Routing of transmission media through rotatable components

• US 10,432,863 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2019
• Issued: 10/01/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GoPro, Inc.
• Original Assignee: GoPro, Inc.
• Inventors: Appel, Austin, Shukla, Himay, Crow, Kielan C., Zuo, Hong
• Primary Examiner(s): Haskins, Twyler L
• Assistant Examiner(s): Le, Tuan H
• Application Number:
  US16/288,432
• Publication Number:
  US 20190215430A1
• Time in Patent Office: 215 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/30 for imaging, photography or videography
• 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 13/00 Other supports for positioning apparatus or articles heads thereof F16M11/02 ; undercarriages thereof F16M11/20 ; adapted to be stuck in the ground A45F3/44 ; sockets or holders for poles or posts E04H12/22; Means for steadying hand-held apparatus or articles supports for measuring instruments G01D11/30; supports for casings of remote control switching devices H01H9/025
• 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 13/04 for supporting on, or holding steady relative to, a person, e.g. by chains , e.g. rifle butt or pistol grip supports, supports attached to the chest or head apparatus or arrangements for taking photographs or for projecting or viewing them G03B
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/041 for balancing rotational movement of the head
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/044 for balancing rotational movement of the undercarriage
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/045 for panning movement
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/685 performed by mechanical compensation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/10 Adaptations for transmission by electrical cable H04N7/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0004 comprising several parts forming a closed casing
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0247 Electrical details of casings, e.g. terminals, passages for cables or wiring

Abstract

In one aspect of the present disclosure, a gimbal assembly is described for use with an image capturing device. The gimbal assembly includes a motor assembly, a first housing defining an internal compartment that is configured and dimensioned to receive the motor assembly, and a second housing that is mechanically connected to the motor assembly such that actuation of the motor assembly causes relative rotation between the first and second housings. The first housing includes a first guide that is configured and dimensioned to support transmission media adapted to communicate electrical and/or digital signals. The second housing defines a channel that is configured and dimensioned to receive the first guide such that the first guide extends into the second housing through the channel. The transmission media is supported on the first guide such that the first guide routes the transmission media from the first housing into the second housing.

Claims

1. An image capturing system, comprising:

a digital image capturing device (DICD); and

a hand-held apparatus configured to support the DICD, the hand-held apparatus including;

a grip;

a transmission media extending through the grip, the transmission media configured to transmit data and/or power through the hand-held apparatus;

a first gimbal assembly positioned adjacent an upper end of the grip, the first gimbal assembly including;

first and second housings configured for relative movement; and

a motor assembly accommodated within one of the first and second housings;

a first arm including opposite first and second end portions, wherein the first gimbal assembly is positioned adjacent the first end portion of the first arm, and the transmission media extends from the grip, through the motor assembly of the first gimbal assembly, and into the first arm;

a second gimbal assembly positioned adjacent the second end portion of the first arm, the second gimbal assembly including;

first and second housings configured for relative movement; and

a motor assembly accommodated within one of the first and second housings;

a second arm including opposite first and second end portions, wherein the second gimbal assembly is positioned adjacent the first end portion of the second arm, and the transmission media extends from the first arm, through the motor assembly of the second gimbal assembly, and into the second arm; and

a third gimbal assembly positioned adjacent the second end portion of the second arm such that the third gimbal assembly is operatively connected to the DICD, the transmission media extending into the third gimbal assembly from the second arm.

2. The image capturing system of claim 1, wherein the transmission media includes a coaxial cable and/or a flexible printed circuit.

3. The image capturing system of claim 1, wherein the first arm and the second arm each define an internal channel configured to receive the transmission media such that the transmission media extends from the grip, through the internal channels in the first and second arms, to the third gimbal assembly.

4. The image capturing system of claim 3, wherein the motor assembly of the first gimbal assembly includes a hollow motor shaft defining an internal passage configured to receive the transmission media.

5. The image capturing system of claim 4, wherein the motor assembly of the second gimbal assembly includes a hollow motor shaft defining an internal passage configured to receive the transmission media.

6. The image capturing system of claim 5, wherein the third gimbal assembly includes a solid motor shaft.

7. The image capturing system of claim 6, wherein:

the first gimbal assembly defines a first axis of rotation extending in generally parallel relation to the grip;

the second gimbal assembly defines a second axis of rotation extending in generally orthogonal relation to the first axis of rotation; and

the third gimbal assembly defines a third axis of rotation extending in generally orthogonal relation to the first and second axes of rotation.

