Control device for a gimbal and method of controlling the same

• US 10,352,495 B2
• Filed: 08/30/2018
• Issued: 07/16/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• 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: Pan, Paul, Zhu, Ming Liang, Zhao, Xi Feng
• Primary Examiner(s): Duckworth, Bradley
• Application Number:
  US16/117,311
• Publication Number:
  US 20180372264A1
• Time in Patent Office: 320 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/12 in more than one direction
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/18 with mechanism for moving the apparatus relatively to the stand
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2014 around a vertical axis F16M11/2035 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/022 repositionable
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/561 Support related camera accessories
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 3/00 Control of position or direction G05D1/00 takes precedence; numerical control to execute positioning G05B19/18
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 3/12 using feedback

Abstract

A gimbal for controlling an optical device includes a rocker and a controlling assembly. The rocker is configured to receive an action instruction and generate a control instruction based at least in part on a duration of the action instruction. The controlling assembly is configured to (1) receive the control instruction from the rocker, and (2) generate, based on the control instruction, a performing instruction for controlling the optical device.

Claims

1. A gimbal for controlling an optical device, said gimbal comprising:

a rocker for receiving an action instruction and generating a control instruction based at least in part on a duration of the action instruction; and

a controlling assembly configured to (1) receive the control instruction from the rocker, and (2) generate, based on the control instruction, a performing instruction for controlling the optical device,

wherein the rocker comprises a keypad for switching between two or more operating modes of the gimbal and wherein the operating modes of the gimbal comprise;

(1) a follow mode in which a shooting direction of the optical device follows a moving direction of the gimbal and (2) a locked mode in which the shooting direction of the optical device is locked in a specified direction regardless of movement of the gimbal.

2. The gimbal according to claim 1, wherein the action instruction is a short press action instruction and the control instruction is configured to cause the gimbal to switch between the two or more operating modes.

3. The gimbal according to claim 1, wherein the rocker comprises a rocker handle for controlling an attitude of the optical device.

4. The gimbal according to claim 3, wherein the action instruction is a long press action instruction and the control instruction is configured to cause the rocker handle to return to a middle position.

5. The gimbal according to claim 1, further comprising a support arm configured to support the rocker and wherein the rocker is disposed on a top portion of the support arm.

6. The gimbal according to claim 5, further comprising a performing assembly configured to implement the performing instruction and wherein the rocker is disposed between the performing assembly and the support arm.

7. A method for controlling an optical device via a gimbal, said method comprising:

receiving an action instruction by a rocker of the gimbal;

generating a control instruction based at least in part on a duration of the action instruction; and

generating, based on the control instruction, a performing instruction for controlling the gimbal,

wherein the rocker comprises a keypad for switching between two or more operating modes of the gimbal and wherein the operating modes of the gimbal comprise;

(1) a follow mode in which a shooting direction of the optical device follows a moving direction of the gimbal and (2) a locked mode in which the shooting direction of the optical device is locked in a specified direction regardless of movement of the gimbal.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the action instruction is a short press action instruction and the control instruction is configured to cause the gimbal to switch between the two or more operating modes.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein the rocker comprises a rocker handle for controlling an attitude of the optical device.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the action instruction is a long press action instruction and the control instruction is configured to cause the rocker handle to return to a middle position.

11. A control device for controlling an optical device via a gimbal, said control device comprising:

a keypad for switching between two or more operating modes of the gimbal, wherein the operating modes of the gimbal comprise;

(1) a follow mode in which a shooting direction of the optical device follows a moving direction of the gimbal and (2) a locked mode in which the shooting direction of the optical device is locked in a specified direction regardless of movement of the gimbal; and

a rocker handle for controlling an attitude of the optical device, wherein the control device is configured to receive an action instruction from the rocker handle or the keypad and generate a control instruction based at least in part on a duration of the action instruction.

12. The control device according to claim 11, wherein the action instruction is a short press action instruction and the control instruction is configured to cause the gimbal to switch between the two or more operating modes.

13. The control device according to claim 11, wherein the action instruction is a long press action instruction and the control instruction is configured to cause the rocker handle to return to a middle position.

14. The control device according to claim 11, further comprising a potentiometer assembly operably connected to the rocker handle.

15. The control device according to claim 14, wherein the potentiometer assembly comprises a first potentiometer for controlling a pitch action of the optical device via the gimbal and a second potentiometer for controlling a rotation action of the optical device via the gimbal.