A mounting device with adjustable orientation

Abstract

Mounting device (100) with a directional object (101) comprising a base (110), a first and a second rotation mounts (120, 130) subsequently attached to each other, and harnessing arrangement (140) to which a directional object can be harnessed. The base comprises a circular curved guide rail (111). The first rotation mount comprises a guided carriage (121) that is slidably attached on circular curved guide rail, a driving actuator (122), which is attached to the base and to the guided carriage and a circular curved guide rail (123) that is orthogonally attached to guided carriage. The second rotation mount comprises a guided carriage (131) that is slidably attached to guide rail (123), and a driving actuator thereof (132) attached to guided carriage for driving its travel to a desired position along the orthogonal circular curved guide rail. The harnessing arrangement is mounted on guided carriage (131) for providing an adjustable harnessing of the directional object thereon.

Description

A MOUNTING DEVICE WITH ADJUSTABLE ORIENTATIONFIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of adjustable attachment apparatus and, particularly, to a mounting device with adjustable orientation, for mounting an object and adjusting its orientation with respect to a predetermined point.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Various adjustable mounts are widely used for mounting objects thereon at a desirable orientation, such as for mounting several lighting elements to produce a desired illumination scheme of a hall, or for positioning one or more unmanned filming cameras at predetermined locations and orientation angles along a filming arena to cover predetermined areas of the arena from desirable filming angles.

[0003] Unfortunately, some of the abovementioned lighting bodies interfere with the illumination of other lighting elements, forming undesired shadows, thus requiring the installation of redundant lighting bodies to accomplish a properly illuminated space. Similarly, some of the abovementioned cameras may be undesirably captured by other cameras and, thus, require redundant editing of the captured scene, or otherwise to separately film desired segments of the scene.

[0004] The present invention is directed to providing a suitable solution for the abovementioned and other problems.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The invention essentially relates to a mounting device with adjustable orientation, comprising: a) a base adapted with one or more circular curved guide rails of a predetermined radius and circular segment length; b) a first rotation mount, comprising: i) one or more guided carriages, slidably attached to said one or more circular curved guide rails of said base, to enable its circular curved travel around a center axis of said one or more circular curved guide rails; ii) a driving actuator that drives the curved travel of said one or more guided carriages to a desired position along said one or more circular curved guide rail of said base; and iii) one or moreorthogonal circular curved guide rails that are orthogonal with respect to said one or more circular curved guide rails of said base. The mounting device with adjustable orientation further comprises c) a second rotation mount, comprising: i) one or more guided carriages, slidably attached to said one or more orthogonal circular curved guide rails of said first rotation mount, to enable its circular curved travel around a center axis of said one or more orthogonal circular curved guide rails; ii) a driving actuator that drives the curved travel of said one or more guided carriages of said second rotation mount to a desired position along said one or more orthogonal circular curved guide rail of said first rotation mount; and iiijan adjustable harnessing arrangement for harnessing a directional object to said second rotation mount. The mounting device with adjustable orientation may also comprise d) a control module comprising suitable hardware, software, and communication means to support the operation of said mounting device; and e) a power supply module, by which the required electric power to operate the mounting device is managed, wherein said directional object is mounted by said adjustable harnessing arrangement to said second rotation mount, and wherein by driving the guided carriages to desired positions along said circular curved guide rails and said orthogonal circular curved guide rails, the rotation, and elevation of said directional object are determined to direct said directional object to point at a desired area or object of interest through crossing points located on center axes of said circular curved guide rails.

[0006] The present invention also relates to variant configurations of the mounting device that comprise alternative mechanical arrangements and different assemblies with which the present invention may be carried out with adaptation to different applications.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0007] For a better understanding of various embodiments of the present invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference is made, by way of example, to the accompanying illustrative drawings, in which:- Fig. 1A schematically illustrates a perspective view of a mounting device with a directional object mounted thereon, according to an embodiment of the present invention;- Fig. IB schematically illustrates a rear perspective view of the device of Fig. 1, according to an embodiment of the present invention;- Fig. 1C schematically illustrates an adjustable damping arrangement, according to an embodiment of the present invention;- Fig. 2 schematically illustrates an exemplary configuration of a mounting device, according to an embodiment of the present invention;- Figs. 3A schematically illustrates a top view of an exemplary application of a mounting device, according to an embodiment of the present invention;- Fig. 3B schematically illustrates a side view of an exemplary application of a mounting device, according to an embodiment of the present invention;- Fig. 3C schematically illustrates an exemplary geometrical relationship between the linear motion of the drive actuator, and the derived angular motion of the guided carriage around a crossing point, according to an embodiment of the present invention;- Figs. 4A-4B schematically illustrate an alternative mounting device, according to an embodiment of the present invention;- Fig. 5 schematically illustrates a ball bearing with a curved guideway, according to an embodiment of the present invention;- Figs. 6, 7, and 8 schematically illustrate alternative configurations of a mounting device, according to certain embodiments of the present invention; and- Fig. 9 schematically illustrates a guide rail adapted with two longitudinal grooves and a corresponding guided carriage, according to certain embodiments of the present invention.

[0008] Structural details of the invention are shown to provide a fundamental understanding of the invention. The description, taken with the drawings, makes apparent to those skilled in the art how several forms of the invention may be embodied in practice.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The present invention relates to a mounting device with an adjustable orientation, which is designed to be mounted to a desired structural frame or a structural member, wherein the mounting device is configured to receive a directional object being harnessed thereon and to adjust its orientation to point towards a desired direction through one or more predetermined points.

[0010] The term “directional object” as used herein, refers to an object that is intended to be directed, namely, to point with one of its ends at a specific direction, such as a lighting element, a directional antenna, a camera, a microphone, and the like.

