External device support and stabilization system

Abstract

A support and stabilization system (100) for an external device, comprising a stabilization body (112, 113) surmounted by a support (114) configured to support the device and comprising: - a telescopic pole (116) having a deployable portion (116a1-116a8) manually extending from the body along a first vertical pole axis (Z) and having one end in contact with a contact surface or an external device, - N motorized groups for position compensation of the system (N≥4) configured such that at least two motorized groups are arranged along a second motor axis perpendicular to the first pole axis (Z), and oriented in opposite directions along said second axis, and at least two motorized groups are arranged along a third motor axis perpendicular to the first pole axis (Z) and to the second motor axis, and oriented in opposite directions along said third axis. Fig. 14.

Description

Title of the invention: Support and stabilization system for an external device. Technical field

[0001] The present exposition relates to a support and stabilization system for an external device such as a smartphone. Previous technique

[0002] Many smartphone (mobile phone) and camera users, for the purposes of their work, for example when it comes to influencers, need to photograph or film themselves alone, without encountering constraints and in a number of very varied situations.

[0003] In particular, when these people are in an outdoor environment that is likely to be subject to weather disturbances (wind, ...), when the surface on which their smartphone or camera can be placed is not flat (e.g., irregularities in the ground) and when they need their hands to carry out a demonstration or pose in front of their smartphone or camera, it is not easy for these people to carry out their task without outside help.

[0004] These individuals can, however, use a support such as a tripod, well-known in the field of photography, to compensate to some extent for uneven ground. However, such a solution is not suitable for withstanding wind and, moreover, is not transportable without carrying equipment. Furthermore, the deployment phases are time-consuming.

[0005] There is therefore a real need for a support system for a device such as a smartphone or a camera which is free, at least in part, from the disadvantages inherent in the aforementioned known configuration. Description of the invention

[0006] The present description relates to a support and stabilization system for an external device such as a smartphone, characterized in that it comprises a stabilization body surmounted by a support which is configured to support an external device such as a smartphone, the stabilization body comprising: -a telescopic pole comprising a deployable part which is capable of being manually deployed out of the body along a first pole axis corresponding to a vertical axis when the system is in use, the deployable part having a so-called contact end which is configured to allow the system to be in contact with a contact surface or with an external device,-a plurality of N motorized groups for system position compensation, with N>4, the N motorized groups for system position compensation being configured such that, when the system is in use with the first pole axis corresponding to a vertical axis, on the one hand, at least two motorized groups for system position compensation are arranged along a second motor axis perpendicular to the first pole axis and corresponding to a horizontal axis, said at least two motorized groups for system position compensation being oriented in opposite directions along said second motor axis and, on the other hand, at least two motorized groups for system position compensation are arranged along a third motor axis perpendicular to the first pole axis and the second motor axis and corresponding to another horizontal axis,said at least two motorized groups for position compensation of the system being oriented in opposite directions along said third motor axis.

[0007] The aforementioned system, thanks to the telescopic pole and the motorized system position compensation groups arranged along two axes perpendicular to each other and to the first pole axis, allows the system (and the smartphone or camera mounted on it) to be positioned with the pole deployed and arranged vertically, and to compensate, along one or both of the two axes, for the system's position in the event of external disturbances (e.g., wind) and / or uneven ground and / or incorrect centering of the payload's center of gravity (e.g., a poorly positioned smartphone) by the user in order to maintain a predetermined reference position. This reference position corresponds to the geometric position and / or the inclination and / or the level that the system must maintain continuously.The system's motorized position compensation units act on the surrounding air and are capable, in pairs, of generating airflows along a given axis (second or third motor axis) and in two opposite directions: one direction for each airflow. The airflows generated by two motorized units oriented along the same motor axis can be directed away from each other or towards each other, thus exerting lift in opposite directions in each configuration.More specifically, motorized units, which generally each include an electric motor and a propeller mounted on the electric motor (for example, on an output shaft of the motor), act on the airflows and are thus configured so that the propellers driven by the motors propel airflows, preferably away from the motors that drive them (direction of airflow in motorized units), or in the direction of these same motors.

[0008] Deploying the pole allows the smartphone or camera mount attached to the support to be positioned at the desired height, taking into account the maximum possible extension of the pole's deployable portion. The deployable portion of the The boom can also be stored (non-deployed) inside the stabilizing body. Furthermore, when the deployable section of the boom is extended (into its deployed position), the stabilizing body and support are grouped together on one side of the system, while the contact end of the deployable section is positioned on the opposite side of the system, away from the body. In its preferred operating position, the system is positioned so that the contact end is at the bottom and the body and support are at the top.

[0009] In certain embodiments, the system includes one or more sensors configured to detect, when the system is in use, a change in the system's position, along at least one of the second and third motor axes, relative to a reference position corresponding to a position of the telescopic pole deployed along the first vertical axis. The system's position compensation motor groups are configured to be controlled based on the position change detected by the sensor(s). Thus, the data provided by the sensor(s) are processed and used by the system to appropriately control the motor groups and the motor(s) involved in the position compensation to be performed.

