Camera stabilization system

Abstract

A camera stabilization system is provided, and more particularly, an improved lightweight handheld or in-vehicle camera stabilization system is provided for applications related to photography or video. In order to obtain optimal effects in movie or video recording, the stability of alignment is crucial, in particular on moving camera supports such as vehicles, objects in the air and camera cranes.

Description

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application serial No. 17 / 379,434 filed on July 19, 2021, which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to Belgian patent application No. 2020 / 5679 filed on October 1, 2020, both of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. Technical Field

[0003] The present disclosure relates generally to camera stabilization systems, and more particularly to improved lightweight handheld or vehicle-mounted camera stabilization systems for photography or video related applications. To obtain the best results in film or video recording, stability of the alignment is critical, especially on moving camera supports (e.g., vehicles, aerial objects, and camera cranes). Background Art

[0004] Advances in optical, video and traditional camera technology have made high-quality portable camera equipment, including smartphones, available to more and more film enthusiasts. As a result, professionals and amateurs alike are producing higher quality and more sophisticated films. However, this evolution in quality has exacerbated the well-known problem of "shake" when filming with such handheld camera equipment. Even if the operator attempts to keep the camera steady during panning or dollying, uncontrolled operator motion is transferred to the camera, causing unwanted camera shake that degrades the aesthetics of the final video product. Filming from a moving, floating or flying vehicle is made more difficult by the uncontrolled vehicle motion. Turning or carrying a camera in a smooth glide requires a great deal of skill and experience, especially in action scenes where the camera operator is walking, running or riding the vehicle to follow the film's subject. In action scenes, while keeping the camera steady is already a difficult task due to the motion created by the operator's breathing, heartbeat and involuntary muscle movements, uncontrolled environmental conditions can make this task even more difficult. The resulting film often appears shaky, jerky and visually unsatisfactory. Motion interference, especially angle interference transmitted from the operator to the camera, is a major problem.

[0005] A popular mechanical (not electronic) camera stabilization device is The device uses a large counterweight mounted at a considerable distance from the camera, which shifts the center of mass of the device toward a handle that is then manipulated by the operator. The units are popular, but are heavy, bulky, and inflexible, placing strain on the operator, requiring long setup times, requiring cumbersome operator harnesses, and limiting the camera's range of motion. The smoothness of operation depends primarily on the operator, because the operator must manually control the orientation of the camera via a handle and must carefully keep the camera steady and balanced within the limited capabilities of the system. This makes the operation and smooth slewing of the camera dependent on the strength and skill of the operator.

[0006] In addition to being In addition to mechanical stabilization systems, there are proposals in the field of camera stabilization for gyroscopic sensor stabilized camera systems that rely on an integrated three-axis gyroscopic sensor to measure the tilt, pan, and roll of the platform from a single location attached to the camera platform. Unfortunately, the gyroscopic sensor configuration commonly used in the art places three rotational sensors in parallel in a single package, which presents several problems. The sensitivity of each sensor to rotation about a fixed axis varies depending on the pivot position about another axis. For example, the sensitivity of a yaw rate sensor mounted directly on the camera platform decreases from a maximum value to zero as the platform pitch angle increases from zero to 90 degrees. In addition, at large pitch angles, the tilted yaw sensor introduces an orthogonal rotational component into the signal used to control the yaw motion. Those skilled in the art are keenly aware of this problem and have proposed various "stopgap solutions" such as adding relative position encoders and gravity level sensors and adding complex sine-cosine coordinate transformations to maintain a constant control loop gain in the stabilizer control circuit. As another example of these shortcomings, a typical closed-loop servo control system can easily become unstable due to mechanical resonance caused by mechanical decoupling and separation of the sensor from its corresponding actuator. Until now, technicians have usually tried to alleviate this problem by using mechanically rigid (heavy) gimbal frames, but such gimbal frames are not suitable for lightweight handheld stabilizers, which require a lightweight frame that is inevitably flexible.

[0007] A commercial example includes a dual sensor gimbaled turntable and camera produced by Gyron Systems International, Inc., measuring 30 × 35 × 28 inches, for mounting on the outside of a helicopter. A dual channel fiber optic gyroscope array is employed to stabilize the pan and tilt axes, while the roll axis is stabilized by a quartz angular rate sensor. The outboard pan and tilt gimbals are driven by direct drive torque motors that do not require gearing. The inboard pan and tilt gimbals are driven by voice coil actuators that do not require gearing to eliminate gear wear problems. The roll axis is driven by a torque motor through a ladder chain drive. The angular rate sensors are grouped together on a common platform, as is commonly done in the art, which results in the adverse angular interaction problems described above. Gyron's literature neither considers nor suggests the application of its aerospace technology to a mechanically stabilized handheld stabilizer system using a lightweight flexible frame.

