HANDHELD CAMERA STABILIZER WITH INTEGRATION OF SMART DEVICE
First Claim
1. A handheld stabilizer for automatically stabilizing a camera device when the camera device is mounted on the stabilizer, comprising:
- a camera device mount for holding the camera device;
a plurality of motors collectively arranged to cause the camera device mount to be rotatable about three pre-determined substantially-orthogonal axes;
an inertial-measurement unit (IMU) sensor for measuring an angle and an angular velocity experienced by the camera device about each of the three axes, whereby an attitude of the camera device is measured; and
a controller configured to estimate an attitude error of the camera device according to the measured attitude, and to automatically control the plurality of motors in response to the attitude error so as to controllably rotate the camera device about each of the three axes to counter the attitude error, thereby stabilizing the camera device about all of the three axes.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A handheld stabilizer for automatically stabilizing a camera device, such as a smartphone, when the camera device is mounted on the stabilizer is provided. The stabilizer comprises a camera device mount for holding the camera device, a plurality of motors collectively arranged to cause the camera device mount to be rotatable about three predetermined substantially-orthogonal axes, an inertial-measurement unit (IMU) sensor for measuring an angle and an angular velocity experienced by the camera device about each of the three axes, and a controller. By means of the IMU sensor, an attitude of the camera device is measured. The controller is configured to estimate an attitude error of the camera device according to the measured attitude, and to automatically control the plurality of motors in response to the attitude error so as to controllably rotate the camera device about each of the three axes to counter the attitude error.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A handheld stabilizer for automatically stabilizing a camera device when the camera device is mounted on the stabilizer, comprising:
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a camera device mount for holding the camera device; a plurality of motors collectively arranged to cause the camera device mount to be rotatable about three pre-determined substantially-orthogonal axes; an inertial-measurement unit (IMU) sensor for measuring an angle and an angular velocity experienced by the camera device about each of the three axes, whereby an attitude of the camera device is measured; and a controller configured to estimate an attitude error of the camera device according to the measured attitude, and to automatically control the plurality of motors in response to the attitude error so as to controllably rotate the camera device about each of the three axes to counter the attitude error, thereby stabilizing the camera device about all of the three axes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A handheld stabilizer for automatically stabilizing a camera device when the camera device is mounted on the stabilizer, comprising:
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a camera device mount for holding the camera device; an inertial-measurement unit (IMU) sensor, joined to the camera device mount such that the IMU sensor is physically adhered to the camera device, for measuring an angle and an angular velocity experienced by the camera device about each of three substantially-orthogonal axes, the three axes being a pitch axis, a roll axis and a yaw axis, whereby an attitude of the camera device is measured; a first motor, joined to the camera device mount, for rotating the camera device mount; a first connection bar joined to the first motor; a second motor, joined to the first connection bar, for rotating the first connection bar; a second connection bar joined to the second motor; a third motor, joined to the second connection bar, for rotating the second connection bar, wherein the first, second and third motors are collectively arranged to cause the camera device mount to be rotatable about the three axes, and; a motor mount base, joined to the third motor, for supporting the third motor; a handle, joined to the motor mount base, for enabling a user to hold the stabilizer; and a controller configured to; estimate an attitude error of the camera device by comparing the measured attitude with a target attitude; and automatically control the plurality of motors in response to the attitude error so as to controllably rotate the camera device about each of the three axes to counter the attitude error, thereby stabilizing the camera device about all of the three axes; be communicable with the camera device; and accept instructions from the camera device such that the stabilizer enables the camera device to rotate as intended by the camera device while the attitude error experienced by the camera device is counteracted. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification