Patent Publication Number: US-2023138792-A1

Title: Remote Teleprompter And Production System

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Video recording of individuals for interviews and other media content remains a prominent way of communicating, particularly in a world in which remote work environments become more and more common. However, production quality is less than optimal, especially in remote locations. Commonly used video equipment such as phones and tablets have an inherent flaw in that the camera lens and the screen viewed by the user are not aligned along the user’s line of sight. Upgrading equipment and creating a system suitable for high quality video production is costly in both expense and in the minimum required technical expertise of personnel that can set up such a system. Moreover, many existing video systems are large involving many heavy components that must be set up individually, or else must be wheeled around on a large platform or cart. Such systems can improve quality but are mainly confined to specific locations as they are not portable or movable without difficulty and cannot be sent to remote locations without requiring huge shipping containers and associated expenses, along with the personnel required to reassemble the system for use. 
     A need exists for a video production system that is more user-friendly, particularly for an individual not technically educated in the field of video equipment, and that is portable and remotely operated to minimize the effort of the end user and to enhance the quality of video production. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a front perspective view of a video production system in a closed configuration in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG.  2    is a front perspective view of the video production system of  FIG.  1    with its case in an open configuration. 
         FIGS.  3  and  4    are front perspective views of the video production system of  FIG.  1    with a collapsible camera system in a collapsed configuration and raised. 
         FIGS.  5  and  6    are front perspective views of the video production system of  FIG.  1    with the collapsible camera system in an open configuration. 
         FIG.  7    is a front perspective view of the collapsible camera system of the first embodiment in an open configuration. 
         FIG.  8    is a front perspective view of a portion of a top frame member of the collapsible camera system of  FIG.  7   . 
         FIGS.  9  and  10    are front perspective transparent views of the portion of the top frame member of the collapsible camera system of  FIG.  7   , without and with a camera, respectively. 
         FIG.  11    is an enlarged front perspective transparent view of the view of  FIG.  10   . 
         FIGS.  12  and  13    are rear perspective views of the collapsible camera system of  FIG.  7   . 
         FIGS.  14  and  15    are rear perspective views of the top frame member of the collapsible camera system of  FIG.  7    with a lid on and off, respectively. 
         FIG.  16    is a perspective view of a camera positioned near an aperture and a lens adaptor of the collapsible camera system of  FIG.  7   . 
         FIGS.  17 - 19    are perspective views of the lens adaptor of  FIG.  16    in connection with the top frame member of the collapsible camera system of  FIG.  7   . 
         FIG.  20    illustrates a flow diagram of an operation of the video production system. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As shown in  FIGS.  1 - 19   , a video production system  100  is both portable and collapsible. System  100  includes a case  110  having a top lid  111  and a bottom lid  112  pivotably connected on hinges at a rear portion of the case  110 , and closable via one or more latches  113  at a front portion of the case  110 . One type of case is a Pelican brand case. Case  110  also includes a handle  114  to enable a user to move and ship it easily. Case  110  is sized similarly to a briefcase and is, in one embodiment, made out of hard plastic or metal so that it is durable enough to protect the contents within from movement or damage. One or both of top lid  111  and bottom lid  112  can include a cavity, or one of the lids can be planar. In other embodiments, top lid  111  can be fully removable from bottom lid  112  when case  110  is open. 
     Inside case  110 , a lift  120  is rigidly secured to one of top lid  111  and bottom lid  112 . As shown in  FIG.  3   , lift  120  is secured to case bottom lid  112 , so that lift  120  is exposed and can be extended upward from bottom lid  112  when case  110  is open. As shown in  FIG.  3   , lift  120  is designed as a scissor lift, but can be any type of device permitting extension of an item from its anchor point at bottom lid  112 , such as a pneumatic lift, etc. 