[0008] For smartphones, such a gimbal is described, for example, in PCT patent publications WO2020 / 138533 or WO2015 / 101822 and is referred to as Mobile Stabilizer or Handheld gimbals. All these smartphone gimbals feature a gripping unit (handle) located at the lower end and indirectly connected to the bottom frame portion including the camera mount, which requires the incorporation of additional camera control elements in the gripping element. Since the handle is located below the camera mount, these smartphone gimbals are still large and the user also experiences that the freedom of movement is restricted and the image is not completely stable, especially when walking.

[0009] Another example of a camera stabilization system is disclosed in EP3627031. In this system, Figure 4 A lens module 210 is disclosed, which is mounted on the lens and is in a ring shape, and the lens module includes a ring-shaped disc electric motor to enable the lens to rotate. One of the disadvantages of the system disclosed in this reference is the lack of flexibility. For example, the camera lens module is fixed in size, and different modules are required depending on the lens used. The integrated ring motor inevitably limits the performance of the system (for example, in terms of the weight of the camera that can be controlled).

[0010] From these examples, it can be easily understood that individual consumers are limited in their choice of photography platform stabilization systems to a variety of moderate to high cost heavy, rigid commercial systems that require several heavy flywheel gyroscopes, or to systems with limited functionality, each of which requires a heavy power pack or battery to start spinning.

[0011] Therefore, there is a clear need in the art for a relatively inexpensive handheld camera stabilization system that is lightweight and flexible (manipulable) with respect to the dimensions (size and weight) of the camera, and that is stable over a wide range of angular positions and jitter frequency ranges (to DC). Such a stabilization system should also be adapted to smoothly simulate any desired camera motion in response to simple motion control signals delivered to a stabilizer controller. These unresolved problems and deficiencies are apparent in the art and are addressed by the embodiments disclosed herein in the following manner. Summary of the invention

[0012] In a first aspect, the present disclosure provides a camera cage including a camera stabilization feature, the basic configuration of which consists of a camera cage comprising an annular support and a motor, the motor shaft of the motor being coaxial with the central axis of the annular support, the camera cage being provided with means for connecting the motor and the annular support at a variable distance from each other around the same central axis, wherein the annular support has an inner diameter that can surround a lens, and wherein the camera cage is provided with a camera mount such that the optical axis of the camera is coaxial with the central axis of the annular support.

[0013] The annular support and the motor may be connected at a variable distance from each other in the cage, and it can be considered that the annular support and the motor form opposite sides of the cage, wherein the motor usually forms a part of the bottom of the cage, and the annular support is located opposite to the part of the bottom of the cage. Depending on the size of the camera or the size of the lens, additional annular supports can be placed coaxially opposite at the bottom.

[0014] In one embodiment, the motor is integrated in the bottom of the bottom frame of the camera cage. The object of the present disclosure is to provide a camera cage that can be adjusted according to the specifications of the camera to be suspended. In one embodiment, the motor is suspended by means of a holder in the bottom frame. In a specific embodiment, the holder will be customized to adapt to the motor that needs to be suspended in the cage. In another embodiment, the holder (hereinafter also referred to as the motor holder) is configured to provide suspension of the motor in the bottom frame so that the motor shaft is coaxial with the central axis of one or more annular supports.

[0015] One of the purposes of the present disclosure is to provide a camera cage with adjustable cameras, in one embodiment, the motor can be accessed and replaced in the bottom frame. In one embodiment, the motor can be accessed through a motor holder, such as through an access panel, or the motor holder can be configured to be removable from the bottom frame. In the latter embodiment, the motor holder can even be interchanged with a motor holder customized for the motor that needs to be suspended in the cage. In a preferred embodiment, the motor is centrally suspended in the bottom frame by means of a motor holder as provided herein. In another preferred embodiment, the motor used herein is a roll-stabilized motor. Thus, in the embodiment, the camera cage can be used as a camera stabilization device, and can also include a motor control board (hereinafter also referred to as a motor controller) with one or more gyro sensors. The motor and motor controller will allow the element to rotate and stabilize around the central axis of the annular support. In a specific embodiment, the motor controller is replaceable. In one embodiment, the motor and motor controller are located in the motor holder. In another embodiment, the motor controller is installed on the outside of the bottom frame, more particularly, on the outside of the motor holder. In an embodiment, the motor controller is equipped with a power connection, in particular for a battery pack, more particularly for a battery pack that can be connected to the controller, more particularly for a battery pack that can be replaceably connected to the controller.

