Abstract:
There is described a camera system for imaging a passenger compartment of a vehicle, comprising: a support body having an adjustable length for accommodating the passenger compartment and being removably securable within the passenger compartment of the vehicle; and a camera movably secured to the support body and being movable along at least a portion of the support body, the camera for imaging at least a portion of the passenger compartment.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority of GB Patent Application having application number 1309344.8, which was filed on May 23, 2013 and is entitled “Motion control camera system for filming the inside of a car”, the specification of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
       TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to the field of camera systems, and more particularly to a camera system for filming the passenger compartment of a vehicle. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    The Internet is used by some merchants and retailers to improve their sales by attracting new customers to their store. Usually, a retailer or a merchant presents some items to be sold on their website. The quality of the description of items to be sold may encourage a customer to buy the item or at least visit the store. Particularly, pictures or videos of an item to be sold may influence a customer. 
         [0004]    For example, car dealers usually display at least some of their vehicles to be sold on their website in order to encourage customers to come visit their store. Usually, car dealers presents pictures of vehicles to be sold on their website. In some instances, some car dealers further display videos of at least some vehicles to be sold to encourage customers to come to their store to see the vehicles, and optionally try the vehicles. 
         [0005]    In some instances, customers may be influenced by the quality of the pictures and/or videos of the vehicles. However, the pictures and/or videos are usually manually taken by an employee of the car dealer. Therefore, the pictures and/or videos may not be of high quality and may not appear professional. Particularly, the pictures and/or videos of the passenger compartment of vehicles may not be of a good quality and the shots may change from one passenger compartment to another. Furthermore, taking pictures and/or videos of vehicles is a time-consuming task for employees of a car dealer. 
         [0006]    Therefore, there is a need for an apparatus for imaging the passenger compartment of a vehicle. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    According to a broad aspect, there is provided a camera system for imaging a passenger compartment of a vehicle, comprising: a support body having an adjustable length for accommodating the passenger compartment and being removably securable within the passenger compartment of the vehicle; and a camera movably secured to the support body and being movable along at least a portion of the support body, the camera for imaging at least a portion of the passenger compartment. 
         [0008]    In one embodiment, the support body comprises an elongated member extending along a longitudinal axis and a telescopic member secured thereto, the telescopic member extending between a first end and a second end and having an adjustable length between the first and second ends, the first and second ends each being removably securable to a respective inside portion of the passenger compartment, and the camera being movably secured to the elongated member. 
         [0009]    In one embodiment, the telescopic member is secured to a first side of the elongated member and the camera is movably secured to a second and opposite side of the elongated member. 
         [0010]    In one embodiment, the first and second ends are provided with a first hook and a second hook, respectively. 
         [0011]    In one embodiment, the first and second hooks are each adapted to be removably secured to a respective handle secured within the passenger compartment. 
         [0012]    In one embodiment, the handle is secured to a roof of the passenger compartment. 
         [0013]    In another embodiment, the first and second hooks are each adapted to be removably secured to a top end of a respective window of the passenger compartment. 
         [0014]    In another embodiment, the first and second ends are each provided with a suction pad adapted to be removably secured to a respective window of the passenger compartment. 
         [0015]    In one embodiment, the camera is slidable along the longitudinal axis of the elongated member. 
         [0016]    In one embodiment, the camera is further rotatably secured to the elongated member. 
         [0017]    In one embodiment, the camera is rotatable about a first rotation axis being substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis. 
         [0018]    In one embodiment, the camera is rotatable about a second rotation axis being substantially orthogonal to the first rotation axis. 
         [0019]    In one embodiment, the camera system further comprises a first motor for sliding the camera along the elongated body, a second motor for rotating the camera about the first rotation axis, and a third motor for rotating the camera about the second rotation axis. 
         [0020]    In one embodiment, the camera system further comprises a control unit for controlling the first, second and third motors. 
         [0021]    In one embodiment, the control unit comprises a processing unit and a memory coupled thereto, the memory having motion instructions stored thereon, the processing unit being adapted to, upon execution of the motion instructions, change at least one of a position and an orientation of the camera relative to the elongated member. 
