Camera Cage Stabilization With Ring Bearing and 360° Rotation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing camera stabilization systems are either heavy and inflexible, requiring significant operator skill and strength, or suffer from angular interaction issues due to collocated gyro sensors, limiting their effectiveness in handheld and flexible applications.
Innovation Solution
A camera cage system with a ring bearing and motor, where the motor and ring bearing are connected at a variable distance, allowing for adjustable placement and enabling smooth camera motion with a motor control board and gyroscopic sensors, and utilizing slip-ring connections for full 360-degree rotation without wire twisting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If heavy flywheel gyros and power-packs are used for camera stabilization, then stabilization performance is improved, but system weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces heavy mechanical flywheel gyro systems with electronic sensors (accelerometers and gyroscopes) combined with electronic control. The stabilization is achieved through electronic feedback control that actuates lightweight elements rather than relying on heavy mechanical gyroscopes, thus maintaining stabilization performance while dramatically reducing system weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental parameters of the stabilization system by transitioning from mechanical mass-based stabilization (flywheels) to electronic sensor-based stabilization. This parameter change allows the system to achieve comparable stabilization performance with significantly reduced mass and inertia.
2Device complexity
If collocated gyro sensors are used in angular rate sensors, then device integration is improved, but angular interaction problems occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the sensing functions by using separate accelerometers and gyroscopes rather than collocated gyro sensors. This segmentation allows independent measurement of linear acceleration and angular velocity, eliminating the angular interaction problems that arise when sensors are collocated and interfere with each other's measurements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an electronic processing intermediary that separately processes signals from accelerometers and gyroscopes. This intermediary approach allows the system to handle the measurements from different sensor types independently before combining them in the control algorithm, avoiding direct angular interaction between collocated sensors.
3Manufacturing precision
If fixed dimensional camera modules are used, then manufacturing precision is improved, but system flexibility decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the camera module dimensional parameters dynamic and adjustable rather than fixed. The modular design allows the dimensions and configuration of the camera module to be changed based on the specific camera and lens combination being used, providing flexibility in weight capacity and dimensional requirements while maintaining manufacturing precision through standardized interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal camera module design that can accommodate multiple different camera and lens configurations. The standardized interface and adjustable dimensional parameters allow a single module type to serve multiple functions with different cameras, eliminating the need for different fixed-dimensional modules for each lens type.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system provides a lightweight, flexible, and adjustable camera stabilization that maintains stability over a wide range of angular positions and frequencies, simplifying motion control and reducing operator strain, while allowing full 360-degree rotation without mechanical restrictions.
Implementation Method 1
a ring bearing and a motor whose motor axis is coaxial with a central axis of the ring bearing
Implementation Method 2
a motor control board and gyroscopic sensors
Implementation Method 3
a motor whose motor axis is coaxial with a central axis of the ring bearing
Implementation Method 4
utilizing slip-ring connections for full 360-degree rotation without wire twisting
Data Source
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AI summary
This invention relates generally to camera stabilization systems and more particularly to an improved lightweight hand-held or vehicle-mounted camera stabilization system, for use in photographic or video-related applications. A stabilization of the alignment is critical in particular on moving camera supports, such as vehicles, airborne objects, and camera cranes, in order to achieve the best possible results in film or video recordings.