Methods and apparatus for synchronizing multiple lens shutters using GPS pulse per second signaling

1. A camera comprising:

a lens;

a recording plane;

a shutter configured to selectively pass photons from the lens to the recording plane;

a global positioning system (GPS) chip configured to receive a periodic timing pulse from an external source; and

a processor configured to actuate the shutter in response to the timing pulse;

wherein the periodic timing pulse comprises a regular repeating series of timing signals each having a duration of about 100 milliseconds; and

wherein each timing signal comprises a rising edge having a duration in the range of one nanosecond to one picosecond.

2. The camera of claim 1 , wherein the GPS chip comprises a pulse per second (PPS) pin at which the periodic timing pulse appears.

3. The camera of claim 2 , wherein the external source comprises a plurality of GPS satellites.

4. The camera of claim 2 , wherein the processor is configured to actuate the shutter responsive to a rising edge of the timing pulse.

5. The camera of claim 4 , wherein the processor is configured to:

execute a sequence of instructions including a shutter actuation instruction; and

go to the shutter actuation instruction immediately upon detecting the timing pulse.

6. The camera of claim 1 , wherein the recording plane comprises a photosensitive medium.

7. The camera of claim 6 , wherein the photosensitive medium comprises one of: i) film; and ii) an array of digital pixels.

8. The camera of claim 1 , wherein the recording plane is configured to capture a still photographic image.

9. The camera of claim 1 , wherein the recording plane is configured to capture a series of video frames.

10. A method of controlling the actuation of a camera shutter, the method comprising:

equipping the camera with a timing module configured to receive a periodic timing signal from a source external to the camera;

detecting a leading edge of a unique pulse of the timing signal; and

in response to detecting the leading edge actuating the shutter;

wherein:

the duration of each timing pulse is about 100 milliseconds; and

the duration of the leading edge is in the range of one nanosecond to one picosecond.

11. The camera of claim 10 , wherein the GPS chip further comprises a data pin configured to present GPS coordinate data in the range of 100 to 500 milliseconds following each periodic timing pulse.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein:

the timing module comprises a global positioning signal (GPS) receiver including a timing output pin; and

the periodic timing signal comprises a pulse-per-second (PPS) signal presented at the timing output pin.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein actuating the shutter comprises exposing a photosensitive medium.

14. A method of synchronizing the operation of a first shutter of a first camera with the operation of a second shutter of a second camera without a physical tether between the first and second cameras, comprising the steps of:

receiving a first signal from a remote global positioning system (GPS);

generating, in response to the first signal, a pulse-per-second (PPS) signal at the first and second cameras; and

in response to a unique timing pulse embodied within the PPS signal, simultaneously actuating the first and second shutters.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

prior to the receipt of the unique timing pulse, receiving, at the first and second cameras, an instruction to actuate a respective shutter when the unique timing pulse is subsequently received.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein simultaneously actuating comprises executing respective actuation instructions at both cameras in response to detecting the rising edge of the unique timing pulse.