     A collapsible camera system  130  is shown in  FIGS.  2 - 7    to be rigidly secured to a top of lift  120  so that it can be moved upward from bottom lid  112  when case  110  is open. Camera system  130  includes a clamshell-type frame having a bottom frame member  131 , a top frame member  132 , and a middle frame member  133  all pivotable with respect to one another along a hinge axis  134  of the frame. Bottom frame member  131  is rigidly secured to the top of lift  120  and houses a computer  135  having a screen. Computer  135  can be an iPad, a tablet, 2-in-1 laptop, or any other similar computing device in which a screen projects its image upward from bottom frame member when computer  135  is positioned therein. Internal guides or rails can be disposed within bottom frame member  131  to secure computer  135  in place. The guides or rails may be movable or adjustable, such as by using clamps, to enable the use of different types of computers. The screen of computer  135  can be used to display a video feed, typically of another individual or individuals with which the user is communicating, text for the user to read, or for any other projected image or video to be seen by the viewer during use of the camera system  130 . 
     Middle frame member  133  encloses a transparent glass or plastic substrate  136  and is pivotally attached to bottom frame member  131  so that it can be angled at about 45 degrees about the rear hinged connection with respect to bottom frame member  131 . In this way, when middle frame member  133  is in its angled position, the screen of computer  135  can be projected to a user sitting in front of system  100  via its reflection on transparent substrate  136 . 
     As seen in  FIGS.  7 - 11 ,  14 , and  15   , top frame member  132  includes an enclosure  138  that houses a camera  137 , which can be a phone, a DSLR camera, or the like capable of taking pictures and video. Top frame member  132  is pivotable so that it can be angled at about 90 degrees about the rear hinged connection with respect to bottom frame member  131  so that when top frame member  132  is in this position, camera  137  is aimed along a direction X shown in  FIG.  7    at the user sitting in front of system  100  and through transparent substrate  136 . A hood  140  can be attached to top frame member  132  and middle frame member  133  to block light above transparent substrate  136  and camera  137 . Other hoods or backdrops can also be provided that pull out to block light to camera  137 . 
     In this way, once case  110  is opened, lift  120  can be actuated to raise camera system  130  to a height above its initial secured location, if such movement is deemed necessary. Camera system  130  can then be opened so that top frame member  132  is angled at about 90 degrees to bottom frame member  131 , and middle frame member  133  can be angled at about 45 degrees to bottom frame member  131 . Lift  120  permits raising and lowering camera system  130  so that camera  137  can be aligned more closely with the natural sightline of the viewer. 
     A portion of top frame member  132  being a panel  141  and enclosure  138  is shown in  FIGS.  8 - 15    to illustrate how camera  137  is positioned. Additional images of top frame member  132  are provided in  FIGS.  12 - 14    showing a removable lid  142  from a side of top frame member  132  that faces away from the user when camera system  130  is in use. Panel  142  can be opened to expose the interior of enclosure  138 , as shown in  FIGS.  14  and  15   . Camera  137  can be positioned within enclosure  138 , and particularly within a clamp  143  to securely position camera  137  so that its lens(es) is disposed within an aperture  144  of enclosure  138  to be aimed at the user through transparent substrate  136 . Clamp  143  can be anchored by a screw or nut and bolt configuration  145 , which allows at least a portion of clamp  143  to slide and therefore be adjustable within enclosure  138 . Nut and bolt  145  are disposed within a slot  146  and can be secured in one of many positions. This facilitates the use of many different kinds of cameras, including smart phones and DSLR cameras that may not be similarly dimensioned but nonetheless fit within enclosure  138  for use in camera system  130 . In some instances, cameras may be used that are larger than the space within enclosure  138 , such as certain smart phones, DSLR cameras, and even larger cinema cameras. Such cameras can be positioned to film through aperture  144  even if they are not secured within or to enclosure  138 . In such case, for example, a larger cinema camera can be shipped with system  100  but separately set up behind top frame member  132  to film through aperture  144 . This provides a system  100  that still includes all components for video production while maintaining minimal setup. The camera could also be packaged and shipped separate from the remainder of system  100  or could be available at the remote location already. 