[0011] In the following detailed description, non-limiting embodiments of the present invention are discussed and illustrated, where references are made to accompanying drawings. These embodiments and accompanying drawings should be understood as non-limiting examples of implementing the present invention. Furthermore, terms such as “optionally”, “for instance”, “for example”, “exemplary”, “e.g.,”, “may”, etc., refer to optional features being selected in certain embodiments of the invention for the sake of simplicity and clarity of explanation. It should be understood, however, that optional features mentioned in different embodiments may be combined differently, to implement further embodiments of the present invention.

[0012] Fig. 1A schematically illustrates a perspective view of a mounting device 100 with a directional object 101 mounted , according to an embodiment of the present invention. Device 100 comprises a base 110, a first and a second rotation mounts 120 and 130 subsequently attached to each other, and harnessing arrangement 140 to which a directional object can be harnessed.

[0013] Base 110 comprises attachment means (e.g., attachment holes 110a) for mounting device 100 to a desired structural frame or member, and a circular curved guide rail 111, affixed in both its ends 111c and 11 Id to base 110.

[0014] First rotation mount 120 comprises a guided carriage 121 that is slidably attached on circular curved guide rail 111, a driving actuator 122 (further shown in Fig. IB), which is attached to base 110 and to guided carriage 121 (i.e., for driving its travel to a desired position along circular curved guide rail 111) and a circular curved guide rail 123 that is orthogonally attached to guided carriage 121, such as by mounting arms 124 that attach and support circular curved guide rail 123, and further components of second rotation mount 130 which are explained herein below. For the sake of brevity, circular curved guide rail 123 is interchangeably referred to herein as “orthogonal guide rail 123”.

[0015] Second rotation mount 130 comprises a guided carriage 131 that is slidably attached to orthogonal guide rail 123, and a driving actuator thereof 132 (further shown in Fig. IB), which is attached to guided carriage 131 for driving its travel to a desired position along the orthogonal circular curved guide rail 123.

[0016] Harnessing arrangement 140 comprises a first and a second adjustable harnessing members 141 and 142 mounted on guided carriage 131 for providing an adjustable harnessing of a directional object 101 thereon, where directional object 101 may be adjustably harnessed onto harnessing member 142 by fastening it at an adjusted position along a preselected fastening groove 142a, and by harnessing member 141 to harnessing member 142 at an adjusted height along fastening groove 141a. Accordingly, directional object 101 can be harnessed thereto at an adjusted position, wherein directional object 101 points in a predetermined direction. In certain embodiments of the present invention, harnessing members 141 and / or 142 are adapted with one or more driving actuators utilized for adjusting the forward / rearward and / or upward / downward position of directional object 101, e.g., relative to base 110. Harnessing arrangement 140 may be adapted with attachment and fastening means in different layouts that enable load distribution and firm attachment / fastening of directional objects 101 having various attachment schemes with different numbers and layouts of attachments / fasteners. Furthermore, in certain embodiments of the present invention, harnessing arrangement 140 is configured to connect and firmly carry two or more directional objects.

[0017] While circular curved guide rails 111 and 123 are illustrated in the accompanying drawings at certain circular segment lengths, circular radii, proportions, and orientations, it should be understood that these illustrations are optional, and different dimensions and orientations may be selected in accordance with different applications of the mounting device 100. Furthermore, the first rotation mount 120 is illustrated herein as in the horizontal plane (e.g., of Fig. 1A), and hence, the second rotation mount 130 is in a vertical plane, respectively. However, this illustrated orientation is merely an exemplary orientation selected for the sake of illustration, and device 100 may be mounted through base 110 or through a similar mounting bracket, to any desirable structure in any desirable position and orientation.

[0018] Device 100 further comprises a control module 150, which may comprise suitable hardware, software, and communication means to support the operation of device 100. Such a control module may comprise one or more processors, a non-transitory computer-readable storage means, one or more controllers for controlling driving actuator 122 and 132, and one or more communication means (e.g., WIFI, Ethernet, USB, and any other wired / wireless communication units) for enabling a wired / wireless communication of the one or more processors of determined remote control stations (e.g., a networked computer, a mobile device, and the like). Furthermore, control module 150 may employ hardware / software authentication modules, such as to ensure its proper operation by predetermined controller(s), undisrupted by unauthorized controllers that may utilize similar control. Device 100 further comprises a power supply module that manages the required electric power supply required to operate device 100. Furthermore, device 100 may comprise separate communication, processing, and power supply means that operate the directional object 101, e.g., a camera, and collect information captured thereby. Of course, control module 150 and the power supply module may be installed at any other position on device 100, or may be separately positioned and / or attached to a support structure while being connected to device 100 via suitable cables.

[0019] Fig. IB schematically illustrates a rear perspective view of mounting device 100, showing the components of carriages 121 and 131 and driving actuators 122 and 132 of first and second rotation mounts 120 and 130 (correspondingly), according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which carriage 121 essentially comprises a top plate 121a and a bottom plate 121b with three or more wheels 121c hinged therebetween as a coupling arrangement that clamps guide rail 111. In some embodiments, circular curved guide rail 111 is adapted with longitudinal protrusions I l la and 111b, and wheels 121c are correspondingly concaved, providing a tight fitness therebetween, where carriage 121 is guided to travel along the circular curved guide rail 111 around the center axis thereof (further illustrated in Fig. 2). In a similar manner, carriage 131 may connect to orthogonal guide rail 123 and be correspondingly guided to travel at a circular curved course around the center axis thereof.