         [0022]    In one embodiment, the camera system further comprises a first housing for receiving the first and second motors and the control unit, and a second housing for receiving the third motor, the first housing being slidably secured to the elongated member via the first motor, the second housing being rotatably secured to the first housing via the second motor, and the camera being rotatably secured to the second housing via the third motor. 
         [0023]    In one embodiment, the first, second, and third motors each comprise a stepper motor. 
         [0024]    In one embodiment, the camera system further comprises a battery for powering the control unit and the first, second, and third motors. 
         [0025]    In one embodiment, the camera system further comprises a light source for illuminating the passenger compartment. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0026]    Further features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in combination with the appended drawings, in which: 
           [0027]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an apparatus for imaging the passenger compartment of a vehicle, in accordance with an embodiment; 
           [0028]      FIG. 2  is a top view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1  having telescopic arms in a retracted position, in accordance with an embodiment; 
           [0029]      FIG. 3  is a top view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1  having telescopic arms in an extended position, in accordance with an embodiment; 
           [0030]      FIG. 4  is a front view of the apparatus of  FIG. 3  having telescopic arms in the extended position; 
           [0031]      FIG. 5  is a side view of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0032]      FIG. 6  illustrates the apparatus of  FIG. 1  having hooks removably secured to handles of the passenger compartment of a vehicle, in accordance with an embodiment; 
           [0033]      FIG. 7  is a top view of a vehicle having windows to which the apparatus of  FIG. 1  is removably secured, in accordance with an embodiment; and 
           [0034]      FIG. 8  is a side view of the vehicle of  FIG. 7 . 
       
    
    
       [0035]    It will be noted that throughout the appended drawings, like features are identified by like reference numerals. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0036]      FIG. 1  illustrates one embodiment of an apparatus  10  for imaging the passenger compartment of a vehicle. The apparatus  10  comprises a support body  12  to which a camera  14  is movably secured. The support body  12  is adapted to be removably secured within the passenger compartment of the vehicle. At least a part of the support body  12  has an adjustable length so as to accommodate to the passenger compartment of the vehicle, i.e. to the dimensions of the passenger compartment. Since it has an adjustable length, the support body  12  can be removably secured within passenger compartments having different dimensions. 
         [0037]    The camera  14  is movably secured to the support body, i.e. the camera may move along at least a portion of the support body. It should be understood that any adequate connection between the camera  14  and the support body  12  that allows motion of the camera  14  relative to the support body may be used. In one embodiment, the connection between the support body  12  and the camera  14  allows for a manual motion of the camera  14  relative to the support body  12 . For example, the support body may comprise a rail along which the camera  14  may slide, and a user may push the camera  14  along the rail while the camera  14  images a portion of the passenger compartment of the vehicle. In another embodiment, the connection between the support body  12  and the camera  14  is motorized so that the camera  14  may automatically move along at least a portion of the support body  12 . In this case, it should be understood that the motorized connection is connectable to a power source. For example, the apparatus  10  may further comprise a battery for powering the motorized connection. The same battery may also be for powering the camera  14 . 
         [0038]    In one embodiment, the camera  14  is further rotatably connected to the support body  12 . In this case, the connection between the support body  12  and the camera  14  is rotatable in order to allow for the rotation of the camera  14  relative to the support body  12  about at least one rotation axis. The rotatable connection may be manually activated to allow a manual rotation of the camera  12  relative to the support body  12 . In another embodiment, the rotatable connection between the support body  12  and the camera  14  is motorized so that the camera  14  may rotate relative to the support body  12  automatically. It should be understood that the motorized rotatable connection is then connectable to a power source. 
         [0039]    The camera  14  is adapted to image the passenger compartment, i.e. the camera is adapted to take pictures of the passenger compartment and/or film the passenger compartment. In an embodiment in which the camera  14  is adapted to film the passenger compartment, the camera  14  may be manually or automatically moved relative to the support body  12  while filming the passenger compartment. In an embodiment in which the camera is adapted to take pictures of the passenger compartment, the camera  14  may be manually or automatically moved relative to the support body  12  while taking pictures of the passenger compartment. For example, the camera  14  may be positioned to a first position relative to the support body  12  in order to take a first picture of the passenger compartment, then to a second and different position in order to take a second picture of the passenger compartment, and then to a third position relative to the support body  12  in order to take a third picture, etc. 
