Image Stabilization Mechanism

• US 20160352992A1
• Filed: 04/20/2016
• Published: 12/01/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2015
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: GoPro, Inc.
• Original Assignee: GoPro, Inc.
• Inventors: Saika, Noriaki, Shukla, Himay Rashmikant, Harrison, Ryan, Uzunovic, Nenad
• Application Number:
  US15/134,321
• Publication Number:
  US 20160352992A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 47/08 Arrangements of cameras
• 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 11/121 constituted of several dependent joints
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/18 with mechanism for moving the apparatus relatively to the stand
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/02 for supporting on, or attaching to, an object, e.g. tree, gate, window-frame, cycle
• 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: G05D 1/0094 involving pointing a payload, e.g. camera, weapon, sensor, towards a fixed or moving target
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/11 for generating image signals from visible and infrared light wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/50 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/55 Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/60 Control of cameras or camera modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/63 by using electronic viewfinders
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/66 Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/6812 based on additional sensors, e.g. acceleration sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/685 performed by mechanical compensation
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/772 : the recording apparatus and the television camera being placed in the same enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/783 : Adaptations for reproducing at a rate different from the recording rate
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 : for receiving images from a single remote source
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8205 : involving the multiplexing of an additional signal and the colour video signal

Abstract

Disclosed is an electronic gimbal with camera and mounting configuration. The gimbal includes an inertial measurement unit which can sense the orientation of the camera and three electronic motors which can manipulate the orientation of the camera. The gimbal can be removably coupled to a variety of mount platforms, such as an aerial vehicle or a handheld grip. Moreover, a camera can be removably coupled to the gimbal and can be held in a removable camera frame. Also disclosed is a system for allowing the platform, to which the gimbal is mounted, to control settings of the camera or to trigger actions on the camera, such as taking a picture, or initiating the recording of a video. The gimbal can also provide a connection between the camera and the mount platform, such that the mount platform receives images and video content from the camera.

Claims

1. A stabilizing mounting system for a camera comprising:

a handheld grip comprising;

a shaft;

a gimbal connection at an end of the shaft including a first securing mechanism and a first electrical interface;

a control button on the shaft, the control button when activated causing a control signal to be transmitted via the gimbal connection; and

an electronic gimbal, comprising;

a grip connection including a second securing mechanism to removably secure to the first securing mechanism of the handheld grip and a second electrical interface to communicatively couple to the first electrical interface of the handheld grip;

a first motor connected to the grip connection, the first motor to apply a first torque to a first motor shaft to cause the first motor shaft to rotate about a first axis of rotation;

a second motor connected to the first motor shaft, the second motor to apply a second torque to a second motor shaft to rotate the second motor shaft about a second axis of rotation;

a third motor connected to the second motor shaft, the third motor to apply a third torque to a third motor shaft to rotate the third motor about a third axis of rotation;

a camera connection including a third securing mechanism to removably secure a camera to the third motor shaft of the electronic gimbal, and the camera connection comprising a third electrical interface to communicatively couple the electronic gimbal to the camera; and

an internal data bus, wherein the bus communicatively connects the second electrical interface to the third electrical interface, the internal data bus to transfer the control signal from the handheld grip to the camera when the control button is activated to enable the control button on the handheld grip to control an action of the camera.

2. The stabilizing mounting system of claim 1, wherein the handheld grip further comprises:

a battery to provide power to the handheld grip, the electronic gimbal, and the camera.

3. The stabilizing mounting system of claim 1, wherein the control signal when transmitted from the control button to the camera cause the camera to take a picture or begin recording video.

4. The stabilizing mount system of claim 1, wherein the handheld grip further comprises:

a power button that when activated toggles a power state of the camera.

5. The stabilizing mount of claim 1, wherein the handheld grip further comprises:

a light emitting diode to indicate a mode that the camera is operating in.

6. The stabilizing mount of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first motor, the second motor, and the third motor is configured as a fixed motor in a fixed motor mode and wherein at least one of the first motor, the second motor, and the third motor is configured as an unfixed motor in an unfixed motor mode, wherein the fixed motor operates to stabilize the camera at a fixed orientation about an axis of rotation corresponding to the fixed motor, and wherein the unfixed motor enables the camera to rotate about an axis of rotation corresponding to the unfixed motor in response to the movement of the handheld grip.

7. The stabilizing mount of claim 1, further comprising:

a mode control button to switch a mode of at least one of the first motor, the second motor, and the third motor between the fixed motor mode and the unfixed motor mode.

