Compensation mechanism for the elimination of manual backpan on camera cranes and jib arms

• US 5,644,377 A
• Filed: 06/07/1995
• Issued: 07/01/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Courtland Capital Market Services LLC
• Original Assignee: Andrew B. Romanoff, Nicholas Pollacchi
• Inventors: Romanoff, Andrew B., Pollacchi, Nicholas
• Primary Examiner(s): Rutledge, D.
• Application Number:
  US08/476,459
• Time in Patent Office: 755 Days
• Field of Search: 352/243, 354/293, 354/81, 354/87, 248/123.1, 248/292.1, 248/663, 248/664
• US Class Current: 352/243
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 11/048 Mobile camera platform
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/08 around a vertical axis , e.g. panoramic heads F16M11/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/18 with mechanism for moving the apparatus relatively to the stand
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2021 around a horizontal axis F16M11/2035 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/42 with arrangement for propelling the support stands on wheels
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/04 Balancing means
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/066 being part of the head
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/1221 Multiple gyroscopes

Abstract

A new circuit is connected to the pan servo amplifier 38 of a camera remote pan head 44 for the purpose of eliminating the need for manual backpan. The circuit comprises a tachometer 20 mounted on the pan arm of a camera crane or jib arm 28 and connected to switch 32 and potentiometers 34 and 36. The switch and potentiometers select between three options for operation: an off position, a one to one reverse correspondence between the panning movement of the crane arm 28 and the panning movement of the pan head 44, and a variable reverse correspondence between the panning movement of the crane arm 28 and the panning movement of the remote pan head 44. The output is summed to a servo amplifier 38 which drives the remote head pan motor/tachometer 40. A number of means for alternative implementation are also suggested.

Claims

1. A system for automatically compensating for unwanted arc of a camera when panned on a crane arm or jib comprising:

a motor for panning the camera;

a motion sensor located on said arm or jib, said motion sensor being connected to a servo amplifier in such as a manner as to compensate for angular pan movement of said arm or jib by panning said camera in a reverse direction; and

a means to turn the compensation on and off.

2. The system of claim 1, further including a means for adjusting compensation in such manner as to over or under compensate a shot as required wherein compensation is adjustable while filming.

3. A method for compensating for arc of a camera mounted on a support arm experienced during angular panning movement of the support arm, comprising the steps of:

sensing angular panning velocity at the support arm and producing a first signal corresponding thereto;

controlling panning position of the camera relative to the support arm by automatically panning the camera in a reverse direction relative to the support arm in a desired proportion to the first signal; and

providing for adjustment of the desired proportion during movement of the support arm.

4. A method according to claim 3 further comprising adjusting the proportion by which the position of the camera is panned relative to the panning of the support arm to a one to one ratio.

5. A method according to claim 3 further comprising adjusting the proportion by which the position of the camera is panned relative to the panning of the support arm to under or over compensate for the panning of the support arm.

6. A method according to claim 3 further comprising

selecting the desired proportion to comprise a fixed amount during panning.

7. An automatic backpan system comprising:

a crane including a base and a horizontally rotatable crane arm pivotally connected thereto;

a first sensor sensing angular velocity of the crane arm relative to the base;

a camera head pivotally mounted to one end of the crane arm such that the camera head is horizontally rotatable with respect to the crane arm;

a camera head motor connected to the crane arm for horizontally rotating the camera head with respect to the crane arm;

a controller connected to the camera head motor for controlling rotation of the camera head to rotate in a direction opposite to the rotation of the crane arm at a velocity in selected proportion to the angular velocity of the crane arm relative to the base;

means for adjusting the selected proportion.

8. An automatic backpan system according to claim 7 further comprising

a second sensor for producing a second signal corresponding to the angular velocity of the crane arm relative to the camera head and wherein the first sensor produces a first signal corresponding to the angular velocity of the crane arm relative to the base.

9. An automatic backpan system according to claim 8 further comprising

a servo amplifier accepting as inputs at least the first signal and the second signal and producing as output a third signal which controls the angular velocity of the motor, wherein the third signal is proportional to the difference between the second signal and the sum of all other input signals.

10. An automatic backpan system according to claim 9 wherein a control signal is accepted by the servo amplifier as an input, the control signal being controllable by a user of the system.

11. An automatic backpan system according to claim 7 wherein the first sensor comprises a tachometer.

12. An automatic backpan system according to claim 8 wherein the second sensor comprises a tachometer.

13. An automatic backpan system according to claim 7 wherein the means for adjusting the selected proportion comprises a potentiometer.

14. An automatic backpan system according to claim 7 wherein the means for adjusting the selected proportion comprises a preset potentiometer setting a gain of the controller such that the camera head is rotated in a direction opposite to the rotation of the crane arm at a velocity in one to one correspondence to the angular velocity of the crane arm relative to the base.

15. An automatic backpan system according to claim 7 further comprising a switch for selecting between (1) a first operational mode in which the camera head is fixed relative to the crane arm, (2) a second mode in which the camera head is rotated in a direction opposite to the rotation of the crane arm at a velocity in selected proportion to the angular velocity of the crane arm relative to the base wherein the selected proportion is fixed during rotation of the crane arm, and (3) a third mode in which the camera head is rotated in a direction opposite to the rotation of the crane arm at a velocity in selected proportion to the angular velocity of the crane arm relative to the base wherein the selected proportion is variable during rotation of the crane arm.

16. In a camera crane having a crane arm pivotally mounted to a base to pan over a horizontal arc, an automatic backpan system for controlling the horizontal orientation of a camera head rotationally connected to the end of the crane arm, comprising:

a first sensing means for producing a first signal proportional to a first angular velocity between the crane arm and the base;

a motor for horizontally rotating the camera head with respect to the crane arm at a second angular velocity;

a second sensing means for producing a second signal proportional to the second angular velocity between the crane arm and the camera head;

at least one adjustment means for producing a third signal, the third signal comprising a variable multiplied by the first signal, the variable being selectable by a user;

a servo amplifier accepting input signals including at least the second signal and the third signal and producing as output a fourth signal which controls the angular velocity of the motor, wherein the fourth signal is proportional to a difference between the second signal and a sum of all other input signals.

17. An automatic backpan system according to claim 16 wherein a control signal is accepted by the servo amplifier as an input, the control signal being controllable by the user.

18. An automatic backpan system according to claim 16 wherein the first sensing means is selected from the group consisting of:

a gyroscopic sensor, a tachometer.

19. An automatic backpan system according to claim 16 wherein the second sensing means comprises a tachometer.

20. An automatic backpan system according to claim 16 wherein the adjustment means comprises a potentiometer.