Abstract:
A body mounted camera system may include: a band structure having an inner surface positionable against a user&#39;s body, an outer surface facing away from the user&#39;s body, and an interior cavity between the inner surface and the outer surface; a camera within the interior cavity including a lens exposed through the outer surface of the band structure; a controller within the interior cavity for controlling the camera, the controller including an interconnection module for connecting to an outside device; a power source within the interior cavity for powering the controller and the camera; and electrical connections connecting the controller, the power source, and the camera.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/250,356, filed on Nov. 3, 2015, the entire content of which is hereby incorporated by this reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Field 
         [0003]    Embodiments of the present invention relate to wearable cameras. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Wearable cameras have been increasing in use recently for both athletic and non-athletic situations. Many wearable cameras are bulky and/or uncomfortable to wear. Wearable cameras can also get in the way of or restrict movement of participants when playing sports such as basketball or doing other activities or sports that require a freedom of motion. 
         [0006]    Additionally, many wearable cameras are clearly identifiable as such. When a wearable camera is clearly visible, it may make other participants uncomfortable or the camera may become the target of thieves. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    Embodiments of the present invention provide a body mounted camera system that is lightweight, comfortable, and substantially hidden from view. 
         [0008]    According to an embodiment of the present invention, a body mounted camera system includes: a band structure having an inner surface positionable against a user&#39;s body, an outer surface facing away from the user&#39;s body, and an interior cavity between the inner surface and the outer surface; a camera within the interior cavity including a lens exposed through the outer surface of the band structure; a controller within the interior cavity for controlling the camera, the controller including an interconnection module for connecting to an outside device; a power source within the interior cavity for powering the controller and the camera; and electrical connections connecting the controller, the power source, and the camera. 
         [0009]    The body mounted camera system may further include a substrate in the band structure on which at least two of the camera, the controller, and the power source are mounted. 
         [0010]    The substrate may be flexible but not stretchable. 
         [0011]    The electrical connections may include wires woven in a pattern that provides increased elasticity and flexibility. 
         [0012]    The electrical connections may include ribbon cable providing flexibility. 
         [0013]    The body mounted camera system may further include electro-magnetic shielding between the inner surface of the band structure and one or more of the power source, the camera, and the controller. 
         [0014]    The body mounted camera system may further include a memory. 
         [0015]    The memory may include a memory slot for inserting and removing a removable memory. 
         [0016]    The memory may include a solid state memory or a flash memory. 
         [0017]    The band structure may have an opening through which the camera, the controller, and the power source can be removed. 
         [0018]    The opening may be closed by a fastener. 
         [0019]    The interconnection module may include a micro-USB port. 
         [0020]    The interconnection module may include a wireless connection module and a charge port. 
         [0021]    The wireless connection module may include one or more of: a Bluetooth® module; a Wi-Fi® module; and a cellular module. 
         [0022]    The controller may further include one or more of: a logical processor; an image stabilization module; an image processor; an on/off switch; and an autofocus controller. 
         [0023]    The controller may further include one or more of: a GPS module; a gyrometer; an accelerometer; an altimeter; a pulse oximeter; and a pedometer. 
         [0024]    The camera may further include a microphone. 
         [0025]    The body mounted camera system may further include an elastic band. 
         [0026]    The body mounted camera system may further include straps for attaching the body mounted camera system to a user&#39;s body. 
         [0027]    The straps may use a hook and loop attachment method. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0028]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a body mounted camera system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0029]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the body mounted camera system showing components hidden from view according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0030]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram of a controller, a camera, and a power source according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0031]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the body mounted camera system showing components hidden from view according to still another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0032]      FIG. 5  is a plan view of electrical connections in a relaxed position according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0033]      FIG. 6  is a plan of the electrical connections of  FIG. 5  in a stretched condition. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0034]    In the description that follows the same reference numbers are used to denote the same elements or components throughout. 
         [0035]    A body mounted camera system according to embodiments of the present invention include a band structure and a camera, a controller, and a power supply hidden within the band structure. The camera includes a lens exposed to the outside for recording video or still pictures. In one embodiment the band structure is a fabric headband including an elastic band for holding the band structure on a user&#39;s head or arm. 
         [0036]    A body mounted camera system according an embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 .  FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a body mounted camera system according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention and  FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the body mounted camera system showing components hidden from view (in broken lines) according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0037]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a body mounted camera system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a band structure  100 , a controller  120 , a camera  140 , and a power source  160 . The camera  140  includes a lens  180  exposed to the outside of the band structure  100 . 
