Method and apparatus for improving the operation of a remote viewing device
First Claim
1. A method for improving the operation of a remote viewing device, the method comprising:
- removing at least a portion of slack from at least one control cable attached to a servo motor, the removing at least a portion of slack including at least changing a distance between the servo motor and a flexible tube termination block until a specified tension is encountered in the at least one control cable;
fixing the servo motor where the specified tension is encountered;
determining a first servo control signal value corresponding to no angular deflection in a viewing head of the remote viewing device; and
increasing the viewing head'"'"'s range of motion, the increasing the range of motion including at least determining a second servo control signal value corresponding to a first angular deflection in the viewing head.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention features a remote viewing device that is capable of improving its operation by removing slack in its control cables and/or by increasing the range of motion of its viewing head. In one embodiment, the method for improving the operation involves removing at least a portion of the slack in at least one control cable attached to a servo motor. The removal of at least a portion of the slack includes changing the position of a servo motor relative to a flexible tube termination block until a specified tension is encountered in at least one of the control cables. The method further includes determining first and second servo control signal values corresponding to no angular deflection and a specified deflection in a viewing head.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. A method for improving the operation of a remote viewing device, the method comprising:
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removing at least a portion of slack from at least one control cable attached to a servo motor, the removing at least a portion of slack including at least changing a distance between the servo motor and a flexible tube termination block until a specified tension is encountered in the at least one control cable;
fixing the servo motor where the specified tension is encountered;
determining a first servo control signal value corresponding to no angular deflection in a viewing head of the remote viewing device; and
increasing the viewing head'"'"'s range of motion, the increasing the range of motion including at least determining a second servo control signal value corresponding to a first angular deflection in the viewing head. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A system for improving the operation of a remote viewing device, the system comprising:
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a remote viewing device control unit;
a remote viewing device viewing head;
a remote viewing device flexible tube connected at a proximal end to the control unit and at the distal end to the viewing head; and
at least one servo motor located in the control unit and connected to at least one control cable that passes through the flexible tube and is attached to the viewing head, a distance between the at least one servo motor and a flexible tube termination block capable of being varied to remove at least a portion of slack in the at least one control cable. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A system for improving the operation of a remote viewing device, the system comprising:
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a remote viewing device control unit including at least a microprocessor, a memory unit, a servo control unit, and a servo motor, the microprocessor operatively coupled to the memory unit and the servo control unit and the servo motor operatively coupled to the servo motor control unit;
a remote viewing device viewing head;
a remote viewing device flexible tube connected at a proximal end to the control unit and at the distal end to the viewing head;
at least one control cable connected to the servo motor and the remote viewing device viewing head and passing through the remote viewing device flexible tube; and
a software routine stored in the memory unit, the software routine directing the microprocessor and the servo control unit to remove slack from the at least one control cable. - View Dependent Claims (29)
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30. A system for improving the operation of a remote viewing device, the system comprising:
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a remote viewing device control unit including at least a microprocessor, a memory unit, a servo control unit, and a servo motor, the microprocessor operatively coupled to the memory unit and the servo control unit and the servo motor operatively coupled to the servo motor control unit;
a remote viewing device viewing head;
a remote viewing device flexible tube connected at a proximal end to the control unit and at the distal end to the viewing head;
at least one control cable connected to the servo motor and the remote viewing device viewing head and passing through the remote viewing device flexible tube; and
a software routine stored in the memory unit, the software routine directing the microprocessor and the servo control unit to extend a range of motion of the viewing head. - View Dependent Claims (31)
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Specification