[0020] Optionally, carriages 121 and / or 131 comprise an adjustable damping arrangement, an example of which is illustrated in Fig. 1C and explained with respect to carriage 121 yet may be similarly applied in carriage 131. In this example, one or more wheels 121c of carriage 121 aresuspended on a base 121d and forced thereby against circular curved guide rail 111. Base 121d is slidably attached to carriage 121 (e.g., by corresponding elongated groove(s) in bottom plate 121b) and can slide towards guide rail 111, according to pressure applied thereon by adjustable damping coil(s) 12 le. The pressure applied by coil(s) 12 le may be adjusted by adjustment bolts 12 If that are threaded through carriage 121 (e.g., through bottom plate 121b). Of course, various alternative damping arrangements may be used in conjunction with or in lieu of the exemplary arrangement illustrated in Fig. 1C, in order to establish a firm clamping of guide rail 111 by carriage 121, while providing damping capability thereof for ensuring a smooth and stable travel of carriage 121 along guide rail 111, regardless of small manufacturing flaws, dirt, and external shocks applied thereon. Similar and alternative damping arrangements may be integrated with other configurations of the guided carriages such as with the linear bearing 500 of Fig. 5.

[0021] In certain embodiments, driving actuator 122 and / or 132 may comprise a linear driving actuator, such as a motorized threaded arrangement, for instance, a ball screw arrangement (interchangeably referred to with the numeral 122), comprising a controllable motor 122a (e.g., a step motor, a servo motor) which engages through a driving belt 122b, corresponding drive wheels 122c, and a drive bearing 122d with a screw shaft 122e, to revolve the same. Of course, different transmission arrangements, such as those that utilize gear and pinion, or a direct engagement between components, may be suitably selected in accordance with specific applications of device 100.

[0022] Linear driving actuators, such as ball screws, are designed to convert rotational motion (i.e., of the revolving screw shaft 122e) to linear motion (i.e., linear displacement of ball nut 122f with respect to screw shaft 122e). However, circular curved guide rails 111 and 123 restrict guided carriages 121 and 131 to travel in a circular curved course. Therefore, drive bearings 122d (i.e., of driving actuators 122 and 132) are rotatably attached (e.g., hinged) to base 110 and harnessing arms 124, correspondingly, while ball nuts 122f are hinged to guided carriages 121 and 131. This assembly enables simultaneous rotation and linear motion of the driving actuator, and thereby facilitates using the linear driving actuator to drive a curved motion. In certain embodiments of the invention, the driving actuators 122 and / or 132 are mounted on guided carriages 121 and / or 131, where the ball nuts 122f are hinged onto base 110. Such configurations may provide design flexibility for device 100 and its adaptation to alternative applications.

[0023] Accordingly, whereas any of motors 122a is activated, it drives the revolving of a screw shaft 122e, and since ball nuts 122f are hinged to guided carriages 121 and 131, they cannot revolve with screw shafts 122e. Thus the rotation of a screw shaft 122e forces the corresponding ball nut 122f to travel linearly along screw shafts 122e, while the hinged attachment of ball nut 122f to guided carriage 121 or 131 and the hinged attachment of the corresponding drive bearing 122d to base 110 (i.e., or to harnessing arms 124) enable a rotation of ball nuts 122f with respect to drive bearings 122d, thus enabling the driving of guided carriages 121 and 131 along circular curved guide rails 111 and 123 by the motorized ball screw arrangements.

[0024] The use of threaded transmission arrangements provides advantageous accurate motion control, namely, enabling precise control of the extent to which each guided carriage 121 or 131 travels along circular curved guide rails 111 or 123. Furthermore, it may prevent unintentional motion of guided carriage 121 or 131 (also known as “Backlash”) since when screw shafts 122e are idle, a motion of ball nuts 122f there along is resisted by its threads.

[0025] Controllable motor 122a may be selected to be a stepper motor, which further improves the driving precision, and in specific embodiments of the present invention, a DC encoder is used in conjunction with motor 122a for monitoring the precise extent to which guided carriage 121 or 131 travels, which can be restored in extreme cases where unintentional motion of ball nut 122f occurred.

[0026] Further shown in Fig. IB is a depressed support rail 113 within base 110, into which a guided support 122’f of ball nut 122f is engaged. The depressed rail 113 is of a corresponding curvature as circular curved guide rail 111, providing both tilting restraint of ball nut 122f for enabling its travel along the revolving screw shaft 122e while enabling its curved motion in correspondence with guided carriage 111.

[0027] Fig. 2 schematically illustrates an exemplary configuration of mounting device 100, wherein the respective position of guide rails 111 and 123 (i.e., the mounting position of orthogonal guide rail 123 on guided carriage 121, through harnessing arms 124), the radii 201 and 202 of guide rails 111 and 123, and the adjusted harnessing position of directional object 101on harnessing arrangement 140, are selected to facilitate an adjusted position, at which directional object 101 points to a crossing point 205 at the intersection of center axes 203 and 204 (illustrated by dashed center lines extending through dashed circles that correspond to circular curved guide rails 111 and 123) of the orthogonal guide rails 111 and 123. Subsequently, by driving guided carriages 121 and 131 to desired positions along the circular curved guide rails 111 and 123, the rotation and elevation (correspondingly) of directional object 101 are determined to aim directional object 101 to a point / object of interest within a predetermined area - through crossing point 205, as further illustrated herein below.

[0028] Figs. 3A-3B illustrate top and side views of an exemplary application of mounting device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, a directional object 101 is a camera deployed at a filming location (e.g., one of several cameras within a filming array) wherein the cameras are concealed behind walls 301, having a filming aperture or a clear filming window 301a, through which cameras 101 are intended to capture a desired area or object of interest behind the filming window 301a. Therefore, each camera 101 is harnessed to a mounting device 100, which is attached to wall 301, by fastening base 110 at a suitable location on wall 301, where crossing point 205 is at the horizontal and vertical center of the filming window 301a so that camera 101 can capture a desired area of interest behind wall 301 without being interrupted by the edge of wall 301 surrounding window 301A.