[0010] The sensor(s) may include an inertial measurement unit, a gyroscope, an accelerometer, a magnetometer and an optical camera.

[0011] In certain embodiments, each motorized position compensation unit of the system comprises an electric motor and a propeller mounted on the electric motor and capable of rotating under the action of the motor, in a controlled manner, in order to propel a controlled airflow along the first or second motor axis and in the direction of orientation of the motorized unit concerned within the motor axis. The fact that the axes along which the motorized units act are perpendicular to each other makes it possible to correct / compensate along these two axes any defect or deviation in position relative to the reference position of the system.

[0012] In some embodiments, the N motorized position compensation groups of the system are mounted on a part of the telescopic pole which remains in the stabilizing body.

[0013] In certain embodiments, the contact end of the telescopic pole is configured to receive, at will: - a tip with a generally convex and non-slip external shape; -a weight; - a remotely controlled motorized traction device such as a drive wheel; - a coupling end configured to be attached to an external device that may be in motion. For example, the system may be supported by such a An external device (such as one or more drones) to which the system is attached by its contact end, which is connected to a mounting point attached to the external device. In this arrangement, the contact end is located at the top, and the stabilizing body and the support to which, for example, a smartphone or camera is attached, are located at the bottom.

[0014] In certain embodiments, N=4 and the motorized groups for position compensation of the system are arranged, when the system is in use: -either in the same horizontal plane and at 90° to each other, -or in two horizontal planes parallel to each other.

[0015] In some embodiments, N=8 and the stabilizing body comprises two stabilizing body parts movable in rotation relative to each other around the first pole axis, each part containing four motorized groups for position compensation of the system, the mechanical support and the two movable parts of the stabilizing body being arranged one after the other along the first axis.

[0016] In certain embodiments, a first of the two stabilizing body parts comprises four motorized groups for compensating the system's position, which are arranged along one of the two motor axes, and the second stabilizing body part comprises four motorized groups for compensating the system's position, which are: - arranged along said motor axis in a non-pivoted position, -and arranged along the other motor axis in a 90° pivoted position. With such an arrangement, the non-pivoted system has a relatively small footprint compared to the pivoted position (after 90° rotation).

[0017] In certain embodiments, in each stabilizing body part, the four motors are arranged in pairs, on either side of the telescopic pole and substantially one above the other. This arrangement makes the system more compact.

[0018] In certain embodiments, at least a portion of the stabilizing body, which encloses at least a portion of the telescopic pole, and the support are rotationally movable relative to each other about the first axis of the pole. The system is configured to maintain the telescopic pole in the extended position by activating a mechanism that closes an air passage between the inside of the pole and the support through rotation between said at least a portion of the stabilizing body and the support. This mechanism thus allows, by a simple rotation between two movable parts of the system, the air inside the pole to be blocked, thereby locking the pole in its extended position.

[0019] In the present description, an element is considered to be "removable" when it is possible to separate the element from the rest of the device without the aid of special tools.

[0020] The aforementioned characteristics and advantages, as well as others, will become apparent from the following detailed description, examples of implementation of the support and stabilization system. This detailed description refers to the attached drawings. Brief description of the drawings

[0021] The attached drawings are schematic and are intended primarily to illustrate the principles of the exposition.

[0022] In these drawings, from one figure to another, identical elements (or parts of elements) are identified by the same reference numerals. In addition, elements (or parts of elements) belonging to different embodiments but having a similar function are identified in the figures by numerical reference numerals incremented by 100, 200, etc.

[0023] [Fig.1] Fig.1 is a schematic view of a support and stabilization system according to a first embodiment of the invention, in the deployed position.

[0024] [Fig.2] Fig.2 represents a schematic view of the system of [Fig.1] in the folded position.

[0025] [Fig.3] Fig.3 represents a possible schematic view of a telescopic pole tip.

[0026] [Fig.4] Fig.4 represents in top view the geometric arrangement of the motorized position compensation groups of the system in the first mode.

[0027] [Fig.5] The [Fig.5] represents possible components of the support and stabilization system according to the first embodiment of the invention.

[0028] [Fig.6] Fig.6 schematically represents the mechanism for holding the pole in the deployed position.

[0029] [Fig.7] The [Fig.7] is a partial schematic view (without the pole) of a support and stabilization system according to a second embodiment of the invention, in the rest position.

[0030] [Fig.8] The [Fig.8] is a partial schematic view of the system of the [Fig.7] in active position (use).

[0031] [Fig.9] The [Fig.9] is a schematic frontal axial cross-sectional view of the system of the [Fig.7],

[0032] [Fig. 10] The [Fig. 10] is a schematic lateral axial cross-sectional view of the system of the [Fig. 7],

[0033] [Fig. 11] The [Fig. 11] is a schematic cross-sectional (horizontal) view of the system of the [Fig.7].

