Direct drive electric motor apparatus incorporating slip ring assembly

• US 6,628,338 B1
• Filed: 07/08/1998
• Issued: 09/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Elbex Video Limited (Elbex Japan Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Elbex Video Limited (Elbex Japan Ltd.)
• Inventors: Elberbaum, David, Sakamoto, Masafumi
• Primary Examiner(s): MOE, AUNG SOE
• Application Number:
  US09/112,120
• Time in Patent Office: 1,910 Days
• Field of Search: 348/373, 348/374, 348/375, 348/357, 348/24.99, 348/143, 348/151, 396/427, 396/428, 396/419, 310/75.R, 310/80, 310/83, 746/40, 74/54.7, 475/149, 475/2, 475/4, 475/5, 475/6
• US Class Current: 348/373
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1963 Arrangements allowing camera rotation to change view, e.g. pivoting camera, pan-tilt and zoom [PTZ]
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19632 Camera support structures, e.g. attachment means, poles
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19636 pertaining to the camera

Abstract

An electric motor apparatus in a direct drive positioning device for positioning for example a television camera or a robot arm along X-Y-Z axes, which provides a direct drive which permits a free and unobstructed continuous rotation over 300° in horizontal, vertical and any other angular axes with no electrical wires or cables twisting or flexing. The apparatus includes a motor which has a hollow central shaft connected to a rotary member for mounting thereon a robot arm or television camera of the direct drive positioning device. The central shaft encloses a rotating slip ring assembly coupled to respective wires for connecting to the television camera. Electric power is supplied through the wires which are not twisted or flexed while the rotating member is being directly driven by the motor and is rotating.

Claims

1. An electric motor apparatus comprising a stator body assembly for mounting an electric motor to one of a fixed member and a rotatable body of a rotatable joint, an inner rotor assembly including a central shaft, at least a portion of which is hollow, said shaft being adapted to be mounted to another one of said fixed member and said rotatable body of said rotatable joint, rotating electric coupling means mounted inside said hollow portion of said central shaft, first and second electrical wire means connected to said rotating electric coupling means, electric connector means coupled to said rotating electric coupling means and positioned at opposite ends of said central shaft for propagating at least one of electric power and electric signals carried by said first electrical wire means associated with one of said fixed member and said rotatable body to said second electrical wire means associated with another one of said rotatable body and said fixed member through said rotating electric coupling means without twisting or flexing electrical wires of said first and second electrical wire means while said rotatable body is being directly driven by said motor and is rotating.

2. Electric motor apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said first electrical wire means and said second electrical wire means are directly connected to said rotating electric coupling means without using said electric connector means.

3. Electric motor apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said stator body assembly is adapted for mounting said motor to said rotatable body of said rotatable joint and said inner rotor assembly is adapted to be mounted to said fixed member of said rotatable joint.

4. Electric motor apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said stator body assemblies is adapted for mounting said motor to said rotatable body of said rotatable joint and said inner rotor assembly is adapted to be mounted to said fixed member of said rotatable joint.

5. Electric motor apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said motor is a stepping motor.

6. An electric motor apparatus comprising a stator body assembly for mounting an electric motor to one of a first rotatable body and a second rotatable body of a rotatable joint, an inner rotor assembly including at least partially hollow central shaft adapted to be mounted to another one of said second rotatable body and said second rotatable body of said rotatable joint rotating electric coupling means mounted inside said hollow central shaft, first and second electrical wire means connected to said rotating electric coupling means, electric connector means coupled to said rotating electric coupling means and positioned at opposite ends of said central shaft for propagating at least one of electric power and electric signals carried by said first electrical wire means associated with one of said first and second rotatable body to said second electrical wire means associated with another one first and second rotatable body through said rotating electric coupling means without twisting or flexing electrical wires of said first and second electrical wire means while said rotatable body is being directly driven by said motor and is rotating.

7. Electric apparatus according to claim 6, wherein at least one of said first and second electrical wire means are directly connected to said rotating electric coupling means without using said electric connector means.

