STABILIZED CAMERA PLATFORM SYSTEM

• US 20070182813A1
• Filed: 04/13/2007
• Published: 08/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment Incorporated
• Inventors: Chapman, Leonard, Yevstratov, Lev, Kozlov, Vladimir
• Granted Patent: US 8,125,564 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/61
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 11/048 Mobile camera platform
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/04 Means for attachment of apparatus; Means allowing adjustment of the apparatus relatively to the stand
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/105 the horizontal axis being the roll axis, e.g. for creating a landscape-portrait rotation
• 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 11/2064 for tilting and panning F16M11/2078 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2092 comprising means allowing depth adjustment, i.e. forward-backward translation of the head relatively to the undercarriage
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/24 changeable in height or length of legs, also for transport only, e.g. by means of tubes screwed into each otherF16M11/42 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/42 with arrangement for propelling the support stands on wheels
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/063 Parallelogram arms
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/68 for stable pick-up of the scene, e.g. compensating for camera body vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/6812 based on additional sensors, e.g. acceleration sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/687 by shifting the lens or sensor position

Abstract

A stabilized camera system has a roll frame formed as a parallelogram linkage and pivotably attached to a pan frame. A tilt frame is pivotably attached to the roll frame. Control circuits are provided to compensate for drift, to allow manual aiming of the camera during stabilized camera operation, and for providing rapid leveling. The stabilized camera system is compact with low moments of inertia to allow rapid movements.

Claims

1. A stabilized camera system, comprising:

a pan frame;

a dutch frame pivotably attached to the pan frame, with the dutch frame comprising a parallelogram linkage; and

a tilt frame pivotably attached to the dutch frame.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the pan frame comprises an arcuate box section.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising a dutch collar at a first end of the parallelogram linkage, and first and second dutch motors linked to the dutch collar.

4. The system of claim 3 further comprising a tilt collar at a second end of the parallelogram linkage, and first and second tilt motors linked to the tilt collar.

5. The system of claim 4 further comprising a pan shaft joined to the pan frame and first and second pan motors linked to the pan shaft.

6. The system of claim 5 further comprising a control system connected to the dutch motors, tilt motors, and pan motors, via wires or cables, for powering and controlling the motors.

7. The system of claim 6 further comprising a limiting mechanism provided at each axis about which the pan frame, the dutch frame, and the tilt frame pivot for preventing excessive winding of the wires or cables.

8. The system of claim 3 wherein the dutch collar includes a roll shaft pivotable relative to the pan frame, wherein the dutch frame is supported on the roll shaft.

9. The system of claim 4 wherein the tilt collar includes a tilt shaft pivotable relative to the dutch frame, wherein the tilt frame is supported on the tilt shaft.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the tilt frame includes an L-shaped camera platform.

11. The system of claim 1 further comprising locking means for locking the parallelogram linkage into a fixed position.

17. The system of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of locking mechanisms for locking the pan frame, the roll frame, and the tilt frame into fixed positions.

12. A stabilized camera system for attachment to a camera crane, comprising:

a pan frame rotatably attachable to the camera crane via a pan shaft;

a roll frame rotatably attached to the pan frame via a roll collar, with the roll frame comprising a parallelogram linkage;

a tilt frame rotatably attached to the roll frame via a tilt collar;

wherein the parallelogram linkage provides a rigid connection between the roll collar and the tilt collar.

13. The system of claim 12 further comprising first and second roll motors linked to the roll collar.

14. The system of claim 12 further comprising first and second tilt motors linked to the tilt collar.

15. The system of claim 12 further comprising first and second pan motors linked to the pan shaft.

16. The system of claim 12 wherein the tilt frame includes an L-shaped camera platform.

18. A stabilized camera system, comprising:

a pan frame including a pan shaft for attaching the pan frame to a support;

a roll frame rotatably attached to the pan frame via a roll collar;

a tilt frame rotatably attached to the roll frame via a tilt collar;

at least one roll motor linked to the roll collar;

at least one tilt motor linked to the tilt collar;

at least one pan motor linked to the pan shaft; and

a control system linked to the at least one roll motor, tilt motor, and pan motor for powering and controlling the roll motor, tilt motor, and pan motor.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the roll frame comprises a parallelogram linkage.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the tilt frame includes an L-shaped camera platform.