Systems and methods for detecting an imbalance of a camera crane

• US 8,333,520 B1
• Filed: 03/24/2011
• Issued: 12/18/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cammate Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Cammate Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Cronin, Matthew J., Tovar, Pablo, Pack, Michael Kay, Keys, Ron K., Laitinen, Richard A.
• Primary Examiner(s): FULLER, RODNEY EVAN
• Application Number:
  US13/070,784
• Time in Patent Office: 635 Days
• Field of Search: 396/428, 352/243
• US Class Current: 396/428
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 11/048 Mobile camera platform
• 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 11/2021 around a horizontal axis F16M11/2035 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/28 Undercarriages for supports with one single telescoping pillar
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/42 with arrangement for propelling the support stands on wheels
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/04 Balancing means

Abstract

Systems and methods for positioning a camera crane include detecting an imbalance between a counterweight and an extensible arm and decreasing severity of the consequences of an imbalance.

Claims

1. A system for detecting a fault in the operation of a provided camera crane, the camera crane includes a base, an arm pivotally coupled to the base, and a counterweight;

wherein a first portion of the arm is positioned on a first side of the base and a second portion of the arm is position on a second side of the base, the first portion of the arm includes one or more segments that move with respect to the base, the counterweight couples to the second portion of the arm and moves with respect to the base in accordance with a length of extension of the one or more segments, the system comprising;

a first detector detects a distance between the counterweight and the base;

a second detector detects the length of extension of the one or more segments;

a brake for halting movement of the counterweight; and

a processing circuit that;

detects a relationship between the distance between the counterweight and the base and the length of extension of the one or more segments; and

in accordance with a threshold, applies the brake to halt movement of the counterweight;

wherein;

the brake comprises a pin that enters one of a plurality of holes to halt movement of the counterweight.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the length of extension comprises a distance between an end portion of a first segment and an end portion of a second segment.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the second detector comprises a string potentiometer coupled between a first segment and a second segment.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the first detector comprises a string potentiometer coupled between a portion of the arm proximate to the base and the counterweight.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the relationship comprises a ratio between the distance and the length of extension.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the processing circuit applies the brake when the ratio is less than about 0.5.

7. The system of claim 5 wherein the processing circuit applies the brake when the ratio is greater than about 0.5.

8. A system for detecting a fault in the operation of a provided camera crane, the camera crane includes a base, an arm pivotally coupled to the base, and a counterweight;

wherein a first portion of the arm is positioned on a first side of the base and a second portion of the arm is position on a second side of the base, the first portion of the arm includes one or more segments that move with respect to the base, the counterweight couples to the first second portion of the arm and moves with respect to the base in accordance with a length of extension of the one or more segments, the system comprising;

a first string potentiometer having a cable that extends to detect a distance between the counterweight and the base;

a second string potentiometer having a cable that extends to detect the length of extension;

a brake for halting movement of the counterweight; and

a processing circuit that;

detects a ratio between the distance and the length of extension; and

applies the brake when the ratio exceeds a threshold;

wherein;

the brake comprises a pin that enters one of a plurality of holes to halt movement of the counterweight.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the ratio between the distance and the length of extension comprises a ratio of about 1 to 2.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein:

the arm comprises a first segment that extends from a second segment; and

the length of extension comprises a length of extension of the first segment from the second segment.

11. A method for detecting a fault in the operation of a camera crane, the camera crane includes a base, an arm pivotally coupled to the base, and a counterweight;

wherein a first portion of the arm is positioned on a first side of the base and a second portion of the arm is position on a second side of the base, the first portion of the arm includes one or more segments that move with respect to the base, the counterweight couples to the second portion of the arm and moves with respect to the base in accordance with a length of extension of the one or more segments, the method comprising;

detecting a distance between the counterweight and the base;

detecting the length of extension;

comparing a ratio of the distance between the counterweight and the base and the length of extension to a threshold; and

in accordance with comparing, applying a break to halt movement of the counterweight;

wherein applying a brake comprises releasing a pin to enter one of a plurality of holes to halt movement of the counterweight.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein detecting the distance between counterweight and the base comprises detecting an amount that a cable extends from a string potentiometer.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein detecting the length of extension comprises detecting an amount that a cable extends from a string potentiometer.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein comparing comprises dividing a magnitude of the distance by a magnitude of the length of extension.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein comparing comprises comparing a magnitude of a dividend to a magnitude of a threshold.