Cable-driven pan and tilt mechanism
First Claim
1. A pan and tilt mechanism for the mounting of a camera comprising:
- a) a fixed base unit;
b) a pan unit having a curvilinear section lying substantially in a horizontal plane with a cable extending along a peripheral portion of said curvilinear section, said cable having a first end and second end, said first end fixably attached to a first point of said curvilinear section and the second end fixably attached to a second point of said curvilinear section, said pan unit pivotally attached to said base unit, said pan unit rotatable about a vertical axis;
c) a tilt unit upon which said camera is affixed, said tilt unit pivotally attached to said pan unit, said tilt unit rotatable about a horizontal axis;
d) a first motor positionally fixed on said pan unit for controllably rotating said tilt unit about said horizontal axis; and
,e) a second motor positionally fixed on said base unit and in mechanical communication via a cylindrical member in contact with said cable for controllably rotating said pan unit about said vertical axis.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A cable-driven pan and tilt mounting system for cameras and other similar and related devices which provides such devices with a limitless range of motion. The invention utilizes two motors with each motor independently controlling the panning or tilting of the camera, respectively. The use of a cable drive in the apparatus eliminates the inaccuracy inherent in similar gear-driven systems and further simplifies the design making it more cost-effective and efficient. Furthermore, even though no gears are utilized in the cable drive, the present invention simulates a geared motion and, in doing so, provides smooth and accurate repositioning for any device mounted to it.
11 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A pan and tilt mechanism for the mounting of a camera comprising:
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a) a fixed base unit; b) a pan unit having a curvilinear section lying substantially in a horizontal plane with a cable extending along a peripheral portion of said curvilinear section, said cable having a first end and second end, said first end fixably attached to a first point of said curvilinear section and the second end fixably attached to a second point of said curvilinear section, said pan unit pivotally attached to said base unit, said pan unit rotatable about a vertical axis; c) a tilt unit upon which said camera is affixed, said tilt unit pivotally attached to said pan unit, said tilt unit rotatable about a horizontal axis; d) a first motor positionally fixed on said pan unit for controllably rotating said tilt unit about said horizontal axis; and
,e) a second motor positionally fixed on said base unit and in mechanical communication via a cylindrical member in contact with said cable for controllably rotating said pan unit about said vertical axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A cable-driven pan and tilt mechanism for the mounting of a camera comprising:
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a) a fixed base unit; b) a pan unit having a curvilinear section lying substantially in a horizontal plane with a cable extending along a peripheral portion of said curvilinear section and attached thereto, at two ends of the cable said pan unit pivotally attached to said base unit, said pan unit rotatable about a vertical axis; c) a tilt unit upon which said camera is affixed, said tilt unit having a curvilinear section with a cable extending along a peripheral portion of said curvilinear section, and attached thereto at two ends of the cable said tilt unit pivotally attached to said pan unit, said tilt unit rotatable about a horizontal axis; d) a first motor positionally fixed on said pan unit and mechanically connected to said tilt unit, said first motor for controllably rotating said tilt unit about said horizontal axis; and
,e) a second motor positionally fixed on said base unit and in mechanical communication with said cable for controllably rotating said pan unit about said vertical axis. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A pan and tilt mechanism for the mounting of a camera comprising:
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a) a fixed base unit; b) a pan unit pivotally attached to said base unit, said pan unit rotatable about a vertical axis; c) a tilt unit upon which said camera is affixed, said tilt unit having a curvilinear section lying substantially in a vertical plane with a cable extending along a peripheral portion of said curvilinear section and attached thereto at two ends of said cable, said tilt unit pivotally attached to said pan unit, said tilt unit rotatable about a horizontal axis; d) a first motor positionally fixed on said pan unit for controllably rotating said tilt unit about said horizontal axis; and
,e) a second motor positionally fixed on said base unit and in mechanical communication with said cable for controllably rotating said pan unit about said vertical axis. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification