Abstract
A device (1) for fastening to a garment comprises a housing (10), an image recording unit (100) having an optical axis (110) and being connected to the housing (10), and a fastening device (300) for fastening the housing (10) to the garment. The housing (10) has a contact surface (12) for contact with the garment such that the optical axis (110) of the image recording unit (100) can be swiveled perpendicularly or is permanently swiveled perpendicularly to the contact surface (12).
Claims
1. A device for fastening to a garment, comprising a housing, an image recording unit having an optical axis and being connected to the housing, and a fastening device for fastening the housing to the garment, the housing having a bearing surface for bearing on the garment, characterized in that the optical axis of the image recording unit is tiltable or permanently tilted with respect to the perpendicular to the bearing surface.
2. The device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the image recording unit is tiltable about at least one rotation axis.
3. The device as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the image recording unit is mounted in or on the housing via a ball guide, such that the image recording unit is tiltable along a spherical cap.
4. The device as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the image recording unit comprises a protruding, on which an orientation of the image recording unit can be set and adjusted by hand.
5. The device as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the ball guide can be actuated by means of a motor drive.
6. The device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a gravitation sensor, wherein the motor drive is in data communication with the gravitation sensor.
7. The device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the fastening device comprises a foldable part which is designed as a clamp when oriented parallel to the bearing surface and which is designed as a stand when pivoted with respect to the bearing surface.
8. The device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the fastening device comprises at least one needle and can be connected to the housing.
9. The device as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the needle is designed as an arc-shaped needle which is guided in an arc-shaped guide, wherein the arc-shaped guide comprises at least one outlet opening in the bearing surface or in a surface adjoining the bearing surface.
10. The device as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that the needle is connected to an actuation element, wherein the guide comprises a slit for the passage of the actuation element.
11. The device as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that the arc-shaped guide is oriented at right angles to the bearing surface.
12. The device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a microphone.
13. The device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that it comprises at least one operating element, or a status display, or both.
14. The device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a data processor which is connected to the image recording unit via a connector, wherein the connector has first and second contact faces which are oriented parallel to each other and are in sliding contact, wherein at least one of the contact faces is movable with respect to the second contact face in the plane of the contact face.
15. The device as claimed in claim 14, characterized in that the first contact face is rotatable with respect to the second contact face about a rotation axis, and wherein one of the contact faces has a ring conductor which is coaxial to the rotation axis and which is directed toward the other contact face and is in sliding contact.
16. The device as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the rotation axis is oriented parallel to the bearing surface.
17. The device as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the protruding is a rectangular frame.
18. The device as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the ball guide can be actuated by means of a gearwheel drive.
19. The device as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the fastening device comprises at least three needles.
20. The device as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the fastening device can be connected to the housing in a releasable manner.
21. The device as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the needle can be latched in order to lock it.
22. The device as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that the actuation element is oriented in a plane with a normal vector parallel to the tangent.
23. The device as claimed in claim 13, characterized in that the operating element is a knob.
24. The device as claimed in claim 13, characterized in that the status display is an LED.
25. The device as claimed in claim 15, characterized in that the first contact face and the second contact face is for data transmission and power supply.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0064] In the drawings used to explain the illustrative embodiment:
[0065] FIG. 1 shows a schematic sectional representation along the optical axis of a first embodiment of an image recording unit;
[0066] FIG. 2 shows a plan view, in the direction of the optical axis, of a schematic representation of a second embodiment of an image recording unit;
[0067] FIG. 3 shows a schematic representation of the function of a gearwheel drive for the automatic orientation of the optical axis;
[0068] FIG. 4 shows a front view of an embodiment of the device comprising an image recording unit;
[0069] FIG. 5 shows a rear view of the device according to FIG. 4;
[0070] FIG. 6a shows a sectional representation, along the optical axis, through the fastening device located in the open state;
[0071] FIG. 6b shows a representation according to FIG. 6a in the closed state;
[0072] FIG. 6c shows a sectional representation, along the optical axis, through the fastening device located in the open state and designed as an exchangeable unit;
[0073] FIG. 7 shows a schematic sectional representation of a connector;
[0074] FIG. 8 shows a schematic representation of a connector plate along the rotation axis.
[0075] In the figures, identical parts are in principle provided with identical reference signs.
