초록 ▼

A camera focusing system employs left and right video cameras flanking a principal photographic camera. The video cameras are coupled to respective video monitors, each of which has a vertical cursor line superimposed in the middle of the screen representing 90°. A cursor controller allows this line

A camera focusing system employs left and right video cameras flanking a principal photographic camera. The video cameras are coupled to respective video monitors, each of which has a vertical cursor line superimposed in the middle of the screen representing 90°. A cursor controller allows this line to be moved left and right. As the line is moved left or right to track a desired point of focus on the camera subject, the value increases or decreases from 90°. Software interprets the cursor displacement and determines a real world angular value based on calibration of the focusing system. The angular values are then used to compute the focal distance between the principal camera and the subject. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An apparatus comprising: first and second video cameras;a mounting structure configured to secure the first and second video cameras in a spaced apart relationship and further configured to secure a principal camera equidistant between the first and second video cameras;at least one video monitor

1. An apparatus comprising: first and second video cameras;a mounting structure configured to secure the first and second video cameras in a spaced apart relationship and further configured to secure a principal camera equidistant between the first and second video cameras;at least one video monitor coupled to at least one of the first and second video cameras;at least one cursor controller for positioning a cursor on said at least one video monitor;a processor receiving first and second cursor position signals corresponding to a subject's position in a field of view of the first and second video cameras, respectively, and providing an output in response thereto representing a focal distance between the principal camera and the subject. 2. The apparatus of claim 1 comprising first and second video monitors coupled to the first and second video camera, respectively. 3. The apparatus of claim 2 comprising first and second cursor controllers for positioning cursors on the first and second video monitors, respectively. 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the mounting structure is configured to secure the first and second video cameras and the principal camera such that their respective focal planes are coplanar. 5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the output is coupled to a numerical display. 6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the output is coupled to a focusing mechanism attached to a lens of the principal camera. 7. A method of determining a focal distance between a principal camera and a subject comprising: mounting first and second video cameras equidistant from a principal camera;displaying video signals from the first and second video cameras on at least one video monitor;providing at least one cursor controller for positioning a cursor on said at least one video monitor;acquiring first and second cursor position signals corresponding to a subject's position in a field of view of the first and second video cameras, respectively;computing a focal distance between the principal camera and the subject based on the first and second cursor position signals. 8. The method of claim 7 wherein video signals from the first and second video cameras are displayed on first and second video monitors, respectively. 9. The method of claim 8 wherein first and second cursor controllers are provided for positioning cursors on the first and second video monitors, respectively. 10. The method of claim 7 wherein the first and second video cameras are mounted such that respective focal planes of the first and second video cameras and the principal camera are coplanar. 11. The method of claim 7 further comprising displaying the focal distance as a numerical value. 12. The method of claim 7 further comprising sending the focal distance to a focusing mechanism attached to a lens of the principal camera.