INTERCHANGEABLE MOUNTING PLATFORM

• US 20160255249A1
• Filed: 05/13/2016
• Published: 09/01/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SZ DJI Technology Co., Ltd. (d/b/a DJI) (iFlight Technology Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: SZ DJI Technology Co., Ltd. (d/b/a DJI) (iFlight Technology Company Limited)
• Inventors: Pan, Paul, Zhao, Xifeng, Zhao, Tao
• Granted Patent: US 9,781,313 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 5/10 Handles for carrying purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 1/08 the articles being load-carrying devices
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 47/08 Arrangements of cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 20/87 Mounting of imaging devices, e.g. mounting of gimbals
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/30 for imaging, photography or videography
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/041 Allowing quick release of the apparatus
• 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 11/123 the axis of rotation intersecting in a single point, e.g. by using gimbals
• 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 11/22 with approximately constant height, e.g. with constant length of column or of legs F16M11/42 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/022 repositionable
• 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: G03B 15/006 Apparatus mounted on flying objects
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/561 Support related camera accessories
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/566 Accessory clips, holders, shoes to attach accessories to camera if integral part of camera body G03B17/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/50 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/54 Mounting of pick-up tubes, electronic image sensors, deviation or focusing coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/62 : Control of parameters via user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/633 : for displaying additional information relating to control or operation of the camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/66 : Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/667 : Camera operation mode switching, e.g. between still and video, sport and normal or high- and low-resolution modes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/695 : Control of camera direction for changing a field of view, e.g. pan, tilt or based on tracking of objects

Abstract

A platform for interchangeably mounting a payload to a base support is provided. In one aspect, the platform comprises: a support assembly configured to be releasably coupled to a payload via a first coupling and configured to control a spatial disposition of the payload; and a mounting assembly configured to be releasably coupled via a second coupling to a plurality of types of base supports selected from at least two of the following: an aerial vehicle, a handheld support, or a base adapter mounted onto a movable object.

Claims

1-30. -30. (canceled)

31. A handheld platform comprising:

an imaging device configured to obtain image data;

a support assembly coupled to the imaging device, wherein the support assembly is configured to control a spatial disposition of the imaging device;

a mounting assembly that is coupled to the support assembly; and

a handheld support member comprising an input interface configured to receive a control signal from a user for controlling the spatial disposition of the imaging device,

wherein said mounting assembly is configured to be releasably coupled to the handheld support member via a quick release coupling that enables the mounting assembly to be coupled and decoupled from the handheld support member without the use of tools, and wherein the quick release coupling enables the mounting assembly to be coupled and decoupled from an unmanned aerial vehicle without the use of tools.

32. The handheld platform of claim 31, wherein the handheld support member comprises a handle, wherein the handle comprises a proximal end located away from the mounting assembly and a distal end located close to the mounting assembly.

33. The handheld platform of claim 32, wherein the input interface is positioned on the handle.

34. The handheld platform of claim 33, wherein the input interface is positioned near the distal end of the handle.

35. The handheld platform of claim 32, further comprising a stand configured to support the handheld support member when the handheld support member is placed on a surface, wherein the stand is positioned near the proximal end of the handle, and wherein the stand is configured to support the handheld support member in a vertical orientation.

36. The handheld platform of claim 32, wherein the handle has an ergonomic shape.

37. The handheld platform of claim 32, wherein the handle has a weight less than or equal to 500 g.

38. The handheld platform of claim 31, wherein the control signal is configured to effect rotation of the imaging device about a pitch axis.

39. The handheld platform of claim 31, wherein the control signal is configured to effect control over a function of the imaging device, the function comprising a record function, a power on function, or a power off function.

40. The handheld platform of claim 31, wherein the control signal is configured to effect control over a function of the imaging device, the function comprising a zoom in function, a zoom out function, a change of focus function, or a change of field of view function.

41. The handheld platform of claim 31, wherein the support assembly is configured to rotate the imaging device about a roll axis, a pitch axis, or a yaw axis such that the imaging device maintains its position or orientation relative to a reference frame independent of movement of the handheld support member.

42. The handheld platform of claim 31, wherein the support assembly is configured to control the spatial disposition of the imaging device with respect to at least two axes of rotation relative to the handheld support member.

43. The handheld platform of claim 31, further comprising a communication unit configured to transmit the image data obtained by the imaging device to a display.

44. The handheld platform of claim 43, wherein the imaging device comprises the communication unit.

45. The handheld platform of claim 43, further comprising the display, wherein the display is coupled to the handheld support member via a mating interface of the handheld support member, and wherein the communication unit is configured to transmit the image data to the display.

46. The handheld platform of claim 31, further comprising a power source configured to provide power to the support assembly and/or the imaging device.