[0029] The predetermined area, which camera 101 may capture, is defined by the horizontal capture range 302a, determined by the radius 201 (Fig. 2) and circular segment length of guide rail 111, and the vertical capture range 302b, determined by the radius 202 (Fig. 2) and circular segment length of orthogonal guide rail 123. The combination of ranges 302a and 302b forms a spatial area behind wall 301, which can be uninterruptedly captured by camera 101.

[0030] Different applications and operational conditions may require different configurations of device 100. For example, guide rails 111 and 123 of different radii may be selected to offset crossing point 205 and correspondingly change the target area covered by camera 101. Another example is when a microscope device is intended to review an inspected object on an inspection plate from different angles, and therefore, that microscope device is harnessed onto device 100, which is configured with long guide rails 111 and 123 that nearly encompass the inspection plate.

[0031] Fig. 3C illustrates an exemplary geometrical relationship represented by a triangle’s sides (indicated by the letters “A”, “B”, and “C”), and angles (indicated by the letters “a”, “ ”, and “y”), according to an embodiment of the present invention. Side “A” of the triangle represents the linear distance of ball nut 122f from drive bearing 122d, namely, the linear position of nut 122f across screw shaft 122e, and angle “a” represents the corresponding angular travel of carriage 121 around crossing point 205. Accordingly, a desired angle of movement (i.e., of carriage 121 around crossing point 205) may be input into a corresponding computer program / software or computer code (e.g., executed by control module 150, by a predetermined or by a remote control device) that retrieve the measure of side “A” that derives a desired “a” by utilizing the law of cosine formula where sides “B” (e.g., that corresponds to the radius of circular curved guide rail 111) and “C” (e.g., the constant distance between crossing point 205 and the hinging point of drive bearing 122d to base 110) are pre -known constant dimensions of a given configuration of device 100. Thereby, the required change of side “A” for a corresponding change in “a” can be inferred.

[0032] Based on the threading parameters of screw 122e, the needed change of “A”, namely the required travel of ball nut 122f along screw shaft 122e, is readily translated to the needed rotation of the latter. Sub sequentially, based on the encoder installed with step motor 122a, the needed rotation of screw shaft 122e is translated to the required number of motor steps, and communicated to step motor 122a, for instance, by control module 150 according to a desired rotation angle of object 101 selected by the user of device 100. The selected angle may be selected by the user either manually (e.g., by pressing corresponding buttons) or via a remote station, such as a computing device that runs a suitable application that submits (e.g., wired / wireless communication infrastructure and protocols such as RS485) control commands in compliance with a common control protocol, such as PELICO-D. Of course, the same process may be similarly executed in the vertical aspect with rotation mount 130.

[0033] According to certain embodiments of the invention, an alternative mounting device 400 is provided, as illustrated in Figs. 4A and 4B. Device 400 comprises a base 410, a first rotation mount 420, and a second rotation mount 430, onto which a directional object 401 is harnessed. Notably, in the embodiment of Figs. 4A and 4B, rotation mount 420 is interlaced with base 410,and second rotation mount 430 is orthogonally assembled thereto with directional object 401 residing within the space bounded between base 410 and second rotation mount 430, enabling a compact mounting device 400.

[0034] In a structural aspect, such an interlaced assembly of orthogonal rotation mounts with parallel guide rails constitutes a robust mounting frame capable of stably carrying heavier directional objects 401, such as in upscaled configurations utilized to carry heavy rotatable illumination elements. The interlaced assembly may also be utilized to consume limited space, where the distance between frame 431 and frame 411 may be less than 7 centimeters in certain compact configurations, which may be required when the space intended to accommodate the mounting device is limited. In certain embodiments of the present invention, compact dimensions are achieved by a concentric assembly of base 410, rotation mount 420, and rotation mount 430.

[0035] Thus, as can be readily realized by one skilled in the art, devices 100 and 400 may be carried out in multiple different downscaled or upscaled configurations for use in different specific applications.

[0036] Base 410 comprises a frame 411 with attachment means such as holes 41 la for mounting device 400 to a desired structural frame or member. Base 410 further comprises two circular curved guide rails 412 of a predetermined radius 412a, that comprise cogged segments 412b of a predetermined length and correspondingly curved lateral guiding grooves 412c.

[0037] First rotation mount 420 comprises a frame 421 with which two guided carriages 422 are attached, and a driving actuator 423 is integrated. Guided carriages 422 slidably attach to guide rails 412, with a portion thereof externally engaged into lateral guiding groove 412c (of circular curved guide rails 412), while a cogged wheel 423a (of driving actuator 423) engages with the cogged segments 412b. This arrangement provides a firm coupling between first rotation mount 420 and base 410. Driving actuator 423 revolves cogged wheel 423a to drive first rotation mount 420 at a circular curved course around the center axis 402 of circular curved guide rails 412 together with second rotation mount 430, which is similarly mounted onto circular curved guide rails 424 thereof, where circular curved guide rails 424 are of a predetermined radius 424b andare orthogonal to guide rails 412 of base 410. For the sake of brevity, circular curved guide rail 424 are interchangeably referred to herein as “orthogonal guide rails 424”.

