Abstract:
A portable camera actuation system is disclosed that may be used for taking self-portraits. The system includes an extendable handle assembly that may be held by a user at a first end thereof, and a base unit coupled to a second end of said extendable handle assembly. The base unit is for receiving a camera mounted thereon. The system also includes a remote shutter transmitter unit for providing a wireless shutter signal, and a remote wireless signal receiver unit. The remote shutter transmitter unit is provided at a location that is remote from the camera. The wireless shutter signal receiver unit is coupled to the base unit and is for providing actuation of an external shutter button on the camera responsive to the wireless shutter signal.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
   The invention generally relates to camera accessories, and relates in particular to camera accessories for facilitating the taking of pictures from a location that is remote from a location of the camera. 
   While many camera accessories have been developed for assisting users in taking self portraits, such systems have either involve the use of a tripod and a timer on the camera, or require that the camera itself provide an internal connector for connecting the camera&#39;s shutter actuator control assembly to a remote actuation device. 
   For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,530,580 discloses a telescopic extender for supporting a compact camera that includes a head member to be attached to the camera, a grip to be held by a user, and a telescoping rod member connecting the head member to the grip. Actuation of the camera is disclosed to be achieved by a remote electronic switch that is disclosed to be connected in parallel with the shutter activation switch on the camera. Such a system, however, requires that the camera be specially designed or modified to include a socket with internal contacts that are connected in parallel with the shutter activation switch on the camera. The &#39;580 patent states that if the camera does not have a socket to receive a remote electronic switch, then the camera&#39;s self timer may be used. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,768,645 discloses an alignment means for a disposable camera that assists a user in taking self and group portraits. The alignment means is disclosed to include one or two supporting arms, and a mirror on the front face of the camera for the user to look at to observe himself when taking a self-portrait. Actuation of the camera is disclosed to be achieved via an air bubble 44 that is coupled to a pneumatic cable 42 that raises a pin and thereby releases the shutter of a camera (not shown). There is no further disclosure, however, of how the bubble 42 and pneumatic cable 42 cause the camera shutter to be released, and it is not at all clear from FIG. 16 how this would occur unless access to the camera shutter switch inside the camera is somehow provided. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 6,923,542 discloses a remote camera and positioning control system that includes one or more beam modules that are disclosed to have improved cross-sectional flexural rigidity for permitting the camera to be positioned and moved smoothly while minimizing image instability. The actuation controls of the video camera are controlled by a joystick interface that is coupled via electronic cables to a remote control access port in the camera. 
   There remains a need for a portable remote camera control device that does not require accessing interior control functionality within the camera, and may be used, therefore, with disposable or digital cameras. There is further a need for such a device that is also portable and collapses to a conveniently carried size. 
   SUMMARY 
   The invention provides a portable camera actuation system that may be used for taking self-portraits. The system includes an extendable handle assembly that may be held by a user at a first end thereof, and a base unit coupled to a second end of said extendable handle assembly. The base unit is for receiving a camera mounted thereon. In accordance with an embodiment, the system also includes a remote shutter transmitter unit for providing a wireless shutter signal, and a remote wireless signal receiver unit. The remote shutter transmitter unit is provided at a location that is remote from the camera. The wireless shutter signal receiver unit is coupled to the base unit and is for providing actuation of an external shutter button on the camera responsive to the wireless shutter signal. 
   In accordance with another embodiment, the system also include an alignment unit for permitting a user of the system and a camera to verify proper alignment of the camera with respect to a subject, and in certain embodiments, the alignment unit may include a plurality of indicators that may be light emitting diodes. In accordance with further embodiments, the portable camera actuation system may be folded to a very small size. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The following description may be further understood with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
       FIG. 1  shows an illustrative diagrammatic view of a system in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 2  shows an illustrative diagrammatic view of a portion of the system shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  shows an illustrative diagrammatic view of an underside of the portion of the system shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 4  shows an illustrative diagrammatic view of a portion of the telescoping wand in the system shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 5  shows an illustrative diagrammatic view of the camera actuation unit in the system shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIGS. 6A-6C  show illustrative diagrammatic views of various embodiments of alignment facilitation devices in a system in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 7  shows an illustrative schematic view of electronic circuits for use in a system in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
       FIGS. 8-11  show illustrative diagrammatic views of the system of  FIG. 1  without a camera and at different stages of being folded; 
       FIGS. 12-13  show illustrative diagrammatic views of a system in accordance with another embodiment of the invention; and 
       FIG. 14  shows an illustrative diagrammatic view of a system in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention. 