[0034] [Fig. 12] The [Fig. 12] is a schematic view of the upper part of the stabilizing body of the system of the [Fig.7].

[0035] [Fig. 13] The [Fig. 13] is a partial schematic view showing the arrangement of the electrical connections of the system in the [Fig.7] (rest position).

[0036] [Fig. 14] The [Fig. 14] is a schematic perspective view of the system in the deployed position.

[0037] [Fig. 15] The [Fig. 15] is a schematic side view showing a first direction of orientation of an airflow propelled by a propeller driven by an engine (away from the engine).

[0038] [Fig. 16] Fig. 16 is a schematic side view showing a second direction of orientation of an airflow propelled by a propeller driven by a motor. Description of embodiments

[0039] To make the explanation more concrete, examples of support and stabilization systems for an external device such as a smartphone are described in detail below, with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the invention is not limited to these examples.

[0040] As shown in [Fig.1], a support and stabilization system 10, according to a first embodiment of the invention, comprises a stabilization body 12 surmounted by a support 14 which is configured to support an external device such as a smartphone.

[0041] The support 14 includes, for example, a housing 15 which contains the electronic / electrical components necessary for the operation of the system and which are illustrated in [Fig.5] which will be described later.

[0042] This housing 15 has on its upper face 15a a mechanical support device 17 for a smartphone. This device comprises a vertical support 17a which is hinged to the upper face 15a by means of a horizontal hinge 17a. The mechanical support device 17 is shown in the extended position in [Fig. 1]. In the folded position, it is stored vertically along the housing 15.

[0043] The stabilizing body 12 includes a telescopic pole 16, connected to the housing 15 at its upper end 16c, comprising a deployable part 16a composed of several elements 16al, 16a2, ... 16an which fit together in the folded position and are partially represented in this figure in the fully or partially deployed position.

[0044] The pole 16, in the folded position, can be entirely contained inside the body 12, as shown in [Fig.2], so as to form a compact assembly.

[0045] The telescopic pole 16 is capable of being manually deployed out of the body 12 along a first axis, called the pole axis, corresponding to a vertical axis Z when the system is in use, as shown in [Fig.1]. The deployable part 16a has a so-called contact end 16a2 which is configured to allow the system to be in contact with a contact surface or with an external device.

[0046] In the example of [Fig. 1], the contact end 16a2 receives a tip E, shown enlarged in [Fig. 3], which has a head T having a non-slip convex external surface (e.g., elastomer) so that it can rest against a contact surface (e.g., the ground) which may have surface irregularities. The tip E also includes a threaded rod t which engages inside a tapped axial hole provided in the contact end 16a2 in order to fix the tip to the pole 16.

[0047] Alternatively, the telescopic pole can be conventionally linked by its contact end 16a2 to a weight (not shown) ensuring a ballast function for the system, which allows the latter to offer greater stability in the event of wind whose force is greater than a predetermined speed, for example 60 km / h.

[0048] Alternatively, the telescopic pole can be conventionally linked by its contact end 16a2 to a remotely controlled motorized traction device (not shown), such as a motorized wheel mounted to rotate around a horizontal axis (X or Y) perpendicular to the Z axis. This allows the system to be moved on the ground in a controlled manner by a remote control device, which is, for example, operated by the user of the system 10.

[0049] Alternatively, the telescopic pole can be conventionally linked by its contact end 16a2 to a hooking end (not shown) configured to be hooked to an external device (not shown).

[0050] The stabilizing body 12 also includes a plurality of motorized groups for position compensation of the system, which are shown in top view in [Fig. 4], arranged in a cross shape along the two horizontal axes X and Y, perpendicular to each other and to the pole axis Z. These motorized groups are all arranged in the same horizontal plane, as shown in part in [Fig. 1]. The motorized groups for position compensation of the system are mounted on the portion of the telescopic pole 16 that remains within the stabilizing body 12, and are more specifically attached to the outer surface of the tube forming the outer casing of the pole.

[0051] As shown in [Fig. 4], two motorized position compensation groups of the system G1 and G2 are arranged along a second motor axis, here the X axis, perpendicular to the first pole axis Z and corresponding to a horizontal axis. The two motorized position compensation groups of the system G1 and G2 are oriented in opposite directions along the second motor axis X: Group G1 is oriented away from the outer tube of the pole 16 in a direction of orientation Fl and group G2 is oriented away from the outer tube of the pole 16 in an opposite direction of orientation F2.

[0052] Similarly, two other motorized position compensation groups of the system G3 and G4 are arranged along a third motor axis, here the Y axis, perpendicular to the first pole axis Z and corresponding to another horizontal axis. The two motorized position compensation groups of the system G3 and G4 are oriented in opposite directions along the third motor axis Y: group G3 is oriented away from the outer tube of the pole 16 in an orientation direction F3 and group G4 is oriented away from the outer tube of the pole 16 in an opposite orientation direction F4.

