Portable video production system

A portable video production system includes a stand, a prompter portion, a mirror, a piece of glass, and a measuring device. The stand includes a table and a plurality of legs, and is configured to adjust a height of the legs based on a height of a user. The prompter portion includes a plurality of legs and a plurality of supports, and the supports extend between the legs of the prompter portion. The mirror is connected between first and second supports of the plurality of supports, and is configured to reflect a display of a laptop. The piece of glass is connected between third and fourth supports of the plurality of supports, and reflects the reflection of the display from the mirror to provide a reflected image to the user and to enable a video to be filmed through the glass without the reflected image appearing in the video. The measuring component is connected to the table, and extends from the table and being of a first specific length to indicate a first distance for the user to stand from the table.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

This disclosure generally relates to a video capture system, and more particularly relates to a portable video production system.

BACKGROUND

Companies can create videos for a variety of uses, such as instructional videos, commercials, informative videos, and the like. The company may need to hire a video production company to produce the video for them. To create the video, the person or persons that may be in the video can then go to the production company's location to shoot the video, the production company can send an entire production crew including equipment and personnel to the company's office, or the like.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1-3show a portable video production system100in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. The portable video production system100includes a prompter portion102, a stand104, microphone portion106, and lighting portion108. The prompter portion102includes legs110,112,114, and116, supports118,120,122,124,126, and128, mirror130, pieces of glass132,134, and136, and cover138. The stand104includes table140and legs142,144,146, and148. The microphone portion106includes a base150, a leg152, an arm154, and a microphone156. The lighting portion108includes a base158, a leg160, and light162. The portable video production system100further includes measuring devices164,166,168,170, and172(164-172). The measuring devices164-172can be any type of device capable of measuring a specific distance, such as a measuring tape, a ribbon, a length of cloth, or the like.

The legs110,112,114, and116of the prompter portion102are preferably connected together by the supports118,120,122,124,126, and128. For example, one end of the support118connects to a bottom portion of the leg114, and the support extends upward at an angle so that the opposite end of the support connects to a top portion of the leg110. Similarly, one end of the support120connects to a bottom portion of the leg116, and the support extends upward at an angle so that the opposite end of the support connects to a top portion of the leg112. The support126preferably extends away from the top portion of the leg114toward the front of the prompter portion102. In an embodiment, the support126can extend from the leg114at a ninety degree angle. The support122extends from a location of the leg114that is between the bottom and the top of the leg, extends upward and toward the front of the prompter portion102, and connects with an opposite end of the support126than leg114. The support128preferably extends away from the top portion of the leg116toward the front of the prompter portion102. In an embodiment, the support128can extend from the leg116at a ninety degree angle. The support124extends from a location of the leg116that is between the bottom and the top of the leg, extends upward and toward the front of the prompter portion102, and connects with an opposite end of the support128than leg116.

The mirror130of the prompter portion102can be positioned between the supports118and120, and is preferably angled to provide a reflection of the display of the laptop174(from a display screen175of the laptop) onto the piece of glass132, which can be positioned between the supports122and124. The reflection of the display from the mirror130can be reflected off the piece of glass132and provided as reflected image302to a user as shown inFIG. 3. The piece of glass132can be a piece of teleprompter glass or the like that can provide the reflected image302to the user and at the same time can enable a video of a user to be recorded through the piece of glass without the reflected image appearing in the video. The reflected image302can be displayed in an upright position with the same orientation as the display of the laptop174.

The piece of glass134can be connected between the supports118and122and can be any type of opaque material. Similarly, the piece of glass136can be connected between the supports120and124and can be any type of opaque material. In an embodiment, the supports118,120,122, and124can each include channels304(shown inFIG. 3) that the mirror130and pieces of glass132,134, and136can slide between so that the mirror and pieces of glass can be held in a proper location. For example, channels304on inner portion of supports118and120can hold the mirror130in place between these supports. The channels304on inner portions of supports122and124can hold the glass132in place to provide the reflected image302to the user. A channel304on the bottom portion of support122and a channel on a top portion of support118can hold the glass134in place. Similarly, the channel304on the bottom portion of support124and the channel304on the top portion of the support112can hold the glass136in place.