         [0040]    In an embodiment in which the mechanical connection between the support body  12  and the camera  14  is motorized, the apparatus  10  further comprises a control unit for controlling the motorized connection in order to automatically move the camera  14  relative to the support body  12 . In one embodiment, the control unit comprises a processing unit and a memory coupled thereto. The memory comprises motion instructions stored thereon. The motion instructions correspond to a pattern of motion for the camera  14  relative to the support body  12 . Upon execution of the motion instructions by the processing unit, the control unit sends commands to the motorized connection in order to move the camera  14  relative to the support body  12  according to the motion pattern. A motion pattern is indicative of the different positions for the camera  14  relative to the support body  12  during the motion of the camera. For example, a motion pattern may be indicative of a speed of movement, a start position, an end position, a value for the angle between the camera  14  and the support body  12  during the motion of the camera  14  relative to the support body  12 , and/or the like. It should be understood that a position of the camera  14  relative to the support body  12  refers to the position of the camera  14  along the support body  14  and/or the orientation of the camera  14  relative to the support body  12 . 
         [0041]    In one embodiment, the control unit is further adapted to control the camera. In this case, the control unit is adapted to send commands to the camera in order to film the passenger compartment and/or take pictures of the compartment. For example, the control unit may be adapted to send to the camera  14  a start command while activating the motorized connection so that the camera starts filming the passenger compartment substantially at the same time as the camera starts moving relative to the support body  12 , and an end command while deactivating the motorized connection so that the camera  14  stops filming the passenger compartment substantially at the same time as the camera  14  stops moving relative to the support body  12 . In another example, the control unit may be adapted to send to the camera  14  a command for taking a picture while the camera  14  is at different reference positions relative to the support body  12 . It should be understood that the motion of the camera  14  may be substantially constant while the camera  14  is taking pictures. Alternatively, the motion of the camera  14  may be stopped at predetermined positions of the camera  14  along the support body  12  during a predetermined period of time during which the motion of the camera  14  is stopped and the picture is taken. 
         [0042]    In one embodiment, the apparatus  10  further comprises a light source for illuminating the passenger compartment, and thereby improve the quality of the motion picture and/or pictures. 
         [0043]    In the following, an exemplary implementation of the apparatus  10  is described. In this implementation, the support body  12  comprises an elongated body  16  extending along a longitudinal axis. The elongated body  16  comprises a bottom end to which the camera  14  is movably secured via a mechanical connection  18 , and a top and opposite end from which two connection posts  20  extend. The support body  12  further comprises a telescopic support  22  which is fixedly secured to the connection posts  20  at a position along the length thereof The telescopic support  22  extends substantially along the longitudinal axis and is terminated at both ends with a telescopic arm  24 .  FIG. 2  illustrates the two telescopic arms  24  in a retracted position. When the two telescopic arms  24  are in the retracted position, the length of the telescopic support  22  is minimal. In one embodiment, the minimal length of the telescopic support substantially correspond to the length of the elongated body.  FIG. 3  illustrates the two telescopic arms  24  in an extended position. When the two telescopic arms  24  are in the extended position, the length of the telescopic support is maximal. It should be understood that each telescopic arm  24  may take any position between the retracted and the extended positions in order to accommodate passenger compartments having different dimensions. 
         [0044]    While the present description refers to the use of telescopic arms  24  to provide an adjustable length for the support body  12 , it should be understood that other adequate configurations may be possible. It should be understood that the term “telescopic” should not be limited to concentric tubular sections designed to slide into one another, but should be understood as any adequate body having an adjustable length. For example, the telescopic arm may be replaced by an assembly of plates slidably secured to one another. 
         [0045]    A securing device  26  is provided at the end of each telescopic arm  24 . The securing devices  26  are each adapted to be removably secured to a part of the passenger compartment within the passenger compartment. 
