Abstract:
A helmet- or head-mounted video recording system is provided for mounting on a piece of head gear such as a head-protective helmet. The system includes a camera module attachable to the head gear, including a first video camera integrated into the camera module for generating a video signal. A recording module is removably attachable to the head gear and is adapted to receive the video signal and store data representative of the video signal. A power supply module is removably attachable to the head gear and is electrically connectable to the camera module and the recording module.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims the priority benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/879,923, filed Jan. 11, 2007. The aforementioned provisional application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The present disclosure relates to a camera system and more particularly to a modular helmet- or head-mounted camera recording system. Although the present disclosure will be shown and described herein primarily by way of reference to the preferred embodiment wherein the video recording system in accordance with this teaching is attached to a head-protective helmet, it will be recognized that the present system is amenable to all manner of hard or soft head mounts, hear wear, head straps, or other head gear. 
     SUMMARY 
     A head-mounted video recording system is provided for mounting on a piece of head gear, preferably a head-protective helmet. The system includes a camera module attachable to the head gear, including a first video camera integrated into the camera module for generating a video signal. A recording module is removably attachable to the head gear and is adapted to receive the video signal and store data representative of the video signal. A power supply module is removably attachable to the head gear and is electrically connectable to the camera module and the recording module. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention may take form in various components and arrangements of components, and in various steps and arrangements of steps. The drawings are only for purposes of illustrating preferred embodiments and are not to be construed as limiting the invention. 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric view of an exemplary helmet mounted camera system in accordance with this disclosure, attached to a helmet. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded isometric view of the system shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded rear isometric view of the system shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a right side view of the video storage device. 
         FIG. 5  is an isometric view of the video storage device. 
         FIG. 6  is a left side view of the video storage device. 
         FIG. 7  is an enlarged, isometric view of the video storage device with the control panel cover and memory card slot cover in the open position. 
         FIG. 8  is an enlarged, rear view of the video storage device with the control panel cover and memory card slot cover in the open position. 
         FIG. 9  is an enlarged, isometric view of the helmet interface bracket with camera module. 
         FIGS. 10 and 11  are exploded isometric views of the camera module. 
         FIG. 12  is an exploded view of night time camera eye cup assembly for use with a night vision system. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to the drawing figures, an exemplary modular helmet-mounted camera system  100  is adapted to be attached to a helmet  102 , such as a military field helmet or other head-protective helmet, and includes a recording module  110  operably coupled to a camera module  112  and a power supply module  114  for supplying power to the recording module  110  and camera module  112 . It will be recognized that the system may be adapted for use with other types of head worn systems, straps, etc. In a preferred alternative embodiment, the system is employed with a padded head strap system, such as the L2 Series NVG Head Mount available from Wilcox Industries Corp. of Newington, N.H. 
     The recording module  110  is coupled to a first connector  180  having rear hooks  182  for removably engaging the rear portion of the helmet  102  and includes a connecting shoe  184  for removable attachment to a mating foot  186  on the connector  180 . 
     A strap  200  is attached at a first end to the first connector  180  and at a second end to a tensioning member such as a ratchet member  220  having a hook  222  for removable attachment to a helmet mounting bracket  116 . The ratchet  220  includes a thumb wheel  224  which is rotatable to increase tension in the strap  200  and a release button  226  for releasing the ratchet  220 , e.g., for removal of the strap  200  from the helmet  102 . The ratchet mechanism  220  may be as described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,219,370, which is commonly-owned herewith. U.S. Pat. No. 7,219,370 is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     The power supply module  114  is coupled to a second connector  190  on the strap  200 . In a preferred embodiment, the second connector  190  may be a movable connector, e.g., which may be positioned at a desired location on the strap  200  and secured in position. The second connector  190  includes a foot  196  for removably attaching a mating shoe  194  on the connector  190 . In the depicted preferred embodiment, the power supply  114  has a shoe  197  opposite the mounting foot  196  for electronically coupling additional power supply modules  114 , e.g., in parallel fashion. 
     An optional third connector  230  may also be provided and includes a connection foot  236  for connecting to a mating connector shoe of another helmet mounted device, which may be a friend/foe identification unit, GPS antenna, night or day camera, communication device, or other helmet-mounted accessory. In the depicted preferred embodiment, the accessory modules may be attached to any of the connectors  180 ,  190 , and  230  and receive power from an attached battery module  114 . Likewise, the battery module  114  may be attached to any of the connectors  180 ,  190 , and  230  to provide power to the other connectors on the strap  200 . Thus, the battery module  114  and accessory devices may be attached to any of the connectors  180 ,  190  and  230  and other arrangements of the attached modules on the system  100  are possible. 
