Nested-Ring Camera Mount for Active Roll and Tilt Stabilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing camera stabilization devices restrict creative image design due to limitations in camera movement, imbalance, and difficulty in compensating for misalignments, especially when trying to move the camera vertically or change the viewing angle, and are often heavy and inert, making them difficult to use agilely.
Innovation Solution
A camera stabilization device with a camera mounting system featuring nested rings and motion sensors that allow for precise control of the camera's orientation along both roll and tilt axes, maintaining alignment through active stabilization and minimizing unwanted movements, along with a modular design for improved usability and balance adjustment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a roll cage is used as a camera mounting device with motors for alignment, then the camera can be moved vertically, but the system becomes heavy and inert, making agile use difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The camera mounting device is segmented into multiple independent rotational stages: a first ring element rotatable about a tilt axis and a second ring element rotatable about a roll axis. This segmentation allows independent control of each degree of freedom, reducing the need for heavy single-stage motors and enabling more agile camera positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The second ring element is mounted within the first ring element, creating a nested structure. This nesting allows compact arrangement of multiple rotational mechanisms, reducing overall system size and weight while maintaining full camera orientation control capability.
2Device complexity
If the camera is fixed at a 90° angle to the pendulum arm, then the structure is simple, but the viewing angle cannot be changed, restricting creative image design
Solution Approach 1:
The camera mounting device transitions from a fixed angular position to a dynamic, adjustable configuration. The first ring element enables tilt angle adjustment, and the second ring element enables roll angle adjustment, allowing the camera to achieve any orientation rather than being locked at 90° to the pendulum arm.
Solution Approach 2:
The nested ring structure provides universal orientation capability, allowing the camera to point in any direction (up, down, left, right, or any intermediate angle). This multi-functional mounting device replaces multiple fixed-angle configurations with a single adjustable system.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the roll cage is connected to the pendulum arm via a cross table, then the structure is stable, but the center of gravity moves away from the actual center of gravity, creating imbalance
Solution Approach 1:
The invention accepts and compensates for the asymmetric position of the camera mounting device relative to the pendulum arm's center of gravity. By using actively controlled ring elements with motors, the system can operate effectively even when the camera is positioned away from the geometric center, maintaining balance through active control rather than requiring symmetric placement.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from motion sensors to detect deviations from the target alignment and automatically adjusts the ring element positions to compensate for imbalance. This closed-loop control allows the camera to maintain stable orientation despite the asymmetric mounting configuration.
4Measurement precision
If motion sensors and active stabilization are added to control ring elements, then precise camera orientation is achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces heavy mechanical stabilization mechanisms with an active electronic stabilization system using motion sensors and controlled ring elements. Instead of relying on purely mechanical balance and counterweights, the system uses sensors to detect movement and motors to actively maintain camera orientation, achieving precision with a more compact and controllable system.
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
Enables greater creative freedom in camera movement, improved balance, and reduced effort in maintaining camera orientation, allowing for smooth vertical and horizontal panning while maintaining stability and reducing the weight and inertness of the system.
Implementation Method 1
a first ring element mounted in the holding frame and rotatable about a tilt axis
Implementation Method 2
a second ring element mounted within the first ring element and rotatable about a roll axis
Implementation Method 3
a stabilization arrangement with at least one motion sensor, in particular an inertial sensor and/or acceleration sensor, for detecting movements affecting a camera attached to the camera attachment device
Implementation Method 4
for rotating the first ring element around the tilt axis and the second ring element around the roll axis controllable drive means and a control device designed to compensate for movements of the camera from a target alignment detected by means of the at least one motion sensor by control of the drive means
Implementation Method 5
The entire camera stabilization system that is thus formed is designed in such a way that the assembly of camera and camera stabilization device can perform a pendulum movement with respect to the body
Implementation Method 6
a counterweight is usually provided on a second side opposite the first side of the pendulum arm on which the camera is attached, the camera being provided in particular on one end of the pendulum arm and the counterweight usually being provided on the other end of the pendulum arm
Data Source
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AI summary
Camera stabilization device (1), having an elongate pendulum arm (2) that can be gimballed via a coupling device (3) and has a camera mounting device (4) on a first side of the coupling device (3), the camera mounting device (4) comprising: - an outer Holding frame (5), which is attached to the pendulum arm (2), - a first ring element (6) mounted in the holding frame (5) and rotatable about a tilt axis (19), - a second ring element (6) inside the first ring element (6) a second ring element (7) mounted rotatably about a roll axis (20) perpendicular to the tilt axis (19), in particular concentrically to the first ring element (6), - a camera fastening device (8) fastened to the second ring element (7), and - a Stabilizing arrangement (26) with at least one motion sensor (24) for detecting movements affecting a camera (9) attached to the camera attachment device (8), for rotating the first ring element (6) about the tilt axis (19) and the second ring element (7) about the roll axis (20) controllable drive means (18, 21) and for compensating for the at least one movement sensor (24) detected movements of the camera from a target orientation by controlling the drive means (18, 21) trained control device (24).