Module isolation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10666845-B2
Application number	US-201916288427-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 28, 2019
Priority date	Jul 24, 2018
Publication date	May 26, 2020
Grant date	May 26, 2020

Abstract

In one aspect of the present disclosure, a module is disclosed for use with a digital image capturing device (DICD) including an integrated sensor-lens assembly (ISLA). The module includes a cradle configured for connection to a housing of the DICD, and at least one dampener that is configured for positioning between the module and the housing of the DICD to reduce vibrations transmitted to the ISLA.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An image capturing system, comprising:
a handheld apparatus; and
a digital image capturing device (DICD) supported by the handheld apparatus, the DICD including:
an outer housing including a first mounting structure, the first mounting structure including a first opening located at a first corner of the outer housing, a second opening located at a second corner of the outer housing, a third opening located at a third corner of the outer housing, and a fourth opening located at a fourth corner of the outer housing; and
a module having a main body portion and supporting an integrated sensor-lens assembly (ISLA), the module being positioned within an internal cavity defined by the outer housing and including a second mounting structure configured in correspondence with the first mounting structure to facilitate connection of the module to the outer housing within the internal cavity, the second mounting structure including a first bracket with a first aperture formed therein located at a first corner of the module, a second bracket with a second aperture formed therein located at a second corner of the module, a third bracket with a third aperture formed therein located at a third corner of the module, and a fourth bracket with a fourth aperture formed therein located at a fourth corner of the module, each of the brackets extending outwardly beyond a perimeter of the main body portion of the module, the module being configured such that the apertures in the brackets are alignable with the openings in the outer housing, wherein the openings in the outer housing and the apertures in the brackets are each configured to receive a fastener to secure the module to the outer housing.

2. The image capturing system of claim 1 , wherein the DICD further includes an inertial measurement unit supported on the ISLA.

3. The image capturing system of claim 1 , wherein the ISLA includes a sensor selected from the group consisting of a charge-coupled device (CCD) sensor, an active pixel sensor (APS), a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) sensor, and an N-type metal-oxide semiconductor (NMOS) sensor.

4. The image capturing system of claim 1 , wherein the module includes a polymeric material.

5. The image capturing system of claim 1 , wherein the module defines a generally polygonal cross-sectional configuration.

6. The image capturing system of claim 5 , wherein the module defines an upper edge and a lower edge that extends in generally parallel relation to the upper edge.

7. The image capturing system of claim 1 , wherein the handheld apparatus includes a forked support structure configured for connection to the DICD.

8. The image capturing system of claim 7 , wherein the handheld apparatus further includes a series of gimbal assemblies, at least one of the gimbal assemblies being configured for connection to the forked support structure to facilitate rotation of the forked support structure and the DICD.

9. A digital image capturing device (DICD), comprising:
an integrated sensor-lens assembly (ISLA); and
a module configured to support the ISLA and having a main body portion, the module being positioned within an internal cavity of the DICD and including a first bracket located in a first corner and defining a first aperture configured to receive a first fastener, a second bracket located in a second corner and defining a second aperture configured to receive a second fastener, a third bracket located in a third corner and defining a third aperture configured to receive a third fastener, and a fourth bracket located in a fourth corner and defining a fourth aperture configured to receive a fourth fastener, the first, second, third, and fourth fasteners being configured to secure the module internally within the DICD, each of the brackets extending outwardly beyond a perimeter of the main body portion of the module.

10. The DICD of claim 9 , further including an inertial measurement unit supported on the ISLA.

11. The DICD of claim 9 , wherein the ISLA includes a sensor selected from the group consisting of a charge-coupled device (CCD) sensor, an active pixel sensor (APS), a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) sensor, and an N-type metal-oxide semiconductor (NMOS) sensor.

12. The DICD of claim 9 , wherein the module is configured to dampen frequencies and/or forces communicated to the ISLA.

13. The DICD of claim 9 , wherein the module includes a polymeric material.

14. The DICD of claim 9 , wherein the module defines a generally polygonal cross-sectional configuration.

15. The DICD of claim 14 , wherein the module defines an upper edge and a lower edge that extends in generally parallel relation to the upper edge.

16. An integrated sensor-lens assembly (ISLA) module for a digital image capturing device (DICD), the ISLA module comprising:
a sensor selected from the group consisting of a charge-coupled device (CCD) sensor, an active pixel sensor (APS), a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) sensor, and an N-type metal-oxide semiconductor (NMOS) sensor;
a lens supported generally adjacent to the sensor; and
an internal cradle supporting the sensor and the lens, the internal cradle defining a mounting structure configured to facilitate connection of the ISLA module within an internal cavity of the DICD, the mounting structure including a first bracket defining a first aperture and located at a first corner of the internal cradle, a second bracket defining a second aperture and located at a second corner of the internal cradle, a third bracket defining a third aperture and located at a third corner of the internal cradle, and a fourth bracket defining a fourth aperture and located at a fourth corner of the internal cradle, the first, second, third, and fourth apertures each being configured to receive a fastener, each of the brackets extending outwardly beyond a perimeter of a main body portion of the internal cradle.

17. The ISLA module of claim 16 , wherein the internal cradle defines a generally polygonal cross-sectional configuration.

18. The ISLA module of claim 17 , wherein the internal cradle defines a first edge, and a second edge opposite the first edge, the second edge extending in generally parallel relation to the first edge.

Assignees

• Gopro Inc

Inventors

• Shukla Himay
• Crow Kielan
• Gohl Pascal

Classifications

• G03B17/561 Primary

  Support related camera accessories · CPC title

• H04N5/2254

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H04N5/2253 Primary

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H04N5/2252

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H04N5/23264

  Electricity · mapped topic