     One important feature that further facilitates the use of various camera devices is lens adaptor  150 , shown in  FIGS.  17 - 19   . Aperture  144  is purposely designed to be large so as to accommodate many types of cameras. However, in order to provide the correct size and geometry of an aperture for a particular camera, lens adaptor  150  is designed for a specific type of camera. For example, lens adaptor  150  shown in  FIGS.  17 - 19    is for a particular type of smart phone having an oval or obround shaped camera lens. Lens adaptor  150  closely fits around the camera lens to properly frame the lens to optimize light intake for the camera. A goal of the lens adaptor  150  is to reduce light pollution to the lens of the camera. For example, light can reach the lens from around or even behind the camera, even with removable lid  142  in position over camera. Lens adaptor  150  provides a tighter fit around the particular camera lens so that light pollution is reduced or eliminated from these sources. In addition, when cameras are used such as cinema cameras in a use where removable lid  142  is removed during filming, lens adaptor  150  can be even more important to block out light from the room coming from behind the lens. Thus, when the camera sticks out the back of top frame member  132 , a lens adaptor  150  specifically designed for a particular camera and/or lens can optimize the lighting conditions regardless of the camera or that it does not fit within enclosure  138 . This more easily facilitates use of a high-end production style camera with system  100 . Lens adaptor  150  is manufactured to the specifics of a particular camera, and so can be labeled with the name of the particular device with which it is associated. Lens adaptor  150  can be manufactured from plastic and 3D printed to the specifications needed. Connection between top frame member  132  and lens adaptor  150  is preferably through an array of magnets  151  placed both on or within the material of top frame member  132  and on or within the material of lens adaptor  150  to allow a secure but removable fit. The outer periphery of lens adaptor  150  can match an outer periphery of a recessed profile  152  of top frame member  132  to further align the elements. Moreover, this peripheral matching allowed various configurations of lens adaptors designed with internal apertures for different cameras to all have the same periphery so that they can be magnetically secured and disposed within the same recess of top frame member  132 . 
     In one embodiment, a plurality of lens adaptors is provided. Each adaptor has an outer periphery of a common, identical size and shape so that each adaptor is configured to mate within a recess of top frame member  132  in the same manner. Each adaptor has magnets attached or embedded at the same positions so that each adaptor can attach to top frame member  132  via magnets attached or embedded to top frame member  132  in substantially mirroring positions. Each adaptor has an inter periphery defining an aperture, with the inner periphery and aperture of each adaptor being different from every other adaptor in size and/or shape. One or more of the adaptors can be 3D printed. One or more of the adaptors can be labeled, for example in the material of the adaptor. The adaptors can be made of metal, plastic, or ceramic materials. 
     An important benefit to this construction is that camera system  130  can be opened and operated in a secure manner with very minimal setup. Case  110  can be located on a flat, sturdy surface and the contents therein do not have to be removed and set up outside of case  110 . Moreover, when use of camera system  130  is finished, it can simply be folded closed and secured back into case  110  with a very simple effort. A single power cable  139  can be plugged in to an external power source by the user and can provide power directly to camera  137  and computer  135  by prewired connections. In one embodiment, system  130  is shipped with a smartphone and/or computer turned off and plugged into power cable  139 , so that plugging power cable  139  into an external power source automatically turns the smartphone and/or computer on when power flows. Accordingly, the user must only open case  110  and plug in power cord  139  to activate camera system  130 . The power cord is retractable as seen at the top left side of  FIG.  2    where it is retracted and at the top left side of  FIG.  4    where it is pulled out. In other embodiments, a single or multiple power buttons may additionally be actuated to turn on camera  137  and computer  135 . A USB adaptor or other type of cable connector hub  147  can be provided to electrically connect the devices and/or to distribute power. 
     Case  110  may be weighted to be relatively heavier at bottom lid  112  so that it is more securely and stably placed on a surface. Interior portions of case  110  can include foam or other padding so that the contents of case  110  are secured and protected when case  110  is closed and, particularly, when it is being transported. 
     Other external features can be provided and connected to the system to facilitate and enhance use of the camera system  130  such as a microphone  160  shown in  FIGS.  4  and  5   . Lighting can also be provided, such as by light bar  170  shown in  FIG.  6   . Other sources of lighting, such as lighting rings and additional light bars may also be provided. Both the light bar  170  and microphone  160  may be repositionable. For instance, microphone  160  may be a “shotgun” microphone that is rotatably mounted to the case  110 , camera system  130 , or to other portion of the system. During setup of the system  100 , a user or actuator may rotate the microphone  160  to a particular position. For instance, the microphone may be rotated to direct the microphone capsule towards the user. 
