Magnetic levitation camera apparatus and live video system therewith

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11528390-B2
Application number	US-202117533132-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 23, 2021
Priority date	Oct 19, 2018
Publication date	Dec 13, 2022
Grant date	Dec 13, 2022

Abstract

A magnetic levitation camera apparatus and its operation are disclosed. The magnetic levitation camera apparatus comprises a base module and a camera module. The base module includes a base casing and a first magnetic component. The camera module includes a camera casing separate from the base casing, a camera communication unit, a second magnetic component, and at least one camera device. One of the first magnetic component and the second magnetic component is electrified to repel the other one of the first magnetic component and the second magnetic component, so that the camera module is magnetically levitated from the base module. The camera communication unit is configured to communicate with at least one of an external router and a data storage server, and the captured information is transmitted via the external router to a remote electronic device or to the data storage server.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A magnetic levitation camera apparatus, comprising:
a base module comprising:
a base casing; and
a first magnetic component mounted with the base casing;

a camera module comprising:
a camera casing separate from the base casing;
a camera device mounted with the camera casing and configured to capture images or record videos;
a second magnetic component mounted with the camera casing;
a processor coupled to the camera device and configured to process the images or the videos captured by the camera device; and
a camera communication unit;

wherein one of the first magnetic component and the second magnetic component is electrified to repel the other one of the first magnetic component and the second magnetic component, so that the camera module is magnetically levitated from the base module;
wherein when an application software of a remote electronic device is operable to transmit a command to the magnetic levitation camera apparatus to establish a link between the magnetic levitation camera apparatus and the remote electronic device through an external router, the camera module levitates from the base module through the first magnetic component and the second magnetic component to indicate that remote users are ready to participate in a meeting or a conference call through the link;
wherein when the remote users leave the meeting or the conference call, the application software is operable to transmit another command to the magnetic levitation camera apparatus terminating the link between the magnetic levitation camera apparatus and the remote electronic device, stopping the transmission of the captured images or videos, and subsequently docking the camera module;
wherein the processor controls the camera device to capture the images or record the videos according to the command transmitted from the external router via the camera communication unit;
wherein the processor transmits the images or the videos to the data storage server via the camera communication unit.

2. The magnetic levitation camera apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the base module further comprises:
a base communication unit configured to establish communication with an external router;
wherein a base circuit electrifies the electromagnetic coil module according to a command transmitted from the external router via the base communication unit.

3. The magnetic levitation camera apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the camera module further comprises:
the processor coupled to the camera device and the images or the videos captured by the camera device; and
wherein the processor controls the camera device to capture the images or record the videos according to the command transmitted from the external router via the camera communication unit;
wherein the processor processes the images or the videos, so as to determine whether an object shown in the images or the videos is a human character or not;
wherein when the object shown in the images or the videos is the human character, the processor determines the number of human characters shown in the images or the videos;
wherein the processor controls the camera communication unit to transmit a processing result of the images or the videos to the remote electronic device via the external router.

4. The magnetic levitation camera apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the camera module further comprises:
the processor coupled to the camera device and processes the images or the videos captured by the camera device; and
wherein the processor controls the camera device to capture the images or record the videos according to the command transmitted from the external router via the camera communication unit;
wherein the processor processes the images or the videos, so as to determine whether an object shown in the images or the videos is moving;
wherein the processor controls the camera communication unit to transmit a processing result of the images or the videos to the remote electronic device via the external router.

5. The magnetic levitation camera apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the camera module further comprises:
a data storage coupled to the processor and stores the images or the videos captured by the camera device.

6. The magnetic levitation camera apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the camera module further comprises:
an inertia measurement unit measures inertia of the camera module when the camera module is magnetically levitated from the base module.

7. The magnetic levitation camera apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the base casing comprises:
a top housing configured to support the camera module; and
a bottom housing containing the first magnetic component cooperatively with the top housing.

8. The magnetic levitation camera apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the base casing further comprises:
a plurality of cushion pads disposed on the top housing and configured to abut against the camera module.

9. The magnetic levitation camera apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the base casing further comprises:
a contact pad disposed on the top housing;
wherein the contact pad electrifies the camera module when the top housing supports the camera module.

10. The magnetic levitation camera apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the camera casing comprises:
an upper housing; and
a lower housing containing the camera device and the second magnetic component cooperatively with the upper housing.

11. The magnetic levitation camera apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the camera device is a panoramic camera or a binocular camera.

12. A live video system, comprising:
a remote electronic device with an application software imbedded therein;
an external router; and
a magnetic levitation camera apparatus, comprising:
a base module having a first magnetic component; and
a camera module having a camera device, a second magnetic component, a processor, and a camera communication unit, the processor controlling the camera communication unit to transmit the images or the videos captured by the camera device to the remote electronic device via the external router;
wherein the application software of the remote electronic device is operable to transmit a command to the camera module and the base module via the external router;
wherein one of the first magnetic component and the second magnetic component is electrified to repel the other one of the first magnetic component and the second magnetic component based on the command, so that the camera module is magnetically levitated from the base module;
wherein when the application software of the remote electronic device is operable to transmit the command to the magnetic levitation camera apparatus to establish a link between the magnetic levitation camera apparatus and the remote electronic device through the external router, the camera module levitates from the base module through the first magnetic component and the second magnetic component to indicate that remote users are ready to participate in a meeting or a conference call through the link;
wherein when the remote users leave the meeting or the conference call, the application software is operable to transmit another command to the magnetic levitation camera apparatus terminating the link between the magnetic levitation camera apparatus and the remote electronic device, stopping the transmission of the captured images or videos, and subsequently docking the camera module.

13. The live video system of claim 12 , wherein the processor processes the images or the videos captured by the camera device, so as to determine whether an object shown in the images or the videos is a human character or not, when the object shown

Assignees

• Lingdong Tech Beijing Co Ltd

Inventors

• Qi Ou
• Lian Xingyu
• Tang Jie

Classifications

• H04N23/45

  for generating image signals from two or more image sensors being of different type or operating in different modes, e.g. with a CMOS sensor for moving images in combination with a charge-coupled device [CCD] for still images · CPC title

• H04N23/51 Primary

  Housings · CPC title

• H02N15/00

  Holding or levitation devices using magnetic attraction or repulsion, not otherwise provided for (electric or magnetic devices for holding work on machine tools B23Q3/15 {; monorail vehicle propulsion or suspension B60L13/00}; sliding or levitation devices for railway systems B61B13/08; material handling devices associated with conveyors incorporating devices with electrostatic or magnetic grippers B65G47/92; separating thin or filamentary articles from piles using magnetic force B65H3/16; delivering thin or filamentary articles from magnetic holders by air blast or suction B65H29/24; bearings using magnetic or electric supporting means F16C32/04; relieving bearing loads using magnetic means F16C39/06; magnets H01F7/00; dynamo-electric clutches or brakes H02K49/00 {; electric furnaces with simultaneous levitation and heating H05B6/32}) · CPC title

• H04N5/2258

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H04N5/2252 Primary

  Electricity · mapped topic