Camera equipment rig

Abstract

To provide a rig for photographic equipment that can stably fix various photographic devices in the correct position for capturing 3D images, VR images, etc. [Solution] A rig 1 for mounting multiple parallel imaging devices is provided, comprising a flat, plate-shaped main body 10 with its length in the parallel direction, and a plurality of flat, plate-shaped support members 20 that can slide on the main body in the parallel direction, wherein the main body 10 has a sliding groove 11 on its upper surface in the parallel direction and a screw hole 12 on its lower surface that can be fixed to a support base, and the support members 20 have a sliding projection 22 on its lower surface that fits into the sliding groove 11 and can slide in the parallel direction, and mounting parts 23 and 24 on its upper surface for mounting imaging devices 30, thereby providing an imaging device rig that allows adjustment of the spacing between imaging devices.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a rig for imaging equipment for shooting 3D images, VR images, etc.

Background Art

[0002] There is a known technique of shooting a plurality of images with different orientations using a digital camera or an image sensor mounted on a substrate, and generating a panoramic image, a 3D image, a VR image, etc. with a wider angle of view than a single image by image processing that combines the image data.

[0003] In such shooting, it is necessary to appropriately adjust the orientations and intervals of a plurality of imaging devices, and there are known products such as those provided with fixing screws adapted to the corresponding imaging devices on a single rig for arranging a plurality of imaging devices side by side. For example, a fixed rig for VR180 shooting that combines and uses the lens HAL 200 and LUMIX (registered trademark) DC-GH6 sold by the applicant of the present case is provided. (Non-Patent Document 1)

[0004] The following are the prior arts as bases for mounting a plurality of imaging devices. Patent Document 1 provides a technique for using two imaging devices side by side, mainly aiming at efficient arrangement and stability of conventional imaging devices. It has a sliding table straddling a horizontally long bar-shaped member, but according to this structure, there are problems such as an increase in height, poor movement when the sliding table is laid horizontally, and an unreasonable load being applied.

[0005] Patent Document 2 describes a technique of fixing a camera on a horizontal arm provided with a horizontally long slit. The camera is fixed by passing the camera fixing screw through the slit, but with such a configuration, the orientation of each camera is not stable, and it cannot be used for fixing other than the cameras that can be fixed with the camera fixing screw.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 58-016631 [Patent Document 2] Utility Model Publication No. 56-055516 [Non-patent literature]

[0007] [Non-Patent Document 1] Internet URL (https: / / jouer.co.jp / news / dc-gh6hal-200 / ) Searched on October 18, 2024 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0008] This invention was created to solve the problems of the above-mentioned prior art, and aims to provide a rig for imaging equipment that can stably fix various imaging equipment in the correct position for capturing 3D images, VR images, etc. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] To solve the above problems, the present invention provides the following rig for photographic equipment. Embodiment 1 of the present invention provides a rig for mounting multiple imaging devices in parallel. This rig comprises a flat main body with its longitudinal direction parallel to the main body, and a plurality of flat support members that can slide in the parallel direction on the main body. The upper surface of the main body is provided with sliding grooves arranged along the parallel direction, and the lower surface is provided with screw holes for fixing to a support base such as a tripod head. The lower surface of the support members is provided with sliding protrusions that fit into the sliding grooves and can slide in the parallel direction, and the upper surface is provided with mounting parts for attaching imaging devices. This makes the rig adjustable in terms of the spacing between imaging devices.

[0010] In Embodiment 2, the mounting portion includes a plurality of screw fixing portions for attaching a substrate on which an image sensor, which serves as the imaging device, is mounted. This configuration allows for more stable mounting of the imaging device.

[0011] In Embodiment 3, the mounting portion includes a screw for securing the imaging equipment and a screw fixing portion arranged around it. This screw fixing portion ensures secure fastening of the imaging equipment.

[0012] In Embodiment 4, a detachable spirit level is provided on the side of the main unit, allowing for easy horizontal adjustment of the imaging equipment. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] The present invention, with the above configuration, provides the following effects. In other words, the flat support members slide within the sliding grooves of the main body, allowing for flexible placement and adjustment of the imaging equipment. Multiple imaging devices can be mounted in parallel, and their spacing can be freely adjusted, making it suitable for capturing 3D and VR images. This makes it easy to optimize the placement of imaging equipment in scenes requiring multiple viewpoints or different angles, enabling the generation of immersive videos and images.

[0014] Furthermore, it allows for stable mounting, minimizing vibrations and positional shifts during shooting, thus accurately maintaining the crucial positional relationships in 3D and VR images. The fitting of the sliding groove and sliding projection, along with the screw fixing part, securely fixes the equipment, ensuring stable positioning of the shooting device and maintaining reliable quality even during long shooting sessions.

