received by said first video monitor and recorder, displaying the launch and the test flight of said airborne vehicle along the flight path for said airborne vehicle, said first video monitor and recorder recording the launch and the test flight of said airborne vehicle; a second video monitor and recorder connected to said Auto Focus and Zoom Controller to receive said video flight data generated by said second camera, said second video monitor and recorder, responsive to said video flight data received by said second video monitor and recorder, displaying the launch and the test flight of said airborne vehicle along the flight path for said airborne vehicle, said second video monitor and recorder recording the launch and the test flight of said airborne vehicle and the flight path for said airborne vehicle; said Auto Focus and Zoom Controller having a Universal Serial. Bus, a memory card, and a computer software program, said memory card storing flight path information which identifies the flight path for said airborne vehicle; said Auto Focus and Zoom Controller controlling focus, zoom and iris settings for the lens of said first camera and the lens of said second camera during the launch and the test flight of said airborne vehicle along the flight path of said airborne vehicle when said first camera and said second camera are tracking said airborne vehicle; said computer software program handling and interpreting said flight path information stored on said memory card enabling operation of said Auto Focus and Zoom Controller allowing said Auto Focus and Zoom Controller to automatically control the focus, zoom and iris settings for the lens of said first camera and the lens of said second camera during the launch and the test flight of said airborne vehicle along the flight path for said airborne vehicle; an Universal Serial Bus (USB) game pad connected to the Universal Serial Bus of said Auto Focus and Zoom Controller, said USB game pad when connected to the Universal Serial Bus of said Auto Focus and Zoom Controller allowing an operator to manually control the focus, zoom and iris settings for the lens of said first camera and the lens of said second camera during the launch and the test flight of said airborne vehicle.