Modular image capture systems
A handheld module including a battery, an electro-mechanical interface, and a display. The electro-mechanical interface is configured to attach the handheld module to an image capture module, wherein when attached to the image capture module, the handheld module forms a communication link to the image capture module via the electro-mechanical interface and supplies power from the battery to the image capture module via conductors of the electro-mechanical interface. The display is configured to present images captured by the image capture module and received from the image capture module via the communication link.
1. An imaging assembly comprising:
an image capture module comprising:
an image sensor; and
a mechanical stabilization system connected to the image sensor that is configured to:
control an orientation of the image sensor; and
move the mechanical stabilization system from an open position to a fold-flat position or vice versa;
a handheld module comprising:
a battery;
an electromechanical interface that is configured to attach the handheld module to the image capture module and that includes:
a fastening mechanism that is configured to releasably secure the image capture module to the handheld module, wherein the fastening mechanism includes a slider that is configured to disengage the fastening mechanism from the image capture module to disconnect the image capture module from the handheld module, and
wherein when attached to the image capture module, the handheld module forms a communication link to the image capture module via the electromechanical interface so that power from the battery is movable between the image capture module and the handheld module via conductors of the electromechanical interface;
a status indicator light that indicates a connection status of the communication link between the handheld module and the image capture module and indicates a recording status of the image capture module;
speakers within the handheld module to enhance sounds from the imaging assembly; and
a wireless link configured to transmit or share information.
2. The imaging assembly of claim 1 , wherein the wireless link wirelessly communicates with a control module to remotely control the handheld module.
3. The imaging assembly of claim 1 , wherein the mechanical stabilization system comprises gimbals and motors.
4. The imaging assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a mounting device that is a tripod that is connectable to the handheld module.
5. The imaging assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
multiple microphones within the handheld module that are configured to suppress wind noise.
6. The imaging assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a controller comprising software that is configured to move the mechanical stabilization system so that the image sensor is capable of capturing images of a moving object.
7. A movable imaging assembly comprising:
an image capture module comprising:
an image sensor; and
a battery that provides power to the image capture module; and
a connector comprising:
a processing apparatus disposed within the connector; and
an electrical connector located inside of the connector and exposed external to the connector so that power and/or signals can be provided to the connector;
a handheld module comprising:
a slot keyed to the image capture module, wherein the slot extends into the handheld module and the image capture module is extendable into the slot;
conductors located within the slot that are configured to contact the electrical connector to transfer images and other data between the image capture module and the handheld module;
a handheld module battery configured to power the handheld module and the image capture module when the image capture module is inserted into the slot; and
a fastening mechanism that is configured to releasably secure the image capture module to the handheld module, wherein the fastening mechanism extends into the slot to engage the image capture module and secure the image capture module within the slot, and the fastening mechanism includes a slider or a button that is configured to disengage the fastening mechanism from the image capture module based on user interaction; and
a mechanical stabilization system comprising:
gimbals and motors located between the image capture module and the handheld module that move the image capture module relative to the handheld module,
wherein the mechanical stabilization system is movable between a fold-flat position and an open position.
8. The movable imaging assembly of claim 7 , wherein the processing apparatus comprises an application that is capable of remotely controlling image capture of the image capture module.
9. The movable imaging assembly of claim 7 , wherein the processing apparatus comprises software.
10. The movable imaging assembly of claim 9 , wherein the software in the processing apparatus controls the image sensor so that the image sensor detects and tracks subjects with the mechanical stabilization system that is capable of moving the image sensor.
11. The movable imaging assembly of claim 7 , in which the processing apparatus is configured to:
process an image signal and generate output images based on image data from the image sensor.
12. The movable imaging assembly of claim 7 , further comprising:
a communication interface that transfers images to another device and/or receives commands or other control signals from an other device.
13. The movable imaging assembly of claim 7 , wherein the fastening mechanism is a latch that connects the image capture module to the handheld module.
14. The movable imaging assembly of claim 7 , further comprising:
a display in the handheld module;
a button in the handheld module that is configured to activate the image sensor to detect images; and
speakers to generate sound from the handheld module.
15. An imaging assembly comprising:
an image capture module comprising:
a user interface that is configured to allow a user to capture images and/or videos with the image capture module;
a microphone configured to capture sound when the videos are captured;
a connector comprising:
a processing apparatus located within the connector, the processing apparatus comprising:
software and/or an application configured to control an image sensor of the image capture module that extends from the connector; and
an electrical connector located inside of the connector and exposed external to the connector so that power and/or signals can be provided into the connector; and
a handheld module comprising:
a connector shaped slot extending into the handheld module and removably configured to receive the image capture module, wherein the image sensor is located outside of the connector shaped slot when the connector is inserted into the connector shaped slot;
a user interface that is configured to receive commands from a user, wherein the user interface includes:
a display that is configured to present images captured by the image capture module; and
a status indicator light that is configured to indicate a status of the image capture module; and
a speaker configured to play sound captured when the videos are captured; and
a mechanical stabilization system comprising:
gimbals and motors located between the image capture module and the handheld module that move the image capture module relative to the handheld module,
wherein the mechanical stabilization system is movable between a fold-flat position and an open position.
16. The imaging assembly of claim 15 , further comprising:
a fastening mechanism that connects the image capture device to the handheld module, wherein the fastening mechanism includes a latch.
17. The imaging assembly of claim 16 , wherein the user interface of the handheld module is configured to control operation of the image capture module when the image capture module is disconnected from the handheld module.
18. The imaging assembly of claim 15 , wherein the software in the processing apparatus controls the image sensor so that the image sensor detects and tracks subjects with a mechanical stabilization system that moves the image sensor.
19. The imaging assembly of claim 15 , further comprising:
an electrical connector disposed in the connector and exposed so that power and/or signals can be provided into the connector.
20. The imaging assembly of claim 15 , further comprising:
multiple microphones within the handheld module that are in communication with a controller so that wind noise captured is suppressed.