Shooting apparatus with stabilizer module

• US 9,800,786 B1
• Filed: 06/08/2016
• Issued: 10/24/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Guilin Feiyu Technology Corporation, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Guilin Feiyu Technology Corporation, Ltd.
• Inventors: Wei, Chengyun
• Primary Examiner(s): Khan, Usman
• Application Number:
  US15/176,209
• Publication Number:
  US 20170310868A1
• Time in Patent Office: 503 Days
• Field of Search: 34820899
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/123 the axis of rotation intersecting in a single point, e.g. by using gimbals
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/18 with mechanism for moving the apparatus relatively to the stand
• 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: G02B 27/644 compensating for large deviations, e.g. maintaining a fixed line of sight while a vehicle on which the system is mounted changes course
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/563 Camera grips, handles means in general for steadying hand-held apparatus F16M13/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/66 Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/685 performed by mechanical compensation

Abstract

A stable and controllable shooting apparatus, comprising a shooting module, a stabilizer module and a main control module, wherein the shooting module and the stabilizer module are respectively connected with the main control module, the stabilizer module comprises a handheld part and an X-axis motor, a Y-axis motor, and a Z-axis motor which are arranged at top of the handheld part and are orthogonal in a space, wherein a stator of the Z-axis motor is connected with the handheld part, a rotor of the Z-axis motor is connected with a stator of the Y-axis motor, a rotor of the Y-axis motor is connected with a stator of the X-axis motor, and a rotor of the X-axis motor is connected with the shooting module. The stable and controllable shooting apparatus may be quickly stabilized during moving shooting and its shooting direction may be controlled.

Claims

1. A shooting apparatus with a stabilizer module, comprising a shooting module, a stabilizer module and a main control module, wherein the shooting module and the stabilizer module are respectively connected with the main control module, wherein the stabilizer module comprises a handheld part and three motors, an X-axis motor, a Y-axis motor, and a Z-axis motor, which are arranged at top of the handheld part and are orthogonal in a space, wherein a stator of the Z-axis motor is connected with the handheld part, a rotor of the Z-axis motor is connected with a stator of the Y-axis motor via a first extension arm, a rotor of the Y-axis motor is connected with a stator of the X-axis motor via a second extension arm, and a rotor of the X-axis motor is connected with the shooting module via a third extension arm;

the stabilizer module further comprises a button control circuit and a motor control circuit, wherein a signal output of the button control circuit is connected with a signal input of the motor control circuit by the main control module, and a signal output of the motor control circuit is connected with the X-axis motor, the Y-axis motor, and the Z-axis motor, respectively;

the button control circuit is arranged within the handheld part, with buttons thereof protruding out of the handheld part, wherein the buttons include a four-direction navigation key, a function button and a confirm button;

the four-direction navigation key controls the movements of the X-axis motor and the Z-axis motor;

a rotating shaft of the X-axis motor is rotated to lead the shooting module to perform pitching movement when an up key or a down key of the four-direction navigation key is pressed;

a rotating shaft of the Z-axis motor is rotated to lead the shooting module to perform yawing movement when a left key or a right key of the four-direction navigation key is pressed;

selection or exit of a function menu of the shooting module is controlled by the four-direction navigation key;

the stabilizer module is switched among different working modes as follows by means of the function button;

when the function button is pressed for one time, the stabilizer module is switched to a yawing movement following mode, in which the Z-axis motor is in an enabled state while both the X-axis motor and the Y-axis motor are in a lock state;

when the function button is pressed for successive two times, the stabilizer module is switched to a yawing movement and pitching movement following mode, in which both the Z-axis motor and the X-axis motor are in an enabled state while the Y-axis motor is in a lock state;

when the function button is long-pressed for one second, the stabilizer module is switched to a locking mode, in which the X-axis motor, the Y-axis motor and the Z-axis motor are all in a lock state;

when the function button is triple-clicked, the shooting apparatus is switched to the function menu of the shooting module;

the confirm button is used for confirming photo shooting, video shooting, or other options of the function menu;

a balance weight is arranged at one side of the X-axis motor away from the shooting module;

mounting holes for connecting with an external mount support are respectively arranged at the top and the bottom of the handheld part.

2. The shooting apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that:

the shooting module comprises a camera body, shooting executive components and a shooting control circuit, wherein the signal output of the button control circuit is connected with a signal input of the shooting control circuit by the main control module, and a signal output of the shooting control circuit is connected with the shooting executive components, respectively.

3. The shooting apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that:

the shooting control circuit is arranged within the camera body, and the shooting executive components include, but are not limited to, a lens, an imaging sensor, and a screen.

4. The shooting apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that:

a distance between an axis extension line of the Z-axis motor and an axis extension line of the Y-axis motor is greater than a distance between the axis extension line of the Y-axis motor and an axis extension line of the X-axis motor.

5. The shooting apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that:

the handheld part is arranged with an USB interface which has one end connected to the shooting control circuit and the motor control circuit respectively and another end connected to an external device.

6. The shooting apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that:

the handheld part is arranged with a battery and a battery compartment, wherein the battery is arranged inside the battery compartment to supply electricity for the shooting module, the stabilizer module and the main control module.

7. The shooting apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that:

the shooting apparatus further comprises a wireless transceiver, by means of which the main control module establishes a wireless communication with an external mobile terminal.

8. The shooting apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that:

the shooting module further comprises a compensated light for improving a luminance of an object to be shot and a switching button for switching the function of the shooting module between photo shooting and video shooting.