[0015] By attaching a support base such as a tripod head to the underside of the main unit, it is possible to secure flexible shooting angles by using the support base in combination. This allows for multi-angle shooting, including horizontal and vertical directions, and enables smooth acquisition of images from different viewpoints, especially when shooting 3D or VR.

[0016] Furthermore, the ease of horizontal adjustment is also one of the important effects of the present invention. With the detachable spirit level provided on the main body, the horizontal level of the imaging device can be easily adjusted. Therefore, in 3D or VR shooting that requires accurate alignment, it is possible to quickly prepare for shooting. Especially in these technologies, a minute deviation can greatly affect the quality of the entire video, so the presence of this spirit level is very effective.

[0017] Also, the imaging device can be easily replaced, and it has high versatility in accommodating various imaging devices. In recent years, the miniaturization and diversification of imaging devices have advanced. Not only general digital cameras but also substrates equipped with imaging elements are used. Since the present invention enables easy replacement and maintenance of the imaging device, it can flexibly respond to various shooting scenes and device specifications. Furthermore, it is excellent in portability and compactness, and is easy to move and set up on-site, so it is useful even at shooting sites where mobility is required.

[0018] Finally, due to its expandability and modularity, it is possible to additionally attach a plurality of imaging devices as needed. This enables corresponding to future increases in imaging equipment and system expansions. Even as 3D and VR technologies evolve, the rig of the present invention provides long-term usable versatility.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0019] [Figure 1] It is a top-side perspective view of the rig for an imaging device according to the present invention. [Figure 2] It is a bottom-side perspective view of the rig for an imaging device according to the present invention. [Figure 3] It is a side view of the rig for an imaging device according to the present invention. [Figure 4] It is a rear view of the rig for an imaging device according to the present invention. [Figure 5] It is a reference view of the usage state of the rig for an imaging device according to the present invention. [Figure 6] It is a view showing an example of attachment of the rig for an imaging device according to the present invention and a support base. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0020] The embodiments of the present invention will be described below based on the examples shown in the drawings. However, the embodiments are not limited to those described below. Figure 1 is a top perspective view of the imaging equipment rig according to the present invention, and Figure 2 is a bottom perspective view of the same. In this specification, the left front side of Figure 1 is described as the front view, and the top side is described as the top view.

[0021] The imaging equipment rig (1) according to the present invention is for mounting multiple imaging equipment in parallel in order to capture 3D images, VR images, etc. The main body (10), which is the base part of the rig, is flat and its longitudinal direction corresponds to the parallel direction of the imaging equipment. A sliding groove (11) is provided on the upper surface of the main body (10) that allows the support member (20) to slide in the parallel direction.

[0022] The sliding groove (11) is positioned along the upper surface of the main body (10), and the sliding projection (22) provided on the lower surface of the support member (20) fits into this sliding groove (11), allowing the support member (20) to slide smoothly. This makes it possible to adjust the left-right spacing of the imaging equipment, facilitating the proper placement of multiple imaging devices. Furthermore, the fitting of the sliding groove (11) and the sliding projection (22) allows for precise parallel movement without any looseness.

[0023] The bottom surface of the main body (10) is provided with screw holes (12), which can be used to fix the support base to the main body (10). The support base ensures the stability of the entire rig and suppresses vibrations and blurring during shooting. In addition, support bases generally have an angle adjustment function, allowing for flexible adjustment of the orientation of the shooting equipment (30), thus increasing the degree of freedom during shooting.

[0024] In this embodiment, three screw holes (12) are provided horizontally, allowing the mounting to be fixed with a left-right offset, or it can be fixed at three points to precisely match the orientation of the support base. Furthermore, the diameter of the screw hole (12) can be changed to accommodate various support bases.

[0025] A through hole (13) for a support member fixing screw penetrates from the sliding groove (11) to the upper surface. In this embodiment, the through hole (13) for the support member fixing screw is an elongated oval hole in the parallel direction. The support member fixing screw (25) is screwed through this through hole (13) into the screw hole on the lower surface of the sliding projection (22). The sliding can be restricted at any position by the support member fixing screw (25).

[0026] Figure 3 shows a side view of the imaging equipment rig according to the present invention, and Figure 4 shows a rear view of the same. In this embodiment, a body bottom inclined portion (14) is formed on the lower surface of the main body. The body bottom inclined portion (14) is an inclined portion that forms a step, making the thickness of the main body (1) thinner on the front side and thicker on the back side, and is inclined upward from near the center in the front-to-back direction toward the front.