[0016] In some embodiments, the stabilization device may utilize one or more slip ring connections for power and / or signal leads, thereby allowing a full 360 degree rotation about the roll axis of the stabilization device without distorting the wiring of the power and / or signal leads. Where possible, the wiring may be at least partially extended within the camera cage, thereby reducing the risk of wires being snagged and / or broken during a full 360 degree roll motion about the central axis of the annular support.

[0017] In one embodiment, a camera cage according to the present disclosure comprises a rotatable base. The rotatable base is connected to the motor shaft and is also provided with means for connecting the rotatable base and the annular support at a mutually variable distance. The rotational movement of the motor is transmitted to the annular support by means of the means for connecting the rotatable base and the annular support at a mutually variable distance. In a particular embodiment, the rotatable base is replaceable and customized to fit the motor and / or camera used in the cage. As an alternative or in addition to one or more slip ring connections for power and / or signal leads, the rotatable base may include one or more connections and / or through-portions for power / signal wiring, thereby enabling the camera to be connected to external elements.

[0018] The object of the present disclosure is to provide a camera cage which enables a rolling movement of the camera about its optical axis which is coaxial with the central axis of the annular support, the camera mount having to be located inside the cage to enable said movement. Furthermore, in one embodiment, the camera mount will be part of or connected to a rotatable base. When connected, the camera mount can be directly connected to the rotatable base, indirectly connected via means for connecting the rotatable base and the annular support at a mutually variable distance, or a combination of both. In a particular embodiment, the camera mount is suspended from means for connecting the rotatable base and the annular support at a mutually variable distance.

[0019] Referring to the accompanying drawings, in one embodiment, the means for connecting the annular support at a variable distance from the motor and the rotatable base is composed of a combination of clamps and rods. A first set of clamps and rods connects the bottom frame to the outer ring of the annular support, and a second set of clamps and rods connects the rotatable base to the inner ring of the annular support. In another embodiment, the first set of clamps and rods are connected to the outer periphery of the bottom frame and the outer ring of the annular support. In another embodiment, the means for connecting the bottom frame to the annular support at a variable distance includes a spacer configured to adjust the orthogonal cross-sectional surface of the cage in a plane parallel to the circular cross-section of the annular support. One of the features of the camera cage according to the present disclosure is that the outer periphery of the orthogonal cross-sectional surface should be able to surround the camera housing of the camera, otherwise it will be impossible for the camera to perform a full 360-degree rolling movement around the central axis of the annular support. Having an optional spacer as part of the means for connecting the bottom frame to the annular support at a variable distance allows the camera cage to be easily adjusted to accommodate the camera that needs to be suspended in the cage.

[0020] In one embodiment, the bottom frame of the camera cage is circular; in particular, it has the same outer diameter as the annular support. Such a circular bottom frame can also be used as one or more handles for holding the cage. Additional elements (such as additional handles, microphones, eyepieces, tripod mounting plates, etc.) can be connected to the bottom frame, the annular support and / or the first set of clamps and rods connecting the bottom frame to the outer ring of the annular support. This again increases the flexibility of changing the camera cage according to the needs of the operator and / or the camera that needs to be suspended in the cage.

[0021] In one embodiment, the means for connecting the base frame and the annular support at a mutually variable distance comprise at least two rods extending oppositely and in parallel, in another embodiment comprise two pairs of rods extending oppositely and in parallel. In one embodiment, the means for connecting the rotatable base and the annular support comprise at least one rod, in particular two rods, even more particularly two pairs of rods extending oppositely and in parallel. With reference to the accompanying drawings, the two rods extending oppositely and in parallel are intended to comprise a pair of rods, a first rod connecting the base frame with the outer ring of the annular support and a second rod connecting the rotatable base with the inner ring of the annular support.

[0022] In one embodiment, the camera cage, and in particular the annular support, will include markings or reference points to allow the optical axis of the camera to be aligned with the central axis of the annular support.

[0023] The present disclosure can be further summarized by the following numbered examples.

[0024] A camera cage comprises an annular support and a motor, wherein the motor axis of the motor is coaxial with the central axis of the annular support, the camera cage comprises means for holding the motor and the annular support around the same central axis, the means being configured to adjust the distance between the motor and the annular support, wherein the annular support has an inner diameter, wherein the inner diameter can contain a lens, wherein the camera cage comprises a camera mount so that the optical axis of the camera is coaxial with the central axis of the annular support.