8. An electric motor apparatus comprising an outer rotor body assembly adapted for mounting an electric motor to one of a fixed member and a rotatable body of a rotatable joint;

an inner stator assembly having a central shaft at least a portion of which is hollow, said central shaft being adapted to be mounted to another of said fixed member and said rotatable body of said rotatable joint, rotating electric coupling means mounted inside said hollow portion of said central shaft, first and second electrical wire means connected to said rotating electric coupling means, an electric connector means attached to said rotating electric coupling means and positioned at opposite ends of said central shaft for propagating electric signals carried by said first electrical wire means associated with one of said fixed member and said rotatable body to said second electrical wire means associated with another one of said fixed member and said rotatable body through said rotating electric coupling means without twisting or flexing electrical wires of said first and second electrical wire means while said rotatable body is being directly driven by said electric motor and is rotating.

9. Electric motor apparatus according to claim 8, wherein at least one of said first electrical wire means and said second electrical wire means are directly connected to said rotating electric coupling means without using said electric connector means.

10. Electric motor apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said outer rotor body assembly is adapted for mounting said motor to said rotatable body of said rotatable joint and said inner stator assembly is adapted to be mounted to said fixed member of said rotatable joint.

11. Electric motor apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said outer rotor body assembly is adapted for mounting said motor to said rotatable body of said rotatable joint and said inner stator assembly is adapted to be mounted to said fixed member of said rotatable joint.

12. Electric motor apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said motor is a stepping motor.

13. An electric motor apparatus comprising an outer rotor assembly adapted for mounting an electric motor to one of a first rotatable body and a second rotatable body of a rotatable joint;

an inner stator assembly having a central shaft at least a portion of which is hollow, said central shaft being adapted to be mounted to another one of said first rotatable body and said second rotatable body of said rotatable joint, rotating electric coupling means mounted inside said hollow portion of said central shaft, first and second electrical wire means connected to said rotating electric coupling means, an electric connector means attached to said rotating electric coupling means and positioned at opposite ends of said central shaft for propagating electric signals carried by said first electrical wire means associated with one of said first and second rotatable body to said second electrical wire means associated with another one of said first and second rotatable body through said rotating electric coupling means without twisting or flexing electrical wires of said first and second electrical wire means while said rotatable body is being directly driven by said electric motor and is rotating.

14. Electric motor apparatus according to claim 13, wherein at least one of said first electrical wire means and said second electrical wire means are directly connected to said rotating electric coupling means without using said electric connector means.

15. An electric motor apparatus comprising a stator body assembly for mounting an electric motor to one of a fixed member and a rotatable body of a rotatable joint, an inner rotor assembly having a central shaft of which at least a portion is hollow, said shaft being adapted to be mounted to another one of said fixed member and said rotatable body of said rotatable joint;

rotating electric coupling means comprising a rotating ring assembly coupled to one end of said central shaft and an electrical brush assembly coupled to said stator body assembly;

first electric wire means connected to said rotating ring assembly and passing through said hollow portion of said central shaft to exit from an opposite end of said central shaft, second electrical wire means connected to said electrical brush assembly, wherein at least one of an electric power and electric signals are propagated through said first electrical wire means associated with said rotating ring assembly and said second electrical wire means associated with said electrical brush assembly through said rotating electric coupling means without twisting or flexing electrical wires of said first and second electrical wire means while said rotatable body is being directly driven by said motor and is rotating.

16. Electric motor apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said stator body assembly is adapted for mounting said motor to said rotatable body of said rotatable joint and said inner rotor is adapted to be mounted to said fixed member of said rotatable joint.

17. Electric motor apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said motor is a stepping motor.

18. An electric motor apparatus comprising a stator assembly for mounting an electric motor to one of a first rotatable body and a second rotatable body of a rotatable joint, an inner rotor assembly having a central shaft of which at least a portion is hollow, said central shaft being adapted to be mounted to another one of said first rotable body and said second rotatable body and said second rotatable body of said rotatable joint;

rotating electric coupling means comprising a rotating ring assembly coupled to one end of said central shaft and an electrical brush assembly coupled to said stator body assembly;

first electric wire means connected to said rotating ring assembly and passing through said hollow portion of said central shaft to exit from an opposite end of said central shaft, second electrical wire means connected to said electrical brush assembly, wherein at least one of electric power and electric signals are propagated through said first electrical wire means associated with said rotating ring assembly and said second electrical wire means associated with said electrical brush assembly through said rotating electric coupling means without twisting or flexing electrical wires of said first and second electrical wire means while said rotatable body is being directly driven by said motor and is rotating.

