Gimbal and unmanned aerial vehicle including the same

• US 10,047,905 B2
• Filed: 03/24/2015
• Issued: 08/14/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zerotech shenzhen Intelligence Robot Co Ltd
• Original Assignee: Zerotech shenzhen Intelligence Robot Co Ltd
• Inventors: Yang, Jianjun, Sun, Hongtao
• Primary Examiner(s): Marsh, Steven M
• Application Number:
  US15/109,258
• Publication Number:
  US 20160327206A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,239 Days
• Field of Search: 248603, 248638, 248674, 248676, 396 13
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 47/08 Arrangements of cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 20/87 Mounting of imaging devices, e.g. mounting of gimbals
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/30 for imaging, photography or videography
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/06 allowing pivoting
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/10 around a horizontal axis F16M11/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/123 the axis of rotation intersecting in a single point, e.g. by using gimbals
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/18 with mechanism for moving the apparatus relatively to the stand
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2071 for panning and rolling F16M11/2078 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/02 for supporting on, or attaching to, an object, e.g. tree, gate, window-frame, cycle
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/022 repositionable
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/041 for balancing rotational movement of the head
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/16 Housings; Caps; Mountings; Supports, e.g. with counterweight
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/644 compensating for large deviations, e.g. maintaining a fixed line of sight while a vehicle on which the system is mounted changes course
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 15/006 Apparatus mounted on flying objects
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/561 Support related camera accessories

Abstract

A gimbal includes a base and a fixing support rotatably provided on the base, wherein the fixing support includes a first mounting seat and a second mounting seat, and the second mounting seat is provided with an inner cavity therein. An unmanned aerial vehicle including a gimbal is also provided.

Claims

1. A gimbal including a base, a fixing support rotatably provided on the base, and a gyroscope,

wherein the fixing support includes a first mounting seat and a second mounting seat, the second mounting seat is provided with an inner cavity therein;

wherein the gyroscope is provided in the inner cavity of the second mounting seat;

wherein the fixing support further includes a support plate;

wherein the support plate is rotatably connected to the base, and the first mounting seat and the second mounting seat are respectively fixed at both ends of the support plate; and

wherein the support plate, the first mounting seat and the second mounting seat collectively construct a U-shaped structure.

2. The gimbal according to claim 1, wherein the first mounting seat and the second mounting seat are opposite to each other to provide a space for mounting an image apparatus between the first mounting seat and the second mounting seat.

3. The gimbal according to claim 1, further including an electric motor,

wherein the electric motor is provided on the base and is rotatably connected with the support plate, whereby the support plate is rotatably connected to the base;

and the electric motor is capable of driving the fixing support to rotate.

4. The gimbal according to claim 1, further including a first support and a second support,

wherein the first support is rotatably connected to the base;

the second support is rotatably connected to the first support; and

the support plate of the fixing support is rotatably connected to the second support so as to be rotatably connected to the base.

5. The gimbal according to claim 4, further including a base electric motor,

wherein the base electric motor is fixed on the base and is rotatably connected with the first support, whereby the first support is rotatably connected to the base;

and

the base electric motor is capable of driving the first support to rotate about a first rotation axis.

6. The gimbal according to claim 5, further including a first electric motor,

wherein the first electric motor is fixed on the first support and is rotatably connected with the second support, whereby the second support is rotatably connected with the first support;

and

the first electric motor is capable of driving the second support to rotate about a second rotation axis, and the first rotation axis is different from the second rotation axis.

7. The gimbal according to claim 6, wherein the first support includes a first arm and a second arm connected with each other to construct an L shape;

the first arm is rotatably connected to the base electric motor, whereby the first support is rotatably connected to the base;

the first support is capable of being driven by the base electric motor to rotate; and

the second arm is configured to mount the first electric motor.

8. The gimbal according to claim 6, further including a second electric motor,

wherein the second electric motor is fixed on the second support and is rotatably connected with the support plate of the fixing support, whereby the support plate of the fixing support is rotatably connected to the second support;

and

the second electric motor is capable of driving the fixing support to rotate about a third rotation axis, and the third rotation axis is different from both the first and second rotation axis.

9. The gimbal according to claim 8, wherein, the second support includes a third arm and a fourth arm connected with each other to construct an L shape,

the third arm is rotatably connected with the first electric motor, whereby the second support is rotatably connected to the first support,

the second support is capable of being driven by the first electric motor to rotate;

and

the fourth arm is configured to mount the second electric motor.

10. The gimbal according to claim 9, wherein the first rotation axis, and the second rotation axis, and the third rotation axis are perpendicular to each other.

11. The gimbal according to claim 4, further including a second electric motor,

wherein the second electric motor is fixed on the second support and is rotatably connected with the support plate of the fixing support, whereby the support plate of the fixing support is rotatably connected to the second support;

and

the second electric motor is capable of driving the fixing support to rotate.

12. The gimbal according to claim 11, wherein the second support includes a third arm and a fourth arm connected with each other to construct an L shape;

the third arm is rotatably connected with the first support, whereby the second support is rotatably connected to the first support;

the second support is capable of being driven by the first electric motor to rotate; and

the fourth arm is configured to mount the second electric motor.

13. The gimbal according to claim 12, wherein a rotation axis about which the first support is rotated, a rotation axis about which the second support is rotated and a rotation axis about which the fixing support is rotated are perpendicular to each other.

14. The gimbal according to claim 1, wherein the first mounting seat is provided with a servo, and the servo includes an output shaft and a fork provided at an end of the output shaft.

15. The gimbal according to claim 14, wherein the fork is of V-shaped.

16. The gimbal according to claim 1, wherein an IMU frame complying with a shape of the inner cavity is provided in the inner cavity.

17. An unmanned aerial vehicle including a gimbal,

wherein the gimbal includes a base, a fixing support rotatably provided on the base, and a gyroscope, wherein the fixing support includes a first mounting seat and a second mounting seat, the second mounting seat is provided with an inner cavity therein;

wherein the gyroscope is provided in the inner cavity of the second mounting seat; and

wherein the fixing support further includes a support plate,

the support plate is rotatably connected to the base, and the first mounting seat and the second mounting seat are respectively fixed on both ends of the support plate, and

the support plate, the first mounting seat and the second mounting seat collectively construct a U-shaped structure.

18. The unmanned aerial vehicle according to claim 17, wherein the first mounting seat and the second mounting seat are opposite to each other to provide a space for mounting an image apparatus between the first mounting seat and the second mounting seat.