360-DEGREE GIMBAL SYSTEM

摘要

A 360-degree gimbal device includes an upright support, a pan motor rotatably coupled with a hollow shaft mounted on the support, a slip ring disposed in the hollow shaft, a first arm having a proximal end attached to the pan motor so that the first arm is freely rotatable 360° about a pan axis, a roll motor connected with a distal end of the first arm, a second arm having a proximal end attached to the roll motor so that the second arm is rotatable 270° about a roll axis, a tilt motor connected with a distal end of the second arm, a holder attached to the tilt motor so that the holder is rotatable ±60° about a tilt axis. The gimbal device is in wireless communication with a mobile device which has a mobile application for generating a plurality of image-shooting modes based on a plurality of customized paths.

主权项

1. A 360-degree gimbal device (10) comprising:
(a) an upright support (12); (b) a pan motor (14) rotatably coupled with a hollow shaft (16) mounted on an upper open end of the upright support (12); (c) a slip ring (18) disposed within the hollow shaft (16); (d) a first arm (20) having a proximal end attached to the pan motor (14) such that the first arm (20) is freely rotatable 360° relative to the upright support (12) about a pan axis (x); (e) a roll motor (24) connected with a distal end of the first arm (20); (f) a second arm (26) having a proximal end attached to a rotatable part of the roll motor (24) such that the second arm (26) is rotatable 270° relative to the first arm (20) about a roll axis (y) perpendicular to the pan axis (x); (g) a tilt motor (34) connected with a distal end of the second arm (26); (h) an image-capturing device holder (36) attached to a rotatable part of the tilt motor (34) such that the holder (36) is rotatable ±60° relative to a horizontal plane perpendicular to the upright support (12) about a tilt axis (z) orthogonal to the pan and roll axes (x, y); (i) a wireless communication unit (62) for wirelessly receiving and transmitting signals between the gimbal device (10) and a mobile device (64), the mobile device (64) comprising a mobile application for generating a plurality of image-shooting modes based on a plurality of customized paths; (j) a center processing unit (66) for converting command signals from the wireless communication unit (62) to pulse width modulation (PWM) signals, and processing motion signals including gyroscope and acceleration signals and converting these signals into angle signals; (k) a motor controller (68) electrically connected with the pan, roll and tilt motors (14, 24, 34) and used for receiving the PWM signals from the center processing unit (66) and providing corresponding voltages to drive the pan, roll and tilt motors (14, 24, 34) thereby generating angular motions in the pan, roll, tilt axes (x, y, z) respectively; and (l) an inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensor (70) for sensing the angular motion of the gimbal device in each axis in every looping.