Stabilizer Device for Optical Equipment

• US 20090257741A1
• Filed: 04/10/2008
• Published: 10/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Camera Motion Research, LLC
• Original Assignee: Camera Motion Research, LLC
• Inventors: Greb, Richard G., Sanderson, Adrian R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,936,984 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 396/55
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/045 adapted to left-right translation movement
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/048 adapted to forward-backward translation movement
• 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 11/2021 around a horizontal axis F16M11/2035 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2028 for rolling, i.e. for creating a landscape-portrait rotation
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/205 the axis of rotation intersecting in a single point, e.g. gimbals
• 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 13/04 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 2200/047 for balancing translational movement of the head
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/561 Support related camera accessories
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2217/002 Details of arrangement of components in or on camera body
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2217/005 Blur detection

Abstract

A stabilizer for a hand-held optical device includes a gyroscope assembly suspended below a base assembly, and a handle pivotably attached to the base assembly. The optical device, which may be a video camera, mounts to the base assembly. The gyroscope assembly has two or more rotatable members that pivot independently to stabilize the optical device about two or more axes of rotation whenever the user moves the stabilizer. A rigid strut connects the gyroscope to the base assembly such that the centers of rotation of the rotatable members are co-linear with a longitudinal axis that extends the handle.

Claims

1. A stabilizer for a hand-held camera, the stabilizer comprising:

a base assembly configured to receive a hand-held camera;

a handle assembly extending along a longitudinal axis orthogonal to the base assembly to pivotably connect a handle to the base assembly; and

a gyroscope attached to the base assembly to stabilize the hand-held camera during motion, the gyroscope comprising at least first and second rotatable members, each having an independent center of rotation that is co-linearly aligned along the longitudinal axis.

2. The stabilizer of claim 1 further comprising a rigid strut configured to suspend the gyroscope below the base assembly, and to co-linearly align the centers of rotation of the first and second rotatable members along the longitudinal axis.

3. The stabilizer of claim 1 wherein the handle assembly comprises a pivot support configured to pivotably connect the handle to the base assembly about first and second axes, and wherein the first, second, and longitudinal axes intersect each other at a common point within the pivot support, and are orthogonal to each other.

4. The stabilizer of claim 3 wherein the handle comprises a pan control mechanism configured to control a rotation of the stabilizer about the longitudinal axis.

5. The stabilizer of claim 3 wherein each rotatable member is configured to independently pivot about respective third and fourth axes.

6. The stabilizer of claim 5 wherein the third and fourth axes each intersect the longitudinal axis to form respective intersection points, and wherein the gyroscope is positioned such that each of the intersection points and the common point are co-linearly aligned along the longitudinal axis during motion of the stabilizer.

7. The stabilizer of claim 5 further comprising at least one biasing member associated with each rotatable member to yieldingly resist the pivoting motion of the rotatable members.

8. The stabilizer of claim 1 wherein the first and second rotatable members have axes of rotation that are co-linearly aligned with the longitudinal axis.

9. The stabilizer of claim 1 wherein the first and second rotatable members have axes of rotation that are orthogonal to the longitudinal axis.

10. The stabilizer of claim 1 wherein the first rotatable member has an axis of rotation that is orthogonal to an axis of rotation for the second rotatable member.

11. The stabilizer of claim 1 wherein the first and second rotatable members rotate in opposite directions.

12. The stabilizer of claim 1 wherein the base comprises a platform to receive the hand-held camera, and a compartment member to store a power source and control circuitry.

13. The stabilizer of claim 12 wherein the platform is configured to move in a plane that is orthogonal to the longitudinal axis and independently of the compartment member.

14. The stabilizer of claim 1 further comprising a controller configured to vary the rotational velocities of one or both of the first and second rotatable members.

15. The stabilizer of claim 14 further comprising a sensor configured to detect motion of the stabilizer about the longitudinal axis, and wherein the controller is configured to vary the rotational velocities of one or both of the first and second rotatable members responsive to signals output by the sensor.

16. The stabilizer of claim 14 wherein the controller is configured to vary the rotational velocities of one or both of the first and second rotatable members independently of each other responsive to user input.

17. A method of manufacturing a stabilizer for a hand-held camera, the method comprising:

forming a base assembly to receive a hand-held camera;

connecting a handle assembly having a pivotable handle to the base assembly along a longitudinal axis that extends substantially orthogonal to the base assembly; and

connecting a gyroscope having first and second rotatable members to the base assembly such that a center of rotation for each rotatable member is co-linearly aligned along the longitudinal axis.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein connecting a gyroscope to the base assembly comprises suspending the gyroscope below the base assembly such that the centers of rotation are co-linearly aligned along the longitudinal axis.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein connecting the handle assembly comprises:

forming the handle assembly to include a pivot support that defines first and second axes about which the handle pivots; and

positioning the pivot support such that the first, second, and longitudinal axes intersect each other at a common point within the pivot support.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising forming a pan control mechanism within the handle to control a rotation of the stabilizer about the longitudinal axis.

21. The method of claim 17 further comprising pivotably connecting each rotatable member to an interior of the gyroscope housing such that the first rotatable member pivots about a third axis, and the second rotatable member pivots independently about a fourth axis.

22. The method of claim 21 further comprising providing at least one biasing member for each rotatable member to yieldingly resist the pivoting movement of the rotatable members.

23. The method of claim 17 wherein connecting the gyroscope to the base assembly comprises suspending the gyroscope below the base assembly to co-linearly align an axis of rotation for each of the first and second rotatable members with the longitudinal axis.

24. The method of claim 17 wherein connecting the gyroscope to the base assembly comprises suspending the gyroscope below the base assembly such that an axis of rotation for each of the first and second rotatable members is orthogonal to the longitudinal axis.

25. The method of claim 17 wherein connecting the gyroscope to the base assembly comprises suspending the gyroscope below the base assembly such that an axis of rotation of the first rotatable member is orthogonal to the axis of rotation of the second rotatable member.

26. The method of claim 17 wherein forming the base assembly comprises forming the base assembly to include a platform that receives the hand-held camera, and a compartment member to store a power source and control circuitry.

27. The method of claim 17 wherein forming the base assembly comprises forming the platform to move in a plane that is orthogonal to the longitudinal axis and independently of the compartment member.

28. The method of claim 17 further comprising configuring a controller to control a rotational velocity of at least one of the first and second rotatable members.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein controlling a rotational velocity of at least one of the first and second rotatable members comprises varying the rotational velocity of at least one of the first and second rotatable members responsive to detecting movement of the stabilizer about the longitudinal axis.

30. The method of claim 28 wherein controlling a rotational velocity of at least one of the first and second rotatable members comprises varying the rotational velocities of the first and second rotatable members independently of each other responsive to user input.