The channels304can provide easy access to the mirror130and pieces of glass132,134, and136so that the user can easily remove the mirror and pieces of glass from the prompter portion102. The user can remove the mirror130and pieces of glass132,134, and136to clean the mirror and pieces of glass, to move the portable video production system100, or the like.

The cover138can be connected between the supports126and128, and can be any type of opaque material, such as tinted glass, cloth, or the like. In an embodiment, the cover138can also be connected to the prompter portion102is such a way that the user can easily remove the cover. The pieces of glass134and136, and the cover138can reduce an amount of light on the mirror130and the glass134so that the user can view the reflected image302of the display of the laptop174easier than if the glass134and136and the cover138where not connected within the prompter102.

In an embodiment, the prompter102can also include a flap176. The flap176can connect to the top of the back portions of the legs114and116, and can be a piece of cloth that can be lifted to provide room for a camera to connect to the back of the prompter102. The pieces of glass134and136, the cover138, and the flap176can provide a lighting condition within the prompter102that enables the reflection of the laptop174to be viewed by the user while the camera can film the user through the piece of glass132. In an embodiment, the prompter portion104can also include piece of glass located within the triangle created by leg114, support122, and support126. In this embodiment, the piece of glass can be substantially similar to the piece of glass134. In an embodiment, the prompter portion104can also include piece of glass located within the triangle created by leg116, support124, and support128. In this embodiment, the piece of glass can be substantially similar to the piece of glass136.

Each of the legs142-148of the stand104can extend from a different corner of the table140. In an embodiment, the legs142-148can be telescopic legs so that the length of the legs can be adjusted based on the height of the user of the portable video production system100. Also, the user can collapse the legs142-148to a shortest length, then fold the legs under the table140, and then snap the entire portion of each of the legs under the table to make moving the stand104easier for the user. When the user gets the stand104to a desired location, the user can unfold each of the legs142-148and can extend the legs to a desired height.

The laptop174can be placed in a specific location on the table140by placing the laptop within an outlined area202as shown inFIG. 2. The prompter portion102can be positioned on the table140of the stand104by placing the legs110-116of the prompter within the outlined areas204as shown inFIG. 2. The outlined areas202and204can be lined with solid lines, dashed lines, or the like. In an embodiment, a base of the laptop174can be located in between a bottom portion of the mirror130of the prompter and a top surface of the table, between a bottom portion of a support206and the top surface of the table, and a display of the laptop can extend upward behind the prompter portion. The support206can extend from an inner portion of leg114and an inner portion of leg116.

In an embodiment, the support206can be located as specific distance up on the legs114and116to allow the laptop174to fit between the support and the table140. In an embodiment, each of the legs110-116can have a pad178connected to a bottom of the leg as shown inFIGS. 1 and 2. The pads178can be connected to the bottom of the legs110-116via a bolt or other adjustable connecting device, such that a distance between the pad and the bottom of the leg can be adjusted to change the height of the prompter portion102. For example, if a thickness of the laptop174is thicker than a previous laptop, the user can adjust the distance between each of the pads178and the respective leg110-116by unscrewing each of the pads from the respective leg. The increase in distance can increase the distance between the bottom portion of the mirror130of the prompter104and the top surface of the table, between the bottom portion of the support206and the top surface of the table so that a thicker laptop174can fit between the prompter portion and the table140.

The measuring device164can be connected to a front left corner of the table140of the stand104. The measuring device166can be connected to a front right corner of the base140of the stand104. The measuring device168can be connected to a front center portion of the table140of the stand104. In an embodiment, the measuring devices164-172can be connected to the portable video production system100in a non-permanent manner so that if one of the measuring devices is pulled on with a lot of force the measuring device will break away from the portable video production system without pulling any part or all of the portable video production system over. In another embodiment, the measuring devices164-172can be securely and permanently attached to the table140. The measuring devices164-172will be discussed in greater detail with respect toFIG. 8below.