19. An electric motor apparatus comprising an outer rotor body assembly for mounting an electric motor to one of a fixed member and a rotatable body of a rotatable joint;

an inner stator assembly having a hollow central shaft and adapted to be mounted to another one of said fixed member and said rotatable body of said rotatable joint, a rotating electric coupling means including a rotating ring assembly coupled to one end of said central shaft and an electrical brush assembly coupled to said outer rotor body assembly;

first electric wire means connected to said rotating ring assembly and passing through said hollow central shaft to exit from an opposite end of said central shaft, second electrical wire means connected to said electrical brush assembly, wherein one of electric power and electric signals are propagated through said first electrical wire means associated with said rotating ring assembly and said second electrical wire means associated with said electrical brush assembly through said rotating electric coupling means without twisting or flexing electrical wires of said first and second electrical wire means while said rotatable body is being directly driven by said electric motor and is rotating.

20. Electric motor apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said outer rotor body assembly is adapted for mounting said motor to said rotatable body of said rotatable joint and said inner stator is adapted to be mounted to said fixed member of said rotatable joint.

21. Electric motor apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said motor is a stepping motor.

22. An electric motor apparatus comprising an outer rotor body assembly for mounting an electric motor to one of a first rotatable body and a second rotatable body of a rotatable joint;

an inner stator assembly having a hollow central shaft adapted to be mounted to another one of said first rotatable body and said second rotatable body of said rotatable joint, rotating electric coupling means including a rotating ring assembly coupled to one end of said central shaft and an electrical brush assembly coupled to said outer rotor body assembly, first electric wire means connected to said rotating ring assembly and passing through said hollow central shaft to exit from an opposite end of said central shaft, second electrical wire means connected to said electrical brush assembly, wherein one of electric power and electric signals are propagated through said first electrical wire means associated with said rotating ring assembly and said second electrical wire means associated with said electrical brush assembly through said rotating electric coupling means without twisting or flexing electrical wires of said first and second electrical wire means while said rotatable body is being directly driven by said motor and is rotating.

23. A positioning device for panning and tilting a surveillance camera comprising a base plate for attaching said positioning device to a frame body means;

an electric motor including an inner rotor assembly including a central shaft of which at least a portion is hollow, and a stator assembly which forms an outer body of said motor, said outer body of said motor being fixedly attached to said base plate so that said central shaft extends through a panning axis of said positioning device;

a tilting motor;

a camera holder bracket for carrying a camera along with at least one of a tilting motor and a tilting rotary joint, said bracket being fixedly attached to said central shaft so that a tilting movement or rotation about a tilting axis transverses said panning axis;

said rotor assembly further including a rotating electric coupling means mounted inside said hollow portion of said central shaft, first and second electrical wire means connected to said rotating electric coupling means, an electric connector means coupled to said rotating electric coupling means positioned at opposite ends of said central shaft for propagating one of electric power and electric signals carried by said first electrical wire means associated with said base plate to said second electrical wire means associated with said camera holder bracket through said rotating electric coupling means without twisting or flexing electrical wires of said first and second electrical wire means while said camera holder bracket is being directly driven by said motor and is rotating about the panning axis.

24. Positioning device according to claim 23, wherein at least one of said first electrical wire means and second electrical wire means is directly connected to said rotating electric coupling means without using said electric connectors means.

25. Positioning device according to claim 24, wherein said tilting motor is fed with said one of electric power and electric signals by said second electrical wire means for operating said tilting movement or rotation.

26. Positioning device according to claim 25, wherein said tilting motor includes tilt inner motor assembly including tilt central shaft at least a portion of which is hollow and a stator assembly which forms an outer body of said tilting motor, said outer body at said tilting motor being fixedly attached to said camera holder bracket so that said tilt inner central shaft extends through said tilting axis of said positioning device;

said tilt inner rotor assembly further including tilt rotating electric coupling means mounted inside said hollow portion of said tilt central shaft, third and fourth electrical wire means for connecting to said tilt rotating electric coupling means, tilt electric connector means attached to said tilt rotating electric coupling means positioned at the opposite ends of said hollow portion of said central shaft for propagating at least one of electric power and electric signals carried by said third electrical wire means associated with said second electrical wire means to said fourth electrical wire means associated with said camera holder bracket through said tilt rotating electric coupling means without twisting or flexing electrical wires of said second, third and fourth electrical wire means while said tilting motor is being rotating about said tilting axis for directly driving said tilting movement of said camera.

