CAMERA SUPPORT APPARATUS

• US 20130100341A1
• Filed: 10/18/2012
• Published: 04/25/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vitec Group PLC
• Original Assignee: Vitec Group PLC
• Inventors: Lindsay, Richard Arthur, Codd, Andrew
• Granted Patent: US 8,970,778 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/373
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 11/048 Mobile camera platform
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/10 around a horizontal axis F16M11/12 takes precedence
• 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

Abstract

A camera support apparatus for supporting a video camera comprises a drive train device (1), a first inductive position sensor (23), (14) attached to a rotational output device (11) of the drive train device (10), and a second inductive position sensor (2), (3) attached to a rotational input device (4) which is operably connected to the drive train device (1), whereby the inductance sensed by the first position sensor (23), (14) is indicative of the rotational displacement of the rotational output device (11) and the inductance sensed by the second position sensor (2), (3) is indicative of the rotational displacement of the rotational input device (4).

Claims

1. A camera support apparatus for supporting a video camera comprising a drive train, a first inductive position sensor attached to a rotational output of said drive train;

and a second inductive position sensor attached to a rotational input which is operably connected to said drive train, whereby the inductance sensed by said first position sensor is indicative of the rotational displacement of said rotational output and the inductance sensed by said second position sensor is indicative of the rotational displacement of said rotational input.

2. An apparatus according claim 1, wherein said first inductive position sensor further comprises a first body member that is a passive inductive member and second body member that is an active member incorporating a plurality of windings, whereby in use, the inductance of said windings is indicative of the position of said passive inductive member displaced along a rotating measurement path.

3. An apparatus according claim 2, wherein said first body member of said first inductive position sensor is a rotor attached to a final drive element of said drive train.

4. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said second body member of said first inductive position sensor is a stator attached to a supporting member, which in use attaches said drive train to a pan and tilt head.

5. An apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a first non-metallic spacer that is located between said final drive element of said drive train and said first body member of said first inductive position sensor.

6. An apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a second non-metallic spacer that is located between said supporting member and said second body member of said first inductive position sensor.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second inductive position sensor further comprises a first body member that is a passive inductive member and second body member that is an active member incorporating a plurality of windings, whereby in use, the inductance of said windings is indicative of the position of said passive inductive member displaced along a rotating measurement path.

8. An apparatus according claim 7, wherein said first body member of said second inductive position sensor is a rotor attached to said rotational input.

9. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said second body member of said second inductive position sensor is a stator attached to a second supporting member attached to said drive train.

10. An apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising a third non-metallic spacer that is located between said first body member of said second inductive position sensor and said rotational input.

11. A method of driving and supporting a pan and tilt head, which in use supports a video camera according to claim 1.

12. A pan and tilt head apparatus for supporting a video camera, further comprising a camera support apparatus in accordance with claim 1.

13. A robotic pedestal apparatus for supporting a video camera, further comprising a camera support apparatus in accordance with claim 1.

14. A manual pedestal apparatus for supporting a video camera, further comprising a camera support apparatus in accordance with claim 1.

15. A camera support apparatus, which in use supports a video camera, the apparatus comprising a means of moving the supported camera along an axis and an inductive position sensor attached to said apparatus, whereby the inductance sensed by said position sensor is indicative of the displacement of said supported camera.

16. A camera support apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said axis is a linear axis.

17. A camera support apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said axis is a rotational axis.

18. An apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising a drive train which incorporates respective successive drive stages coupled together by means which cause rotational velocity of a rotational movement to be reduced across the drive stages thereby converting torque applied to an input of each drive stage into an increased torque at an out put of each drive stage, whereby one said successive drive stage incorporates a gear drive, characterised in that prior to said gear drive is another said stage incorporating a belt drive.

19. An apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising a second position sensor attached to a rotational input device which is operably connected to said drive train, whereby the position sensed by said second sensor is indicative of the rotational displacement of said input device along a rotating measurement path.

20. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said inductive sensor further comprises a first body member that is a passive inductive member and a second body member that is an active member incorporating a plurality of windings, whereby in use, the inductance of said windings is indicative of the position of said passive member displaced along a rotating measurement path.

21. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said first body member of said inductive position sensor is a rotor attached to a final drive element of said drive train.

22. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said second body member of said first inductive sensor is a stator attached to a supporting member, which in use attaches said drive train to said apparatus.

23. A pan and tilt head comprising said apparatus in accordance with claim 15, wherein the rotational displacement of a supported camera about a vertical axis is sensed along a rotating measurement path.

24. A pan and tilt head comprising a second said apparatus in accordance with claim 15, wherein the rotational displacement of a supported camera about a horizontal axis is sensed along a rotating measurement path.

25. A camera pedestal comprising said apparatus in accordance with claim 15.

26. A camera pedestal comprising said apparatus in accordance with claim 15, wherein the rotational displacement of a ground engaging member is sensed along a rotating measurement path.

27. A crane comprising said apparatus in accordance with claim 15, wherein the rotational displacement of a crane arm about a horizontal axis is sensed along a rotating measurement path.

28. A crane comprising said apparatus in accordance with claim 15, wherein the rotational displacement of a crane arm about a vertical axis is sensed along a rotating measurement path.

29. A camera support apparatus for supporting a video camera comprising a drive train, a first position sensor attached to a rotational output of said drive train;

and a second position sensor attached to a rotational input which is operably connected to said drive train;

wherein at least one of the sensors is an inductive sensor.