[0038] Second rotation mount 430 comprises a frame 431 with which two guided carriages 432 are attached, and a driving actuator 433 is integrated, where the guided carriages 432 are configured to slidably attach to orthogonal guide rails 424with a portion thereof externally engaged into a lateral guiding groove 424a of orthogonal guide rails 424, while a cogged wheel 433 a engages with the cogged segments 412b. This arrangement provides a firm coupling between the first and second rotation mounts 420 and 430. Driving actuator 433 revolves cogged wheel 433a to drive the second rotation mount 430 at a circular curved course with respect to the center axis 403 of orthogonal guide rails 424. Second rotation mount 430 further comprises adjustable harnessing means (not shown), whereby a directional object 401 is harnessed thereon. In certain embodiments, the harnessing means are utilized to adjust the harnessing of directional object 401 to locate a portion thereof concentrically with frame 431. In specific embodiments of the present invention, one or more of view aperture 406 of base 410, the guide rails of first rotation mount 420, and object 401 are aligned at a concentric position, for instance, guide rails 411 and 424 may be concentric.

[0039] Further illustrated in Fig. 4A are dashed circles corresponding to circular curved guide rails 412 and 424 and are correspondingly orthogonal. According to certain embodiments of the invention, a directional object 401 is harnessed onto rotation mount 430 in an adjusted manner so that directional object 401 points at the crossing point 405 of the center axes 402 and 403 of the orthogonal circular curved guide rails 412 and 424. In certain embodiments, crossing point 405 is at the center of a view aperture 406. Further illustrated in Fig. 4B are attachment holes 407 for mounting auxiliary modules thereto, such as control and power supply modules.

[0040] For example, device 400 may be used as an adjustable orientation mount of a concealed directional lighting element. Therefore, base 410 may be attached to a wall aperture (not shown), correspondingly sized as aperture 406 (Fig. 4B), with directional lighting element 401 mounted thereon, intended to illuminate the space behind that wall. In this example, driving rotation mount 420 at a circular curved course around the center axis 402 of guide rails 412 modifies the elevation of the lighting element 401 while driving rotation mount 430 at a circular curved coursewith respect to the center axis 403 modifies the rotation thereof. Thereby, the orientation of lighting element 401 can be adjusted to illuminate (e.g., illuminate) a desired area or object of interest (e.g., a specific actor in a show or in a filmed movie scene, through crossing point 405.

[0041] The above illustrations and explanations disclose different configurations of mounting devices 100 and 400, which may be assembled such that crossing points 205 and 405 are located at an intersection of the center axes of both horizontal and vertical rotation mounts. Nevertheless, the mounting device of the present invention may also be assembled with different relative positions of the horizontal and vertical rotation mounts that may form separate horizontal and vertical crossing points. For instance, when the orthogonal rotation mount is installed forward or backward relative to the horizontal rotation mount.

[0042] According to certain embodiments illustrated in Fig. 5, guided carriages 422 and 432 comprise a linear ball bearing 500 that is adapted with a curved guideway portion 501, which corresponds with the lateral guiding grooves 412c and 424a of circular curved guide rails 412 and 424, Namely, ball chain 503 engages guiding grooves 412c and 424a while traveling within the curved guideway portion 501, where the return guideway portion 502 may either be curved or straight as in the illustration of Fig. 5.

[0043] One skilled in the art will readily recognize that components of different embodiments of device 100 may be interchangeably used to produce more specific variants of device 100 for specific applications. For example, the guided carriages 422 and, correspondingly, the circular curved guide rails 412 or 424 may be integrated with device 100, in lieu of guide rails 111 and 124 and vice versa. Furthermore, in certain configurations of devices 100 and 400 the driving actuators 122 or 132 may be replaced with actuators 423 or 433 and vice versa.

[0044] According to an embodiment of the present invention, one or more driving actuators 122, 132, 423, or 433 of mounting devices 100 or 400 comprise a manual drive mechanism that comprises, for instance, mechanical knobs (not shown) by which the driving actuators are controlled manually. The extent to which the driving actuator 122, 132, 423, or 433 are being rotated to promote directional object 101 or 401 in a desired angle around crossing points 205 and / or 405 (correspondingly) is derived from the geometrical relationship between theengagement points of the driving actuators, the carriages 121, 131, 422, or 432, and crossing points 205 or 405 correspondingly, where most of the involved elements of this geometrical relationship are derived from pre-known dimensions of individual configuration of device 100 or 400.

[0045] In certain embodiments, one or more components can be assembled differently or may be used in different quantities, such as illustrated in Fig. 6, which illustrates an optional configuration of a mounting device 600, according to an embodiment of the present invention. Device 600 utilizes two horizontal rotation mounts 120 and two vertical rotation mounts 130 that provide improved stability and higher load bearing, which can be advantageous when the directional object 101, e.g., a camera, is of a higher weight, or in case the camera is mobile and being transported through rough terrain. Correspondingly, two base 110 supports are provided to facilitate firm attachment of device 600 to the carrying platform. While in certain embodiments, both rotation mounts comprise drive actuators, in other, more simplified, variants of device 600, one of the horizontal rotation mounts 120 and / or one of the vertical rotation mounts 130 are installed without a drive actuator 122 and / or 132.

[0046] Fig. 7 schematically illustrates another optional configuration of a mounting device 700, according to an embodiment of the present invention. Mounting device 700 is configured with at least one guided carriage comprising a linear ball bearing 500 adapted with a curved guideway portion 501, which corresponds with a guiding groove 711a of a circular curved guide rail 711. Namely, ball chain 503 engages guiding groove 711a and engages with the curved guideway portion 501 of linear ball bearing 500.

[0047] Fig. 8 schematically illustrates yet another optional configuration of a mounting device 800, according to an embodiment of the present invention. Mounting device 800 is similarly configured as device 400 of Fig. 4. Nevertheless, in exchange with the gear and pinion driving actuators 423 and 433 of device 400, device 800 comprises linear driving actuators 823 and 833 that are rotatable relative to the corresponding rotation mounts 820 and 830. Similar rotatable linear driving actuators 122 and 132 are discussed hereinabove in reference to Figs. 1A-1B, and in Fig. 3C.