8. The stabilizing mount of claim 1, wherein in a default operation mode, the first motor, the second motor, and the third motor are configured such that a motor corresponding to a yaw axis is in the unfixed mode, and motors corresponding to pitch and roll axes are in the fixed mode.

9. The stabilizing mount of claim 1, wherein,

the first axis of rotation for the first motor shaft is orthogonal to the third axis of rotation of the second motor shaft;

and

the second axis of rotation for the second motor shaft is orthogonal to the third axis of rotation of the third motor shaft.

10. The stabilizing mount of claim 9, wherein

the first axis of rotation for the first motor shaft is not orthogonal to the second axis of rotation of the second motor shaft.

11. The stabilizing mount of claim 10, wherein the angle between the axis of rotation of the second motor shaft and an axis orthogonal to both the axis of rotation for the first motor shaft and the axis of rotation for the third motor shaft is less than 30 degrees.

12. The electronic gimbal of claim 1, wherein the camera connection comprises:

a camera frame mount connected to the third motor shaft; and

a camera frame removably connected to the camera frame mount and the camera, wherein the camera frame includes an electronic connection between the camera and the electronic camera connection of the electronic gimbal.

13. The electronic gimbal of claim 1, wherein the control signal when transmitted from the control button to the camera causes the camera to store a meta data tag in association with a current time in a video being recorded by the camera.

14. A stabilizing mounting system for a camera comprising:

a handheld grip comprising;

a shaft;

a gimbal connecting means for connecting to a gimbal, the gimbal connecting means comprising a first securing means for mechanically securing to the gimbal and a first electrical interfacing means for electrically interfacing to the gimbal;

a control means on the shaft for causing a control signal to be transmitted via the gimbal connecting means; and

an electronic gimbal, comprising;

a grip connecting means for connecting to the handheld grip, the grip connecting means including a second securing means for removably securing to the first securing means of the handheld grip and a second electrical interfacing means for communicatively interfacing to the first electrical interfacing means of the handheld grip;

a first rotating means connected to the grip connecting means, the first rotating means for applying a first torque to a first motor shaft to cause the first motor shaft to rotate about a first axis of rotation;

a second rotating means connected to the first motor shaft, the second rotating means for applying a second torque to a second motor shaft to rotate the second motor shaft about a second axis of rotation;

a third rotating means connected to the second motor shaft, the third rotating means for applying a third torque to a third motor shaft to rotate the third motor about a third axis of rotation;

a camera connecting means for connecting to a camera, the camera connecting means including a third securing means to removably secure the camera to the third motor shaft, and the camera connecting means comprising a third electrical interfacing means for communicatively coupling the electronic gimbal to the camera; and

a data transfer means for communicatively connecting the second electrical interfacing means to the third electrical interfacing means, the data transfer means for transferring the control signal from the handheld grip to the camera when the control means is activated to enable the control means on the handheld grip to control an action of the camera.

15. The stabilizing mounting system of claim 14, wherein the handheld grip further comprises:

a power means for providing power to the handheld grip, the electronic gimbal, and the camera.

16. The stabilizing mounting system of claim 14, wherein the control signal when transmitted from the control means to the camera cause the camera to take a picture or begin recording video.

17. The stabilizing mount system of claim 14, wherein the handheld grip further comprises:

a power control means for toggling a power state of the camera when activated.

18. The stabilizing mount of claim 14, wherein the handheld grip further comprises:

a light emitting means for indicating a mode that the camera is operating in.

19. The stabilizing mount of claim 14, wherein at least one of the first rotating means, the second rotating means, and the third rotating means is configured as a fixed rotating means in a fixed mode and wherein at least one of the first rotating means, the second rotating means, and the third rotating means is configured as an unfixed rotating means in an unfixed mode, wherein the fixed rotating means operates to stabilize the camera at a fixed orientation about an axis of rotation corresponding to the fixed rotating means, and wherein the unfixed rotating means enables the camera to rotate about an axis of rotation corresponding to the unfixed rotating means in response to the movement of the handheld grip.

20. The stabilizing mount of claim 14, further comprising:

a mode control means for switching a mode of at least one of the first rotating means, the second rotating means, and the third rotating means between the fixed mode and the unfixed mode.

21. The stabilizing mount of claim 14, wherein in a default operation mode, the first rotating means, the second rotating means, and the third rotating means are configured such that a rotating means corresponding to a yaw axis is in the unfixed mode, and rotating means corresponding to pitch and roll axes are in the fixed mode.