ROTATABLE PLATFORM

• US 20100051774A1
• Filed: 09/01/2009
• Published: 03/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Johnson Electric International AG (Johnson Electric Holdings Limited)
• Original Assignee: Johnson Electric SA 125 Rue de Progres La Chaux de Fonds Switzerland (Johnson Electric Holdings Limited)
• Inventors: ZHANG, Yong Gang, SHI, Bin, LI, Hong, LI, Xing Quan
• Granted Patent: US 8,292,248 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 248/349.100
• 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 11/2014 around a vertical axis F16M11/2035 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/561 Support related camera accessories

Abstract

A platform comprising: a base; a first platform unit rotatably mounted to the base and being rotatable about a first axis relative to the base; a second platform unit rotatably mounted to the first platform unit and be rotatable about a second axis relative to the first platform unit; and a flexible transmitting device connected between the base and the first platform unit and/or the first platform unit and the second platform unit for transmitting power and/or data. The flexible transmitting device is arranged to wind about the first axis when the first platform unit is rotated about the first axis and/or wind about the second axis when the second platform unit is rotated about the second axis.

Claims

1. A platform comprising:

a base;

a first platform unit rotatably mounted to the base and being rotatable about a first axis relative to the base;

a second platform unit rotatably mounted to the first platform unit and be rotatable about a second axis relative to the first platform unit; and

a flexible transmitting device connected between the base and the first platform unit and/or the first platform unit and the second platform unit for transmitting power and/or data,

wherein the flexible transmitting device winds about the first axis and/or the second axis when the first platform unit is rotated about the first axis and/or the second platform unit is rotated about the second axis.

2. The platform of claim 1, wherein the first platform unit is rotatably attached to the base via a shaft which is fixed to or integrally formed with the first platform unit, the flexible transmitting device being connected between the base and the first platform unit and winding around the shaft when the first platform unit is rotated about the first axis.

3. The platform of claim 2, wherein the shaft has a void, one end of the flexible transmitting device is fixed relative to the base and the other end thereof extends through the void of the shaft and an opening defined in the first platform unit to be fixed relative to the first platform unit.

4. The platform of claim 1, wherein the flexible transmitting device is a flexible cable or flexible printed circuit board.

5. The platform of claim 1, wherein the flexible transmitting device is connected between the first platform unit and the second platform unit, one end of the flexible transmitting device is fixed relative to the first platform unit and the other end thereof is fixed relative to the second platform unit.

6. The platform of claim 5, wherein the second platform unit is rotatably attached to the first platform unit via a shaft of the second platform unit being rotatably received in a hole of the first platform unit, the flexible transmitting device is arranged to wind around the shaft when the second platform unit is rotated.

7. The platform of claim 5, wherein the flexible transmitting device has an S or C shaped configuration when it is unwound.

8. The platform of claim 1, wherein the first platform unit is rotatable by a piezoelectric motor which is attached to one of the first platform unit and the base, the motor having a frictional nub to contact the other one of the first platform unit and the base.

9. The platform of claim 8, wherein the first platform unit comprises a shaft rotatably received in a hole formed at the base, the motor being mounted to the base and the friction nub pressing resiliently against the outer circumferential surface of the shaft.

10. The platform of claim 8, wherein the base comprises a circular rim, the motor being mounted to the first platform unit and the nub pressing resiliently against an inner circumferential surface of the rim.

11. The platform of claim 8, wherein the first platform unit defines a slot parallel to the first axis, the motor being received in the slot.

12. The platform of claim 1, wherein the first platform unit comprises a base plate rotatably attached to the base, and a support plate extending from the base plate, and the second platform unit comprises a mounting plate rotatably attached to the support plate, a camera being mounted to the mounting plate.

13. The platform of claim 12, wherein the support plate defines a recess in which the mounting plate is rotatably received, the mounting plate defines a slot on which a piezoelectric motor with a frictional nub and a resilient element are received, the resilient element urging the motor such that the friction nub presses resiliently against a surface of the recess.

14. The platform of claim 12, wherein the second platform unit further comprises a shaft fixed relative to the mounting plate, the support plate defines a slot in which a piezoelectric motor with a frictional nub and a resilient element are received, and a hole in which the shaft is rotatably received, the resilient element urging the motor such that the friction nub presses resiliently against the outer circumferential surface of the shaft.

15. The platform of claim 1, wherein the first axis is perpendicular to the second axis.

16. A platform comprising:

a base;

a first platform unit rotatably mounted to the base and being rotatable about a first axis relative to the base;

a flexible transmitting device connected between the base and the first platform unit for transmitting power and/or data,

wherein the flexible transmitting device winds about the first axis when the first platform unit is rotated about the first axis.

17. The platform of claim 16, wherein the first platform unit is rotatably attached to the base via a shaft which is fixed to or integrally formed with the first platform unit, the flexible transmitting device winding around the shaft when the first platform unit is rotated about the first axis.

18. The platform of claim 17, wherein the first platform unit is rotatable by a piezoelectric motor which is attached to one of the first platform unit and the base, the motor having a friction nub which contacts the other one of the first platform unit and the base.

19. The platform of claim 18, wherein the motor is mounted to the base and the friction nub presses resiliently against the outer circumferential surface of the shaft.

20. The platform of claim 18, wherein the base comprises a circular rim, the motor being mounted to the first platform unit and the friction nub pressing resiliently against an inner circumferential surface of the rim.