     Although the depicted preferred embodiment illustrates sliding shoe-type connectors, it will be recognized other types of quick connect/disconnect fasteners providing a removable mechanical and electrical coupling may be employed. For example, in alternative embodiments, the connectors may be bayonet connectors of the type shown and described in the aforementioned commonly-owned U.S. Pat. No. 7,219,370. 
     The strap  200  includes conductive wires or strips  202 , e.g., stainless steel strips although other conductive materials are contemplated. The stainless steel strips may be received in complimentary axially extending grooves molded or otherwise formed in the strap  200  or otherwise embedded in the strap  200 . The conductive strips  202  are electrically coupled to electrical contacts  188  on the connector  180 , electrical contacts  198  on the connector  190  and contacts  238  on the connector  230 . The contacts  188  contact electrical contacts  240  on the shoe portion  184  of the attached recorder device  110 . The contacts  198  contact like electrical contacts  242  on the power supply  114  which are in turn electrically coupled to the one or more batteries contained within the power supply  114 . 
     The camera module  112  is adapted to attach to the front of the helmet  102  beneath a helmet mounting bracket  116  having a pivoting interface  118  of a type for positioning an attached optical device  120  such as a night vision system in front of an eye of a user. The interface  118  may be of a type shown in U.S. Pat. No. 7,219,370 or U.S. provisional Application No. 60/982,533 filed Oct. 25, 2007, both of which are commonly-owned herewith and both of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. 
     Fasteners  122  attach the camera module  112  and bracket  116  to the helmet from the interior of the helmet and pass through openings in the helmet aligned with openings  126  in the camera module  112  and openings  124  in the helmet mount  116  to secure the helmet mount  116  and camera system  112  to the helmet  102 . For example, the threaded fasteners may engage threaded nuts (not shown) or the openings  124  may be tapped to provide internal threads. A fastener  132  passes through an opening  134  in the helmet mount  116  and a bushing or spacer  136  is provided, which is roughly the same thickness as the camera module  112 . 
     The camera module  112  includes a front housing shell  140  and a rear plate  142  defining an interior compartment  144 . A camera unit  150  includes a day time camera element  158  received within day time camera housing shells  152  and  154  which cooperate to define a day time camera housing  156 . 
     The day time camera housing  156  includes an arm  160  which is keyed to a rotatable tie rod end  162  and rotatably captured within an opening  164  defined by the front housing shell  140  and a tie rod trap insert  166 . 
     A tie rod  250  includes a first end  254  defining a tongue received within a groove  256  on the tie rod end  162  and attached with a fastener  258 , such as a pin, threaded fastener or the like. A second end  252  of the tie rod  250  defines a tongue which is received within a groove  266  on a second tie rod end  262  and secured with a fastener  268 . 
     An LED unit  270  includes housing shells  272  and  274  defining a housing  276 . A circuit board  280  carries a LED light source  282  and a switch  284 . The switch  284  is preferably a magnetic reed switch having a manually actuatable switch actuator  286  on the housing  276  which carries a magnet into and out of proximity of the switch  284  to selectively close and open the switch  284 . Alternatively, a contact switch, such as a sliding contact switch, push button contact switch, or the like may be used. 
     The LED element  282  is received within a rotatable color wheel  290 . The color wheel  290  may be formed of a molded material and preferably a molded, transparent material, such as a polycarbonate material such as LEXAN or other transparent polymer material The color wheel  290  is connected to a thumb wheel  300  through an opening  302  in the upper shell  272  via a fastener  304 . 
     The housing  276  defines a lens aperture  310  receiving a lens  312 . A plurality of filter elements  292  are angularly spaced about the color wheel  290  periphery. Each filter  292  may be selected to allow a desired color of light to pass through. In a preferred the LED  282  is a white LED. The rotational position of the color wheel  290  may be adjusted to select a desired color of light (e.g., red, green and blue) by rotating the thumb wheel  300  to bring the appropriate filter  292  into alignment with the lens  312  and lens aperture  310 . White light may be provided by rotating the color wheel  290  to a position wherein no filter  292  is disposed between the LED  282  and lens  312 . 
