Digital record and replay binoculars

Abstract

A combined binocular viewing and digital recording device includes a binocular telescope wherein the binocular telescope includes a pair of monocular components ( 12 a, b ). Each monocular component ( 12 a, b ) has an image viewing end and an image receiving end. The monocular components ( 12 a, b ) include a focusing mechanism ( 18 ) to adjust images viewed through the image viewing end of the monocular components. Also, the device includes a digital video camera ( 15 ) mounted to and displaced between each monocular component. The camera includes a receiving lens ( 21 ) for receiving images with the camera lens' line-of-sight approximately parallel to the line-of-sight of the monocular components. The camera further includes random access memory (RAM) ( 56 ) and a display device ( 16 ). Processors ( 46, 48, 50, 52, 54 ) are also included within the camera for generating compressed digital video images of the received images, storing the compressed digital video images in the RAM, and displaying the received or stored images on the display device. The camera includes control mechanisms ( 26, 28, 30, 32 ) for controlling the generating, storing, and displaying of the video images.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:  
     
         1 . A hand-held unit comprising: 
 binoculars having a pair of monocular components, each component having an image viewing end and an image receiving end and defining a line-of-sight; and    a digital video camera mounted to the binoculars with the camera lens' line-of-sight approximately parallel to the lines-of-sight of the monocular components, the digital video camera comprising: 
 a receiving lens for receiving images;  
 a digital memory storage unit integral with the hand-held unit;  
 a display device;  
 a processing system for generating compressed digital video images of said received images, storing the compressed digital video images in the memory storage unit and displaying at least one of the received or stored images on the display device; and  
 means for controlling the generating, storing and displaying of the video images.  
   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the monocular components include a focus mechanism for focusing images viewed through the image viewing end of the monocular components  
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the control means includes forward and reverse video viewing controls.  
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein the forward and reverse viewing controls are multi-speed video viewing controls.  
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the means for controlling includes a zoom control.  
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the camera further comprises a removable memory storage unit for storing the compressed video images.  
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the removable memory storage unit is a PC card.  
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the camera further comprises means for transmitting data video images off the camera.  
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the display is a liquid crystal display.  
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the memory storage unit is random access memory (RAM).  
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the display is remote of the image viewing end of the binoculars.  
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the focusing mechanism is an auto-focus mechanism for focusing on targeted images.  
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the focusing mechanism is a manual focus mechanism for focusing on targeted images.  
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the display is rotatably attached to the digital video camera.  
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the digital video camera further comprises a solar power converter for converting solar rays into electrical energy for powering the digital video camera.  
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the solar power converter is remotely located from the digital video camera and electrically connected to the digital video camera.  
     
     
         17 . A hand-held unit comprising: 
 binoculars having a pair of monocular components, each component having an image viewing end and an image receiving end and defining a line-of-sight; and    a digital video camera mounted to the binoculars with the camera lens' line-of sight approximately parallel to the lines-of-sight of the monocular components, the digital video camera comprising: 
 a receiving lens for receiving images;  
 a removable digital memory storage unit;  
 a display device;  
 a processing system for generating compressed digital video images of said received images, storing the compressed digital video images in the removable digital memory storage unit and displaying at least one of the received or stored images on the display device; and  
 means for controlling the generating, storing and displaying of the video images.  
   
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein the removable memory storage unit is removable from a location internal to the hand-held unit.  
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein the removable memory storage unit is a PC card.  
     
     
         20 . A hand-held unit comprising: 
 binoculars having a pair of monocular components, each component having an image viewing end and an image receiving end and defining a line-of-sight; and    a digital video camera mounted to the binoculars with the camera lens' line-of-sight approximately parallel to the lines-of-sight of the monocular components, the digital video camera comprising: 
 a receiving lens for receiving images;  
 a digital memory storage unit integral with the hand-held unit;  
 a display device;  
 a processing system for generating compressed digital video images of said received images, storing the compressed digital video images in the memory storage unit and displaying at least one of the received or stored images on the display device;  
 means for controlling the generating, storing and displaying of the video images; and  
 a solar power converter for converting solar rays into electrical energy for powering the components of the digital video camera.  
   
     
     
         21 . The device of  claim 20 , wherein the solar power converter is remotely located from the digital video camera and electrically connected to the digital video camera.  
     
     
         22 . A hand-held unit comprising: 
 binoculars having a pair of monocular components, each component having an image viewing end and an image receiving end and defining a line-of-sight;    a display device remote of the image viewing end of the binoculars; and    a digital video camera mounted to the binoculars with the camera lens' line-of-sight approximately parallel to the lines-of-sight of the monocular components, the digital video camera comprising: 
 a receiving lens for receiving images;  
 a digital memory storage unit integral with the hand-held unit;  
 a processing system for generating compressed digital video images of said received images, storing the compressed digital video images in the memory storage unit and displaying at least one of the received or stored images on the display device; and  
 means for controlling the generating, storing and displaying of the video images a display device.  
   
     
     
         23 . A hand-held unit comprising: 
 a central housing portion;    first and second eyepiece viewing ports with internal displays; and    first and second digital video cameras with processors mounted to the central housing portion of the unit for receiving images and for generating first and second sets of digital video images of said received images, wherein the central housing portion comprises: 
 a memory storage unit;  
 a processing system for compressing the generated first and second sets of digital video images, storing the compressed digital video images in the memory storage unit and displaying the first and second sets of digital video images on the internal displays; and  
 means for controlling the generating, storing and displaying of the video images.  
   
     
     
         24 . The device of  claim 23 , wherein the first set of digital video images generated by the first digital video camera are displayed on the display within the first eyepiece viewing port and the second set of digital video images generated by the second digital video camera are displayed on the display within the second eyepiece viewing port.  
     
     
         25 . The device of  claim 23 , wherein the means for controlling includes a zoom control.  
     
     
         26 . The device of  claim 23 , further comprising an external display remote of the image viewing end of the binoculars.