[0048] While various configurations of the mounting device are disclosed herein above, different combinations thereof may be carried out such as in the following examples:

[0049] Example 1 is a mounting device with adjustable orientation, comprising: a) a base (e.g., 110 or 410) adapted with one or more circular curved guide rails (e.g., I l l or 412) of a predetermined radius and circular segment length; b) a first rotation mount (e.g., 120 or 420), comprising: i) one or more guided carriages (e.g., 121 or 422), slidably attached to said one or more circular curved guide rails of said base, to enable its circular curved travel around a center axis of said one or more circular curved guide rails; ii) a driving actuator (e.g., 122 or 423) that drives the curved travel of said one or more guided carriages to a desired position along said one or more circular curved guide rail of said base; and iii) one or more orthogonal circular curved guide rails (e.g., 123 or 424) that are orthogonal with respect to said one or more circular curved guide rails of said base. The mounting device also comprises c) a second rotation mount (e.g., 130 or 430), comprising: i) one or more guided carriages (e.g., 131 or 432), slidably attached to said one or more orthogonal circular curved guide rails of said first rotation mount, to enable its circular curved travel around a center axis of said one or more orthogonal circular curved guide rails; ii) a driving actuator (e.g., 132 or 433) that drives the curved travel of said one or more guided carriages of said second rotation mount to a desired position along said one or more orthogonal circular curved guide rail of said first rotation mount; and iii) an adjustable harnessing arrangement (e.g., 140) for harnessing a directional object (e.g., 101 or 401) to said second rotation mount. The mounting device may further comprise d) a control module comprising suitable hardware, software, and communication means to support the operation of said mounting device; and e) a power supply module, by which the required electric power to operate the mounting device is managed, wherein said directional object is mounted by said adjustable harnessing arrangement to said second rotation mount, and wherein by driving the guided carriages to desired positions along said circular curved guide rails and said orthogonal circular curved guide rails, the rotation, and elevation of said directional object are determined to direct said directional object to point at a desired area or object of interest through crossing points located on center axes of said circular curved guide rails.

[0050] Example 2 is a mounting device with adjustable orientation, comprising: a) a base adapted with one or more circular curved guide rails of a predetermined radius and circular segmentlength; b) a first rotation mount, comprising: i) one or more guided carriages, slidably attached to said one or more circular curved guide rails of said base, to enable its circular curved travel around a center axis of said one or more circular curved guide rails; ii) a rotatably connected linear driving actuator that drives the curved travel of said one or more guided carriages to a desired position along said one or more circular curved guide rail of said base; and iii) one or more orthogonal circular curved guide rails that are orthogonal with respect to said one or more circular curved guide rails of said base. The mounting device also comprises c) a second rotation mount, comprising: i) one or more guided carriages, slidably attached to said one or more orthogonal circular curved guide rails of said first rotation mount, to enable its circular curved travel around a center axis of said one or more orthogonal circular curved guide rails; ii) a rotatably connected linear driving actuator that drives the curved travel of said one or more guided carriages of said second rotation mount to a desired position along said one or more orthogonal circular curved guide rail of said first rotation mount; and iii)an adjustable harnessing arrangement for harnessing a directional object to said second rotation mount. The mounting device may further comprise d) a control module comprising suitable hardware, software, and communication means to support the operation of said mounting device; and e) a power supply module, by which the required electric power to operate the mounting device is managed, wherein said directional object is mounted by said adjustable harnessing arrangement to said second rotation mount, and wherein by driving the guided carriages to desired positions along said circular curved guide rails and said orthogonal circular curved guide rails, the rotation, and elevation of said directional object are determined to direct said directional object to point at a desired area or object of interest through crossing points located on center axes of said circular curved guide rails.

[0051] Example 3 is a mounting device with adjustable orientation, comprising: a) a base adapted with one or more circular curved guide rails of a predetermined radius and circular segment length; b) a first rotation mount, comprising: i) one or more guided carriages, slidably attached to said one or more circular curved guide rails of said base, to enable its circular curved travel around a center axis of said one or more circular curved guide rails, wherein at least one of said one or more guided carriages comprises a linear ball bearing adapted with a curved guideway portion; ii) a driving actuator that drives the curved travel of said one or more guided carriages to a desired position along said one or more circular curved guide rail of said base; and iii) oneor more orthogonal circular curved guide rails that are orthogonal with respect to said one or more circular curved guide rails of said base. The mounting device also comprises c) a second rotation mount, comprising: i) one or more guided carriages, slidably attached to said one or more orthogonal circular curved guide rails of said first rotation mount, to enable its circular curved travel around a center axis of said one or more orthogonal circular curved guide rails, wherein at least one of said one or more guided carriages comprises a linear ball bearing adapted with a curved guideway portion; ii) a driving actuator that drives the curved travel of said one or more guided carriages of said second rotation mount to a desired position along said one or more orthogonal circular curved guide rail of said first rotation mount; and iii)an adjustable harnessing arrangement for harnessing a directional object to said second rotation mount. The mounting device may further comprise d) a control module comprising suitable hardware, software, and communication means to support the operation of said mounting device; and e) a power supply module, by which the required electric power to operate the mounting device is managed, wherein said directional object is mounted by said adjustable harnessing arrangement to said second rotation mount, and wherein by driving the guided carriages to desired positions along said circular curved guide rails and said orthogonal circular curved guide rails, the rotation, and elevation of said directional object are determined to direct said directional object to point at a desired area or object of interest through crossing points located on center axes of said circular curved guide rails.