The portable video production system100also includes a tablet holder assembly208, which in turn includes a clamp210, an arm212, and a holder214. The holder214can securely mount a tablet216within the tablet holder assembly. In an embodiment, the arm212can be flexible so that the user of the portable video production system100can move/position the holder214and tablet216to a desired location. For example, a user may want to position the tablet216so that the user can easily read information displayed on the screen218of the tablet216while the user is still at the location set by measuring devices164-172. The clamp210may be easily attached and removed from the table140so that the tablet holder assembly208can be connected to the portable video production system100only when the tablet216will be used during the filming.

The user can wirelessly connect the tablet216with the laptop174via any short range wireless protocol, such as Bluetooth or the like. The laptop174can then display the image of the screen218, which can then be reflect off the mirror130and glass132as image306in the reflected image302. The user can also utilize the image306to read and/or otherwise view information from the tablet216while looking directly at the camera. The laptop174can also store the images from the tablet216for later use, which will be described in more detail with respect toFIG. 8below.

FIGS. 4 and 5show the lighting portion108of the portable video production system100in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring toFIG. 4, an outlined area402on the table140can provide the user of the portable video production system100with a location to place the base158of the lighting portion108. The user can hold the base158of the lighting portion108within the outlined area402and then secure the base to the table140via connecting clamps404and406. In an embodiment, the base158can be more securely connected to the table140, than by the connecting clamps404and406, by the user utilizing bolts or any similar hardware component to hold the base in position with the outlined area402.

Now referring toFIG. 5, the lighting portion108includes a clamp502, an arm504, a hood506, a handle508, the leg160, and the light162. The leg160of the lighting portion108extends from the base158above the support126to provide a desired height for the light162in relation to the portable video production system100. The arm504is connected to the clamp502, and can extend upward from the leg160. In an embodiment, the light162is connected along with the hood506to the arm504in a fixed orientation so that the light and hood can be aligned to provide a direction of the light to the user during the filming of a video. The clamp502can connect to various locations along the leg160and can be locked in place by the user tightening the handle508. The height of the light162and the hood506can be adjusted up and down by moving the location of the clamp502along the leg160. A desired height of the light162and the hood506can be determined based on a height of the user as described below with respect toFIG. 8.

FIGS. 6 and 7show the microphone portion106of the portable video production system100in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring now toFIG. 6, an outlined portion602on the table140can provide the user of the portable video production system100with a location to place the base150of the microphone portion106. The user can hold the base150of the microphone portion106within the outline602and then secure the base to the table140via connecting clamps604and606. In an embodiment, the base150can be more securely connected to the table140, than by the connecting clamps604and606, by the user utilizing bolts or any similar hardware component to hold the base in position with the outlined area602.

Referring now toFIG. 7, the microphone portion106includes a clamp502, a handle504, the leg152, the arm154, and the microphone156. The leg152of the microphone portion106extends from the base150above the support128and cover138to provide a desired height for the microphone156in relation to the portable video production system100. The arm154is connected to the clamp502and can extend away from the leg152. The microphone156is connected to the arm154and the microphone can be positioned to provide a desired angle and distance from the user. The arm154can be a flexible arm that can be moved different directions to make the microphone156point substantially at the user's mouth. The clamp502can connect to various locations along the leg152and can be locked in place by the user tightening the handle504. The height and angle of the microphone162can be adjusted up and down by a combination of moving the location of the clamp502along the leg152and moving the arm154. A desired height of the microphone can be determined based on a height of the user as described below with respect toFIG. 8.

FIG. 8is a perspective view of the portable video production system100and a backdrop802in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. When setting up the portable video production system100, the user can first set up the stand104and can verify that the stand104is a proper distance from the backdrop802. The user can check the distance of the stand104from the backdrop802by extending the measuring device164from the front left corner of the table140to a corresponding edge of the backdrop. The user can determine that the left side of the stand is the proper distance from the backdrop when the end of the measuring device164opposite of the table touches the edge of the backdrop when the measuring device is fully extended. Similarly, the user can check the distance of the stand104from the backdrop802by extending the measuring device166from the front right corner of the table140to a corresponding edge of the backdrop. The user can determine that the right side of the stand is the proper distance from the backdrop when the end of the measuring device166opposite of the table touches the edge of the backdrop when the measuring device is fully extended.

