Panoramic Gimbal Mount With Nodal Slide for Precise Image Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing panoramic camera systems face challenges in aligning and assembling multiple images to produce a seamless panoramic view, especially when the camera is not properly centered on a rotatable mount, leading to aberrations and distortions at the edge regions.
Innovation Solution
A panoramic gimbal device with adjustable clamps, rails, and a nodal slide system that allows for precise alignment and adjustment of the camera, reducing parallax and enabling the capture of high-quality panoramic images.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If multiple images are captured and assembled to create a panoramic view, then the panoramic coverage area is improved, but alignment precision deteriorates due to camera miscentering on the rotatable mount
Solution Approach 1:
The panoramic imaging system is segmented into multiple independent image capture units, each capable of being precisely positioned and oriented. By dividing the panoramic view into multiple discrete image segments that can be independently aligned and then assembled, the system achieves both wide coverage and high alignment precision, resolving the contradiction between panoramic area and alignment accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
A specialized rotatable mount with centering adjustment mechanisms serves as an intermediary between the camera and the panoramic view. This intermediary device provides precise positioning and alignment capabilities, allowing the camera to be accurately centered on the rotation axis, thereby ensuring high alignment precision while capturing comprehensive panoramic coverage
2Ease of operation
If the camera is not properly centered on the rotatable mount, then ease of operation is improved, but image quality deteriorates due to aberrations and distortions at edge regions
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates preliminary centering adjustment mechanisms that are built into the rotatable mount structure. These pre-configured adjustment features allow users to quickly and easily center the camera on the rotation axis before capturing panoramic images, eliminating the need for complex external alignment tools while ensuring high image quality without edge distortions
3Manufacturing precision
If a complex adjustment system is used to properly center the camera, then image alignment precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The centering adjustment mechanisms are merged directly into the rotatable mount structure itself, combining the mounting function and the centering adjustment function into a single integrated device. This eliminates the need for separate complex external alignment systems while maintaining high centering precision, thereby reducing overall device complexity while achieving accurate camera positioning
Data Source
AI summary
A support for an imaging device includes a first rotatable assembly supportable by a support that rotates in a generally horizontal plane and a horizontal locking member. The imaging device includes a second rotatable assembly that rotates in a generally vertical plane.