     The LED unit  270  includes a keyed end  332  of an inner sleeve  330 , which engages a keyway  334  in the housing  276 . A pin  336  is received within the grooves  326  on an outer sleeve  322  coaxially receiving the inner sleeve  330  and aligned pin holes  338  in the inner sleeve  330 . 
     The second tie rod end  262  includes the groove  266  receiving the tongue  252  of the tie rod  250  and is fastened therein with the fastener  268 . The tie rod end  262  is attached to the outer sleeve  322  via one or more pins or like fasteners  340  passing through one or more openings  342  formed in the outer sleeve  322  and one or more aligned openings  344  in the tie rod end  262 . A spring  350  is coaxially received over the inner sleeve  330  and within the outer sleeve  322 . 
     The flange  324  is rotatably received within a grooved opening  360  defined by the front housing shell  140  and a tie rod trap insert  366 . In operation, the camera unit  150  and the LED unit  270  will remain in alignment and pivot together about the pivot axis of the tie rod  250 , e.g., in response to manual rotation of either the camera unit  150  or the LED unit  270 . 
     If it is desired to rotate the LED unit  270  independently of the camera unit  150 , the LED unit  270  may be pulled transversely outwardly to compress the spring  350  and to disengage the pin  330  from the notches  326  formed in the end of the outer sleeve  322 . This allows the LED unit  270  to rotate independently of the camera unit  150 . For example, it may be advantageous in some instances when recording video with the camera unit  150  to angle the LED unit  270  somewhat upwardly to provide more diffuse lighting of the scene or object being recorded. 
     A yoke  370  may be provided on the front housing shell  140  to provide for storage of a night time camera unit  400  when the night time camera  400  and/or the night vision goggle  120  are not in use. A multi-conductor cable  170  (shown in broken lines) extends between a connector socket  172  on the recorder device  110  and a connector socket  174  on the front housing shell  140 . 
     Power to operate the day-time camera  150  is provided by the power supply  114  and is transmitted through the mating contacts  242  and  198  of power supply  114  and connector  190 , respectively, and through the conductive strips  202  in the strap  200  and through the contacts  188  on the connector  180  and contacts  240  on the recorder device  110 . 
     The contacts  240  on the recorder device  110  are coupled to the electrical power and signal connector  172  on the recorder device  110 . The electrical connector  172  is a multi-pin connector for attaching the multi-conductor cable  170  for transmitting power from the power supply  114  to the LED unit  270  and camera modules  150  and  400 , as well as for transmitting a video signal from the camera modules  150  and  400  to the recorder box  110 . Power from the connector  174  is electrically coupled to the camera element  158  is provided by conductors passing through the interior compartment  144  and through a channel  380  in the housing  156 . Likewise, electrical signals from the camera element  158  are carried via conductors passing through the channel  380  in the housing  156  into the interior compartment  144  to a day time camera video circuit board  382 , which is coupled to the connector  174 . 
     Video signals from the video circuit board  382  are passed from the circuit board  382  to the recorder unit  110  via the cable  170 , wherein the video signal is converted to a digital representation via analog-to-digital conversion circuitry in the recorder unit  110  and stored on an electronic storage medium  390 , which is preferably a removable or swappable storage medium such as a flash memory card or other solid-state electronic data storage device. 
     Alternatively, the video signal may be digitized by an analog-to-digital converter in the camera module  112  and transferred via the cable  170  to the recorder box  110  as digital data for storage on the digital storage medium  390 . 
     The night time or low lux camera  400  is adapted for use with a standard night vision goggle  120  to record video images from the output display of the night vision goggle  120 . An adapter ring  410  is adapted to be received over the viewing end of the night vision goggle  120  and carries a beam splitter  412  such as a partially reflective mirror or the like. 
     The beam splitter  412  is supported in the adapter ring  410  in the optical path of the night vision goggle  120  output display such that a portion of the output image from the night vision goggle  120  is reflected  90  degrees with respect to the optical axis  430  to the low lux camera  400 . The camera  400  is removably supported on a camera retainer  414  on the adapter ring  410 . 
     The portion of the output image from the night vision goggle  120  that is not reflected by the beam splitter  412  passes through the beam splitter  412 . A lens  416  and a bezel or eyepiece  418  are attached to the adapter ring  410  and the portion of the image transmitted by the beam splitter  412  is viewable through the lens  416 . In this manner, the output display of the night vision goggle  120  can be simultaneously recorded as video data and simultaneously viewed by the user. 