   

   The drawings are shown for illustrative purposes only. 
   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   As shown in  FIG. 1  a system in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention includes a telescoping wand  10  that is coupled to a base unit  12  that is adapted to hold a relatively small light weight camera  14  such as a digital camera, a small 35 mm camera or a disposable camera. The telescoping wand  10  includes a double hinge unit  16  near the base unit  12 , and is coupled to the base unit  12  via a hinged joint  18  mounted on a rotating post  20  as further shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . The camera  14  is mounted to the base unit  12  by a treaded thumb screw  22  (shown in  FIG. 3 ) that is slidably received within a slot  24  in a platform  26  in the base unit  12 . The thumb screw  22  includes threads that mate with internal threads on a camera that are conventionally used to mount the camera on a tripod. 
   The platform  26  of the base unit  12  includes an actuator arm  28  that is adjustably mounted to the platform  26  and includes an actuator portion  30  having an actuator post  32  that may be actuated so as to cause the camera  14  to take a picture by depressing the actuator button on the camera  14 . The arm  28  may be adjusted to accommodate cameras of different sizes by the dual-axis sliding actuator knob  34  that passes through slot  36  in the arm  28  as well as slot  38  in the platform  26 . 
   The platform  26  also includes an alignment indicator unit  40  that includes a plurality of alignment indicators  41 ,  42  and  43  such as illumination sources or reflectors. The base unit  12  also includes a plurality of mirror elements  46  and  48  that are pivotally to each other, and one of which is pivotally mounted to the base unit  12 . 
   As shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  4  and  7 , the telescoping wand  10  includes an actuator button switch  50  as well as an infrared transmitter  52 , as well as a battery  54  that is positioned within the wand  10 . As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 7 , the actuator arm  28  includes a switch  56 , an infrared receiver unit  58 , and solenoid coils  60  that surround a portion of the metal post  32  within the head portion  30  of the actuator arm  28 . The arm  28  also includes a battery  62  that is received within the arm  28  through a battery access panel  64 . During use, the actuator button  50  on the telescoping wand  10  may be employed to cause the actuator post  32  on the arm  28  to depress the activation button  66  on the camera  14  to thereby take a picture. 
   In accordance with other embodiments, the remote actuator  50  and transmitter  52  may not be provide on the wand  10 , but rather may be provided in a physically independent unit such as a small remote control device. The benefit of the base unit  12  is that cameras of a wide variety may be controlled remotely using the universal actuation arm  28 . 
   As shown in  FIGS. 6A and 7 , the plurality of alignment indicators  41 ,  42  and  43  of the unit  40  may include directional illumination sources such as light emitting diodes (LEDs) that are electrically connected to a battery  68  via a switch  70 . The battery  68  is received within the alignment indicator unit  40  via a battery access panel (not shown) and the switch  70  may be a slidable actuator switch on the back side of the unit  40  that is similar to the switch  56  on the arm  28 . When the indicators  41 ,  42  and  43  are on, a person that is standing remote from the camera and base unit may determine whether he or she is properly positioning the base unit to cause the camera lens to be directed toward their face, by identifying whether the center indicator  42  is most brightly illuminated. If the camera is directed too high, the indicator  41  will appear to be most brightly illuminated, and if the camera is directed too low, then the indicator  43  will appear to be most brightly illuminated. The directional LEDs may include a Fresnel lens or a prism surface at the outer surface thereof to facilitate directional control and/or focusing of the illumination into a focal area. 
   In accordance with another embodiment, the indicator  41  may be directed slightly upward and the indicator  43  may be directed slightly downward so that the user may determine whether he or she is properly positioned in the desired position with respect to the camera  14  by verifying that each of the indicators appears to be brightly illuminated. In further embodiments, the indicators  41 ′,  42 ′ and  43 ′ may be provided in recessed openings as shown in  FIG. 6B , or in small tubes as shown at  41 ″,  42 ″ and  43 ″ in  FIG. 6C . In further embodiments, the indicators  41 ,  42  and  43  may be provided as highly reflective surfaces that reflect ambient light and provide a directional reflection. Such highly reflective surfaces may include, for example a diffraction grating or holographic recording. When a highly reflective surface is employed that reflects ambient light, the battery  68 , switch  70  and LEDs  41 ,  42  and  43  may be avoided, and the indicators would comprise the highly reflective surface and an optional focusing element. 
