360-DEGREE GIMBAL SYSTEM

• US 20160290556A1
• Filed: 03/30/2016
• Published: 10/06/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Swiftcam Technologies Group Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Swiftcam Technologies Group Company Limited
• Inventors: Choi, Wa Fung, Cheung, Chung Wai, Cheung, Ki Lung
• Granted Patent: US 9,458,963 B1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/041 Allowing quick release of the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/10 around a horizontal axis F16M11/12 takes precedence
• 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 11/2071 for panning and rolling F16M11/2078 takes precedence
• 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: G01C 21/166 Mechanical, construction or arrangement details of inertial navigation systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/265 constructional aspects of navigation devices, e.g. housings, mountings, displays G01C21/3688 takes precedence

Abstract

A 360-degree gimbal device includes an upright support, a pan motor rotatably coupled with a hollow shaft mounted on the support, a slip ring disposed in the hollow shaft, a first arm having a proximal end attached to the pan motor so that the first arm is freely rotatable 360° about a pan axis, a roll motor connected with a distal end of the first arm, a second arm having a proximal end attached to the roll motor so that the second arm is rotatable 270° about a roll axis, a tilt motor connected with a distal end of the second arm, a holder attached to the tilt motor so that the holder is rotatable ±60° about a tilt axis. The gimbal device is in wireless communication with a mobile device which has a mobile application for generating a plurality of image-shooting modes based on a plurality of customized paths.

Claims

1. A 360-degree gimbal device (10) comprising:

(a) an upright support (12);

(b) a pan motor (14) rotatably coupled with a hollow shaft (16) mounted on an upper open end of the upright support (12);

(c) a slip ring (18) disposed within the hollow shaft (16);

(d) a first arm (20) having a proximal end attached to the pan motor (14) such that the first arm (20) is freely rotatable 360°

relative to the upright support (12) about a pan axis (x);

(e) a roll motor (24) connected with a distal end of the first arm (20);

(f) a second arm (26) having a proximal end attached to a rotatable part of the roll motor (24) such that the second arm (26) is rotatable 270°

relative to the first arm (20) about a roll axis (y) perpendicular to the pan axis (x);

(g) a tilt motor (34) connected with a distal end of the second arm (26);

(h) an image-capturing device holder (36) attached to a rotatable part of the tilt motor (34) such that the holder (36) is rotatable ±

60°

relative to a horizontal plane perpendicular to the upright support (12) about a tilt axis (z) orthogonal to the pan and roll axes (x, y);

(i) a wireless communication unit (62) for wirelessly receiving and transmitting signals between the gimbal device (10) and a mobile device (64), the mobile device (64) comprising a mobile application for generating a plurality of image-shooting modes based on a plurality of customized paths;

(j) a center processing unit (66) for converting command signals from the wireless communication unit (62) to pulse width modulation (PWM) signals, and processing motion signals including gyroscope and acceleration signals and converting these signals into angle signals;

(k) a motor controller (68) electrically connected with the pan, roll and tilt motors (14, 24, 34) and used for receiving the PWM signals from the center processing unit (66) and providing corresponding voltages to drive the pan, roll and tilt motors (14, 24, 34) thereby generating angular motions in the pan, roll, tilt axes (x, y, z) respectively; and

(l) an inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensor (70) for sensing the angular motion of the gimbal device in each axis in every looping.

2. A gimbal device (10) comprising:

(a) an upright support (12);

(b) a pan motor (14) rotatably coupled with a hollow shaft (16) mounted on an upper open end of the upright support (12);

(c) a slip ring (18) disposed within the hollow shaft (16);

(d) a first arm (20) having a proximal end attached to the pan motor (14) such that the first arm (20) is rotatable relative to the upright support (12) about a pan axis (x);

(e) a roll motor (24) connected with a distal end of the first arm (20);

(f) a second arm (26) having a proximal end attached to a rotatable part of the roll motor (24) such that the second arm (26) is rotatable relative to the first arm (20) about a roll axis (y) perpendicular to the pan axis (x);

(g) a tilt motor (34) connected with a distal end of the second arm (26); and

(h) a holder (36) attached to a rotatable part of the tilt motor (34) such that the holder (36) is rotatable about a tilt axis (z) orthogonal to the pan and roll axes (x, y).

3. The gimbal device as claimed in claim 2, wherein a plurality of first electrical wires (40) extending from a lower end of the slip ring (18) is electrically connected with a printed circuit board (44) provided in the upright support (12), and a plurality of second electrical wires (42) extending from an upper end of the slip ring (18) is electrically connected with the pan, roll and tilt motors (14, 24, 34).

4. The gimbal device as claimed in claim 3, comprising a wireless communication unit (62) for wirelessly receiving and transmitting signals between the gimbal device (10) and a mobile device (64).

5. The gimbal device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the mobile device (64) comprises a mobile application for generating a plurality of image-shooting modes based on a plurality of customized paths.

6. The gimbal device as claimed in claim 5, further comprising a center processing unit (66) for converting command signals from the wireless communication unit (62) to pulse width modulation (PWM) signals, and processing motion signals including gyroscope and acceleration signals and converting these signals into angle signals.

7. The gimbal device as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a motor controller (68) electrically connected with the pan, roll and tilt motors (14, 24, 34) and used for receiving the PWM signals from the center processing unit (66) and providing corresponding voltages to drive the pan, roll and tilt motors (14, 24, 34), thereby generating angular motions in the pan, roll, tilt axes (x, y, z) respectively.

8. The gimbal device as claimed in claim 7, further comprising an inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensor (70) for sensing the angular motion of the gimbal device in each axis in every looping.

9. The gimbal device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first arm (20) is rotatable freely 360°

.

10. The gimbal device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the second arm (26) is rotatable within a range of 270°

.

11. The gimbal device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the holder (36) is rotatable within a range of ±

60°

relative to a horizontal plane perpendicular to the upright support (12).

12. The gimbal device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the holder (36) is configured to hold therein an image-capturing device (38).

13. The gimbal device as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a base (102) on which the upright support (12) is mounted.

14. The gimbal device as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a joystick (50) provided on the upright support (12) for manually controlling the pan, roll and tilt motors (14, 24, 34).

15. The gimbal device as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a plurality of batteries (52) disposed in the upright support 12 for supplying electrical power to the pan, roll and tilt motors (14, 24, 34).

16. The gimbal device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the wireless communication unit (62) of the gimbal device (10) is communicated with the mobile device (64) via Bluetooth or WiFi.

17. The gimbal device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first arm (20) is attached to the pan motor (14) by a set of screws (22).