8. The image capturing system of claim 7, wherein the second end portion of the second arm includes a forked support structure configured to support the DICD and the third gimbal assembly.

9. The image capturing system of claim 8, wherein the second gimbal assembly is configured and positioned to rotate the forked support structure and the DICD.

10. A hand-held apparatus configured to support a digital image capturing device (DICD), the hand-held apparatus including:

a grip including opposite first and second ends; and

a gimbal system configured to support stable movement of the DICD, the gimbal system including;

a first gimbal assembly positioned adjacent the second end of the grip, the first gimbal assembly being configured for rotation about a first axis, and defining a first channel configured to receive a coaxial cable such that the first gimbal assembly is rotatable relative to the coaxial cable during actuation;

a first arm having opposite first and second end portions, the first gimbal assembly being positioned adjacent to the first end portion of the first arm;

a second gimbal assembly positioned adjacent to the second end portion of the first arm, the second gimbal assembly being configured for rotation about a second axis, and defining a second channel configured to receive the coaxial cable such that the second gimbal assembly is rotatable relative to the coaxial cable during actuation;

a second arm having opposite first and second end portions, the second gimbal assembly being positioned adjacent to the first end portion of the second arm; and

a third gimbal assembly positioned adjacent to the second end portion of the second arm such that the third gimbal assembly is operatively connectable to the DICD, the third gimbal assembly being configured for rotation about a third axis.

11. The hand-held apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first gimbal assembly is configured such that the first axis extends through the first channel, and the second gimbal assembly is configured such that the second axis extends through the second channel.

12. The hand-held apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first and second gimbal assemblies each include a hollow motor shaft, the first channel being defined by the motor shaft of the first gimbal assembly, and the second channel being defined by the motor shaft of the second gimbal assembly.

13. The hand-held apparatus of claim 12, wherein the third gimbal assembly includes a solid motor shaft.

14. The hand-held apparatus of claim 13, wherein:

the first axis extends in generally parallel relation to the grip;

the second axis extends in generally orthogonal relation to the first axis; and

the third axis extends in generally orthogonal relation to the first and second axes.

15. The hand-held apparatus of claim 14, wherein the second end portion of the second arm includes a forked support structure configured to support the DICD and the third gimbal assembly such that the forked support structure and the DICD are rotatable by the second gimbal assembly.

16. A gimbal system for use with a digital image capturing device (DICD), the gimbal system comprising:

a first gimbal assembly including first and second housings configured for relative rotation, the first gimbal assembly further including a hollow motor shaft configured to accommodate a coaxial cable such that the coaxial cable extends through the first gimbal assembly, and at least one of the first and second housings of the first gimbal assembly is rotatable in relation to the coaxial cable;

a second gimbal assembly including first and second housings configured for relative rotation, the second gimbal assembly further including a hollow motor shaft configured to accommodate the coaxial cable such that the coaxial cable extends through the second gimbal assembly, and at least one of the first and second housings of the second gimbal assembly is rotatable in relation to the coaxial cable;

a first support extending between the first and second gimbal assemblies, the first support defining an internal channel configured to accommodate the coaxial cable;

a third gimbal assembly configured for operative connection to the DICD; and

a second support extending between the second and third gimbal assemblies, the second support defining an internal channel configured to accommodate the coaxial cable.

17. The gimbal system of claim 16, wherein the second support includes a forked support structure configured to support the third gimbal assembly and the DICD.

18. The gimbal system of claim 17, wherein the second gimbal assembly is configured and positioned to rotate the forked support structure and the DICD.

19. The gimbal system of claim 18, wherein the third gimbal assembly includes a solid motor shaft.

20. The gimbal system of claim 19, wherein:

the first gimbal assembly defines a first axis of rotation extending through the hollow motor shaft of the first gimbal assembly;

the second gimbal assembly defines a second axis of rotation extending through the hollow motor shaft of the second gimbal assembly; and

the third gimbal assembly defines a third axis of rotation extending through the solid motor shaft of the third gimbal assembly, the second axis of rotation extending in generally orthogonal relation to the first axis of rotation, and the third axis of rotation extending in generally orthogonal relation to the first and second axes of rotation.