         [0046]    In one embodiment, the securing devices  26  each comprise a hook, as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . In one embodiment, the hook is sized and shaped to be removably secured to a handle positioned within the passenger compartment adjacent to the roof thereof, or secured to the roof thereof. In another embodiment, the hook is sized and shaped to be removably secured to the top end of a window of the vehicle. It should be understood that the hook may adapted to be both secured to a vehicle handle or a vehicle window. 
         [0047]    In another embodiment, the securing devices  26  each comprise a suction pad adapted to be removably secured to a window of the passenger compartment. 
         [0048]    In a further embodiment, the securing devices  26  each comprise a friction pad. In this case, the support body  12  further comprises a securing device for maintaining the telescopic arms  24  in a fixed position between the retracted and the extended positions. In order to removably secure the support body  12  to the passenger compartment, each friction pad is abutted against a respective part of the passenger compartment, such as against a respective window. When the friction pads each abut a respective part of the passenger compartment, the securing device is engaged in order to fix the length of the telescopic arms  24 . The apparatus  10  is then removably secured to the passenger compartment due to the friction force between the friction pads and the respective parts of the passenger compartment against which they abut. 
         [0049]    As described above, the camera  14  is movable relative to the support body  12  via a mechanical connection  18 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 5 , the mechanical connection  18  allows the camera  14  to slide along the elongated body  16  according to arrow  28  and rotate about a first and a second axes as illustrated by arrows  30  and  32 , respectively. The first rotation axis is substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis along which the elongated body  16  extends. The second rotation axis is substantially orthogonal to the first rotation axis. 
         [0050]    In the illustrated embodiment of the apparatus  10 , the mechanical connection  18  comprises a first housing  34  which is slidably secured to the elongated body  16  on the bottom end thereof and a second housing  36  which is rotatably secured to the first housing  34 . The camera is rotatably secured to a side wall of the second housing  36 . 
         [0051]    As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , a wheel  38  is secured to the top wall of the first housing  34  and extends therefrom. The elongated body  16  comprises on its bottom face a recess portion  40  which extends along the longitudinal axis of the elongated body  16  and which forms a rail for guiding the displacement of the first housing  34  relative to the elongated body  16 . The wheel  38  is positioned within the recess portion  40  and rotates as the first housing  34  slides along the elongated body  16 . 
         [0052]    As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the side walls of the wheel  38  have a convex shape and the side walls of the recess portion  40  have a concave shape that matches the convex shape of the wheel side walls. As a result of the matching shapes of the side walls of the wheel  38  and the recess portion  40 , the wheel  38  is maintained in position within the recess portion  40 , and the mechanical connection  18  and the camera  14  are supported by the elongated body  16 . 
         [0053]    The first housing  34  further a first motor  42  of which the rotating shaft  44  extends through an aperture located in the top face of the first housing  34 . The first motor  42  is fixedly secured within the first housing  34 . A gear  46  is fixedly secured to the shaft  44  outside the first housing  34 . The elongated body  16  is further provided with an indented or toothed rail  48  extending along a side thereof and adjacent the top face thereof. The tooth of the gear  46  match the tooth of the indented rail  48 , and the gear  46  is positioned so as to engage the indented rail  48 . As a result, when the first motor  42  is activated the rotating shaft  44  rotates which triggers the rotation of the gear  46  and the motion of the first housing  34  along the indented rail  48 . 
         [0054]    A second motor  50  is fixedly secured within the first housing  34 . The rotating shaft  52  of the second motor  50  extends through an aperture positioned in the bottom face of the first housing  34 . 
         [0055]    The second housing  36  is fixedly secured to the rotating shaft  52  of the second motor  50  so that the activation of the second motor  50  triggers the rotation of the rotating shaft  52  and the rotation of the second housing  36  with respect to the first housing  34 . 
