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SYSTEM FOR REMOTELY RECORDING substantially ameliorate at least some of the deficiencies of
LANDSCAPE CHANGE the prior art, or to provide a useful alternative.
This Nonprovisional application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) on Patent Application No(s). 2003900756 5 filed in AUSTRALIA on Feb. 20, 2003, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to landscape change and, in particular, to a system for remotely recording landscape change.
The invention has been developed primarily for use in producing video presentations of construction site progress and will be described in hereinafter with reference to this application. However, it would be appreciated that the invention is not limited to this particular field of use and is applicable to other landscape change such as farmland change or glacial change.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It has long been known to film the construction of large buildings so as to produce video presentation footage of the progress of the construction. It is normal for a short movie, typically of the order of two to three minutes in length, to be produced in which the progress of the construction site is periodically monitored.
It is known to place clockwork movie cameras on buildings or properties adjacent construction sites and configuring the cameras to record one image frame of the construction site every pre-determined period, typically one frame per day. In so far as construction sites generally take of the order of one to three years to complete, the clockwork movie cameras need to be serviced monthly to at least reload film. An example of such clockwork movie cameras is the BolexTM 16 mm clockwork movie camera.
In known systems, since the clockwork movie camera film needs to be reloaded on a regular basis, images of the construction site is not available at least until the end of the month when the film was reloaded. Typically, edited file of the site images are not available until the end of all construction and when all the images are at hand.
Clockwork movie cameras so such as the BolexTM 16 mm are self contained in that they require no external power source or other electrical connections. This is advantageous since the clockwork movie cameras are located on buildings or properties adjacent a construction site. The clockwork movie cameras must therefore be only temporarily mounted to the adjacent building or properties and must not cause any damage during their installation or removal. Furthermore, it is normally the case that communication or power cables cannot be run to a camera on the adjacent buildings.
Similarly in the case of environmental change to farmland, for example, where the growth of crops or deterioration of soil over a period such as one to three years needs to be observed. In such cases, no power or electrical connections are available and it can be the case that the farmland change being recorded is too isolated to be visited each month to change film when using a clockwork movie camera.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide a system for remotely recording landscape change which will overcome or
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a system for remotely recording landscape change, the system including:
a digital imaging device;
a processor and communication with a memory means and with the digital imaging device;
a battery electrically connected to the processor and the digital imaging device; and
a controller electrically disposed intermediate the battery and the digital imaging device and the processor, the controller being configured to isochronally provide power from the battery to the processor and digital imaging device whereby the digital imaging device acquires a landscape image which is communicated to the processor which in turns transmits the image to a remote processor.
Therefore, there is provided a system for remotely recording landscape change which does not require any regular servicing or any externally supplied power or communication connections. Furthermore, the system provides landscape images that can be viewed once an image has been transmitted to the remote processor.
Preferably, the controller includes a mechanical or electronic timer and switch for isochronally providing power to the processor and digital imaging device. More preferably, the processor and memory means are disposed in a portable computer deriving its power from the battery via a portable computer power supply.
In preferred embodiments, the portable computer is connected to a modem being integral with or external to the portable computer, the portable computer modem being in communication with the remote processor modem for remote communicating the image thereto.
Preferably, the controller is configured to provide power to the processor and digital imaging device at a predetermined number of times each day and thereby transmit a predetermined number of landscape images each day to the remote processor. Also preferably, the digital imaging device and the processor are each disposed within a fully sealed enclosure.
In preferred embodiments, one or more solar panels electrically connected to the input of a charge regulator, the output of the charge regulator being electrically connected to the battery for providing power thereto.
Preferably, once the image has been transmitted to the remote processor, the controller electrically isolates the battery from the digital imaging device and processor. More preferably, the system includes an electrical switch disposed intermediate the digital imaging device and the battery, and the processor and the battery, the switches being operable in response to a signal from the controller to electrically connect or isolate the battery and digital imaging device and/or battery and processor.
In preferred embodiments, the system is disposed adjacent a construction site or farmland to acquire landscape images thereof.
According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of remotely recording landscape change, the method including the steps of:
isochronally providing electrical power to a digital imaging device and processor having memory means;
acquiring a digital image of the landscape with the digital imaging device;