[0053] Each motorized position compensation group of the G1-G4 system comprises, on the one hand, an electric motor Mi (i=l to 4) and, on the other hand, a propeller (i=l to 4) mounted on an output shaft of the electric motor, which here corresponds to the X axis. The propeller Hi is capable of rotating around this axis of rotation under the action of the motor, in a controlled manner, in order to propel a controlled airflow along the first motor axis X, for groups G1 and G2, and along the second motor axis Y, for groups G3 and G4. The propeller H1 propels a controlled airflow in the direction Fl of the motorized group Gl, while the propeller H2 propels a controlled airflow in the opposite direction F2 of the motorized group G2, along the motor axis X.Propeller H3 propels a controlled airflow along the F3 orientation of the G3 motor group, while propeller H4 propels a controlled airflow along the opposite F4 orientation of the G4 motor group, along the Y motor axis. The fact that the axes along which the motor groups act on the airflows are perpendicular to each other (X and Y) allows any defect or deviation in position relative to a reference position of the system, which in this case is a vertical position (vertical boom axis), to be corrected / compensated along these two axes.

[0054] Such a configuration, thanks to the airflows propelled away from the boom tube 16 and the motors driving the respective propellers, helps to keep the motors in position against the tube. Figure 15 schematically illustrates the airflow propelled by propeller H2, which is directed radially outwards from the boom tube, away from the motor M2 driving the propeller. The same applies to each of the motorized groups in the system. Furthermore, in the event of vibration of the propeller blades, the airflows directed radially outwards carry the vibrational disturbances away from the boom tube. In such an operating configuration, the lift of the propellers is directed towards the respective motors.

[0055] It should be noted that the propeller pitch can alternatively be reversed so that the airflow is directed towards the motors, i.e. here towards the boom tube 16. [Fig. 16] schematically illustrates the airflow propelled by the propeller H12 of group G12, which is oriented radially inwards with respect to the boom tube 16, i.e. towards the motor M12 driving the propeller. The same applies to each of the motorized groups of the system. It should be noted that with this configuration, one or more air deflector elements (such as the flared wall elements D12 in [Fig.16] which deflects the airflow F12 along the longitudinal direction of the boom tube) can be provided in the system to deflect at least part of the airflow propelled by a propeller towards its drive motor, and from the boom tube located behind the motor, towards the support 14 (in particular the support housing 15) in order to cool it (in particular the electronic components enclosed in the housing). In this configuration, the air is deflected upwards, towards the support housing 15, but if the system is spatially inverted (support 14 below the stabilizing body), the air is then deflected downwards. Regardless of the spatial orientation, the air deflector element(s) of a known type can be positioned on the external surface of the boom tube, or even on the motors. In the example of [Fig. 16], the air deflector element(s) D12 are formed by a fairing surrounding the M12 engine.It should be noted that one or more air deflector elements may be provided for one or more motorized groups of the system's position compensation, but not for all groups. It should also be noted that the support housing 15 may be perforated to promote air circulation and cooling of the components it contains, regardless of the direction of the airflow propelled by the propellers and the presence or absence of air deflector elements.

[0056] As shown in [Fig. 1], the stabilizing body 12 comprises a perforated outer casing or fairing 13, here having a lattice or grid shape (very fine mesh) which allows the airflow propelled by the propellers to exit the body and thus be fully effective. For the sake of simplicity, the perforated casing 13 is schematically represented by crossbars, but the lattice can take any suitable shape provided that the airflow can pass through it freely and without experiencing pressure loss. The perforated fairing also protects the users' hands and allows the system to be stored, for example, in a pocket or bag without risk of damaging the propellers.

[0057] The system 10 includes one or more sensors configured to detect, when the system is in use, a change in the system's position, along at least one of the second and third X and Y motor axes, relative to the aforementioned reference position (corresponding to a position of the telescopic pole 16 deployed along the first vertical axis Z). This or these sensors capture data of different kinds which are processed by the electronics of the box 15, then adapted commands (depending on the data from sensor(s)) are transmitted to the motorized groups to control their operation in correspondence with the commands received and, thus, perform the appropriate position compensation.

[0058] The sensor(s) may include an inertial measurement unit, a gyroscope, an accelerometer, a magnetometer and an optical camera.

[0059] Figure 5 schematically represents the electronic / electrical components of the system 10 that can be housed in the upper casing 15. It should be noted that some of these components can be housed elsewhere, or even omitted, without affecting the proper functioning of the system. For example, the system 10 can include a battery 20, for instance a Lithium-Ion type, but which can of course be of another type depending on the needs and applications envisaged.