[0025] The means configured to adjust the distance between the motor and the annular support are also referred to herein as means for connecting the motor and the annular support at a variable distance from each other about the same central axis. The ease of adjusting the distance between the motor and the annular support is one of the main advantages of the present disclosure in providing a camera cage that can be adjusted to different camera setups (camera housing and lens) in a fail-safe manner.

[0026] The camera cage according to embodiment 1, wherein the motor is centrally suspended in the bottom frame of the cage by means of a motor holder.

[0027] As described herein, the presence of a motor holder for the motor allows for proper placement, easy replacement, adjustment as needed, etc.

[0028] A camera cage according to any of the embodiments provided herein, wherein the rotating portion of the motor located inside the cage is provided with a rotatable base, the rotatable base further comprising a device for connecting to an annular support, wherein the device is configured to adjust the distance between the rotatable base and the annular support.

[0029] The means configured to adjust the distance between the rotatable base and the annular support are also referred to herein as means for connecting the rotatable base and the annular support at a variable distance from each other. Thus, they facilitate easy adjustment of the distance between the motor and the annular support, which is one of the main advantages of the present disclosure, in terms of providing a camera cage that can be adjusted to different camera setups (camera housing and lens) in a fail-safe manner.

[0030] In some embodiments of the camera cage, the camera is mounted directly to the rotatable base and / or indirectly to the rotatable base by means of means for connecting the rotatable base to the annular support at a mutually variable distance.

[0031] In some embodiments of the camera cage, the rotatable base is provided with connections and / or through-portions, for example for power / signal wiring, thereby enabling the camera to be connected to external elements.

[0032] In some embodiments of the camera cage, the means for connecting the annular support at a variable distance from the motor and the rotatable base comprises a clamp and rod combination.

[0033] In some embodiments of the camera cage, the camera cage has an outer perimeter that includes a camera housing of the camera.

[0034] In some embodiments of the camera cage, the bottom frame is circular.

[0035] In some embodiments of the camera cage, the outer diameter of the circular base frame is equal to the outer diameter of the annular support.

[0036] In some embodiments of the camera cage, the base frame and the annular support may be connected at a variable distance from each other by at least two opposing rods, i.e., the rods are configured such that the distance between the base frame and the annular support can be adjusted. In a particular embodiment, the two rods form a pair, wherein a first rod of the pair of rods is connected to an outer ring of the annular support, and wherein a second rod of the pair of rods is connected to an inner ring of the annular support.

[0037] As can be seen from the above, in one embodiment, the rotatable base is connected to the inner ring of the annular support by means of means for connecting to the annular support at a mutually variable distance. In another embodiment, the bottom frame is connected to the outer ring of the annular support by means of means for connecting to the annular support at a mutually variable distance. In a preferred embodiment, the rotatable base is connected to the inner ring of the annular support by means of means for connecting the rotatable base to the annular support at a mutually variable distance, and the bottom frame is connected to the outer ring of the annular support by means of means for connecting the bottom frame to the annular support at a mutually variable distance.

[0038] In some embodiments of the camera cage, the motors are interchangeable.

[0039] In some embodiments of the camera cage, the camera cage further comprises a motor controller, which is preferably removable.

[0040] In some embodiments of the camera cage, the motor controller is suspended from the exterior of the base frame and is preferably provided with a power connection.

[0041] In some embodiments of the camera cage, the motor controllers are interchangeable.

[0042] In some embodiments of the camera cage, the power source comprises a battery.

[0043] In some embodiments of the camera cage, the annular support includes one or more camera center points.

[0044] In a second aspect, the present disclosure provides a camera holder, comprising: a base frame including a motor; a camera mount, which is centered and connected coaxially to the rotation axis of the motor (i.e., the motor of the base frame); and a handle, wherein the handle is positioned beside the base frame and can be directly connected to the base frame or is part of the base frame, and is located in a plane coplanar with an axis perpendicular to the motor rotation axis, i.e., coplanar with an axis perpendicular to the motor rotation axis of the base frame. The handle is neither positioned below nor above the camera mount, but is located beside it and can be directly connected to the base frame including the camera mount or is part of the base frame. In other words, in the camera holder according to the present invention, the handle can be directly connected to the base frame or is part of the base frame, the base frame including the motor and the camera, the camera being centered and connected coaxially to the rotation axis of the motor.

[0045] Compared to existing gimbals for smartphones, the configuration of the handle is located directly next to the bottom frame including the camera mount, making the system more compact and the tactile experience closer to that of a smartphone. It also enables easier access to the camera settings on the smartphone, reducing the need for camera control elements on the handle on current devices. As mentioned before, in the described devices, see for example US 10,9351,7882, the frame consists of multiple parts, where the part including the handle does not correspond to the part including the motor and the camera mount. Obviously, such a configuration not only results in a more cumbersome system, but also always requires an additional tilt motor.

