Roll-tilt ball turret camera having coiled data transmission cable

• US 8,523,462 B2
• Filed: 08/29/2011
• Issued: 09/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aerovironment
• Original Assignee: Aerovironment
• Inventors: Dimotakis, Manolis Pavlos
• Primary Examiner(s): LaBalle, Clayton E
• Assistant Examiner(s): BUTLER, KEVIN C
• Application Number:
  US13/220,562
• Publication Number:
  US 20130051782A1
• Time in Patent Office: 736 Days
• Field of Search: 244/131, 248/550, 248/660, 248/637, 396 12- 13, 396427-428
• US Class Current: 396/428
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/04 Means for attachment of apparatus; Means allowing adjustment of the apparatus relatively to the stand
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/10 around a horizontal axis F16M11/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/12 in more than one direction
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/18 with mechanism for moving the apparatus relatively to the stand
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 15/006 Apparatus mounted on flying objects
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/561 Support related camera accessories

Abstract

In one embodiment, a ball turret assembly for supporting a camera includes a first shaft rotatable about a first axis relative to a first fixed point, the first shaft having an axially-extending interior region in communication with an exterior of the first shaft by way of a first exit port. A first guide disposed at least partially circumferentially on the first shaft proximally to the first exit port is provided, and a cable extends along the interior region of the first shaft and exits the first shaft at the first exit port, the cable looping at least partially around the first shaft and affixed at the first fixed point.

Claims

1. A ball turret assembly for supporting a camera, comprising:

a first shaft rotatable about a first axis relative to a first fixed point, the first shaft having an axially-extending interior region in communication with an exterior of the first shaft by way of a first exit port;

a first guide disposed at least partially circumferentially on the first shaft proximally to the first exit port; and

a cable extending along the interior region of the first shaft and exiting the first shaft at the first exit port, the cable looping at least partially around the first shaft and affixed at the first fixed point,

wherein rotation of the first shaft imparts roll motion to the camera, and wherein the first shaft is configured to rotate less that 360 degrees.

2. The ball turret assembly of claim 1, further including a fairing into which the first shaft extends, the first fixed point being fixed relative to the fairing.

3. A ball turret assembly for supporting a camera, comprising:

a first shaft rotatable about a first axis relative to a first fixed point, the first shaft having an axially-extending interior region in communication with an exterior of the first shaft by way of a first exit port;

a first guide disposed at least partially circumferentially on the first shaft proximally to the first exit port; and

a cable extending along the interior region of the first shaft and exiting the first shaft at the first exit port, the cable looping at least partially around the first shaft and affixed at the first fixed point,

wherein rotation of the first shaft imparts roll motion to the camera, and wherein the first shaft is configured to rotate about 270 degrees.

4. A ball turret assembly for supporting a camera, comprising:

a first shaft rotatable about a first axis relative to a first fixed point, the first shaft having an axially-extending interior region in communication with an exterior of the first shaft by way of a first exit port;

a first guide disposed at least partially circumferentially on the first shaft proximally to the first exit port; and

a cable extending along the interior region of the first shaft and exiting the first shaft at the first exit port, the cable looping at least partially around the first shaft and affixed at the first fixed point,

wherein rotation of the first shaft imparts tilt motion to the camera, and wherein the first shaft is configured to rotate less that 135 degrees.

5. The ball turret assembly of claim 4, further including a ball turret housing the camera, the first shaft being rotatable relative to the ball turret, the first fixed point being fixed relative to the ball turret.

6. A ball turret assembly for supporting a camera, comprising:

a first shaft rotatable about a first axis relative to a first fixed point, the first shaft having an axially-extending interior region in communication with an exterior of the first shaft by way of a first exit port;

a first guide disposed at least partially circumferentially on the first shaft proximally to the first exit port; and

a cable extending along the interior region of the first shaft and exiting the first shaft at the first exit port, the cable looping at least partially around the first shaft and affixed at the first fixed point,

wherein the first guide is arcuate in shape.

7. A ball turret assembly for supporting a camera, comprising:

a first shaft rotatable about a first axis relative to a first fixed point, the first shaft having an axially-extending interior region in communication with an exterior of the first shaft by way of a first exit port;

a first guide disposed at least partially circumferentially on the first shaft proximally to the first exit port; and

a cable extending along the interior region of the first shaft and exiting the first shaft at the first exit port, the cable looping at least partially around the first shaft and affixed at the first fixed point,

wherein the first guide has an increasing radius.

8. The ball turret assembly of claim 7, wherein the increasing radius is from a central axis of the first shaft.

9. A ball turret assembly for supporting a camera, comprising:

a first shaft rotatable about a first axis relative to a first fixed point, the first shaft having an axially-extending interior region in communication with an exterior of the first shaft by way of a first exit port;

a first guide disposed at least partially circumferentially on the first shaft proximally to the first exit port; and

a cable extending along the interior region of the first shaft and exiting the first shaft at the first exit port, the cable looping at least partially around the first shaft and affixed at the first fixed point,

wherein the first exit port is a notch formed at one end of the first shaft.

10. A ball turret assembly for supporting a camera, comprising:

a first shaft rotatable about a first axis relative to a first fixed point, the first shaft having an axially-extending interior region in communication with an exterior of the first shaft by way of a first exit port;

a first guide disposed at least partially circumferentially on the first shaft proximally to the first exit port; and

a cable extending along the interior region of the first shaft and exiting the first shaft at the first exit port, the cable looping at least partially around the first shaft and affixed at the first fixed point,

wherein the cable is one of multiple cables forming a cable bundle.

11. The ball turret assembly of claim 10, wherein the cable bundle includes six cables.

12. A ball turret assembly for supporting a camera, comprising:

a first shaft rotatable about a first axis relative to a first fixed point, the first shaft having an axially-extending interior region in communication with an exterior of the first shaft by way of a first exit port;

a first guide disposed at least partially circumferentially on the first shaft proximally to the first exit port; and

a cable extending along the interior region of the first shaft and exiting the first shaft at the first exit port, the cable looping at least partially around the first shaft and affixed at the first fixed point,

wherein the cable is a coaxial cable.

13. The ball turret assembly of claim 12, further comprising:

a second shaft rotatable about a second axis relative to a second fixed point, the second shaft having an axially-extending interior region in communication with an exterior of the second shaft by way of a second exit port; and

a second guide disposed at least partially circumferentially on the second shaft proximally to the second exit port,

wherein the cable extends along the interior region of the second shaft and exits the second shaft at the second exit port, the cable looping at least partially around the second shaft and affixed at the second fixed point.

14. The ball turret assembly of claim 13, further comprising a yoke supporting one of the shafts, the cable passing along an interior portion of the yoke.