Horizontal posture maintaining device and posture maintaining device driving method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10704732-B2
Application number	US-201716307012-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 29, 2017
Priority date	Jun 8, 2016
Publication date	Jul 7, 2020
Grant date	Jul 7, 2020

Abstract

A posture maintaining device for a 360° camera according to an embodiment of the present invention may comprise: a first correcting portion comprising a seating portion, on which a camera having a 360° view angle is seated, the first correcting portion being able to make a rotational movement about a first direction; a second correcting portion arranged on one side of the first correcting portion to be able to make a rotational movement about a second direction, which is different from the first direction; a third correcting portion arranged on the lower end of the second correcting portion to be able to make a rotational movement about a third direction, which is different from the first or second direction; and a counterbalance connected to the first correcting portion and configured to guide the camera so as to remain horizontal. A posture maintaining device for a 360° camera according to an embodiment of the present invention corrects the inclination in real time when images are taken through a camera having a 360° view angle, making it possible to implement pictures or moving images without vibration. Moreover, when images are taken through a camera having a 360° view angle, a gimbal with minimized image blocking is implemented, making it possible to obtain images with minimized interference.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A horizontal posture maintaining device comprising:
a first correction unit including a seat portion, on which a camera module is seated, and configured to be rotatable about a first direction;
a second correction unit disposed on one side of the first correction unit, and configured to be rotatable about a second direction different from the first direction;
a third correction unit disposed at a lower end of the second correction unit, and configured to be rotatable about a third direction different from the first direction or the second direction; and
a counterbalance connected to the first correction module, and configured to guide maintenance of horizontality of the camera module,
wherein the seat portion is disposed on an upper portion of the first correction unit, and the first direction of the first correction unit, the second direction of the second correction unit, and the third direction of the third correction unit are orthogonal to each other, and
wherein the counterbalance includes a balance weight for a center of gravity, which is disposed at least partially below the seat portion to be parallel with the seat portion; and a slit configured to guide a movement of the balance weight in the first direction.

2. The horizontal posture maintaining device of claim 1 , wherein the first correction unit includes a first frame configured to guide a movement of the camera module in the first direction, and a first driving unit configured to rotate the first frame or a second driving unit about the first direction.

3. The horizontal posture maintaining device of claim 2 , wherein the counterbalance is connected to the first driving unit, and is rotatable about the first direction simultaneously with the first frame.

4. The horizontal posture maintaining device of claim 2 , wherein the second correction unit includes a second frame disposed outside the first driving unit, and the second driving unit configured to rotate the second frame or a third driving unit about the second direction, and
the first driving unit and the second driving unit are arranged in a straight line in the first direction.

5. The horizontal posture maintaining device of claim 4 , wherein the third correction unit includes a third frame disposed below the second driving unit, and the third driving unit configured to rotate the third frame about the third direction, and
the second driving unit and the third driving unit are arranged in a straight line in the third direction.

6. The horizontal posture maintaining device of claim 5 , wherein the third frame forms a line at least partially parallel to the second direction and the third direction so as to define a range of rotation angle corresponding to a rotational movement of the counterbalance and to protect a movement path.

7. The horizontal posture maintaining device of claim 6 , further comprising:
a handle unit rotatably disposed under the third correction unit so as to allow a user to perform photographing while carrying the horizontal posture maintaining device,
the handle unit includes a handle housing, a power supply disposed inside the housing and configured to store electric power so as to supply the electric power to the first correction unit, the second correction unit, or the third correction unit; and a control unit configured to control the rotational movement of the first correction unit, the second correction unit, or the third correction unit in real time.

8. The horizontal posture maintaining device of claim 7 , further comprising:
a printed circuit unit, which is partially disposed inside the handle unit and is connected to the first driving unit, the second driving unit, and the third driving unit so as to supply electric power and to control rotational driving,
wherein the printed circuit unit includes a flexible printed circuit board and extends mutually through openings disposed in the first frame, the second frame, and the third frame.

9. The horizontal posture maintaining device of claim 7 , further comprising:
at least one engagement portion is disposed on one side of the third frame or one side of the counterbalance to be engaged with an external portable device,
wherein the first driving unit, the second driving unit, and the third driving unit further include a sensor unit therein so as to sense a movement of the first driving unit, the second driving unit, and the third driving unit in real time during photographing by the camera module.

10. The horizontal posture maintaining device of claim 9 , wherein the control unit controls power supply for rotation to the first driving unit, the second driving unit, or the third driving unit in response a sensing signal transmitted from the sensor unit in order to control maintenance of horizontality of the camera.

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Kang Yoon-Seok
• Koo Bon-Min
• Nam Min-Hyuk
• Park Sung-Jin
• Shim Jae-Kyu
• Oh Hyun-Min
• Lim Bae-Seok
• Cho Woo-Jong
• Choi Hee-Seung

Classifications

• H04N23/60

  Control of cameras or camera modules · CPC title

• H04N23/685

  performed by mechanical compensation · CPC title

• H04N23/51

  Housings · CPC title

• H04N23/698

  for achieving an enlarged field of view, e.g. panoramic image capture · CPC title

• F16M13/04 Primary

  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