27. Positioning device according to claim 26, wherein said positioning device further comprises an at least partially transparent dome-shaped housing, wherein three axes consisting of said panning axis and said tilting axis and an axis of a lens of said camera affixed to said camera holder bracket intersect at an approximate geometrical center of said dome-shaped housing.

28. Positioning device according to claim 25, wherein said positioning device further comprises an at least partially transparent dome-shaped housing, wherein three axes consisting of said panning axis and said tilting axis and an axis of a lens of said camera affixed to said camera holder bracket intersect at an approximate geometrical center of said dome-shaped housing.

29. Positioning device according to claim 24, wherein said positioning device further comprises an at least partially transparent dome-shaped housing, wherein three axes consisting of said panning axis and said tilting axis and an axis of a lens of said camera affixed to said camera holder bracket intersect at an approximate geometrical center of said dome-shaped housing.

30. Positioning device according to claim 23, wherein said tilting motor is fed with said one of electric power and electric signals by said second electrical wire means for operating said tilting movement or rotation.

31. Positioning device according to claim 30, wherein said tilting motor includes tilt inner rotor assembly including tilt central shaft at least a portion of which is hollow and a stator assembly which forms an outer body of said tilting motor, said outer body of said tilting motor being fixedly attached to said camera holder bracket so that said tilt central shaft extends through said tilting axis of said positioning device;

said tilt inner rotor assembly further including tilt rotating electric coupling means mounted inside said hollow portion of said tilt central shaft, third and fourth electrical wire means for connecting to said tilt rotating electric coupling means, tilt electric connector means attached to said tilt rotating electric coupling means positioned at the opposite ends of said hollow portion of said tilt central shaft for propagating at least one of electric power and electric signals carried by said third electrical wire means associated with said second electrical wire means to said forth electrical wire means associated with said camera holder bracket through said tilt rotating electric coupling means without twisting or flexing electrical wires of said second, third and fourth electrical wire means while said tilting motor is being rotating about said tilting axis for directly driving said tilting movement of a said camera.

32. Positioning device according to claim 31, wherein said positioning device further comprises an at least partially transparent dome-shaped housing, wherein three axes consisting of said panning axis and said tilting axis and an axis of a lens of said camera affixed to said camera holder bracket intersect at an approximate geometrical center of said dome-shaped housing.

33. Positioning device according to claim 30, wherein said positioning device further comprises an at least partially transparent dome-shaped housing, wherein three axes consisting of said panning axis and said tilting axis and an axis of a lens of said camera affixed to said camera holder bracket intersect at an approximate geometrical center of said dome-shaped housing.

34. Positioning device according to claim 23, wherein said positioning device further comprises an at least partially transparent dome-shaped housing, wherein three axes consisting of said panning axis and said tilting axis and an axis of a lens of said camera affixed to said camera holder bracket intersect at an approximate geometrical center of said dome-shaped housing.

35. Positioning device according to claim 23, wherein said frame body means is selected from the group consisting of a wall, a ceiling and a pole.

36. A positioning device for panning and tilting a surveillance camera comprising one of a base plate or a member for attaching said positioning device to a frame body means;

an electric motor including an inner stator assembly including a hollow central shaft and an outer rotor assembly which forms outer body of said electric motor, said outer body of said electric motor being fixedly attached to one of said base plate and said member so that said central shaft extends through a panning axis of said positioning device;

a tilting motor;

a camera holder bracket for carrying a camera along with said tilting motor and a tilting rotary joint, said bracket being fixedly attached to said central shaft so that a tilting movement or rotation about a tilting axis transverses said panning axis;

said stator assembly further including a rotating electric coupling means mounted inside said central shaft, first and second electrical wire means for connecting to said rotating electric coupling means, electric connector means attached to said rotating electric coupling means positioned at opposite ends of said hollow central shaft for propagating at least one of electric power and electric signals carried by said first electrical wire means associated with said base plate to said second electrical wire means associated with said camera holder bracket through said rotating electric coupling means without twisting or flexing electrical wires of said first and second electrical wire means while said camera holder bracket is being directly driven by said motor and is rotating about the panning axis.

37. Positioning device according to claim 36, wherein at least one of said first electrical wire means and said second electrical wire means is directly connected to said rotating electric coupling means without using said electric connector means.

38. A positioning device according to claim 37, wherein said tilting motor is fed with at least one of power and electric signals by said second electrical wire means for operating said tilting movement or rotation.