[0027] The sloping section (14) on the bottom of the main body is thickened on the back side to secure space for attaching accessories such as a spirit level and lights, which will be described later, to the back side of the main body (10). At the same time, the design is carefully crafted to reduce the overall weight and material consumption of the rig, as well as to prevent the design from appearing heavy. This results in a structure that balances functionality and design.

[0028] The support member (20) is a key component for mounting multiple imaging devices. The support member (20) slides along the sliding groove (11), allowing the position of the imaging devices to be adjusted as needed. The upper surface of the support member (20) is provided with numerous mounting holes for the circuit board (23) and screw holes for fixing the imaging devices (24), which are mounting parts for attaching the imaging devices.

[0029] Figure 5 is a reference diagram showing the usage state of the imaging equipment rig according to the present invention, and Figure 6 is a diagram showing an example of mounting the imaging equipment rig and support base. In this embodiment, a circuit board (31) is fixed as an example of the imaging device (30). The imaging device (30) is attached through circuit board mounting screw holes (23) provided in the support member (20). The imaging device (30) has an image sensor (32) mounted on the circuit board (31), and the image sensor (32) is connected via a cable (33) to transmit captured data to the outside.

[0030] The upper recess (26) of the support member (20), located on the upper, front side, functions as a clearance for FFC cables connected to the camera and circuit board to pass through without interference. This makes cable routing easier and allows for smooth installation of the camera and circuit board. Conventional camera tripods and similar devices lacked this shape, making it difficult to mount circuit boards. This invention, however, provides circuit board mounting screw holes (23) and upper recesses (26) in the support member, making it compatible with these new types of photographic equipment.

[0031] The upper inclined portion (27) of the support member (20), provided on the upper and rear surfaces, is designed to make it easier to visually confirm the alignment of the front support member (20) even when the imaging equipment (30) is attached. This allows for easy and precise adjustment of the imaging equipment (30), enabling efficient setup.

[0032] As shown in Figure 6, the support base (40) is attached to the main body (10) through a screw hole (12) provided on the lower surface of the main body (10). The support base (40) stabilizes the entire rig and prevents shaking of the camera equipment (30). In addition, the support base (40) is equipped with an angle adjustment mechanism, allowing the orientation of the camera equipment (30) to be freely adjusted from horizontal to vertical, thus accommodating a variety of shooting scenes. In this embodiment, a configuration for mounting to a wall surface is disclosed, but even when the main body (10) is positioned vertically in this manner, smooth adjustment and holding are possible with the configuration in which the sliding groove (11) and the sliding projection (22) fit together.

[0033] In this invention, the spirit level (41) can be attached to the spirit level mounting screw hole (15) provided on the back side of the main body (10). The spirit level (41) allows the shooting equipment (30) to be adjusted to be perfectly horizontal. Precise horizontal adjustment is especially important in 3D and VR shooting, and the spirit level (41) is very effective in preventing parallax errors. The spirit level (41) is detachable and can be removed and used as needed. In addition to a spirit level, any external device such as a light can also be attached to the screw hole (15) for mounting a spirit level. [Explanation of symbols]

[0034] 1. Rig for photographic equipment 10 Main Unit 11 Sliding groove 12 screw holes 13 Through-hole for support member fixing screw 14 Bottom slope of main body 15 Screw holes for mounting spirit levels, etc. 20 Support members 21 Support plate 22 Sliding protrusion 23 Mounting screw holes for circuit board 24 Screw holes for fixing photographic equipment 25 Support member fixing screws 26 Recess on the upper part of the support member 27. Inclined portion at the top of the support member 30. Imaging equipment 31 circuit boards 32 Image sensors 33 Cables 40 Support base 41 Level

Claims

1. A rig for mounting multiple parallel imaging devices, It consists of a flat, plate-shaped main body with its longitudinal direction in parallel, and a plurality of flat, plate-shaped support members that can slide on the main body in the parallel direction. In the main body, The upper surface has sliding grooves arranged in parallel directions, The bottom surface has a support base and screw holes for fixing. It is equipped with, In the support member, The lower surface has a sliding projection that fits into the sliding groove and can slide in a parallel direction, The top surface has a mounting section for attaching the photographic equipment. Equipped with, A rig for photographic equipment that allows the spacing between the photographic devices to be adjusted.

2. The mounting portion includes a plurality of screw fixing portions for attaching the circuit board on which the imaging device, which is the imaging equipment, is mounted. A rig for photographic equipment according to claim 1.

3. The mounting portion includes a screw for fixing the imaging device and a screw fixing portion around the screw, The photographic equipment rig according to claim 2.

4. The main body is equipped with a detachable spirit level on its side. A rig for photographic equipment according to claim 1 or 2.

Images