[0046] In a preferred embodiment of the camera stabilizer according to the invention, the motor used herein and located in the bottom frame is a roll stabilization motor. Thus, in this embodiment, the camera holder can serve as a camera stabilization device and can also include a motor control board, also referred to as a motor controller in the following. In order to achieve a compact configuration, the motor controller is preferably pre-set in the bottom frame. Motor controllers for roll stabilization motors are known to those skilled in the art and allow rotation and stabilization of an element around the axis of rotation of a motor operatively connected thereto.

[0047] Smartphones typically include one or more motion sensors, also referred to below as motion control sensors, such as gyroscope sensors or acceleration sensors. In one embodiment, the motor controller is configured to control the motion of the motor, for example, by Operably connected to the motion sensor from the smartphone. In a preferred embodiment, the camera holder itself will include a motion control sensor that is operatively connected to the motor controller. Having a motion sensor independent of the motion sensor from the smartphone will provide better image stabilization, which is in addition to the stabilization system and algorithms available in the smartphone. Therefore, in one embodiment, the motor controller is only operatively connected to the motion control sensor from the camera holder. In another embodiment, the motor controller is only operatively connected to the motion sensor from the smartphone. In another embodiment, the motor controller is operatively connected to both the motion sensor from the smartphone and the motion control sensor from the camera holder.

[0048] As mentioned above, the motion control sensor includes, but is not limited to, one or more of a gyro sensor, an acceleration sensor, an angular velocity sensor, and / or a combination thereof. The motion control sensor of the camera holder is preferably positioned outside the bottom frame when mounted on the camera mount, more preferably as close to the camera / smartphone as possible. When positioned near the camera, the input from the sensor will be more representative of the movement of the camera. In an embodiment of the present invention, the camera mount includes a motion control sensor, in particular, one or more of a gyro sensor, an acceleration sensor, an angular velocity sensor, and / or a combination thereof.

[0049] In an embodiment, the motor controller of the camera holder, in particular the motor controller for a camera holder comprising a roll stabilization motor, is equipped with a power connection, in particular a power connection for a battery pack, more particularly a power connection for a battery (pack) that can be connected to the controller, even more particularly a power connection for a battery (pack) that is replaceably connected to the controller. When the motor is located in the bottom frame, the power connection is preferably located in the bottom frame. In one embodiment, the power connection is a power connection for the battery (pack), wherein the power connection and the battery (pack) are integrated in the bottom frame. Such an integrated system can, for example, consist of a rechargeable battery with an induction coil charging function, such as the Qi-standard. In one embodiment, the battery (pack) is replaceable.

[0050] In a particular embodiment, the power connection and / or battery (group) are located in the handle. Furthermore, the battery (group) in the handle can be replaced and / or recharged. In either configuration, when located in the handle, the power connection will be operatively connected to the motor and motor control board located in the bottom frame. As previously mentioned, the handle can be directly connected to the bottom frame, or as a part of the bottom frame. In a preferred embodiment, the handle can be directly connected to the bottom frame. In the configuration, especially when a power source (battery (group)) for a camera holder is included, it not only acts as a handle to provide a better grip for the user, but also can serve as a replaceable power source. Therefore, it acts as an attribute and the user can have multiple available handles. For example, this handle can be of different sizes, include different camera control elements, or be configured to receive and / or include other additional devices, such as a flash, a flash, one or more microphones, etc.

[0051] As mentioned above, the camera holder of the present invention is characterized in that the handle is positioned beside the base frame and can be directly connected to the base frame or be part of the base frame. The base frame is composed of a single piece, which is box-shaped as a whole, especially a cuboid shape, including square cuboid and rectangular cuboid shapes. As can be seen from the figures and described in further detail below, this configuration can also produce a more compact device compared to currently existing gimbals for smartphones, even if configured as a two-axis camera stabilization device. In the example described, the handle includes a second motor, especially a roll stabilization motor, whose rotation axis is perpendicular to the rotation axis of the motor in the base frame.

[0052] In this embodiment, where the handle includes a second motor, the handle is still configured to be positioned beside the bottom frame and can be directly connected to the bottom frame or as part of the bottom frame, and is located in a plane coplanar with an axis perpendicular to the rotation axis of the motor. In one embodiment, the bottom frame will be configured to be directly connected to the rotation axis of the second motor. In a specific embodiment, the bottom frame will be configured to be centered and coaxially connected to the rotation axis of the second motor. In one embodiment, the handle includes a second motor controller for the second motor. In a preferred embodiment, the second motor is controlled by a motor controller located in the bottom frame.