47. The handheld platform of claim 31, wherein the imaging device has an energy consumption less than 5 W/h.

48. The handheld platform of claim 31, further comprising an electromechanical coupling enabling transmission of data from the handheld support member to the support assembly.

49. A handheld platform comprising:

an imaging device configured to obtain image data;

a support assembly coupled to the imaging device, wherein the support assembly is configured to control a spatial disposition of the imaging device;

a mounting assembly that is coupled to the support assembly;

a handheld support member comprising an input interface configured to receive a control signal from a user for controlling the spatial disposition of the imaging device;

a display configured to display the image data obtained by the imaging device, wherein the display is coupled to the handheld support member via a mating interface of the handheld support member; and

a communication unit configured to transmit the image data obtained by the imaging device to the display,

wherein said mounting assembly is configured to be releasably coupled to the handheld support member via a quick release coupling that enables the mounting assembly to be coupled and decoupled from the handheld support member without the use of tools, and wherein the quick release coupling enables the mounting assembly to be coupled and decoupled from an unmanned aerial vehicle without the use of tools.

50. The handheld platform of claim 49, wherein the control signal is configured to effect rotation of the imaging device about a pitch axis.

51. The handheld platform of claim 49, wherein the control signal is configured to effect control over a function of the imaging device, the function selected from the group consisting of:

a record function, a zoom in function, a zoom out function, a power on function, a power off function, a change of focus function, and a change of field of view function.

52. The handheld platform of claim 49, wherein the handheld support member comprises a handle having an ergonomic shape, wherein the handle comprises a proximal end located away from the mounting assembly and a distal end located close to the mounting assembly, and wherein the input interface is positioned near the distal end of the handle.

53. A method for interchangeably mounting an imaging device for handheld photography and aerial imaging, the method comprising:

providing a mounting platform comprising a support assembly and a mounting assembly, the support assembly (1) being coupled to the imaging device and (2) being configured to control a spatial disposition of the imaging device, the imaging device being configured to obtain image data, and the mounting assembly comprising a quick release coupling;

providing a first base support that is a handheld platform, wherein the handheld platform comprises an input interface configured to receive a control signal from a user for controlling the spatial disposition of the imaging device;

coupling the mounting platform to said first base support via the quick release coupling without the use of tools for handheld photography;

decoupling the mounting platform from the first base support via the quick release coupling without the use of tools; and

coupling the mounting platform to a second base support that is an unmanned aerial vehicle for aerial imaging, the unmanned aerial vehicle comprising multiple horizontally oriented rotors that provide lift to the unmanned aerial vehicle, wherein the mounting platform is coupled to the unmanned aerial vehicle via the quick release coupling and without the use of tools.

54. The method of claim 53, further comprising inputting the control signal via the user interface, wherein the control signal (1) is configured to effect rotation of the imaging device about a pitch axis, and/or (2) is configured to effect control over a function of the imaging device, wherein the function is selected from the group consisting of:

a record function, zoom in function, zoom out function, power on function, power off function, change of focus function, and a change of field of view function.

55. The method of claim 53, further comprising coupling a display to the handheld platform via a mating interface of the handheld platform, wherein the imaging device comprises a communication unit configured to transmit the image data obtained by the imaging device to the display.

56. The method of claim 55, further comprising displaying the image data obtained by the imaging device on the display.

57. A method for interchangeably mounting an imaging device for handheld photography and aerial imaging, the method comprising:

providing a mounting platform comprising a support assembly and a mounting assembly, the support assembly (1) being coupled to the imaging device and (2) being configured to control a spatial disposition of the imaging device, the imaging device being configured to obtain image data, and the mounting assembly comprising a quick release coupling;

providing a first base support that is an unmanned aerial vehicle, wherein the unmanned aerial vehicle comprises multiple horizontally oriented rotors that provide lift to the unmanned aerial vehicle;

coupling the mounting platform to said first base support via the quick release coupling without the use of tools for aerial imaging;

decoupling the mounting platform from the first base support via the quick release coupling without the use of tools; and

coupling the mounting platform to a second base support that is a handheld platform for handheld photography, said handheld platform comprising an input interface configured to receive a control signal from a user for controlling the spatial disposition of the imaging device, wherein the mounting platform is coupled to the handheld platform via the quick release coupling without the use of tools.

58. The method of claim 57, further comprising inputting the control signal via the user interface, wherein the control signal (1) is configured to effect rotation of the imaging device about a pitch axis, and/or (2) is configured to effect control over a function of the imaging device, wherein the function is selected from the group consisting of:

a record function, zoom in function, zoom out function, power on function, power off function, change of focus function, and a change of field of view function.

59. The method of claim 57, further comprising coupling a display to the handheld platform via a mating interface of the handheld platform, wherein the imaging device comprises a communication unit configured to transmit the image data obtained by the imaging device to the display.

60. The method of claim 59, further comprising displaying the image data obtained by the imaging device on the display.