     The video signal from the low lux camera  400  is carried over a cable  420 , which has an end  422  that passes through a channel  424  in the front housing shell  140  into the interior compartment  144  of the camera module  112 . The cable  420  includes power conductors which are electrically coupled to the power supply  114  and signal conductors which are electrically coupled to the appropriate pins of the connector  174  for transmission over the cable  170  to the recorder box  110 . A digital representation of the output display of the night vision goggle  120  may then be recorded and stored on the storage medium  390 . 
     The recorder module  112  includes a housing  440  defining an interior for housing the circuit components thereof A hinged door  442  is moveable between closed and open positions to provide access to a memory card interface slot  444  receiving the memory card  390 . The door  444  may include a sealing member  446  to provide a seal against the entry of moisture or external contaminants. It will be recognized that other forms of electronic storage media may be employed, such as a hard disk drive or other magnetic storage medium, optical or magneto-optical storage media, or other nonvolatile storage media. 
     A camera switch  450  is provided on the housing  440  for switching between the day time camera  150  and the low lux camera  400  and for powering off both of the cameras. The switch  450  preferably employs reed switches disposed within the housing  440  and in electrical communication with the cameras and power supply  114  and which are actuated by a magnet carried on a sliding switch actuator  452  for the selective opening or closing of the internal reed switches. In this manner, entry of water or external contaminants through the switch  450  is prevented. It will be recognized that other switch types, such as contact switches are also contemplated. 
     An LED switch  460  is provided on the housing  440  for selectively toggling the LED unit  270  between high, low, and off states. The switch  460  preferably employs internally housed magnetic reed switches which are actuated by selective positioning of a magnet carried on a sliding actuator  462 , although other switch types are contemplated. 
     A microphone input jack  470  may also be provided for attaching a microphone  472  (shown in broken lines) for recording an audio signal from the microphone  472  as digital audio data associated with the recorded video data. The microphone  472  may advantageously be mounted on the user&#39;s helmet  102  or otherwise be attached to the user. 
     A control panel door  480  is movable between a closed position and an open position to provide access to a control panel  482 . The control panel  482  includes a record button  484  which is pressed to begin recording video from the selected camera  150  or  270 , depending on the position of the switch  450 , as well as associated audio from the microphone  472  attached to the audio input jack  470 . Pressing the record button  484  again stops the recording operation. A vibrator mechanism may optionally be provided in the recording module  110  to provide tactile feedback when a recording operation is started or stopped. 
     A ready light  486 , such as one or more LEDs, may be provided to provide an indication of when the unit  110  is ready to begin a recording operation. For example, a red LED may be provided to indicate that the unit  110  is not ready to record and a green LED may be provided to indicate that the unit  110  is ready to record. 
     A memory status button  488  is depressible to output an indication of the memory status, such as the amount of memory remaining on the memory card  390 . The memory status output may be provided via a mode light  490 , for example, wherein a sequence of light flashes may be output, which sequence varies in accordance with the memory status. A memory erase button  492  may be provided to erase the contents of the memory card  390  or to make the card available for overwriting. 
     A USB port  494  is provided for interfacing the recorder module  110  with a computer or computer-based information handling system, e.g., for viewing, storing, uploading, or archiving the contents of the memory card  390 . Alternatively, the memory card  390  may be interfaced to a computer or computer-based information handling system by removing the card  390  from the card slot  444  of the recorder  110  and inserting the card  390  into an appropriate card reader or card slot interface of the computer or computer-based information handling system. 
     It will be recognized that the depicted USB connection port  494  is exemplary only and that alternative or additional communication means may be provided for accessing or transferring the data from the memory card  390 , including a cabled connection such as an IEEE 1394 (Firewire) interface or other serial or parallel data connection, or a wireless link, such as a radio frequency (RF) or optical (e.g., infrared) communication link. 
     The control panel door  480  may include a sealing member  496  for providing a seal against external contamination. A pass-through button  498  may be provided on the door  480  for actuating the record button  484  without the need to open the control panel door  480 . Additional means for controlling the record function, such as a tethered hand held remote may also be provided. 
     The invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments. Modifications and alterations will occur to others upon reading and understanding the preceding detailed description. It is intended that the invention be construed as encompassing all such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.