[0060] Thus, system 10 may also include: -a processing unit 22, here a microcontroller which is either programmed type, or which executes the instructions of a computer program contained in a memory 24; -several sensors C1-C5 which acquire data of different types and transmit them to the microcontroller 22 for processing by the aforementioned program; -several ESC1-ESC4 motor control elements M1-M4 (here one per motor) which, in this example, electronically control the speed of the motors, thus allowing the speed of rotation of each motor to be accelerated or decelerated in a manner adapted to each of them.

[0061] The system may also include a power supply controller 26 disposed between the battery and the microcontroller. The battery also directly powers the ESC1-ESC4 motor control elements, respectively, via appropriate power lines.

[0062] Furthermore, the system may include a human-machine interface (HMI) device 28 between the system and the user, such as a control screen that may be removable or fixed on the system and, for example, appear on the screen of the user's smartphone. All or part of the data managed by the microcontroller may be displayed on such a device.

[0063] The system thus includes a communication device 30 (e.g., communication card) which provides the communication functions between the device 28 and the microcontroller 22. The communication interface transmits or receives information from the user or the microcontroller respectively on a dedicated frequency band and at a defined speed.

[0064] In this embodiment, sensors C1-C4 can correspond respectively to an accelerometer (measuring linear accelerations with respect to the motor axes), a gyroscope (detecting angular rotations), a magnetometer (indicating orientation with respect to the Earth's magnetic field), and an optional optical camera, which can confirm the system's movement / displacement detected by the other sensors based on images / videos of the environment in which the system is located. Sensor C5, for its part, is an inertial measurement unit that measures accelerations and rotational speeds.

[0065] In the present mode, the sensors are for example all arranged in the same horizontal plane (on one or more electronic cards) inside the housing 15.

[0066] The system described above operates in the manner described below.

[0067] The system includes an on / off switch B ([Fig. 1]) which powers the various system components and, in particular, activates the different sensors so that they acquire data to determine the system's position relative to its reference position. Powering on also allows the microcontroller to send control signals to the ESC1-ESC4 control elements so that the motors are activated and drive the propeller drive shafts. In this operating mode, the propellers are all controlled to rotate in the same direction and at the same speed.

[0068] The telescopic pole 16 is manually extended by the user (this operation can be performed before activating the system) to the desired length, which can, for example, be up to 1.70 m. It should be noted that the number of telescopic tubular sections 16al-16an of the pole is adjusted according to the theoretical length to be achieved for maximum pole extension. These interlocking sections are separated from each other at their joints by an annular collar acting as a seal between them.

[0069] Figure 6 illustrates a possible mechanism for maintaining the boom in the extended position. It should be noted that this mechanism can be omitted, and the boom can be held extended by another device not shown here. This mechanism comprises two discs or covers 32 and 34 attached respectively to the lower face of the housing 15 and the upper face of the boom tube 16. The disc or cover 32 has an opening O, and the disc or cover 34 has a slot L. In the position shown in Figure 6, the opening O is opposite the slot L, and air can therefore circulate freely between the two. The slot L extends, for example, over an angular sector of 89° and corresponds to an operating mode in which the system is at rest (boom not extended).

[0070] This position corresponds to that of [Fig.1] in which the upper part 14 (support) of the system 10 is aligned axially with the body 12.

[0071] When the upper part 14 (support) of the system 10 pivots about the pole axis Z, relative to the body 12, by an angle of less than 90° in the direction of the arrow in [Fig. 6], the opening O moves relative to the slot L along the same angular trajectory as the angular sector. In these arrangements, air circulates freely between the inside of the pole and the inside of the housing 16, which is not airtight and is therefore in communication with the ambient air.

[0072] When the upper part 14 (support) of the system 10 pivots around the pole axis Z, relative to the body 12, by an angle of 90°, the opening O moves beyond the slot L and is thus positioned opposite the solid part of the disk 34, in the position illustrated in dotted lines on [Fig.6].

[0073] This pivoting movement is used when the pole 16 has been extended and allows the air inside the pole to be contained, thus keeping the pole extended. A reverse rotation of one degree of the part 14 relative to the body connects the opening O and the slot, thus allowing air to pass between the two. The pole can then be stored by nesting the telescopic elements inside one another.

[0074] When the system is operational (rotated position not shown) with the pole 16 in the extended position as in [Fig. 1], the sensors collect various data allowing the determination of: - if the system has changed orientation (the gyroscope and magnetometer allow this variation of position relative to the reference position to be detected), - if the system has changed inclination (the accelerometer and inertial measurement unit allow this variation of position to be detected), -if the system has moved laterally at a defined speed (the accelerometer allows this change in position to be detected), -if the system has undergone angular rotation (the gyroscope allows this variation in position to be detected), -if the system has changed direction (the magnetometer allows this change in position to be detected), - and if the system has undergone a relative displacement with respect to its environment (the optical camera makes it possible to detect this variation in position),

[0075] Depending on the detection of one or both of these position variations from the sensor data, the microcontroller 22 generates control signals transmitted to the relevant control elements ESCi (i=1 to 4) so ​​that these elements modify the rotational speed of the motor(s) concerned and thus correct the detected positioning error (position variation). For example, if one or more sensors detect that the system is tilting to the side where motors G1 and G4 are located because the wind is blowing on the system from the other side where the motors G2 and G3, then the position compensation will be carried out via the two motors G1 and G4 whose rotation speed will be increased appropriately according to the correction to be made.

