Michael Bret Hofstein

US Patent:

46994840, Oct 13, 1987

Filed:

May 27, 1986

Appl. No.:

6/887045

Inventors:

Mary E. Howell - Huntington Beach CA
Michael A. Hofstein - Sherman Oaks CA
Murrell D. Howell - Huntington Beach CA

International Classification:

G03B 1700
G03B 2100

US Classification:

352243

Abstract:

A camera system which has a wheeled rail car (20) with running gear (26) front and back connected to a chassis (40) containing a movable panning head (46) on the top, covered by an enclosure (44). The panning head (46) has a motion picture camera (58) mounted thereon and the rail car (20) is self-propelled and the head (46) rotatability tilts up and down and pans 360 degrees. The car (20) is movably installed on a track system (22) consisting of rails (64) connected together with ties (78), each rail (64) having a power strip (66) supplying electrical energy to the car (20) through a set of wipers (84). An electrical control system (24) is positioned remotely from the tracks (22) and provides control for propulsion and positioning of the panning head (46), as well as control of the camera (58). A television monitor (86) receives a signal from the camera (58), allowing the operator visual indication of the scene viewed by the camera. The entire system may be stationary or mounted on an engine driven vehicle with the operator controlling the system from the inside.