Control device for a gimbal and method of controlling the same

• US 10,690,283 B2
• Filed: 07/11/2019
• Issued: 06/23/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SZ DJI Technology Co., Ltd. (d/b/a DJI) (iFlight Technology Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: SZ DJI Technology Co., Ltd. (d/b/a DJI) (iFlight Technology Company Limited)
• Inventors: Pan, Paul, Zhu, Ming Liang, Zhao, Xi Feng
• Primary Examiner(s): Duckworth, Bradley
• Application Number:
  US16/508,915
• Publication Number:
  US 20190331289A1
• Time in Patent Office: 348 Days
• 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: F16M 11/2014 around a vertical axis F16M11/2035 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/022 repositionable
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/561 Support related camera accessories
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 3/00 Control of position or direction G05D1/00 takes precedence; numerical control to execute positioning G05B19/18
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 3/12 using feedback

Abstract

A gimbal for controlling an optical device includes a rocker and a controlling assembly. The rocker is configured to receive an action instruction and generate a control instruction based on the action instruction. The action instruction includes a long press when a rocker handle of the rocker is deviated from a middle position, and the control instruction includes a back-to-middle control instruction instructing the rocker handle to return to the middle position. The controlling assembly is configured to receive the control instruction from the rocker, and generate a performing instruction based on the control instruction for controlling the optical device.

Claims

1. A gimbal for controlling an optical device comprising:

a rocker configured to receive an action instruction and generate a control instruction based on the action instruction, the action instruction including a long press when a rocker handle of the rocker is deviated from a middle position, and the control instruction including a back-to-middle control instruction configured to allow the rocker handle to return to the middle position; and

a controlling assembly configured to receive the control instruction from the rocker, and generate, based on the control instruction, a performing instruction for controlling the optical device, the performing instruction including a hold performing instruction for enabling the gimbal to hold a current attitude.

2. The gimbal according to claim 1, wherein the action instruction further includes a short press action instruction and the control instruction is further configured to cause the gimbal to switch between two or more operating modes.

3. The gimbal according to claim 1, wherein the rocker handle is configured to control an attitude of the optical device.

4. The gimbal according to claim 1, wherein the rocker further includes a keypad configured to switch the gimbal between two or more operating modes.

5. The gimbal according to claim 4, wherein the two or more operating modes include:

a follow mode in which a shooting direction of the optical device follows a moving direction of the gimbal; and

a locked mode in which the shooting direction of the optical device is locked in a specified direction regardless of movement of the gimbal.

6. The gimbal according to claim 1, further comprising:

a support arm;

wherein the rocker is supported on a top end of the support arm.

7. The gimbal according to claim 6, further comprising:

a performing assembly configured to implement the performing instruction;

wherein the rocker is disposed between the performing assembly and the support arm.

8. The gimbal according to claim 6, further comprising:

a bracket disposed at a bottom end of the support arm, the bottom end being opposite to the top end of the support arm.

9. The gimbal according to claim 1, wherein the rocker further includes a potentiometer assembly operably connected to the rocker handle.

10. The gimbal according to claim 9, wherein the potentiometer assembly includes a first potentiometer configured to control a pitch action of the optical device via the gimbal and a second potentiometer configured to control a rotation action of the optical device via the gimbal.

11. A method for controlling an optical device comprising:

receiving an action instruction through a rocker of a gimbal, the action instruction including a long press when a rocker handle of the rocker is deviated from a middle position;

generating a control instruction based on the action instruction, the control instruction including a back-to-middle control instruction configured to allow the rocker handle to return to the middle position; and

generating, based on the control instruction, a performing instruction for controlling the gimbal, the performing instruction including a hold performing instruction for enabling the gimbal to hold a current attitude.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the action instruction further includes a short press action instruction and the control instruction is further configured to cause the gimbal to switch between two or more operating modes.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein the rocker handle is configured to control an attitude of the optical device.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein the rocker further includes a keypad configured to switch the gimbal between two or more operating modes.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the two or more operating modes include:

a follow mode in which a shooting direction of the optical device follows a moving direction of the gimbal; and

a locked mode in which the shooting direction of the optical device is locked in a specified direction regardless of movement of the gimbal.

16. A control device comprising:

a keypad configured to switch a gimbal carrying the control device between two or more operating modes; and

a rocker handle configured to control an attitude of an optical device carried by the gimbal;

wherein the control device is configured to receive an action instruction from the rocker handle or the keypad and generate a control instruction based on the action instruction, the action instruction including a long press when the rocker handle is deviated from a middle position, and the control instruction including a back-to-middle control instruction configured to allow the rocker handle to return to the middle position, and wherein the control instruction is used to generate a performing instruction including a hold performing instruction for enabling the gimbal to hold a current attitude.

17. The control device according to claim 16, wherein the action instruction further includes a short press action instruction and the control instruction is further configured to cause the gimbal to switch between the two or more operating modes.

18. The control device according to claim 16, wherein the two or more operating modes include:

a follow mode in which a shooting direction of the optical device follows a moving direction of the gimbal; and

a locked mode in which the shooting direction of the optical device is locked in a specified direction regardless of movement of the gimbal.

19. The control device according to claim 16, further comprising:

a potentiometer assembly operably connected to the rocker handle.

20. The control device according to claim 19, wherein the potentiometer assembly includes a first potentiometer configured to control a pitch action of the optical device via the gimbal and a second potentiometer configured to control a rotation action of the optical device via the gimbal.