[0076] According to an alternative embodiment not shown, the four motorized position compensation groups of the G1-G2 and G3-G4 systems can be axially (vertically) offset from one another and thus positioned along different parallel planes (at different altitudes). For example, the two motorized position compensation groups of the G1-G2 system can be positioned with the same spatial orientation as in [Fig. 4] at a first altitude, and the two motorized position compensation groups of the G3-G4 system can be positioned with the same spatial orientation as in [Fig. 4] at a second, different altitude, for example, lower than the first.

[0077] Figures 7 to 14 illustrate a second embodiment of the invention of a support and stabilization system 100 which incorporates elements of the first embodiment and whose operation is similar.

[0078] However, in this second mode the stabilization body comprises a total of eight motorized groups for compensating the position of the system which are distributed in two parts of the stabilization body 112, 113 which are movable in rotation relative to each other around the first axis of the pole Z.

[0079] Figures 7 and 8 schematically illustrate the system 100 composed of the two stabilizing body parts 112, 113 arranged one after the other in the axial alignment (along Z) of the support housing 114, 115. In these figures, the telescopic pole is not shown for the sake of simplification.

[0080] In the arrangement of [Fig. 7], the three aforementioned elements 112-114 are axially aligned to present the smallest possible thickness e in order to reduce the system's size when not in operation. The upper part of the support housing 114 carries the support element 117, identical to element 17 of [Fig. 1].

[0081] As shown in [Fig.8], the upper part of the stabilizing body 112 has pivoted 90° relative to the lower part 113, and as in the first mode, this pivoting allows the telescopic pole to be kept in the deployed position.

[0082] Figures 9 and 10 are enlarged schematic views of the system 100 at rest. The telescopic pole 116 is folded axially inside the two parts 112 and 113, each of which shares a portion of the length of the pole tube in the folded position ([Fig. 9]). Each stabilizing body part 112, 113 has the same perforated fairing structure as that of body 12 in [Fig. 1]. [Fig. 9] is a front axial cross-sectional view of the system passing through the pole tube 116, while the The view in [Fig. 10] is a lateral axial cross-sectional view of the system passing in front of the pole tube 116 (not shown in this figure).

[0083] The support housing 114, 115 contains substantially the same components as the housing 14, 15 of the first mode, and the components of [Fig. 5] differ in the number of motorized position compensation groups (N=8) and the number of corresponding control elements ESCi (i=1 to 8). In [Fig. 9], the battery 20 and the electronic component support boards Cil and Ci2 are shown.

[0084] Several design differences should be highlighted between the two modes.

[0085] First, the geometric arrangement of the motorized position compensation groups of the Gi' system (i = 1 to 8) within each stabilizing body part 112, 113 is shown in Figures 9 and 10 and in [Fig. 11], which is a section perpendicular to the Z axis, in a transverse X, Y plane. The four groups of each part 112, 113 are mounted two by two on the same side of the boom tube 116 and fixed to the tube by means of a support structure formed of several arms and which is shown in more detail in [Fig. 12] (simplified front view showing the groups Gl' to G4' connected to the tube 116 without the fairing).

[0086] More particularly, the groups Gl' and G2' are mounted one above the other on a supporting structure SI formed, on the one hand, of a set El of arms which extend transversely and diagonally (figs. 9 and 12) to connect the groups to the tube and, on the other hand, of a set E2 of mainly axial arms which connect the groups to each other in order to stiffen the whole of the supporting structure.

[0087] Furthermore, groups Gl' and G2' are both oriented along the same second motor axis, here the X-axis, perpendicular to the first boom axis Z and corresponding to a horizontal axis, and are more specifically arranged respectively along two axes Al and A2, parallel to the X-axis (and therefore of the same orientation), as illustrated in [Fig. 10]. The two motorized position compensation groups of the system Gl' and G2' are oriented in opposite directions: group Gl' is oriented along the Fl' direction and group G2' is oriented along the opposite F2' direction. The generated airflows are thus propelled in the Fl' and F2' directions, that is, away from each other. In an alternative configuration not shown, the airflows can be propelled in the opposite direction, that is, from each propeller towards the motor that drives it.In another alternative configuration not shown, the direction of airflow can vary from one set of two associated motorized groups (e.g., Gl' and G2' or G5' and G6') to another set of two associated motorized groups (e.g., G3' and G4' or G7' and G8'). Thus, for example, in the set of two associated motorized groups Gl' and G2', the generated airflows are propelled in the directions Fl' and F2', that is, away from each other, while in the set of two groups... With motorized units associated with G3' and G4', the generated airflows are propelled towards each other. Alternatively, the direction of airflow can be the same for all motorized units G1' to G4' and reversed for all motorized units G5' to G8'.