[0053] In one embodiment, the handle includes motion sensors. Having more motion sensors in the handle independent of the motion sensors from the smartphone will complement the stabilization systems and algorithms available in the smartphone to provide better image stabilization. Therefore, in one embodiment, the motor controller is only operatively connected to the motion control sensors from the camera holder (including the motion control sensors of the handle). In another embodiment, the motor controller is only operatively connected to the motion sensors from the smartphone. In another embodiment, the motor controller is operatively connected to the motion sensors from the smartphone and the motion control sensors from the camera holder, including the motion sensors from the handle. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0054] With specific reference to the accompanying drawings, it should be emphasized that the details shown are only exemplary and are only used for illustrative discussion of various embodiments of the present disclosure. The purpose of presenting them is to provide the most useful and direct description of the principles and conceptual aspects of the present disclosure. In this regard, no attempt is made to show more inventive structural details than are required for a basic understanding of the present disclosure. The description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings illustrates to those skilled in the art how to implement various forms of the present disclosure in practice.

[0055] Figure 1 is a perspective rear view of a camera cage according to various embodiments.

[0056] Figure 2 is a perspective side view of a camera cage according to various embodiments.

[0057] Figure 3 is a perspective rear side view of a camera cage according to various embodiments.

[0058] Figure 4 is a detailed view of a rotatable base within a camera cage according to various embodiments.

[0059] Figure 5 is a detailed side view of a camera suspended within a camera cage in accordance with various embodiments.

[0060] Figure 6 is a perspective front view of a bottom frame with a handle of a camera holder according to the present invention, with the camera mount removed.

[0061] Figure 7 A front view of a camera holder with a detachable handle according to the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0062] Examples of camera cage 1 and camera stabilization systems are provided in the drawings of the present application. As mentioned above, these examples are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the present disclosure to specific details or combinations of features. Although embodiments of the present disclosure are described in conjunction with the following examples and corresponding text and drawings, it is not intended to limit the embodiments of the present disclosure to this description. On the contrary, it is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents included within the spirit and scope of the embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0063] exist Figure 1 and Figure 2 In the camera cage 1 of the embodiment, the bottom frame 8 is a circular bottom frame, and its outer diameter is the same as that of the annular support 2. With the help of the first set of clamps and rods 19, the bottom frame 8 and the annular support 2 can be positioned at a variable distance from each other around a common central axis (i.e., around the central axis of the annular support 2). In this way, the depth (d) of the camera cage 1 can be adjusted so that a camera can be suspended in the camera cage 1.

[0064] In the center of the bottom frame 8, a motor 3 is mounted, whose motor shaft 4 is coaxial with the central axis of the annular support 2. The motor 3 is located in a motor holder 9, which in this configuration includes a motor holder cover 10 to facilitate access to the motor 3. A motor controller 11 and a power connection 12 for balancing the motor can also be seen on the side of the motor holder 9. In this configuration, the motor holder 9 is part of the bottom frame 8, but it is obvious that, for example, Figure 3 As can be seen in FIG. 1 , the motor holder 9 can be replaceable and suspended in the bottom frame 8. As previously mentioned, this increases the flexibility and ease of use of the camera cage 1 according to the present disclosure.

[0065] Alternatively, if Figure 1 As shown, the motor holder 9 includes the motor 3 and the motor controller 11, and the motor controller 11 can be mounted on the motor holder 9, as shown in FIG. Figure 3 In particular, in combination with the removable and replaceable motor holder 9 provided in this example, the camera cage 1 can be completely personalized and customized according to the needs of the camera to be suspended in the camera cage 1. Ease of use is another advantage of the camera cage 1 according to the present disclosure, as the camera cage 1 is equipped with a battery pack 13 for one or more batteries that can be readily accessed and replaced.

[0066] Figure 3 Another advantage of the camera cage 1 according to the present disclosure is shown. The camera cage 1 is configured to tightly surround the camera housing and is therefore compact, lightweight and easy to maneuver. For example, the circular bottom frame 8 can function as a handle to hold the camera cage 1 in a frontal position. Furthermore, additional elements 24, such as further handles, crossbars, tripod or camera crane mounting surfaces, etc. (including eyepieces) can be mounted at a variable distance from each other around the same central axis to the frame elements of the camera cage 1, namely the bottom frame 8, the annular support 2 and the means 16 for connecting the bottom frame 8 and the annular support 2, more particularly a first set of rods and clamps 19 connecting the bottom frame 8 with the outer ring 21 of the annular support 2. The camera cage 1 is provided with a camera mount 6 such that the optical axis of the camera 26 is coaxial with the central axis of the annular support 2.