After the stand104is place the proper distance from the backdrop802, the user can place the prompter portion102in the location on the table140as indicated by the outlines204. The user can then slide the laptop174under the mirror130(shown inFIGS. 1-3) and can align the laptop within the outline202on the table140. After the prompter portion102and the laptop174are set up on the table140of the stand104, the user can adjust the legs142-148to a desired height so that the reflected image302(shown inFIG. 3) is eye level with the user. The user can then determine the proper distance to stand from the prompter portion102and the stand104by extended the measuring device168from the center of the table140to the user's body. The user is standing the proper distance from the table140when the measuring device166only touches the user's body after being fully extended.

The user can then adjust the height of the microphone156by moving the clamp502up the leg152of the microphone portion106until the microphone is above the reflected image302. The user can then measure the distance from the microphone156to the user by extending the measuring device170from the microphone to the user's mouth. The microphone156is the proper distance from the user when the measuring device170only touches the user's mouth after being fully extended. The user can further adjust the clamp702on the leg152until the user determines that the microphone156is the proper distance from the user based on the measuring device170. The user can then move the arm154until the microphone is pointing substantially at the user's mouth.

The user can then adjust the height of the light162and hood506by moving the clamp502up the leg152of the microphone portion106until the hood is above the reflected image302. The user can then measure the distance from the light162to the user by extending the measuring device172from the hood506to the user's chest. The light162is the proper distance from the user when the measuring device172only touches the user's chest after being fully extended. The user can further adjust the clamp502on the leg152until the user determines that the light162and the hood506are the proper distance from the user based on the measuring device172.

The user can begin recording a video production after the user has finished setting up the stand104and the prompter portion102the proper distance from the background802, has determined the proper distance for the user to stand from the table140, has set the proper height of the microphone156, and has set the proper height of the light162. A camera804for the video production can be mounted on a support806located above the monitor of the laptop174and between the legs114and116of the prompter portion102. The flap176can cover the camera804so that no unnecessary light can get to the camera. Also, the microphone156can be plugged into an audio input of the camera804to provide high quality audio to the camera. After the video production has been recorded the user can send the video and audio to a remote server to be accessed and edited into a final video production.

The images on the screen218of the tablet216can also be transmitted along with the recorded video and audio to the remote server for use in editing together the final video production. In particular, during the editing process the images on the screen218can be placed within the video from the camera804. For example, during the editing process the images from the screen218can be place above one of the shoulders of the user. In this situation, the user can have slides, pictures, or the like output of the screen218of the tablet216and in image306(shown inFIG. 3above) to spark the user's memory during filming. Then the final video can include the same pictures, slides, or the like over a shoulder of the user so that a viewer can have a visual aid to further establish what the user is talking about.

The camera804can include a wireless communication capability, such that the video and audio can be sent to the remote server without the user having to physically connect the camera to the Internet. The wireless capability of the camera804can provide different options for transferring the video and audio to the remote server, such as file transfer protocol, and the like. Thus, the user can utilize the portable video production system100to create a high quality video production at any location without having a film crew coming out to the location.

The numerous innovative teachings of the present application will be described with particular reference to the exemplary embodiments. However, it should be understood that this class of embodiments provides only a few examples of the many advantageous uses of the innovative teachings herein. In general, statements made in the specification of the present application do not necessarily limit any of the various claimed inventions. To the contrary, the description of the exemplary embodiments are intended to cover alternative, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the claims. Moreover, some statements may apply to some inventive features but not to others.

The above disclosed subject matter is to be considered illustrative, and not restrictive, and the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications, enhancements, and other embodiments which fall within the true spirit and scope of the present disclosed subject matter. Thus, to the maximum extent allowed by law, the scope of the present disclosed subject matter is to be determined by the broadest permissible interpretation of the following claims and their equivalents, and shall not be restricted or limited by the foregoing detailed description.