[0052] Example 4 is a mounting device with adjustable orientation, comprising: a) a base adapted with one or more circular curved guide rails of a predetermined radius and circular segment length; b) a first rotation mount, comprising: i) one or more guided carriages, slidably attached to said one or more circular curved guide rails of said base, to enable its circular curved travel around a center axis of said one or more circular curved guide rails, wherein at least one of said one or more guided carriages comprises a linear ball bearing adapted with a curved guideway portion; ii) a rotatably connected linear driving actuator that drives the curved travel of said one or more guided carriages to a desired position along said one or more circular curved guide rail of said base; and iii) one or more orthogonal circular curved guide rails that are orthogonal with respect to said one or more circular curved guide rails of said base. The mounting device also comprises c) a second rotation mount, comprising: i) one or more guided carriages, slidably attached to said one or more orthogonal circular curved guide rails of said first rotation mount,to enable its circular curved travel around a center axis of said one or more orthogonal circular curved guide rails, wherein at least one of said one or more guided carriages comprises a linear ball bearing adapted with a curved guideway portion; ii) a rotatably connected linear driving actuator that drives the curved travel of said one or more guided carriages of said second rotation mount to a desired position along said one or more orthogonal circular curved guide rail of said first rotation mount; and iii)an adjustable harnessing arrangement for harnessing a directional object to said second rotation mount. The mounting device may further comprise d) a control module comprising suitable hardware, software, and communication means to support the operation of said mounting device; and e) a power supply module, by which the required electric power to operate the mounting device is managed, wherein said directional object is mounted by said adjustable harnessing arrangement to said second rotation mount, and wherein by driving the guided carriages to desired positions along said circular curved guide rails and said orthogonal circular curved guide rails, the rotation, and elevation of said directional object are determined to direct said directional object to point at a desired area or object of interest through crossing points located on center axes of said circular curved guide rails.

[0053] Example 5 is a mounting device as in any of the above examples, where one or more of the driving actuators may be controlled by a control module comprising suitable hardware, software, and communication means to support the operation of the mounting device; and a power supply module, by which the required electric power to operate the mounting device is managed. Otherwise, one or more of the driving actuators may be manually operated, such as by a manual drive mechanism, e.g., comprising suitable knobs and / or buttons. Furthermore, in any of the examples above, the driving actuator may comprise a ball screw or gear and pinion arrangements that may be driven manually or by a motor, such as a step motor.

[0054] Example 6 is a mounting device as in any of the above examples, where one or more circular curved guide rails are adapted with one or more longitudinal guiding protrusions or grooves in one or more sides thereof, where corresponding guided carriages comprise roller wheels or linear ball bearing adapted to the guiding protrusions or grooves. For instance, Fig. 9 schematically illustrates a curved guide rail 901 adapted with two opposed longitudinal grooves 901a. Further illustrated in Fig. 9 is a guided carriage that comprises a curved linear ball bearing 902 with two opposed ball chains 503 that engage with the two opposed longitudinalgrooves.901a. Unlike the linear ball bearing of Fig. 5, ball bearing 902 is configured with both sides of guideway 501 (i.e., including the return guideway 502) shaped with a curve that corresponds to the curvature of grooves.901a. Such a design provides an improved clinging of the guided carriages to rail 901 and improved load distribution in the coupling thereof.

[0055] Example 7 is a mounting device, as in any of the above examples, where one or more guided carriages comprise an adjustable damping arrangement, such as illustrated in Fig. 1C.

[0056] Example 8 is a mounting device, as in any of the above examples, where the first and second rotation mounts are assembled with interrelated positions in which the horizontal and vertical crossing points merge into a single crossing point located at the intersection of the center axes of the circular curved guide rails of said base, and of said orthogonal circular curved guide rails of said first rotation mount.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A mounting device with adjustable orientation, comprising: a) a base adapted with one or more circular curved guide rails of a predetermined radius and circular segment length; b) a first rotation mount, comprising: i. one or more guided carriages, slidably attached to said one or more circular curved guide rails of said base, to enable its circular curved travel around a center axis of said one or more circular curved guide rails; ii. a driving actuator that drives the curved travel of said one or more guided carriages to a desired position along said one or more circular curved guide rail of said base; and iii. one or more orthogonal circular curved guide rails that are orthogonal with respect to said one or more circular curved guide rails of said base, c) a second rotation mount, comprising: i. one or more guided carriages, slidably attached to said one or more orthogonal circular curved guide rails of said first rotation mount, to enable its circular curved travel around a center axis of said one or more orthogonal circular curved guide rails; ii. a driving actuator that drives the curved travel of said one or more guided carriages of said second rotation mount to a desired position along said one or more orthogonal circular curved guide rail of said first rotation mount; and iii. a harnessing arrangement for harnessing a directional object to said second rotation mount, wherein said directional object is mounted by said adjustable harnessing arrangement to said second rotation mount, and wherein by driving the guided carriages to desired positions along said circular curved guide rails and said orthogonal circular curved guide rails, the rotation, and elevation of said directional object are determined to direct said directional object to point at a desired area or object of interest through crossing points located on center axes of said circular curved guide rails.

2. A mounting device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second rotation mounts are relatively positioned such that the crossing points merge into a single crossing point located at the intersection of the center axes of the circular curved guide rails of said base, and of said orthogonal circular curved guide rails of said first rotation mount.

3. A mounting device according to claim 1, further comprises a control module comprising suitable hardware, software, and communication means to support the operation of said mounting device.

4. A mounting device according to claim 1, further comprises a power supply module, by which the required electric power to operate the mounting device is managed.

5. A mounting device according to any of claims 1-4, wherein the driving actuator is a rotatably connected linear driving actuator, rotatably connected with said mounting device.

6. A mounting device according to claim 5, wherein the linear driving device comprises a motorized ball screw arrangement.