[0067] Inside the camera cage 1, the rotatable base 15 is connected to the rotating motor shaft 4 of the motor 3 and to the inner ring 22 of the annular support 2 via a second set of clamps and rods 20. As with the first set of rods and clamps 19, and likewise with the second set of rods and clamps 20, the mutual distance between the rotatable base 15 and the annular support 2 can be adjusted at a variable distance. Figure 2 The rotatable base connection portion 17 and the rotatable base through portion 18 can also be seen. Figure 4 As described above, the rotatable base connector 17 and the rotatable base through-portion 18 enable the camera to be wired without affecting the full 360 degree rolling motion of the camera. Figure 2 Also visible in the figure are different markings or reference points 25 on the outside of the annular support 2. Figure 4 and Figure 5 It can be seen that in the illustrated embodiment, the camera 26 is not mounted directly to the rotatable base 15; instead, the camera 26 is suspended from a second set of clamps and rods 20 that connect the rotatable base 15 to the inner ring 22 of the annular support 2. For lightweight cameras with compact camera housings, the camera 26 can be mounted directly to the rotatable base 15, and for such cameras, the connection of the rotatable base 15 between the inner ring 22 of the annular support 2 is optional.

[0068] In order to allow the camera 26 to perform a full 360 degree rolling movement around the central axis of the annular support 2, the camera cage 1 must be configured to enable said rolling movement of the camera inside the camera cage 1. In the camera cage 1 according to the present disclosure, this is easily achieved by a suitable choice of the dimensions of the base frame 8 and can even be adjusted by means 5 for connecting the base frame 8 and / or the motor 3 to the annular support 2 at a mutually variable distance. For example and with reference to Figure 5By adding spacers 23 to the first set of clamps and rods 19, the outer circumference of the camera cage 1 can be adjusted to allow the camera 26 to perform this full 360 degree rolling movement within the camera cage 1. In the illustrated embodiment, as shown in FIG. Figure 1 and 2 The illustrated camera housing does not allow for two pairs of second clamps and rods 20 and itself further illustrates the flexibility of the camera housing in adjusting the camera as required to be suspended in the camera cage 1 without loss of structural integrity and functionality.

[0069] Figure 6 A detailed view of the bottom frame 8 of the camera holder according to the second aspect of the present invention is provided. In this embodiment, the handle 27 is directly connected to the side of the bottom frame and includes a battery pack 13 to power the device. The motor 3 and the motor controller 11 are located inside the bottom frame 8. The latter consists of a single piece that is box-shaped as a whole. In this embodiment, the whole is a rectangular cuboid, in which the rotation axis 4 is located far from the handle and off-center, in particular at the edge of the bottom frame. The rotation axis needs to be positioned eccentrically in the bottom frame because the lens of the smartphone is not located in the center, otherwise the unimpeded rotation angle will be very small. In this embodiment, the handle includes a plurality of camera control elements 28.

[0070] Figure 7 A detailed view of another bottom frame 8 of a camera holder according to the second aspect of the present invention is provided. In this embodiment, the handle 27 is removable but configured to be connected to the side of the bottom frame. In this embodiment, the power supply 12 is located in the bottom frame and consists of a conductive rechargeable battery pack 13. The motor 3 (not shown) and the motor controller 11 are located in the bottom frame 8. In addition, in this embodiment, the bottom frame is composed of a single piece that is box-shaped as a whole, that is, a rectangular cuboid as a whole, in which the rotation axis 4 is again located far from the handle and off-center, in particular at the edge of the bottom frame 8. This configuration is not only compact but also gives it a flat shape, and it can also be wirelessly charged using any charging device compatible with the Qi standard. It further shows a camera mount 6, which is shown here as a clamp to clamp a camera (smartphone) (not shown), but it is obviously not limited to this. The camera mount includes at least one motion control sensor 29, which is operably connected to the motor and motor controller in the bottom frame.

[0071] List of Terms

[0072] Item 1. A camera holder comprising: a base frame, wherein the base frame includes a motor; a camera mount, which is centered and coaxially connected to the motor's rotation axis; a handle, which can be directly connected to the base frame or be part of the base frame, wherein: the handle is positioned next to the base frame and is located in a plane coplanar with an axis perpendicular to the rotation axis of the motor.

[0073] Clause 2. The camera holder of Clause 1, further comprising a motor controller.

[0074] Clause 3. The camera holder of clause 2, wherein the motor controller is located within the bottom frame.