     System  100  is particularly useful for companies that seek to obtain video or interviews from individuals at remote locations from the interviewer, or who wish to allow such individuals to keep a ready-to-use production system for on demand video or interviews. Because all of the contents of system  100  fit within case  110 , including all elements of the camera and computer along with wired connections and power, an end user can receive the case through regular shipping channels such as USPS, FedEx, or UPS without requiring excessive shipping costs. System  100  is very simple to use by allowing the user to simply open up case  110  and camera system  130  and plug system  100  into an external power source. Not only does this make it very easy for the owner of the system  100  to get the system into the hands of the end user, but system  100  is also fully set up and contactless in that it essentially eliminates the need for any technical expert to be on hand to configure or set up system  100 . 
     In this regard, the computer can be tethered, wirelessly and/or hard-wired, to the smartphone such that the computer can access the smartphone’s internet connection. The smartphone may establish an internet connection via a Wi-Fi connection, LTE, 5G, or other such connection. Further, through the connection, the computer may provide power to the smartphone, access data stored on the phone, receive imagery (e.g., photos or video,) captured by the camera of the smartphone, as well provide control instructions to the smartphone. In some instances, the computer may establish its own internet connection, such as through a network connection card to a local Wi-Fi system. 
     The system  100  can be controlled remotely. For instance, a remote operator can access and control physical aspects of system  100  such as the lift and the height to which the camera is set (by expanding or contracting the scissor lift,) to set the height of the camera for an optimal recording experience. Other aspects of the system can also be controlled, such as power on and off, what is displayed on the screen of the computer, etc. In one example, the remote operator of system  100  can trigger the camera of the smartphone to begin recording. The recorded video may be transmitted back to the remote operator using the internet connection. The recorded video may be stored locally by the smartphone, stored on an external memory device within the system  100 , uploaded to a cloud storage service, and/or stored remotely by the remote operator. 
     System  100  permits an end user to receive system  100  through the mail for easy setup and use of a remotely operated and adjustable video production system that provides a much superior video product than the use of a standard laptop or tablet, particularly one in which the video screen and camera are not aligned along the user’s line of sight. Also, system  100  is extremely portable so that an end user can carry system  100  for use on demand when, for example, a reporter must communicate multiple times to a host or an interviewee must provide multiple interviews to different sources. 
       FIG.  20    illustrates a flow diagram of an operation of the system  100 . In this regard, the user may set up the system as illustrated by block  2001 . System set-up may include the user opening the case  110  and plugging in the power cord  139  to a power source. The user may then power on the system  100 , such as by hitting a power switch, as illustrated by block  2003 . Upon powering on the system, the computer  135  may boot-up and run predefined operations. In some instances, the computer  135  may provide power to the smartphone, which may cause the smartphone to turn on. Moreover, the computer may charge the battery of the smartphone. Predefined operations may include the computer establishing a connection with a remote system, such through an internet connection, and the computer establishing a connection with the smartphone. 
     After the system is powered on, the computer may provide instructions to the user, as illustrated by block  2005 . The instructions may include tasks, such as turning the microphone to a particular direction, adjusting the light bar etc. Upon completion of the task, the user may push a button, such as  210 , indicating completion of the instruction. In some instances, an additional task may be provided to the user, as illustrated by block  2007 . At the completion of each additional task, the user may push button  210  to advance to the next instruction. 
     After completion of all instructions, the computer may notify a remote operator that the user is ready to begin recording, as illustrated by block  2009 . At this time, the remote operator may trigger the camera to begin recording. In this regard, the remote operator may communicate directly with the smartphone or through the computer. Although block  2009  illustrates that the computer notifies a remote operator, the computer may instead instruct the smartphone to begin recording with or without notifying the remote operator. 
     Although the invention herein has been described with reference to particular embodiments, it is to be understood that these embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles and applications of the present invention. It is therefore to be understood that numerous modifications may be made to the illustrative embodiments and that other arrangements may be devised without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.