Motorized monopod jib for cameras

Number: 10551724
Published: 2020-02-04
Filed: 2016-09-26
Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
Inventors: Roberts; Vincent H., Salter; Kenneth D., Accardo; Anthony M., Farre Guiu; Miquel Angel, Niemeyer; Gunter
CPC: H04N23/695; F16M13/04; H04N23/66; F16M11/18; G03B17/561; F16M11/2071; F16M11/10
Verdict: Low Hardware
Source: Google Patents · FreePatentsOnline

The keeper's note

Motorized camera jib rig hardware.

Abstract

One embodiment provides a monopole for a camera, including: a pole of length sufficient for two handed operation; an offset arrangement attached to an end of the pole, the offset arrangement comprising a first element connected at an angle to the end of the pole and a second element connected to the first element; the first element rotating about a first axis with respect to the end of the pole; the second element rotating about a second axis with respect to the first element; a camera mount attached to the second element, wherein the camera mount rotates about a third axis with respect to the second element; and at least one motor aligned with the first, the second or the third axis and imparting movement to the camera mount with respect to the pole in at least one degree of freedom selected from the group consisting of tilt, pan and roll. Other aspects are described and claimed.

Background

BACKGROUND(1) Counterbalancing arrangements for cameras attempt to provide stabilization to the camera during mobile use. For example, a conventional counterbalancing arrangement includes a camera mounting portion, e.g., a platform to which the camera attaches to, and a counterbalance, e.g., a counterbalancing arm. Counterbalancing systems act like a suspension to isolate the camera from roll and pitch disturbances. The counterbalance is arranged such that the camera is attached to a pendulum which acts as a low pass filter.(2) Counterbalancing arrangements for cameras, examples including the “FLOWPOD”, produced by VariZoom, and the Mini Motion-Cam Stabilizer, produced by Hague, therefore conceptually provide stability to a camera mounted on the arrangement. Counterbalancing is useful or even necessary in certain circumstances, e.g., maintaining stability of the camera when it is moved about, e.g., by a camera operator walking while capturing video.(3) A variety of camera moving devices are used in film and broadcasting as well. These camera moving devices include dollies for lateral tracking shots, jib cranes for horizontal and vertical tracking shots, and camera car mounts for external tracking shots of actors in a moving automobile. Also, other difficult to set up shots employ ad-hoc solutions. For example, such solutions include a doggie cam (producing low tracking shot), a parade cam (producing a shot peering over the head and shoulders in a crowd), a foxhole cam (produc

Claims

1. A motorized monopod jib for a camera, comprising: a pole; an offset arrangement attached to an end of the pole, the offset arrangement comprising: a first element; and a second element, wherein an end of the first element is attached to the pole and the second element is attached to an opposite end of the first element, the first element rotatable about a first axis with respect to the end of the pole and the second element rotatable about a second axis with respect to the first element; a camera mount attached to the second element, wherein the camera mount is rotatable about a third axis with respect to the second element; one or more orientation sensors configured to determine at least an orientation of the pole; and at least one motor configured to impart at least a pan movement to the camera mount by controlling rotation of the second element about the second axis with respect to the first element. 16. A method for operating a camera attached to a monopole, comprising: grasping the monopole with one or more hands; the monopole comprising: a pole having an offset arrangement attached to an end of the pole, the offset arrangement comprising: a first element, and a second element, wherein an end of the first element is attached to the pole and the second element is attached to an opposite end of the first element, the first element rotatable about a first axis with respect to the end of the pole and the second element rotatable about a second axis with respect to the first element, a camera mount attached to the second element, wherein the camera mount is rotatable about a third axis with respect to the second element; one or more orientation sensors configured to determine at least an orientation of the pole; and at least one motor; and imparting, using the at least one motor, at least a pan movement to the camera mount by controlling rotation of the second element about the second axis with respect to the first element. 20. A system, comprising: a monopole for a camera, comprising: a pole of length sufficient for two-handed operation; an offset arrangement attached to an end of the pole, the offset arrangement comprising: a first element, and a second element, wherein an end of the first element is attached to the pole and the second element is attached to an opposite end of the first element, the first element rotatable about a first axis with respect to the end of the pole and the second element rotatable about a second axis with respect to the first element; a camera mount attached to the second element, wherein the camera mount is rotatable about a third axis with respect to the second element; one or more orientation sensors configured to determine at least an orientation of the pole; and at least one motor configured to impart at least a pan movement to the camera mount by controlling rotation of the second element about the second axis with respect to the first element.