Two degree of freedom camera mount
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A camera mounting apparatus comprising:
- a)a socket including and interior surface and an opening;
b)a ball positioned within a region defined by said interior surface of said socket, said ball including an aperture for mounting a camera;
c)a first linkage operably connected to said ball wherein movement of said first linkage causes relative rotational movement of said ball along a first path with respect to said d)a second linkage operably connected to said ball wherein movement of said second linkage causes relative rotational movement of said ball along a second path with respect to said socket.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A two degree of freedom camera mount. The camera mount includes a socket, a ball, a first linkage and a second linkage. The socket includes an interior surface and an opening. The ball is positioned within an interior of the socket. The ball includes a coupling point for rotating the ball relative to the socket and an aperture for mounting a camera. The first and second linkages are rotatably connected to the socket and slidably connected to the coupling point of the ball. Rotation of the linkages with respect to the socket causes the ball to rotate with respect to the socket.
55 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A camera mounting apparatus comprising:
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a)a socket including and interior surface and an opening;
b)a ball positioned within a region defined by said interior surface of said socket, said ball including an aperture for mounting a camera;
c)a first linkage operably connected to said ball wherein movement of said first linkage causes relative rotational movement of said ball along a first path with respect to said d)a second linkage operably connected to said ball wherein movement of said second linkage causes relative rotational movement of said ball along a second path with respect to said socket. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A camera mounting apparatus comprising:
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a) a socket including an interior surface and an opening;
b) a ball positioned within a region defined by said interior surface of said socket, said ball including an aperture for mounting a camera and a coupling point for rotating said ball relative to said socket;
c) a first arm rotatably connected to said socket, said first arm having a first slot coupled to said coupling point; and
d) a second arm rotatably connected to said socket, said second arm having a second slot coupled to said coupling point, wherein rotation of said first and second arms moves said coupling point to cause relative rotation of said ball with respect to said socket. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 11)
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10. The apparatus of clam 5 wherein said first and second arms are adjacent to said exterior surface of said socket.
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12. A camera mount apparatus comprising:
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a) a socket including and interior surface and an exterior surface, said socket including an opening;
b) a ball positioned within a region defined by said interior surface of said socket, said ball including an aperture for mounting a camera and a post extending from said ball having a square portion for moving said ball relative to said socket;
c) a first linkage rotatably connected to said socket having a first arm with a first slot coupled to said post such that said post is constrained to motion along a first path defined by said first slot; and
d) a second linkage rotatably connected to said socket having a second arm with a second slot coupled to said post such that said post is constrained to motion along a second path defined by said second slot, wherein rotation of said first linkage with respect to said socket moves said post along said second path and rotation of said first linkage moves said post along said first path to cause relative rotation of said ball with respect to said socket. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. A method for positioning a camera comprising:
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a)mounting a camera in an aperture in a ball;
b)moving a first linkage operably connected to said ball to rotate said ball along a first path within an interior region of a socket to position said camera; and
c)moving a second linkage that moves independently of said first linkage to rotate said ball along a second path within the interior region of the socket to position said camera. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. A method for positioning a camera comprising:
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a) mounting a camera in an aperture in a ball having a coupling post;
b) rotating a shaft portion of a first linkage to cause rotation of a first arm portion of said first linkage with respect to a socket, wherein rotation of said first arm portion moves said coupling post along a first path defined by a slot in a second arm portion of a second linkage to rotate said ball with respect to said socket; and
c) rotating a shaft portion of a second linkage to cause rotation of said second arm portion of said second linkage with respect to said socket, wherein rotation of said second arm portion moves said coupling post along a second path defined by a slot in said first arm portion of the said first linkage to move said ball with respect to said socket.
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18. A robotic arm and head unit comprising:
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a)a robotic arm connected to a deck;
b)a robotic head connected to said deck;
c)a camera mount connected to said head, said camera mount including a socket having an interior surface, a ball positioned within a region defined by said interior surface, said ball including an aperture for mounting a camera, a first linkage operably connected to said ball for rotating said ball with respect to said socket along a first path, and a second linkage operably connected to said ball for rotating said ball in said socket along a second path;
d)a camera connected to said mount; and
e)a control for moving said arm and head and positioning said camera. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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21. A robotic arm and head unit comprising:
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a)a robotic arm connected to a deck;
b)a robotic head connected to said deck;
c)a first camera mount connected to said head, said first camera mount including a socket having an interior surface, a ball positioned within a region defined by said interior surface, said ball including an aperture for mounting a camera, and a linkage operably connected to said ball for rotating said ball in said socket;
d) a second camera mount coupled to said first camera mount for mounting stereo cameras;
e)a first camera connected to said first mount;
f)a second camera connected to said second mount;
g) a control for moving said arm and head and positioning said camera.
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22. A robotic arm and head unit comprising:
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a)a robotic arm connected to a deck;
b)a robotic head mounted to said deck by a robotic neck including four degrees of freedom;
c)a camera mount connected to said head, said camera mount including a socket having an interior surface, a ball positioned within a region defined by said interior surface, said ball including an aperture for mounting a camera, and a linkage operably connected to said ball for rotating said ball in said socket;
d)a camera connected to said mount;
e)a control for moving said arm and head and positioning said camera.
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23. A robotic arm and head unit comprising:
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a)a robotic arm connected to a deck, said arm includes at least four degrees of freedom;
b)a robotic head connected to said deck;
c)a camera mount connected to said head, said camera mount including a socket having an interior surface, a ball positioned within a region defined by said interior surface, said ball including an aperture for mounting a camera, and a linkage operably connected to said ball for rotating said ball in said socket;
d)a camera connected to said mount; and
e)a control for moving said arm and head and positioning said camera.
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Specification