         [0056]    A third motor (not shown) is fixedly secured into the second housing  36  and the rotating shaft  56  of the third motor extends through an aperture in a side face of the second housing  36  and a pinion gear  58  is mounted on the rotating shaft  56 . A gear plate  60  is rotatably secured to the side face of the second housing  36  adjacent to the pinion gear  58 . The pinion gear  58  and the gear plate  60  are operatively coupled together so that a rotation of the pinion gear  58  triggers a rotation of the gear plate  60 . Since the camera  14  is fixedly secured to the gear plate  60 , the activation of the third motor  54  triggers the rotation of the camera about the second rotation axis. 
         [0057]    A control unit (not shown) is further contained within the first housing. The control unit is configured for controlling the motors  42 ,  50 , and  54 , and thereby controlling the position and orientation of the camera  14  with respect to the support body  12 . The control unit comprises a processing unit and a memory coupled thereto. The memory comprises motion instructions stored thereon. The motion instructions correspond to a pattern of motion for the camera  14  relative to the support body  12 . The pattern of motion is indicative of the position and/or orientation of the camera  14  with respect to the support body  12  during the motion. Upon execution of the motion instructions by the processing unit, the control unit sends commands to the motors  42 ,  50 , and/or  54  in order to move the camera  14  according to the motion pattern. 
         [0058]    For example, the motion pattern may be indicative of a motor position for each one of the motors  42 ,  50 , and  54  during the motion of the camera  14 . 
         [0059]    In one example, the motion of the camera corresponds to a round trip along the elongated body  16 . The start and end positions of the camera  14  each correspond to a given end of the elongated body  16 . During the round trip motion, the camera  14  is moved from the given end of the elongated to the other end of the elongated body  16 , and then comes back to the given end of the elongated body  16 . For each position of the camera  14  along the elongated body  16 , the motion pattern comprises a motor position for the two motors  50  and  54 , i.e. during the motion of the camera  14  from the given end to the other end of the elongated body  16 , the motion pattern comprises, for each position along the elongated body  16 , a first motor position for the motor  50  ad  54 , and during the motion of the camera  14  from the other end to the given end of the elongated body  16 , the motion pattern comprises, for each position along the elongated body  16 , a second motor position for the motor  50  ad  54 . 
         [0060]    As described above, the control unit is further operatively connected to the camera  14 . In this case, the processing unit is configured for controlling the camera  14 . Camera instructions may be stored on the memory and upon execution of the instructions by the processing unit, the camera may film or take pictures of the passenger compartment. 
         [0061]    Referring back to  FIG. 5 , the apparatus  10  is further provided with a light source  62 . The light source  62  is secured to an end of the elongated body  16  opposite to the end to which the indented rail  48  is secured. For example, the light source  62  may comprise a plurality of light-emitting diodes (LEDs). The light source  62  may be controlled via a switch to be manually activated. Alternatively, the light source  62  may be control by the control unit. 
         [0062]    In one embodiment, the apparatus  10  is connectable to an external power source. In this case, an electrical cable may be used for electrically connecting the motors and the control unit to an external power source. 
         [0063]    In another embodiment, the apparatus  10  further comprises a power source such as a rechargeable battery  63 , as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0064]    It should be understood that the motors  42 ,  50 , and  54  may be any adequate electrical motors such as stepper motors. 
         [0065]      FIG. 6  illustrates an exemplary method for removably securing the apparatus  10  to the handles  64  of the passenger compartment  66  of a vehicle  68 . Each hook  70  is removably secured to a respective handle  64 . 
         [0066]      FIGS. 7 and 8  illustrates an exemplary method for removably securing the apparatus  10  to windows  72  of the passenger compartment  74  of a vehicle  76 . Each hook  70  is removably secured to the top end  78  of a respective window  72 . 
         [0067]    In one embodiment, the control unit is provided with a communication unit such as a wireless communication unit, and the control unit is remotely controllable using a remote control unit. 
         [0068]    In one embodiment, the light source  62  is connected to the power source  63 . In another embodiment, the light source  62  is provided with a power source independent from the power source  63 . In a further embodiment, the light source is connectable to an external power source that is independent from the apparatus  10 . 
         [0069]    The embodiments of the invention described above are intended to be exemplary only. The scope of the invention is therefore intended to be limited solely by the scope of the appended claims.