Gimbal

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10054842-B2
Application number	US-201615390779-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 27, 2016
Priority date	Jun 27, 2014
Publication date	Aug 21, 2018
Grant date	Aug 21, 2018

Abstract

A gimbal includes a first support frame, a second support frame, a third support frame, and a center of gravity adjusting unit. The first support frame includes two first pillars and a guiding post connected between the two first pillars and approximately perpendicular to the two first pillars. The guiding post is configured to carry an imaging device. The second support frame includes two second pillars hinged with the two first pillars, respectively. The third support frame includes a third pillar and a connecting plate. One end of the third pillar is connected to the two second pillars. The connecting plate is connected to another end of the third pillar. The center of gravity adjusting unit is provided in one of the two first pillars, the guiding post, or the connecting plate, and configured to adjust a center of gravity of the gimbal.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A gimbal for carrying an imaging device, comprising:
a first support frame comprising:
two first pillars; and
a guiding post connected between the two first pillars and approximately perpendicular to the two first pillars, the guiding post being configured to carry the imaging device;

a second support frame comprising two second pillars hinged with the two first pillars, respectively;
a third support frame comprising:
a third pillar, one end of the third pillar being connected to the two second pillars; and
a connecting plate connected to another end of the third pillar; and

a center of gravity adjusting unit provided in one of the two first pillars, the guiding post, or the connecting plate, and configured to adjust a center of gravity of the gimbal, the center of gravity adjusting unit including:
a threaded rod;
a weight threaded on the threaded rod; and
a driving device connected with one end of the threaded rod,
wherein the weight is configured to move along a longitudinal direction of the threaded rod when the driving device drives the threaded rod to rotate.

2. The gimbal of claim 1 , wherein the center of gravity adjusting unit is provided within one of the two first pillars.

3. The gimbal of claim 1 , wherein the center of gravity adjusting unit is provided within the guiding post.

4. The gimbal of claim 1 , wherein the center of gravity adjusting unit is provided within the connecting plate.

5. The gimbal of claim 1 ,
wherein the center of gravity adjusting unit is a first center of gravity adjusting unit provided within one of the two first pillars,
the gimbal further comprising:
a second center of gravity adjusting unit provided within the guiding post.

6. The gimbal of claim 1 ,
wherein the center of gravity adjusting unit is a first center of gravity adjusting unit provided within one of the two first pillars,
the gimbal further comprising:
a second center of gravity adjusting unit provided within the connecting plate.

7. The gimbal of claim 1 ,
wherein the center of gravity adjusting unit is a first center of gravity adjusting unit provided within the guiding post,
the gimbal further comprising:
a second center of gravity adjusting unit provided within the connecting plate.

8. The gimbal of claim 1 , wherein:
the weight includes at least one receiving groove at a sidewall of the weight, and
the center of gravity adjusting unit further comprises at least one anti-slip block correspondingly received in the at least one receiving groove.

9. The gimbal of claim 8 , wherein:
the threaded rod comprises:
a threaded region having an external thread; and
a first unthreaded region and a second unthreaded region having no thread and provided at two sides of the threaded region, respectively,

the driving device comprises:
a body portion; and
a rotating shaft mounted on the body portion and configured to rotate relative to the body portion,

the center of gravity adjusting unit further comprises:
a fastening device provided at the first unthreaded region for fixedly arranging the threaded rod within the one of the two first pillars, the guiding post, or the connecting plate, and

the second unthreaded region is fixedly connected to the rotating shaft.

10. The gimbal of claim 9 , wherein the fastening device is fixed in the one of the two first pillars, the guiding post, or the connecting plate, and comprises:
a central positioning member having a circular shape and including a positioning through-hole provided in a central portion of the central positioning member, a diameter of the positioning through-hole being greater than or approximately equal to a diameter of the first unthreaded region and smaller than a diameter of the threaded region, and the first unthreaded region being sleeved in the positioning through-hole and capable of rotating within the positioning through-hole; and
a fastening member for receiving the central positioning member, the fastening member including a positioning groove having a shape and a size matching the central positioning member, and a diameter of the fastening member being smaller than or equal to an inner diameter of the one of the two first pillars, the guiding post, or the connecting plate in which the fastening device is fixed,
wherein the central positioning member is received in the positioning groove and fixedly connected to the fastening member.

11. The gimbal of claim 9 , wherein:
the one of the two first pillars, the guiding post, or the connecting plate is hollow and includes an inner wall having internal threads, and
the body portion of the driving device is provided with external threads matching the internal threads to fixedly connect the driving device to the one of the two first pillars, the guiding post, or the connecting plate.

12. The gimbal of claim 11 , wherein:
the connecting plate includes a hollow pillar having a hollow cylindrical receiving hole, an inner wall of the receiving hole being provided with internal threads, and
the external thread of the driving device match the internal threads of the receiving hole to fixedly connect the driving device to the connecting plate.

13. The gimbal of claim 1 , further comprising:
a handle portion; and
a driving portion including a brushless motor having a rotor connected to the connecting plate and a stator fixed to the handle portion, the driving portion being configured to drive the third support frame to rotate.

14. The gimbal of claim 1 , wherein:
the first support frame further comprises two clamping devices, and
the guiding post is configured to move along a longitudinal direction of the first pillars and fixed to the first pillars through the clamping devices.

15. The gimbal of claim 14 , wherein each of the two clamping devices comprises:
a fastening hole;
a guiding post receiving portion arranged at a side of the fastening hole and configured to receive one end of the guiding post, an axial direction of the fastening hole being approximately perpendicular to an axial direction of the guiding post receiving portion; and
a clamp locking member configured to lock the clamping device to the corresponding first pillar.

16. The gimbal of claim 1 , further comprising:
a locking device comprising an adaptor slidably arranged on the guiding post; and
a mounting plate fixed to the adaptor.

17. The gimbal of claim 16 , wherein:
the adaptor comprises a first pressing block and a second pressing block arranged opposite to each other and configured to be jointly locked by a screw,
a circular slot is formed between the first pressing block and the second pressing block and configured to receive the guiding post, and
the adaptor is fixed on the guiding post when the screw is tightened and is capable of sliding on the guiding post along a longitudinal direction of the guiding post when the screw is loosened.

18. The gimbal of claim 17 , wherein the screw comprises a lever fixed at a screw head of the screw.

19. The gimbal of claim 1 , wherein:
the guiding post is a first guiding post,
the first support frame further comprises a second guiding post arranged between the two first pillars and approximately parallel to the first guiding post, the first and second guiding posts being configured to carry the imaging device,
the second support frame further comprises a first driving device, one of the two second pillars being hinged with a rotating shaft of one of the two first pillars, and another one of the two second pillars

Assignees

• Sz Dji Osmo Technology Co Ltd

Inventors

• Pan Paul
• Zhao Yanchong

Classifications

• G03B17/561 Primary

  Support related camera accessories · CPC title

• F16M13/04

  for supporting on, or holding steady relative to, a person, e.g. by chains {, e.g. rifle butt or pistol grip supports, supports attached to the chest or head (apparatus or arrangements for taking photographs or for projecting or viewing them G03B)} · CPC title

• G03B17/563

  Camera grips, handles (means in general for steadying hand-held apparatus F16M13/00) · CPC title

• F16M11/02

  Heads · CPC title

• F16M11/2071

  for panning and rolling (F16M11/2078 takes precedence) · CPC title