HANDHELD CAMERA STABILIZER WITH INTEGRATION OF SMART DEVICE

• US 20160381271A1
• Filed: 06/27/2016
• Published: 12/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2015
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Deltron Intelligence Technology Limited
• Original Assignee: Deltron Intelligence Technology Limited
• Inventors: Cheng, Xuran, Zeng, Cancheng
• Application Number:
  US15/193,132
• Publication Number:
  US 20160381271A1
• 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 11/18 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: H04N 23/50 Constructional details
• 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 23/698 for achieving an enlarged field of view, e.g. panoramic image capture

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.

Claims

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.

2. The stabilizer of claim 1, wherein the three axes are a pitch axis, a roll axis and a yaw axis.

3. The stabilizer of claim 1, wherein the controller is communicable with the camera device, and is further configured to 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.

4. The stabilizer of claim 3, wherein the controller is wirelessly communicable with the camera device via Bluetooth.

5. The stabilizer of claim 1, wherein the attitude error is estimated by comparing the measured attitude with a target attitude.

6. The stabilizer of claim 5, wherein the controller is further configured to wirelessly receive the target attitude from the camera device by using Bluetooth technology.

7. The stabilizer of claim 5, wherein the controller is further configured to wirelessly receive the target attitude from the camera device by using WiFi or NFC.

8. The stabilizer of claim 5, wherein the controller is further configured to receive the target attitude from the camera device via a cabled connection.

9. The stabilizer of claim 5, further comprising:

an on-board control interface for receiving the target attitude manually from a user.

10. The stabilizer of claim 9, wherein the on-board control interface is a joystick or a revolving rheostat.

11. The stabilizer of claim 1, wherein the number of the motors is three.

12. The stabilizer of claim 1, wherein at least one of the motors is a brushless direct-current (BLDC) motor.

13. The stabilizer of claim 12, further comprising:

an H-bridge integrated circuit (IC) for electrically driving the BLDC motor according to a driving signal generated by the controller.

14. The stabilizer of claim 1, wherein at least one of the motors is a stepper motor or a servo motor.

15. The stabilizer of claim 1, wherein the IMU sensor is joined to the camera device mount such that the IMU sensor is physically adhered to the camera device.

16. 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;

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.

17. The stabilizer of claim 16, further comprising:

a battery container, located in the handle, for housing one or more batteries that provide electrical power to the stabilizer.

18. The stabilizer of claim 16, wherein the controller is further configured to wirelessly receive the target attitude from the camera device by using Bluetooth technology.

19. The stabilizer of claim 16, further comprising:

an on-board control interface for receiving the target attitude manually from the user.

20. The stabilizer of claim 19, wherein the on-board control interface is a joystick or a revolving rheostat.