Panoramic camera stabilizer

• US 9,891,505 B1
• Filed: 01/13/2017
• Issued: 02/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2016
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Chengyun Wei
• Original Assignee: Chengyun Wei
• Inventors: Wei, Chengyun
• Primary Examiner(s): Laballe, Clayton E
• Assistant Examiner(s): Smith, Linda B
• Application Number:
  US15/405,337
• Time in Patent Office: 396 Days
• Field of Search: 396421
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/045 adapted to left-right translation movement
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/048 adapted to forward-backward translation movement
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/18 with mechanism for moving the apparatus relatively to the stand
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/205 the axis of rotation intersecting in a single point, e.g. gimbals
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/02 for supporting on, or attaching to, an object, e.g. tree, gate, window-frame, cycle
• 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: F16M 2200/04 Balancing means
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/561 Support related camera accessories
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/563 Camera grips, handles means in general for steadying hand-held apparatus F16M13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 37/00 Panoramic or wide-screen photography; Photographing extended surfaces, e.g. for surveying; Photographing internal surfaces, e.g. of pipe
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 37/02 with scanning movement of lens or cameras

Abstract

The invention relates to photographic equipment field and provides a panoramic camera stabilizer suitable for panoramic camera to shoot steadily from any angle, which comprises a fixing assembly, a rotating component and a handle. The fixing assembly is connected with and arranged above the rotating component for mounting a panoramic camera, the rotating component is connected to handle end and comprises a first adjustment mechanism for adjusting pitching angle of the fixing assembly, a second adjustment mechanism for adjusting rolling angle of the fixing assembly, and a third adjustment mechanism for adjusting yawing angle of the fixing assembly. The fixing assembly is arranged at upper part of the stabilizer, thereby avoiding blocking camera lens. Due to multi-direction adjustable rotating component, the panoramic camera may capture images at any angle. By adjusting gravity center through the counterweight and fixing assembly, cameras in different sizes and weights may be mounted.

Claims

1. A panoramic camera stabilizer, comprising a fixing assembly, a rotating component and a handle, the fixing assembly is used for mounting a panoramic camera, the rotating component is connected to an end of the handle, the fixing assembly is connected with the rotating component and is arranged above the rotating component;

the rotating component comprises;

a first adjustment mechanism for adjusting a pitching angle of the fixing assembly;

a second adjustment mechanism for adjusting a rolling angle of the fixing assembly; and

a third adjustment mechanism for adjusting a yawing angle of the fixing assembly;

the first adjustment mechanism comprises a pitching motor, the second adjustment mechanism comprises a rolling motor, and the third adjustment mechanism comprises a yawing motor, wherein a stator of the pitching motor is fixedly connected with the handle, a rotor of the pitching motor is fixedly connected with a stator of the rolling motor via a first connecting arm, a rotor of the rolling motor is fixedly connected with a stator of the yawing motor via a second connecting arm, a rotor of the yawing motor is fixedly connected with the fixing assembly via a third connecting arm;

the stator of the yawing motor is fitted with a counterweight.

2. The panoramic camera stabilizer according to claim 1, characterized in that:

the panoramic camera stabilizer further comprises a control unit for controlling movement postures of the first adjustment mechanism, the second adjustment mechanism and the third adjustment mechanism.

3. The panoramic camera stabilizer according to claim 1, characterized in that:

the fixing assembly comprises a fixing mechanism, a longitudinal adjustment mechanism and a transverse adjustment mechanism, wherein the fixing mechanism is used for mounting the camera, the fixing mechanism is longitudinally slidable relative to the longitudinal adjustment mechanism, and the longitudinal adjustment mechanism is transversely slidable relative to the transverse adjustment mechanism.

4. The panoramic camera stabilizer according to claim 1, characterized in that:

the rotating component is L-shaped.

5. The panoramic camera stabilizer according to claim 1, characterized in that:

the handle is provided with a button board, a built-in battery, a four-direction navigation key, a function button, a shutter button, an indicator light, and a USB port.

6. The panoramic camera stabilizer according to claim 2, characterized in that:

the control unit comprises a control board and a posture board, wherein the control board is connected with the first adjustment mechanism, the second adjustment mechanism and the third adjustment mechanism, respectively, the posture board is connected with the fixing assembly, the control board is used for controlling the movement postures of the first adjustment mechanism, the second adjustment mechanism and the third adjustment mechanism, and the posture board is used for detecting posture information of the fixing assembly.

7. The panoramic camera stabilizer according to claim 3, characterized in that:

the fixing mechanism comprises a fixing plate provided with a mounting groove for fixing the panoramic camera, wherein the mounting groove is provided with a through hole on a lateral side, a fastening screw is arranged in the through hole, and the fixing plate is provided with a first guide rail at the bottom;

the longitudinal adjustment mechanism comprises a longitudinal adjustment plate, the longitudinal adjustment plate is provided with a first recess for accommodating the first guide rail of the fixing plate, the longitudinal adjustment plate is provided on a lateral side with a first locking block and a first locking screw for locking the first guide rail and the first recess, and the longitudinal adjustment plate is provided with a second guide rail at the bottom;

the transverse adjustment mechanism comprises a transverse adjustment plate, the transverse adjustment plate is provided with a second recess for accommodating the second guide rail of the longitudinal adjustment plate, the transverse adjustment plate is provided on a lateral side with a second locking block and a second locking screw for locking the second guide rail and the second recess.

8. The panoramic camera stabilizer according to claim 6, characterized in that:

the control board comprises a micro control unit and a motor control circuit, a magnetic encoder and a serial communication circuit which are connected with the micro control unit, wherein the magnetic encoder is used for detecting rotational angle and rate variation signal of the motors and sending the signal to the micro control unit through the serial communication circuit, the micro control unit is used for performing corresponding process according to the signal and controlling the movement postures of the first adjustment mechanism, the second adjustment mechanism and the third adjustment mechanism through the motor control circuit.