Patent ID: 7317872

Claim:
Picture and sound recording apparatus coupled to a motorized mount, comprising: (a) a camera, including: a transmitter for transmitting a ranging signal, a receiver for receiving the ranging signal, a comparator for comparing the ranging signal as transmitted to the ranging signal as received to determine distance as a function of time-of-flight, auto-focussing image-gathering circuitry controllable according to the determined distance, circuitry for receiving and demodulating an audio signal, and recording circuitry for recording the gathered image and the audio signal; (b) a remote unit, including: a microphone for detecting the audio signal, a radio-frequency transmitter for transmitting an RF carrier modulated with the audio signal to the camera for demodulation and recording, and a transponder for receiving the ranging signal from the camera and relaying the signal back to the camera on the same RF carrier as that used to transmit the audio signal; and wherein the camera further includes one or more antennas for receiving the RF carrier from the remote unit, and discrimination electronics operative to physically move the camera using the mount so as to track the remote unit.