[0088] The description just given also applies to the two groups G3' and G4' located on the other side of the pole tube ([Fig.9]) with the supporting structure S2. The two groups G3' and G4' have respectively the same orientation as the groups Gl' and G2'.

[0089] Furthermore, as illustrated in Figures 10 and 11, the E2 assembly of arms of the supporting structure S1 forms a substantially horizontal offset between two groups of upper and lower axial (vertical) arm portions that are staggered relative to each other ([Fig. 10]), thus allowing them to be connected. This enables the two groups Gl' and G2' to be positioned substantially one above the other along the X-axis. This arrangement provides a reduced footprint for the stabilizing body portion 112 along the X-axis.

[0090] The description just given also applies to the two groups G3' and G4' located on the other side of the boom tube ([Fig.9]) with the supporting structure S2. Everything just described for the stabilizing body part 112 also applies to the two motorized position compensation groups of the system G5', G6', G7' and G8' and will not be repeated.

[0091] As with the first mode, each motorized position compensation group of the Gl'-G8' system comprises, on the one hand, an electric motor Mi' (i=l to 8) and, on the other hand, a propeller H' (i=l to 8) mounted on an output shaft of the electric motor, which here corresponds to the X-axis (or to an axis parallel to the X-axis such as the A1 and A2 axes). Only the motor Mi' and the propeller H' are shown in [Fig. 10]. The operation of each group is identical to that of the first mode: the group(s) concerned receive commands from the motor control elements.

[0092] The second mode system is activated when the stabilizing body part 112 has pivoted as illustrated in [Fig. 8]. In this position, the motorized groups of this upper part are arranged perpendicular to those of the lower part 113, and their orientation axis is the Y axis, while the orientation axis of the groups of the lower part 113 is the X axis. The fact that the axes along which the motorized groups act on the airflow are perpendicular to each other (X and Y) makes it possible to correct / compensate along these two axes any defect or deviation in position relative to a reference position of the system, which, in this case, is a vertical position (vertical boom axis).

[0093] Thanks to this arrangement, the controlled airflows propelled by the propellers do not interfere with the boom tube since the orientation axes of the groups They do not cross the boom tube. The airflow is propelled by the propellers away from the engines. Furthermore, these units, offset laterally from the boom tube, allow the system to rotate around the boom axis using appropriate airflow. This configuration provides better stability in windy conditions. These advantages are the same with the airflow directed in the opposite direction (towards the engines).

[0094] Furthermore, the activation or power-up of the system 100 is carried out when the part 112 is pivoted relative to the part 113 and the support housing 114, 115.

[0095] Indeed, as illustrated in [Fig. 13], electrical connections L1, L2, and L3 are respectively arranged in the support housing 114, the upper part of the stabilizing body 112, and the lower part of the stabilizing body 113. Each of these connections is provided with electrical connectors: C1 for connection L1, C2 in the upper part of connection L2, C3 in the lower part of connection L2, and C4 in the upper part of connection L3. In the rest position shown in [Fig. 7], the electrical connections, and therefore the electrical connectors, are not aligned. Thus, no electrical current can flow from connection L1 to connection L2 to power the motors of the motorized groups.

[0096] When part 112 has pivoted ([Fig.8]), the electrical link L2 is aligned with the links L1 in the upper part and L3 in the lower part, the connector col is in electrical contact with the connector co2 and the connector co3 is in electrical contact with the connector co4, which ensures the passage of the supply current of the motorized groups in each of the two stabilizing body parts 112 and 113.

[0097] It will be noted that part L4 shown in [Fig. 10] represents one of the clips for attaching the support 117 and which, when the support is in the folded position along the support housing 114 and part 112, can partially penetrate through the mesh of the fairing.

[0098] Thus, the pivoting of the upper part of the stabilizing body 112 relative to the support housing 114 and the lower part of the stabilizing body allows the operation of the system 100 to be activated and also to keep the telescopic pole 114 in the deployed position.

[0099] Figure 14 illustrates the system 100 in its operating position with the pole 116, composed of several telescopic sections 116al-116a8, deployed in a vertical position and the part 112 rotated 90°. Note that the smartphone holder 117 is deployed by pivoting around its hinge 117a before rotating the part 112.

