Inductive Position Sensors for Camera Support Precision
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing camera support systems face challenges in precise positioning and accurate measurement of professional video cameras due to sensitivity to contamination, humidity, axial misalignment, and shock/vibration, which increases maintenance and costs, and requires multiple optical encoders for high-resolution data.
Innovation Solution
The use of inductive position sensors attached to the rotational output and input devices of a drive train, providing continuous magnetic fields for high-resolution data on rotational displacement, allowing for precise and repeatable positioning of the camera, and reducing sensitivity to environmental factors and axial misalignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If optical encoders are used for position sensing, then measurement precision is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to sensitivity to contamination and humidity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces optical encoders with inductive sensors that use magnetic fields instead of optical fields. This substitution eliminates the sensitivity to contamination and humidity that plagues optical systems, while maintaining high measurement precision through inductive coupling between transmitter and receiver coils.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameter used for sensing from optical properties to electromagnetic inductance. By measuring changes in inductive coupling between coils as a function of position, the system achieves accurate position sensing without the environmental sensitivities of optical encoders.
2Measurement precision
If optical encoders are used for position sensing, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases due to sensitivity to axial misalignment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces optical encoders with inductive sensors that use magnetic fields instead of optical fields. This substitution eliminates the sensitivity to contamination and humidity that plagues optical systems, while maintaining high measurement precision through inductive coupling between transmitter and receiver coils.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameter used for sensing from optical properties to electromagnetic inductance. By measuring changes in inductive coupling between coils as a function of position, the system achieves accurate position sensing without the environmental sensitivities of optical encoders.
3Measurement precision
If optical encoders are used for position sensing, then measurement precision is improved, but robustness deteriorates due to sensitivity to shock and vibrations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces optical encoders with inductive sensors that use magnetic fields instead of optical fields. This substitution eliminates the sensitivity to contamination and humidity that plagues optical systems, while maintaining high measurement precision through inductive coupling between transmitter and receiver coils.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameter used for sensing from optical properties to electromagnetic inductance. By measuring changes in inductive coupling between coils as a function of position, the system achieves accurate position sensing without the environmental sensitivities of optical encoders.
4Measurement precision
If two optical encoders are used for accurate positioning, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the inductive sensor system multi-functional by using it to sense both the position of the pan mechanism and the tilt mechanism. A single inductive sensor can replace multiple optical encoders by measuring position through magnetic field coupling variations, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining positioning accuracy.
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
This solution enables accurate and repeatable positioning of the camera with reduced maintenance and costs, improved robustness against environmental factors, and ease of assembly, while providing high-resolution data for precise control systems.
Implementation Method 1
an inductive position sensor attached to a rotational output of a drive train; wherein the inductance sensed by the position sensor is indicative of the rotational displacement of the rotational output
Data Source
AI summary
A camera support apparatus for supporting a video camera comprises a drive train device (1), a first inductive position sensor (23), (14) attached to a rotational output device (11) of the drive train device (10), and a second inductive position sensor (2), (3) attached to a rotational input device (4) which is operably connected to the drive train device (1), whereby the inductance sensed by the first position sensor (23), (14) is indicative of the rotational displacement of the rotational output device (11) and the inductance sensed by the second position sensor (2), (3) is indicative of the rotational displacement of the rotational input device (4).