7. A mounting device according to any of claims 1-6, wherein at least one of the one or more guided carriages comprises a coupling arrangement of three or more roller wheels.

8. A mounting device according to claim 7, wherein at least one of the circular curved guide rails and the orthogonal circular curved guide rails are adapted with one or more longitudinal protrusions, and the three or more roller wheels of the corresponding guided carriages are concaved, providing a tight fitness therebetween.

9. A mounting device according to any of claims 1-8, wherein at least one of the circular curved guide rails and the orthogonal circular curved guide rails comprises one or more curved guiding grooves, and the corresponding guided carriages comprise a linear ball bearing adapted with a correspondingly curved guideway portion.

10. A mounting device according to claim 1, wherein the first rotation mount is interlaced with the base, and the second rotation mount is assembled thereto with a directional object residing within the space bounded between said base and said second rotation mount.

11. A mounting device according to any of claims 1-10, wherein one or more of the one or more guided carriages comprises an adjustable damping arrangement.

12. A mounting device according to any of claims 1, wherein the driving actuator is a manual drive mechanism.

13. A mounting device with adjustable orientation, comprising:a) a base adapted with one or more circular curved guide rails of a predetermined radius and circular segment length; b) a first rotation mount, comprising: i. one or more guided carriages, slidably attached to said one or more circular curved guide rails of said base, to enable its circular curved travel around a center axis of said one or more circular curved guide rails; ii. a rotatably connected linear driving actuator that drives the curved travel of said one or more guided carriages to a desired position along said one or more circular curved guide rails of said base; and iii. one or more orthogonal circular curved guide rails that are orthogonal with respect to said one or more circular curved guide rails of said base, c) a second rotation mount, comprising: i. one or more guided carriages, slidably attached to said one or more orthogonal circular curved guide rails of said first rotation mount, to enable its circular curved travel around a center axis of said one or more orthogonal circular curved guide rails; ii. a rotatably connected linear driving actuator that drives the curved travel of said one or more guided carriages of said second rotation mount to a desired position along said one or more orthogonal circular curved guide rail of said first rotation mount; and iii. an adjustable harnessing arrangement for harnessing a directional object to said second rotation mount, wherein said directional object is mounted by said adjustable harnessing arrangement to said second rotation mount, and wherein by driving the guided carriages to desired positions along said circular curved guide rails and said orthogonal circular curved guide rails, the rotation, and elevation of said directional object are determined to direct said directional object to point at a desired area or object of interest through crossing points located on center axes of said circular curved guide rails.

14. A mounting device with adjustable orientation, comprising: a) a base adapted with one or more circular curved guide rails of a predetermined radius and circular segment length; b) a first rotation mount, comprising:i. one or more guided carriages, slidably attached to said one or more circular curved guide rails of said base, to enable its circular curved travel around a center axis of said one or more circular curved guide rails, wherein at least one of said one or more guided carriages comprises a linear ball bearing adapted with a curved guideway portion; ii. a driving actuator that drives the curved travel of said one or more guided carriages to a desired position along said one or more circular curved guide rail of said base; and iii. one or more orthogonal circular curved guide rails that are orthogonal with respect to said one or more circular curved guide rails of said base, c) a second rotation mount, comprising: i. one or more guided carriages, slidably attached to said one or more orthogonal circular curved guide rails of said first rotation mount, to enable its circular curved travel around a center axis of said one or more orthogonal circular curved guide rails, wherein at least one of said one or more guided carriages comprises a linear ball bearing adapted with a curved guideway portion; ii. a driving actuator that drives the curved travel of said one or more guided carriages of said second rotation mount to a desired position along said one or more orthogonal circular curved guide rail of said first rotation mount; and iii. an adjustable harnessing arrangement for harnessing a directional object to said second rotation mount, wherein said directional object is mounted by said adjustable harnessing arrangement to said second rotation mount, and wherein by driving the guided carriages to desired positions along said circular curved guide rails and said orthogonal circular curved guide rails, the rotation, and elevation of said directional object are determined to direct said directional object to point at a desired area or object of interest through crossing points located on center axes of said circular curved guide rails.

15. A mounting device with adjustable orientation, comprising: a) a base adapted with one or more circular curved guide rails of a predetermined radius and circular segment length; b) a first rotation mount, comprising:i. one or more guided carriages, slidably attached to said one or more circular curved guide rails of said base, to enable its circular curved travel around a center axis of said one or more circular curved guide rails, wherein at least one of said one or more guided carriages comprises a linear ball bearing adapted with a curved guideway portion; ii. a rotatably connected linear driving actuator that drives the curved travel of said one or more guided carriages to a desired position along said one or more circular curved guide rails of said base; and iii. one or more orthogonal circular curved guide rails that are orthogonal with respect to said one or more circular curved guide rails of said base, c) a second rotation mount, comprising: i. one or more guided carriages, slidably attached to said one or more orthogonal circular curved guide rails of said first rotation mount, to enable its circular curved travel around a center axis of said one or more orthogonal circular curved guide rails, wherein at least one of said one or more guided carriages comprises a linear ball bearing adapted with a curved guideway portion; ii. a rotatably connected linear driving actuator that drives the curved travel of said one or more guided carriages of said second rotation mount to a desired position along said one or more orthogonal circular curved guide rail of said first rotation mount; and iii. an adjustable harnessing arrangement for harnessing a directional object to said second rotation mount, wherein said directional object is mounted by said adjustable harnessing arrangement to said second rotation mount, and wherein by driving the guided carriages to desired positions along said circular curved guide rails and said orthogonal circular curved guide rails, the rotation, and elevation of said directional object are determined to direct said directional object to point at a desired area or object of interest through crossing points located on center axes of said circular curved guide rails.

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