         [0038]    The band structure  100  includes an inner surface, an outer surface, and an inner cavity between the inner surface and the outer surface. The inner cavity of the band structure  100  houses the controller  120 , the camera  140 , and the power source  160 . Further, the inner cavity of the band structure  100  may be annular in shape. The outer surface of the band structure  100  has a portion through which the lens  180  is exposed. The portion of the outer surface may be an opening or be made of an optically transparent (i.e., optically clear) material. 
         [0039]    The band structure  100  may be made of any suitable material for making headbands or armbands. In some embodiments the band structure  100  is made of fabric or cloth and the fabric or cloth may be elastic. 
         [0040]    The controller  120  is capable of controlling the camera  140 . The controller receives power from the power source  160 . The controller  120  controls the camera  140  to record video, take pictures, and/or end the recording of video. The controller  120  receives the pictures from the camera either in still or in motion video form. The controller may store the pictures and/or videos in memory  200  (see  FIG. 3  and corresponding description herein). Alternatively, the controller may stream the still pictures and/or videos directly to an external device. The streaming may occur wirelessly using a suitable wireless technology. Suitable wireless technologies may include Bluetooth®, Wi-Fi®, or cellular (e.g., 2G, 3G, or 4G) technologies. 
         [0041]    The controller  120  may include a charge port when the power source  160  is rechargeable. Further, the controller  120  may include an interconnection module. The interconnection module facilitates connection with the external device. The interconnection module may be any of various types of suitable interconnection modules, for example, a micro-USB port, a Bluetooth® module, a Wi-Fi®, module, or a cellular module. When the interconnection module is a micro-USB module, a separate charge port would not necessarily be provided. 
         [0042]    The camera  140  may be any one of various types of cameras that provide a thin form factor, light weight, low power consumption, and capability of recording motion videos and/or taking still pictures. The camera  140  receives power from the power source  160 . 
         [0043]    The camera  140  includes the lens  180 . The lens  180  is exposed to the outside through the portion of the outer surface of the band structure  100 . In the embodiment where the portion of the outside surface is an opening, the lens  180  extends into the opening and the lens may be flush with the outer surface or may protrude from the outer surface. In the embodiment where the portion of the outside surface is an optically clear material, the lens is positioned to capture images and/or videos through the optically clear material. In some embodiments, the lens  180  and the band structure  100  are constructed so that the presence of the lens  180  is not easily seen by outside observers. 
         [0044]    The camera  140  may include a microphone. Alternatively, a microphone (if included) may be part of the controller  120 . 
         [0045]    The body mounted camera system may include a plurality of cameras  140 . The body mounted camera system may include two cameras  140  spaced apart from each other for creating three dimensional (3D) pictures or videos. The body mounted camera system may include multiple cameras  140  for creating pictures or videos from multiple angles and perspectives and/or virtual reality (360° pictures or videos). The controller  120  may be capable of merging pictures or video frames from the multiple camera into a single wide-angle, 3D, or 360° picture or video frame. 
         [0046]    The power supply  160  may be any of various types of portable power supplies. For example, the power supply  160  may be a battery, a portable fuel cell, etc. 
         [0047]    The body mounted camera system may include a substrate or support onto which the controller  120 , the camera  140 , the power source  160 , or a combination thereof are mounted. The substrate may be any suitable material for mounting the controller  120 , the camera  140 , the power source  160 , or a combination thereof which provides flexibility while preventing stretching. For example the substrate may be made of cloth or plastic. The substrate may be made of the same material as the band structure  100  but be processed differently to reduced stretchability. 
         [0048]    The body mounted camera system may include electro-magnetic shielding between the inner surface of the band structure  100  and one or more of the controller  120 , the camera  140 , and the power source  160 . The shielding may prevent electric or magnetic fields from extending into the user (i.e., reaching the user). In some embodiments, the shielding is provided within the substrate. 
         [0049]    The band structure  100  may include an opening for removing one or more of the controller  120 , the camera  140 , and the power source  160 . The controller  120 , the camera  140 , and the power source  160  may be removed from the band structure  100  to permit washing of the band structure  100 . By removing the controller  120 , the camera  140 , and the power source  160 , the band structure  100  can be cleaned without damaging those components. When the controller  120 , the camera  140 , and the power source  160  are within the band structure  100 , the opening may be closed using any of various suitable fastening structures (e.g., using a hook and loop or other attachment structure). 