[0075] Clause 4. The camera holder of clause 2 or 3, further comprising at least one motion control sensor operatively connected to the motor controller.

[0076] Clause 5. The camera holder of Clause 4, wherein the at least one motion control sensor comprises one or more of a gyro sensor, an acceleration sensor, and an angular velocity sensor.

[0077] Clause 6. A camera holder according to clause 4 or 5, wherein the camera holder comprises the at least one motion control sensor.

[0078] Clause 7. A camera holder as described in any one of clauses 2 to 6, wherein the motor controller includes a power connection.

[0079] Clause 8. The camera holder of Clause 7, wherein the power connection comprises a battery.

[0080] Clause 9. A camera holder according to clause 7 or 8, wherein the power connection is located within the handle.

[0081] Clause 10. A camera holder according to any of the preceding clauses, wherein the handle comprises one or more camera control elements.

[0082] Clause 11. A camera holder according to any preceding claim, wherein the handle comprises a second motor having an axis of rotation perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the motor in the base frame.

[0083] Clause 12. The camera holder of clauses 2 and 11, wherein the motor controller controls the second motor and the motor in the bottom frame.

[0084] Clause 13. The camera holder according to clause 1, wherein the bottom frame has an overall box-like shape, in particular an overall cuboid shape, more particularly an overall rectangular cuboid shape.

[0085] Clause 14. A camera holder according to clause 13, wherein the base frame has an overall box shape, in particular an overall cuboid shape, more particularly an overall rectangular cuboid shape; and wherein the rotation axis of the motor is positioned distal to the handle and offset from the center of the base frame.

[0086] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations may be made to the disclosed embodiments of the disclosed device without departing from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure. Therefore, the present disclosure is intended to cover modifications and variations of the above disclosed embodiments, as long as these modifications and variations fall within the scope of any claims provided below and their equivalents.

[0087] Reference numerals list

[0088] 1. Camera cage

[0089] 2. Ring support

[0090] 3. Motor

[0091] 4. Motor shaft or rotating motor shaft

[0092] 5. Device for connecting the motor and the annular support at a variable distance from each other around the same central axis

[0093] 6. Camera support

[0094] 7. Camera cage base

[0095] 8. Bottom frame

[0096] 9. Holder or motor holder

[0097] 10. Motor holder cover

[0098] 11. Motor control board or motor controller

[0099] 12. Power connection

[0100] 13.Battery (set)

[0101] 14. Slip ring connector

[0102] 15. Rotatable base

[0103] 16. Means for connecting a rotatable base and an annular support at a variable distance from each other

[0104] 17. Rotatable base connection

[0105] 18. Rotatable base penetration

[0106] 19. First set of clamps and rods

[0107] 20. Second set of clamps and rods

[0108] 21. Outer ring of annular support

[0109] 22. Inner ring of annular support

[0110] 23. Spacers

[0111] 24. Add-ons

[0112] 25. Marking or reference points

[0113] 26.Camcorder / Smartphone

[0114] 27. Handle

[0115] 28. Camera control components

[0116] 29. Motion Control Sensor

Claims

1. A camera holder, comprising: a bottom frame, wherein the bottom frame includes a motor; A camera support, the camera support being centered and coaxially connected to the rotation axis of the motor; A handle, which can be directly connected to the base frame or be a part of the base frame, wherein: The handle is positioned alongside the base frame and lies in a plane coplanar with an axis perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the motor.

2. The camera holder according to claim 1, wherein: The bottom frame has an overall box-like shape, in particular a cuboid shape, more particularly a rectangular cuboid shape.

3. The camera holder of claim 1 further comprising a motor controller.

4. The camera holder according to claim 3, wherein: The motor controller is located within the bottom frame.

5. The camera holder of claim 3, further comprising at least one motion control sensor operatively connected to the motor controller.

6. The camera holder according to claim 5, wherein: The at least one motion control sensor includes one or more of a gyro sensor, an acceleration sensor, and an angular velocity sensor.

7. The camera holder according to claim 5, wherein: The camera mount includes the at least one motion control sensor.

8. The camera holder according to claim 3, wherein: The motor controller includes a power connection.

9. The camera holder according to claim 8, wherein: The power connection portion includes a battery.

10. The camera holder according to claim 8, wherein: The power connection portion is located inside the handle.

11. The camera holder according to claim 1, wherein: The handle includes one or more camera control elements.

12. The camera holder according to claim 1, wherein: The handle includes a second motor having an axis of rotation perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the motor in the bottom frame.

13. The camera holder according to claim 12, further comprising a motor controller, wherein: The motor controller controls the second motor and the motor in the bottom frame.

Images