   The mirror elements  46  and  48  may be positioned to provide that a person standing at the location remoter from the camera is able to see an image that is made available by the camera of the current field of view of the camera. The mirror elements  46  and  48  include are adjustable to permit the user to properly arrange the mirror elements to achieve a centered photograph. In this regard, the mirror elements also provide alignment assistance to the user. 
   As further shown in  FIGS. 3 and 8 , the alignment unit  40  is rotatably mounted to the platform  26  such that the unit  40  rotates about a mounting pin  72 , permitting the unit  40  to be rotated into a recess  74  in the platform  26  when the unit  40  is not being used. 
   When the camera is detached from the platform  26  (e.g., by unscrewing the thumb screw  22  from the mounting threads on the bottom of the camera), the adjustment knob  34  may be loosened, and the alignment arm  28  may be rotated around the axis of the adjustment knob and received within a slot  76  in the platform  26 , with the actuator portion  30  being received in a slot  78  as shown in  FIG. 8  and the adjustment knob  34  slid toward one end of the slot  24  as shown in  FIG. 9 . If no internal threads are provided on a camera, the user may be able to secure the camera to the platform by securely fastening the alignment arm against the camera. 
   The platform  26  may also include a stop post  80  against which the telescoping wand  10  may positioned when fully rotated by the rotating post  20  on the platform  26 . The hinge joint  18  and rotating post  20  may be used to position the camera in an any desired orientation with respect to the user. 
   When not in use, the telescoping wand  10  may be collapsed and folded about the double hinge unit  16  so that the collapsed wand  10  may be received by a clip  82  on the back side of the platform  26  as shown in  FIG. 9 . The mirror element  48  may be folded inward onto the mirror element  46  as also shown in  FIG. 9 . The mirror element  46  together with the minor element  48  may then be rotated about hinges  84  and  86  to bring the minor element  46  close to the collapsed wand  10  as shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 . The system, therefore, may be collapsed to a very small package when not in use. 
     FIGS. 12 and 13  show a system in accordance with another embodiment of the invention in which a telescoping wand  110  includes a spring loaded coil  150  of a two wire pair for actuating a solenoid  160  in an actuator portion  130  of an actuator arm  128 . The coil of wire  150  is biased in the re-coiled position within the wand  110 , and permits a portion  152  of the wire to be drawn from the coil  150  when the telescoping wand  110  is extended. The wand  110  also includes a battery  154  and a switch  156  for actuating the solenoid remotely to thereby press the shutter button on the camera  114 . The wire pair  152  may pass through slotted openings  162  in the double hinge unit  116 . In certain embodiments, the electrical continuity through a joint may be provided by a flexible connector that bypasses the joint, or may be provided by abutting movable contacts for providing the electrical continuity from the wand  110  to the solenoid  160 . 
   In accordance with yet another embodiment, a system of the invention includes a gear assembly in an actuator portion  230  of an actuator arm  228  for depressing the shutter button  266  on a camera  214 . The gear assembly includes a pair of mutually engaged gears  250  and  252 , one of which  252  is provided with an offset draw pin that is fixed to a cable  256 . The other gear  250  is rotatably engaged with a linear gear  254  that presses the shutter button  266  on a camera  214  when actuated. The gears are actuated when the cable  256  is pulled, causing the gear  252  to rotated, which then causes the gear  250  to rotate, and the linear gear  254  to move downward. The gear  252  is also designed to be biased in the counter rotated position such that the linear gear  254  is biased in the retracted (raised) position. The other end of the cable  256  (remote from the camera) is provided in a telescoping wand in a biased retracted coil similar to that shown in  FIG. 13  for the conductive wire, and includes an exposed pull ring or switch in the wand for actuating the gear assembly remotely. 
   Those skilled in the art will appreciate that numerous modifications and variations may be made to the above disclosed embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.