WAYS OF IMPLEMENTING THE INVENTION
[0076] FIG. 1 shows a schematic sectional representation along the optical axis 110 of a first embodiment of an image recording unit 100. The image recording unit comprises a cuboid outer housing 120 with a rear wall and four side walls and is open to the front. A camera mount 121 for receiving the camera 130 is formed inside the housing 120 and is connected rigidly to the housing 120. The camera 130 is ball-shaped and comprises a projection 131 which borders the objective and by which the camera 130 can be gripped and adjusted. The projection 131 additionally forms an abutment for the camera 130 to the housing 120. The camera 130 is thus tiltable about the ball bearing in all directions, as is indicated by the arrows 111 and 112. Moreover, the camera 130 can also be rotated about the optical axis 110. In the rear wall, the housing has an opening 122 for the passage of data cables and power supply cables. In the present embodiment, the housing 120 protrudes beyond the camera mount 121 in the direction of the optical axis 110. However, it will be clear to a person skilled in the art that the housing 120 does not necessarily have to protrude beyond the camera mount 121, or not to the extent shown.
[0077] While the present embodiment is configured for manual setting of the optical axis 110, another embodiment may also be provided with a motor drive. The latter can, for example, comprise a stepping motor for each rotation axis (see FIG. 3 in this regard).
[0078] FIG. 2 shows a plan view, in the direction of the optical axis, of a schematic representation of a second embodiment of an image recording unit 500. This image recording unit 500 comprises a first cuboid housing 510, and a second cuboid housing 511 which is mounted inside the first housing 510 about a first rotation axis 520. The second housing 511 has external dimensions smaller than the internal dimensions of the first, outer housing 510, such that the second housing 511 is here pivotable about an angle of approximately 90°.
[0079] Inside the second cuboid housing 511, a camera 540 is mounted rotatably about a second rotation axis 530. The two rotation axes 520 and 530 are perpendicular to each other and preferably lie in the same plane. Thus, the optical axis of the camera 540 is tiltable in all directions but cannot be rotated about the optical axis. To be able to achieve the rotation about the optical axis, the image recording unit according to FIG. 2 can be mounted in a further housing about a third axis, which is at right angles to the two axes.
[0080] The camera 540 again comprises a rectangular frame 541 for gripping and for orienting the optical axis.
[0081] However, the dimensions and the shape of the housings 510 and 511 can also be made such that larger or smaller angles can be obtained. In particular, the housings 510 and 511 can be present as spherical shells, whereby any desired angles are obtainable.
[0082] The axes 520 and 530 can each be equipped with a hub motor, whereby an automatic orientation of the optical axis can be obtained.
[0083] FIG. 3 shows a schematic representation of the function of a gearwheel drive 200 for the automatic orientation of the optical axis, using the example of the camera 130. The drive 200 comprises a gearwheel 210, driven by a stepping motor (not shown). During a rotation of the gearwheel 210, the teeth come into contact with the surface of the ball-shaped, rotatably mounted camera 130, whereby a rotation of the camera 130 about an axis parallel to the axis of the gearwheel is achieved by static friction. In the phases in which the gearwheel 210 is not in contact with the camera 130, there is no rotation of the camera 130. The static friction between camera mount 121 (see FIG. 1) and camera 130 stabilizes the orientation of the camera 130 in such a situation. The notches or spaces between the teeth are provided in order to actively decouple the camera 130 from the gearwheel. In this arrangement, namely, a further stepping motor can be rotated which has another axis, for example an axis perpendicular to the present axis, together with an analogous gearwheel, so as to rotate the camera 130 about the last-mentioned axis. Finally, all of the possible movements about the midpoint of the ball bearing of the camera 130 can be achieved through the paired rectangular arrangement, or the paired non-parallel arrangement, of three such gearwheel drives 200. It may however also be enough to have two such gearwheel drives 200, of which the rotation axes are each oriented at right angles to the optical axis. In this case, only the rotation about the optical axis would be omitted. With the drive uncoupled, the camera 130 can also be oriented manually. Depending on the properties of the motors, a manual orientation may also be possible when the drive is coupled, the advantage of which is that the motors are able to stabilize the manual setting by means of friction.