[0100] It should be noted that when the battery charge level, which is monitored by the microcontroller, falls below a predetermined threshold (low battery), the microcontroller-controlled system activates an emergency mode that allows the pole 116 to retract at least partially into the system to lower the system and This prevents the device (and the smartphone it supports) from falling from a great height. A specific mechanism is provided to implement this emergency mode. For example, such a mechanism might include a toothed wheel that is driven in rotation and that cooperates with an element of the disk 32 in [Fig. 6] to rotate the latter, for example, by 1°. This slight rotation brings the opening O into a very small overlap above the slot L, allowing a small passage of air out of the tube. It can therefore lower slowly by the contraction of at least some of the elements 116ai into one another.

[0101] Although the present invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, it is evident that modifications and changes can be made to these examples without departing from the general scope of the invention as defined by the claims. In particular, individual features of the various embodiments illustrated / mentioned can be combined in additional embodiments. Therefore, the description and drawings should be considered in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.

Claims

Demands

1. A support and stabilization system (10) for an external device such as a smartphone, characterized in that it comprises a stabilization body (12; 112, 113) surmounted by a support (14; 114) configured to support an external device such as a smartphone, the stabilization body comprising: - a telescopic pole (16; 116) having a deployable portion (16a1-16a1; 116a1-116a8) capable of being manually deployed from the body along a first pole axis corresponding to a vertical axis (Z) when the system is in use, the deployable portion having a so-called contact end (16a2) configured to allow the system to be in contact with a contact surface or with an external device, - a plurality of N motorized groups for compensating the system's position (G1-G4; G1-G8), with N > 4, the N groups system position compensation motors being configured so that,When the system is in use with the first boom axis corresponding to a vertical axis (Z), on the one hand, at least two motorized groups for system position compensation (G1, G2) are arranged along a second motor axis (X) perpendicular to the first boom axis (Z) and corresponding to a horizontal axis, said at least two motorized groups for system position compensation (G1, G2) being oriented in opposite directions along said second motor axis (X), and, on the other hand, at least two motorized groups for system position compensation (G3, G4) are arranged along a third motor axis (Y) perpendicular to the first boom axis (Z) and to the second motor axis (X) and corresponding to another horizontal axis, said at least two motorized groups for system position compensation (G3, G4) being oriented in opposite directions along said third motor axis (Y).

2. Support and stabilization system according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises one or more sensors (C1-C5) configured to detect, when the system is in use, a change in the system's position, along at least one of the second (X) and third (Y) motor axes, relative to a reference position corresponding to a position of the pole telescopic deployed (16; 116) along the first vertical axis (Z), the motorized position compensation groups of the system being configured to be controlled according to the detection of position change by the sensor(s).

3. Support and stabilization system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that each motorized position compensation group of the system (G1-G4; Gl'-G8') comprises an electric motor (M1-M4) and a propeller (H1-H4) mounted on the electric motor and which is capable of rotating under the action of the motor, in a controlled manner, in order to propel a controlled airflow along the first (X) or second motor axis (Y) and along the direction of orientation of the motorized group concerned in the motor axis.

4. Support and stabilization system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the N motorized position compensation groups of the system are mounted on a portion of the telescopic pole which remains in the stabilization body (12; 112, 113).

5. Support and stabilization system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the contact end (16a2) of the telescopic pole (16; 116) is configured to receive optionally: - an end piece (E) of generally convex and non-slip external shape; - a weight; - a remotely controlled motorized traction device; - a hooking end piece configured to be hooked to an external device.

6. Support and stabilization system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that N=4, the motorized position compensation groups of the system (G1-G4) are arranged when the system is in use: -either in the same horizontal plane and at 90° to each other, -or in two horizontal planes parallel to each other.

7. A support and stabilization system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that N=8, the stabilizing body comprising two stabilizing body parts (112, 113) rotatable relative to each other about the first pole axis (Z), each part containing four motorized groups for position compensation of the system (G1'-G4', G5'-G8'), the mechanical support (114), and the two movable parts (112, 113) of the body stabilization elements being arranged one after the other along the first axis (Z).

8. Support and stabilization system according to the preceding claim, characterized in that a first (113) of the two stabilization body parts comprises four motorized groups for position compensation of the system (G5'-G8') which are arranged along one of the two motor axes and the second stabilization body part comprises four motorized groups for position compensation of the system (G1'-G4') which are: - arranged along said motor axis in a non-pivoted position, - and arranged along the other motor axis in a pivoted position of 90°.

9. Support and stabilization system according to the preceding claim, characterized in that, in each stabilization body part, the four motors are arranged two by two, on either side of the telescopic pole (116) and substantially one above the other.

10. Support and stabilization system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least a part of the stabilization body (12; 112, 113) which encloses at least a part of the telescopic pole (16; 116) and the support (14; 114) are rotationally movable relative to each other about the first pole axis (Z), the system being configured to maintain the telescopic pole in the deployed position by activating a mechanism for closing an air passage between the inside of the pole (16; 116) and the support (14; 114) by rotation between said at least a part of the stabilization body and the support.