Payload mounting platform

• US 10,179,658 B2
• Filed: 05/25/2017
• Issued: 01/15/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: SZ DJI Technology Co., Ltd. (d/b/a DJI) (iFlight Technology Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: SZ DJI Technology Co., Ltd. (d/b/a DJI) (iFlight Technology Company Limited)
• Inventors: Zhao, Tao, Zhao, Xi Feng, Wang, Yong, Zhou, Li, Wang, Tao
• Primary Examiner(s): Laballe, Clayton E
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hancock, Dennis
• Application Number:
  US15/605,892
• Publication Number:
  US 20170259938A1
• Time in Patent Office: 600 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/13 Flying platforms
• 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: B64U 2101/60 for transporting passengers; for transporting goods other than weapons
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/20 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/10 around a horizontal axis F16M11/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/18 with mechanism for moving the apparatus relatively to the stand
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2028 for rolling, i.e. for creating a landscape-portrait rotation
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/42 with arrangement for propelling the support stands on wheels
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 15/006 Apparatus mounted on flying objects
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/561 Support related camera accessories

Abstract

Systems, devices, and methods are provided relating to improved mounting platforms for supporting a payload on a movable object. In one aspect, an apparatus for supporting a payload comprises: a first support member coupled to the payload and configured to rotate the payload; a second support member coupled to the first support member and configured to rotate the first support member relative to the second support member; and a flexible member electrically coupling the first and second support members, wherein a length of the flexible member winds around a portion of the first support member or second support member, such that the length winds up around the portion when the first support member is rotated in a first direction and unwinds from the portion when the first support member is rotated in a second direction.

Claims

1. An apparatus for supporting a payload, the apparatus comprising:

a first support member configured to be coupled to a payload, wherein the first support member comprises a first motor configured to rotate the payload around a first rotational axis relative to the first support member;

a second support member configured to be coupled to the first support member, wherein the second support member comprises a second motor configured to rotate the first support member around a second rotational axis relative to the second support member; and

a flexible member configured to be electrically coupled to the first support member and the second support member, wherein the flexible member comprises a branched configuration comprising a first extension, a second extension and a third extension, and a first connection portion extending between the first extension and the second extension, wherein the first extension is configured to electrically couple to the first motor of the first support member and the second extension is configured to electrically couple to the second motor of the second support member.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first support member comprises a first holding arm and a first rotation arm, the first holding arm comprising the first motor positioned thereon to effect rotation of the payload relative to the first support member, the first rotation arm being configured to couple to the second support member, and wherein the first holding arm and the first rotation arm are joined at a curvature of the first support member.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the flexible member is configured to transmit at least one of electrical power, data and control signals between the first support member and the second support member.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a payload mount configured to couple the payload to the first support member, wherein the third extension is configured to couple to the payload mount, and wherein the flexible member comprises a second connection portion between the second extension and the third extension, the second connection portion comprising a portion configured to wind around a portion of the payload mount or first support member.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the flexible member further comprises a second connection portion extending between the second extension and the third extension, and wherein at least one of the second extension or third extension is substantially perpendicular to the second connection portion.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first extension is substantially perpendicular to the first connection portion.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured to be carried by an unmanned aerial vehicle, wherein the first rotational axis is one of a pitch axis, a roll axis or a yaw axis of the UAV, and wherein the second rotational axis is another of the pitch axis, the roll axis or the yaw axis of the UAV.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a detection module configured to detect a spatial disposition of the payload.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the detection module comprises at least one of an accelerometer and a gyroscope.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the flexible member is configured to transmit sensor data between the detection module and a controller for feedback control of the spatial disposition of the payload.

11. An apparatus for supporting a payload, the apparatus comprising:

a first support member configured to be coupled to a payload, wherein the payload is configured to rotate around a first rotational axis relative to the first support member;

a second support member configured to be coupled to the first support member, wherein the first support member is configured to rotate around a second rotational axis relative to the second support member; and

a flexible member configured to be electrically coupled to the first support member and the second support member, wherein the flexible member comprises a branched configuration comprising a first extension, a second extension and a third extension, and a first connection portion extending between the first extension and the second extension, wherein the first extension is configured to electrically couple to the first support member and the second extension is configured to electrically couple to the second support member, and wherein the flexible member is configured to transmit a first position signal from the first support member and a second position signal from the second support member for feedback control of the spatial disposition of the payload.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the second support member comprises a motor disposed thereon, and wherein a receiving space configured to receive a portion of the first connection portion is positioned around a shaft of the motor.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the second support member comprises a cavity configured to permit a portion of the flexible member to pass therethrough, and wherein a third portion of the first connection portion is configured to pass through the cavity.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the third portion of the first connection portion is configured to pass through the cavity and extend along at least a portion of the second support member.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein a third portion of the first connection portion is configured to (i) wind around a portion of the first support member when the first support member is rotated in a first direction around the first rotational axis, and (ii) unwind from around the portion of the first support member when the first support member is rotated in a second direction opposite the first direction around the first rotational axis.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a payload mount configured to couple the payload to the first support member, wherein the third extension is configured to couple to the payload mount, and wherein the flexible member comprises a second connection portion between the second extension and the third extension, the second connection portion comprising a portion configured to wind around a portion of the payload mount or first support member.

17. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the second support member comprises a pair of stops at a distance apart from one another and configured to contact the first support member to constrain rotation of the first support member around the second rotational axis relative to the second support member.

18. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first rotational axis is orthogonal to the second rotational axis.

19. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the apparatus is configured to be carried by an unmanned aerial vehicle, wherein the first support member and the second support member form a mounting platform for coupling to one side of the payload, and wherein the mounting platform is configured to rotate the payload around at least two of:

a pitch axis, a roll axis and a yaw axis of the unmanned aerial vehicle.

20. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the flexible member comprises at least one of a circuit board, electrical wire and flat cable.