[0084] FIG. 4 shows a front view of an embodiment of the device 1 comprising an image recording unit 100 and a fastening device 40 for fastening to a garment. The device comprises a housing 10, which in the present case has substantially a cuboid shape with rounded edges. The image recording unit 100 and a knob 20 are let into the front face 11. The image recording unit 100 corresponds to that of FIG. 1. The knob 20 serves for setting the recording phases. A microphone is located behind an opening 30 of the front face 11. In the upper area of the housing 10, two fastening devices 300 are arranged next to each other in the front face, and, in the lower area, another one is arranged centrally with respect to the housing, which fastening devices will be explained in more detail with reference to FIG. 5.
[0085] On the top side of the housing 10 there are various buttons, namely a button 40 as record button “Rec”, a pause button 41, a stop button 42, and also a red and a green LED 43, the green lighting during operation and the red lighting during recording.
[0086] On the bottom side of the housing there are a memory card slot 44, a socket for a data cable 45, and a charging socket 46. A pull-out plug for attachment to a smart phone can also be provided.
[0087] FIG. 5 shows a rear view of the device 1 according to FIG. 4. On the rear 12 of the device 1 there is an ON/OFF switch for switching the device 1 on and off. Two pairs of openings 311 are introduced in the upper edge area, and one further pair of openings in the lower edge area, which serve as inlet and outlet openings 311, respectively, for the fastening device 300.
[0088] FIG. 6a shows a sectional representation, along the optical axis, through the fastening device 300 located in the open state. The fastening device 300 comprises substantially an interrupted circular channel 310, the axis of the circle being oriented at right angles to the optical axis. The interruption of the circular channel is located on the fear face 12 of the housing and is designed as two inlet/outlet openings 311 respectively. Inside the circular channel 310 there is an arc needle 320, which is movable in the circular channel 310 about the midpoint of the circle and which occupies approximately three quarters of the total circle. In the front face 11, the housing has two recesses 13 which adjoin the channel 310 in the outer area and serve to receive the actuation element 321, in the open position according to FIG. 6a and in the closed position according to FIG. 6b (see below). In the present case, the arc needle 320 has a larger cross section than the actuation element 321, such that the recesses 13 are designed substantially as slits which have a smaller width then the circular channel 310. Depending on the dimensioning of the channel, it is also possible to do without such recesses 13. Moreover, the fastening device 300 comprises an arc needle 320 which is guided in the channel 310. The needle 320 is dimensioned in such a way that, in the open state, no end thereof protrudes from one of the openings 311, but, in the closed state, preferably a part of the tip of one end reaches from the first opening 311 into the second opening 311, whereby the fastening device 300 gains stability in the closed position.
[0089] In order to close the fastening device 300 from the open position according to FIG. 6a, it is gripped via the actuation element 321, which is connected to the needle 320, and it is moved along the circular path from the first recess 13 to the second recess 13 (clockwise in the present case). A garment (not shown) lying in the area of the outlet openings 311 is at the same time pierced by the needle tip of the needle 320, such that the device 1 is fastened to this garment. FIG. 6b shows the fastening device in this state.
[0090] FIG. 6c shows a sectional representation through a further fastening device 300 located in the open state and designed as an exchangeable unit. The fastening device 300 in this case comprises four assembly bores 14 via which the fastening device 300 can be fastened releasably to a camera or else other objects such as name badges or the like. By way of the assembly bores 14, the fastening device 300 can be screwed, for example, onto an object. However, it is clear to a person skilled in the art that another assembly device can also be provided in order to mount the fastening device 300, for example clip devices, latching elements, etc.
[0091] FIG. 7 shows a schematic sectional representation of a connector 400. The latter serves to record rotation movements about a line axis during the transmission of data, power or both. The core of this development lies in two disk-shaped connector plates 410, which are rotatable relative to each other about an axis 420. One of the plates has resilient contact elements 430 which, with low friction resistance, ensure the constant contact between the two plates 410, 411 for the transmission of data, power or both.
[0092] FIG. 8 shows a schematic representation of a connector plate 410 in the direction of the rotation axis 411. In particular, ring conductors 440-442 can be seen in FIG. 8 which are connected on the rear (not shown) to cables and transmit either data or power or both (power line data transmission) to the second plate.
[0093] In summary, according to the invention, a device with an image recording unit is made available which, while maintaining an optimal orientation of the optical axis, can be easily fastened to a garment and is additionally of simple construction.