         [0050]    The body mounted camera system may or may not include an elastic band  220 . When the body mounted camera system includes the elastic band  220 , the elastic band  220  provides elasticity to the band structure  100 . The elastic band  220  allows the body mounted camera system to be held in place in various locations of the users body. For example, the elastic band  220  may allow the band structure  100  to operate as a headband or armband. 
         [0051]    When the body mounted camera system does not include the elastic band  220 , the body mounted camera system may include other methods of fastening the band structure  100  to a user&#39;s body. In one embodiment the band structure  100  has straps that use a hook and loop attachment method (e.g., Velcro®) and can be attached to a user&#39;s head, arm, and/or other suitable body part by means of the hook and loop attachment method. 
         [0052]    The controller  120 , the camera  140 , and the power source  160  are electrically connected via electrical connections  240 . Electrical connections  240  provide electrical pathways for communication signals between the controller  120 , the camera  140 , and the power source  160 . Electrical connections  240  may be a type of ribbon cable but the present invention is not limited thereto. When the electrical connections  240  are a type of ribbon cable, electrical connections  240  have good flexibility but low stretchability. 
         [0053]    As can be seen in  FIG. 1 , neither the controller  120  nor the power source  160  are visible from the outside and only the lens  180  of the camera  140  is visible from the outside. 
         [0054]    A controller, a camera, and a power source according to an embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 3  is a block diagram of a controller, a camera, and a power source according to the embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0055]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , the camera  140  is connected to the controller  120  via electrical connections  240  and the controller  120  is connected to the power source  160  via electrical connections  240 . 
         [0056]    The controller  120  is capable of controlling the camera  140 . The controller receives power from the power source  160 . The controller  120  controls the camera  140  to record video, take pictures, and/or end recording of video. The controller  120  receives the pictures or videos from the camera. The controller stores the pictures and/or videos in memory  200 . 
         [0057]    The controller  120  according to the present embodiment includes the memory  200 , a logical processor  300 , an image processor  320 , an image stabilization module  340 , an autofocus controller  360 , and an On/Off switch  380 , but the present invention is not limited thereto. Embodiments of the present invention may include any combination of these components, including all or none of them. 
         [0058]    The memory  200  may be an internal memory such as a flash memory or a solid state memory or may be a memory slot for inserting and removing a removable memory. 
         [0059]    The logical processor  300  may provide intercommunication between and control of the memory  200 , the image processor  320 , and the autofocus controller  360 . 
         [0060]    The image processor  320  may receive the picture or video frames from the camera  140  directly or may receive the picture or video frames from the logical processor  300  which receives the picture or video frames from the camera  140 . The image processor  320  may process the picture or video frames and may compile the video frames into a single video. 
         [0061]    The image processor  320  utilizes the image stabilization module  340  to stabilize (e.g., correct for motion blur, etc.) a video that was recording while the body mounted camera system was in motion. 
         [0062]    Prior to sending the command to take a picture or video, or while taking a video, the logical processor  300  may issue a command to the autofocus controller  360  to focus the camera  140 . When the autofocus controller  360  receives the command, the autofocus controller  360  controls the camera to automatically focus the camera. 
         [0063]    The logical processor may control the camera  140 , the power supply  160 , the memory  200 , the image processor  320 , and the autofocus controller  360  to turn on or turn off according to input from the On/Off switch  380 . 
         [0064]    The controller  120  may further include one or more of a GPS module, a gyrometer, an accelerometer, an altimeter, a pulse oximeter, and a pedometer. 
         [0065]    The controller and/or any other relevant devices or components according to embodiments of the present invention described herein may be implemented utilizing any suitable hardware, firmware (e.g. an application-specific integrated circuit), software, or a suitable combination of software, firmware, and hardware. The various components of the controller may be formed as one integrated device or as multiple separate devices. For example, the various components of the controller may be formed on one integrated circuit (IC) chip or on separate IC chips. Further, the various components of the controller may be implemented on a flexible printed circuit film, a tape carrier package (TCP), a printed circuit board (PCB), or formed on a same substrate as one or more circuits and/or devices of the body mounted camera system. Further, the various components of the controller may be a process or thread, running on one or more processors, in one or more computing devices, executing computer program instructions and interacting with other system components for performing the various functionalities described herein. The computer program instructions are stored in a memory which may be implemented in a computing device using a standard memory device, such as, for example, a random access memory (RAM). The computer program instructions may also be stored in other non-transitory computer readable media such as, for example, a flash drive, or the like. Also, a person of skill in the art should recognize that the functionality of various computing devices may be combined or integrated into a single computing device, or the functionality of a particular computing device may be distributed across one or more other computing devices without departing from the spirit and scope of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention. 
