Camera platform assembly

• US 20040263679A1
• Filed: 06/30/2003
• Published: 12/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: E-Benk Tech Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: E-Benk Tech Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Wei, David
• Granted Patent: US 7,180,547 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/373
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/00 Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof

Abstract

A camera platform assembly is disclosed and claimed to include a control base adapted to receive control signal, a rotary table horizontally rotatably supported on the control base and controlled to rotate horizontally on the control base by control signal received by the control base, and movable rack pivoted to the rotary table and adapted to carry a camera and to adjust the angle of inclination of the camera.

Claims

1. A camera platform assembly adapted to carry a camera and to control the angular position of the camera, comprising:

a control base adapted to receive control signal for controlling the position of a camera carried on the camera platform assembly;

a rotary table coupled to said control base for free rotation to adjust the position of a camera carried on the camera platform assembly, said rotary table comprising a barrel fixedly located on a top side thereof, and a plurality of locating grooves axially formed in the barrel of said rotary table and arranged in parallel; and

a movable rack coupled to said rotary table and adapted to hold a camera and to adjust the angle of inclination of the camera carried thereon, said movable rack comprising a base frame, said base frame comprising two barrels axially aligned in a line at two sides of the barrel of said rotary table and a plurality of locating grooves axially formed in one barrel of said movable rack and arranged in parallel corresponding to the locating grooves of said rotary table, a control shaft inserted into the barrels of said movable rack and the barrel of said rotary table to pivotally secure said base frame to the barrel of said rotary table and axially movable relative to the barrels of said base frame and the barrel of said rotary table between a first position to lock said base frame and a second position to unlock said base frame for enabling said base frame to be turned relative to said rotary table, said control shaft having a plurality of longitudinal teeth arranged in parallel around the periphery thereof and adapted to engage the locating grooves of said base frame and the locating grooves of said rotary table, a holder frame mounted on said base frame and adapted to accommodate a camera, and a locking member pivoted to said base frame and adapted to lock said holder frame.

2. The camera platform assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said teeth of said control shaft are engaged into both the locating grooves of said base frame and the locating grooves of said rotary table to stop said movable rack from moving relative to said rotary table when said control shaft is shifted to said locking position.

3. The camera platform assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said teeth of said control shaft are engaged into the locating grooves of said base frame and disengaged from the locating grooves of said rotary table for enabling said movable rack to be turned relative to said rotary table when said control shaft is shifted to said unlocking position.

4. The camera platform assembly as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a spring member supported between said control shaft and one barrel of said base frame of said movable rack to impart a pressure to said control shaft and to support said control shaft in said locking position.

5. The camera platform assembly as claimed in claim 1, further comprising stop means adapted to stop said control shaft in said locking position, said stop means comprising a female device formed in one barrel of said base frame and a male device formed in the periphery of said control shaft and adapted to engage said female device.

6. The camera platform assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control base comprises a power jack for power input, a signal connector for signal input, and a receiver connected to said signal connector and adapted to receive control signal from a remote controller for controlling the rotation of said rotary table.

7. The camera platform assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein sad rotary table further comprises:

a motor electrically connected to said power jack and adapted to receive control signal from said receiver and to rotate said rotary table relative to said control base according to received control signal; and

a transmission gear set coupled between an output shaft of said motor and said control base and adapted to rotate said rotary table relative to said control base subject to the operation of said motor.

8. A movable rack coupled to a barrel at a rotary table for camera platform assembly and adapted to carry a camera and to adjust the angle of inclination of the camera, the movable rack comprising:

a base frame, said base frame comprising two barrels axially aligned in a line at two sides of the barrel of said rotary table, and a plurality of locating grooves axially formed in one barrel of said movable rack and arranged in parallel corresponding to respective locating grooves in the barrel of said rotary table;

a control shaft inserted into the barrels of said movable rack and the barrel of said rotary table to pivotally secure said base frame to the barrel of said rotary table and axially movable relative to the barrels of said base frame and the barrel of said rotary table between a first position to lock said base frame and a second position to unlock said base frame for enabling said base frame to be turned relative to said rotary table, said control shaft having a plurality of longitudinal teeth arranged in parallel around the periphery thereof and adapted to engage the locating grooves of said base frame and the locating grooves of said rotary table;

a holder frame mounted on said base frame and adapted to accommodate a camera; and

a locking member pivoted to said base frame and adapted to lock said holder frame.

9. The movable rack as claimed in claim 8, wherein said teeth of said control shaft are engaged into both the locating grooves of said base frame and the locating grooves of said rotary table to stop said movable rack from moving relative to said rotary table when said control shaft is shifted to said locking position.

10. The movable rack as claimed in claim 8, wherein said teeth of said control shaft are engaged into the locating grooves of said base frame and disengaged from the locating grooves of said rotary table for enabling said movable rack to be turned relative to said rotary table when said control shaft shifted to said unlocking position.

11. The movable rack as claimed in claim 8, further comprising a spring member supported between said control shaft and one barrel of said base frame of said movable rack to impart a pressure to said control shaft and to support said control shaft in said locking position.

12. The movable rack as claimed in claim 8, further comprising stop means adapted to stop said control shaft in said locking position, said stop means comprising a female device formed in one barrel of said base frame and a male device formed in the periphery of said control shaft and adapted to engage said female device.