Shoulder-Rig Follow Focus With Flexible Shaft Remote Lens Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current manual focusing systems, such as 'Follow focus' devices, are limited in their ability to allow cameramen to control sharpness, zoom, and iris while carrying a camera on a shoulder rig, as they require one hand to operate, leading to instability and difficulty in dynamic movements.
Innovation Solution
A device with a flexible shaft and serrated wheel connected to a shoulder pad handle, allowing remote control of camera settings through a knob, reducing friction with a low-diameter steel cable and optional ball bearings, enabling simultaneous control of sharpness, zoom, and iris with both hands on the pad.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a traditional Follow focus device is used with a tripod-mounted camera, then the camera remains stable and stationary, but the cameraman cannot dynamically follow moving subjects while maintaining control of sharpness and zoom
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the control system into two independent parts: the camera mounting system (shoulder pad) and the control system (Follow focus with flexible shaft). This allows the camera to be dynamically positioned on the shoulder while the control mechanisms remain accessible on the shoulder pad handles, enabling both dynamic operation and ease of control simultaneously
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible shaft acts as an intermediary element that transmits rotational control from the shoulder pad handles to the camera lens without requiring direct physical connection. This mediator allows the cameraman to control sharpness and zoom from a remote location (shoulder pad) while maintaining camera stability during dynamic movement
2Ease of operation
If the cameraman uses one hand to operate the Follow focus device, then control of sharpness is possible, but camera stability decreases and movement-induced risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The control functions are segmented and distributed to both shoulder pad handles, allowing the cameraman to operate sharpness control with one hand while maintaining camera stability with the other hand, eliminating the need to choose between control and stability
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the camera support function and the control function into a single integrated shoulder pad system. Both the camera mounting and the control mechanisms are combined in the shoulder pad, allowing the cameraman to simultaneously support the camera and operate controls without compromising either function
3Ease of operation
If a flexible shaft with steel cable is used to transmit rotation, then remote control is enabled, but friction and resistance to movement occur
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces a rigid direct mechanical connection with a flexible shaft and steel cable system. This substitution enables remote control transmission while reducing friction through the flexible cable mechanism, allowing smooth rotation transmission over distance with minimal resistance
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical parameters of the transmission system by using a steel cable with optimized diameter and material properties. The cable parameters are selected to minimize internal friction and resistance, enabling efficient rotational force transmission from the shoulder pad handles to the camera lens controls
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 comfortable and stable control of camera settings from the shoulder pad, reducing movement-induced risks and allowing dynamic camera operation by distributing the control mechanism across both handles, enhancing precision and ease of use.
Implementation Method 1
whose particularity is to cause low internal friction to said cable, thus allowing the system to operate
Implementation Method 2
bearings or ball bearings mounted on the ends of said flexible shaft serving to guide and support rotating members that are the end pieces
Implementation Method 3
the function said pads or said ball bearing bearings being to reduce friction and therefore to reduce the resistance to movement
Data Source
Figure 1A~2
Figure 1B
Figure 3~7
AI summary
The invention relates to a device for mechanically and remotely controlling the sharpness and/or the zoom and/or the iris of a lens of a video camera and/or still camera from the handle of a shoulder rest, characterized in that it consists of a flexible shaft consisting of a cable (6) that is surrounded by a sheath (7) and connected, at either end thereof, to an end piece, the first end piece being connected to a scroll wheel (1) that is either attached to said handle (4) via a flange or provided directly on said handle (4), the second end piece (13) being connected to a system known as a follow focus system to a person skilled in the art, in order to move the ring of the lens of said video camera and/or still camera, with a view to controlling the sharpness and/or the zoom and/or the iris from said handle (4) rotating the ring of the lens when said scroll wheel (1) is actuated by the user from said handle (4). The invention is suitable for use in capturing cinematic and audiovisual images.