         [0066]    A body mounted camera system according an embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to  FIG. 4 .  FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the body mounted camera system showing components hidden from view according to the embodiment of the present invention. Some components of the body mounted camera system of  FIG. 4  may be the same as components of the body mounted camera system of  FIGS. 1-3  and, as such, duplicate descriptions of the same or similar elements or components thereof may be omitted. 
         [0067]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , the body mounted camera system, according to the embodiment of the present invention, includes a band structure  400 , a controller  120 , a camera  140 , and a power source  160 . The camera  140  includes a lens  180  exposed to the outside of the band structure  400 . 
         [0068]    In this embodiment, the controller  120 , the camera  140 , and the power source  160  are spaced from each other. The spacing of the controller  120 , the camera  140 , and the power source  160  may provide better weight distribution and may make it easier for a user to wear the body mounted camera system. 
         [0069]    When the body mounted camera system includes components that a spaced throughout the band structure  400  and the body mounted camera system includes an elastic band  220  the distance between the components may vary depending on the degree of stretching applied to the elastic band  220 . In this case, electrical connections between the components may be damaged by the change in distance between the components. 
         [0070]    According to the present embodiment, electrical connections  420  have high elasticity and flexibility. Any suitable method of providing electrical connections  420  with high elasticity and flexibility may be used. 
         [0071]      FIGS. 5 and 6  are plan views of electrical connections having high elasticity and flexibility according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0072]    As can be seen in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , electrical connections  420  include wires  420 ′ (e.g., wires with a metal core and plastic insulation coating) woven in a pattern. The pattern is chosen such that when a force is applied to stretch the electrical connections  420 , the wires  420 ′ are not broken. Rather they are bent or otherwise elastically deformed to create a suitable restoring force in the structure of the electrical connections  420 . 
         [0073]      FIG. 5  shows an exemplary pattern of wires  420 ′ in a non-stretched position.  FIG. 6  shows the wires  420 ″ in the exemplary pattern in a stretched position. As can be seen in  FIG. 6 , the wires  420 ″ have smaller loops than the wires  420 ′ and the loops in the wires  420 ″ are spaced farther apart that the loops in the wires  420 ′. 
         [0074]    When the force is no longer being applied to the electrical connections  420 , the loops in the wires  420 ″ relax back to the size of the loops in the wires  420 ′, and because of this, the loops are brought closer together. 
         [0075]    The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a” and “an” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprise,” “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,” “including,” and “include,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. 
         [0076]    As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. Expressions such as “one or more of,” when preceding a list of elements, modify the entire list of elements and do not modify the individual elements of the list. Further, the use of “may” when describing embodiments of the present invention refers to “one or more embodiments of the present invention.” Also, the term “exemplary” is intended to refer to an example or illustration. 
         [0077]    It will be understood that when an element or layer is referred to as being “on,” “connected to,” “coupled to,” “connected with,” “coupled with,” or “adjacent to” another element or layer, it can be “directly on,” “directly connected to,” “directly coupled to,” “directly connected with,” “directly coupled with,” or “directly adjacent to” the other element or layer, or one or more intervening elements or layers may be present. Further “connection,” “connected,” etc. may also refer to “electrical connection,” “electrically connect,” etc. depending on the context in which they are used as those skilled in the art would appreciate. When an element or layer is referred to as being “directly on,” “directly connected to,” “directly coupled to,” “directly connected with,” “directly coupled with,” or “immediately adjacent to” another element or layer, there are no intervening elements or layers present. 
         [0078]    As used herein, the term “substantially,” “about,” and similar terms are used as terms of approximation and not as terms of degree, and are intended to account for the inherent deviations in measured or calculated values that would be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art. 
         [0079]    As used herein, the terms “use,” “using,” and “used” may be considered synonymous with the terms “utilize,” “utilizing,” and “utilized,” respectively. 
         [0080]    Although this invention has been described in certain specific embodiments, those skilled in the art will have no difficulty devising variations to the described embodiment, which in no way depart from the scope and spirit of the present invention. Furthermore, to those skilled in the various arts, the invention itself herein will suggest solutions to other tasks and adaptations for other applications. It is the applicant&#39;s intention to cover by claims all such uses of the invention and those changes and modifications which could be made to the embodiments of the invention herein chosen for the purpose of disclosure without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the present embodiments of the invention should be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention to be indicated by the appended claims and their equivalents.