39. A positioning device according to claim 38, wherein said tilting motor includes tilt inner rotor assembly including at least partially hollow tilt central shaft and a stator assembly which forms an outer body of said tilting motor, said outer body of said tilting motor being fixedly attached to said camera holder bracket so that said tilt central shaft extends through said tilting axis of said positioning device;

said tilt inner rotor assembly further including tilt rotating electric coupling means mounted inside said hollow portion of said tilt central shaft, third and fourth electrical wire means for connecting to said tilt rotating electric coupling means positioned at the opposite ends of said tilt central shaft for propagating at least one of electric power and electric signals carried by said third electrical wire means associated with said second electrical wire means to said fourth electrical wire means associated with said camera holder bracket through said rotating electric coupling means without twisting or flexing electrical wires of said second, third and fourth electrical wire means while said tilting motor is being rotating about said tilting axis for directly driving said tilting movement of said camera.

40. Positioning device according to claim 39, wherein said positioning device further comprises at least partially transparent dome-shaped housing, wherein three axes consisting of said panning axis and said tilting axis and an axis of a lens of said camera affixed to said camera holder bracket intersect at an approximate geometrical center of said dome-shaped housing.

41. Positioning device according to claim 38, wherein said positioning device further comprises at least partially transparent dome-shaped housing, wherein three axes consisting of said panning axis and said tilting axis and an axis of a lens of said camera affixed to said camera holder bracket intersect at an approximate geometrical center of said dome-shaped housing.

42. Positioning device according to claim 38, wherein said titling motor includes an inner stator assembly including a hollow central shaft and an outer rotor assembly which forms an outer body of said tilting motor and wherein rotating coupling means are mounted inside said hollow central shaft of said inner stator assembly.

43. Positioning device according to claim 37, wherein said positioning device further comprises at least partially transparent dome-shaped housing, wherein three axes consisting of said panning axis and said tilting axis and an axis of a lens of said camera affixed to said camera holder bracket intersect at an approximate geometrical center of said dome-shaped housing.

44. Positioning device according to claim 36, wherein said tilting motor is fed with at least one of power and electric signals by said second electrical wire means for operating said tilting movement or rotation.

45. Positioning device according to claim 44, wherein said tilting motor include tilt inner rotor assembly including tilt central shaft at least a portion of which is hollow and a stator assembly which forms an outer body of said tilting motor, said outer body of said tilting motor being fixedly attached to said camera holder bracket so that said tilt central shaft extends through the tilting axis of said positioning device;

said tilt inner rotor assembly further including tilt rotating electric coupling means mounted inside said hollow portion of said tilt central shaft, third and fourth electrical wire means for connecting to said tilt rotating electric coupling means, tilt electric connector means attached to said tilt rotating electric coupling means positioned at the opposite ends of said tilt central shaft for propagating at least one of electric power and electric signals carried by said third electrical wire means associated with said second electrical wire means to said fourth electrical wire means associated with said camera holder bracket through said tilt rotating electric coupling means without twisting or flexing electrical wires of said second, third and fourth electrical wire means while said tilting motor is being rotating about said tilting axis for directly driving said tilting movement of said camera.

46. Positioning device according to claim 45, wherein said positioning device further comprises at least partially transparent dome-shaped housing, wherein three axes consisting of said panning axis and said tilting axis and an axis of a lens of said camera affixed to said camera holder bracket intersect at an approximate geometrical center of said dome-shaped housing.

47. Positioning device according to claim 44, wherein said positioning device further comprises at least partially transparent dome-shaped housing, wherein three axes consisting of said panning axis and said tilting axis and an axis of a lens of said camera affixed to said camera holder bracket intersect at an approximate geometrical center of said dome-shaped housing.

48. Positioning device according to claim 44, wherein said titling motor includes an inner stator assembly including a hollow central shaft and an outer rotor assembly which forms an outer body of said tilting motor and wherein rotating coupling means are mounted inside said hollow central shaft of said inner stator assembly.

49. Positioning device according to claim 36, wherein said positioning device further comprises at least partially transparent dome-shaped housing, wherein three axes consisting of said panning axis and said tilting axis and an axis of a lens of said camera affixed to said camera holder bracket intersect at an approximate geometrical center of said dome-shaped housing.

50. Positioning device according to claim 36, wherein said frame body means is selected from the group consisting of a wall, a ceiling and a pole.