Gimbal device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10920927-B2
Application number	US-201815916074-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 8, 2018
Priority date	Mar 10, 2017
Publication date	Feb 16, 2021
Grant date	Feb 16, 2021

Abstract

A gimbal device according to various embodiments of the present disclosure may include: a handle; a gimbal; a joint pivotably coupling one end of the gimbal to the handle; and at least one processor, wherein the gimbal includes: a holder configured to hold an electronic device including a camera; an angular velocity sensor disposed in the holder and configured to detect a movement of the holder; and a plurality of motors coupled to the holder and configured to pivot the holder in pitch, roll, and yaw directions according to the detected movement. The at least one processor is configured to identify a pivoting state of the joint, and to change axis information assigned to each of detection values of three axes obtained by using the angular velocity sensor, based on the identified pivoting state. Other embodiments are possible.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A gimbal device comprising:
a handle;
a gimbal comprising:
a holder configured to hold an electronic device comprising a camera;
an angular velocity sensor disposed in the holder and configured to detect a movement of the holder; and
a plurality of motors coupled to the holder and configured to pivot the holder in pitch, roll, and yaw directions according to the detected movement;
a joint pivotably coupling one end of the gimbal to the handle; and
a processor configured to:
identify a pivoting state of the joint, and
change axis information assigned to each of detection values of three axes obtained by using the angular velocity sensor, based on the identified pivoting state,
wherein the processor is further configured to:
when the identified pivoting state is a first state in which an opposite direction of a second direction of the angular velocity sensor is a direction of gravity, assign a detection value of a first direction obtained by using the angular velocity sensor to a pitch axis, assign a detection value of the second direction to a yaw axis, and assign a detection value of a third direction to a roll axis, and
when the identified pivoting state is a second state in which an opposite direction of the first direction of the angular velocity sensor is the direction of gravity, assign a detection value of the opposite direction of the first direction to the yaw axis, assign a detection value of the second direction to the pitch axis, and assign a detection value of the third direction to the roll axis.

2. The gimbal device of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to change setting information of each of the plurality of motors based on the changed axis information.

3. The gimbal device of claim 1 , further comprising a sensor disposed in the joint to detect a pivoting angle of the joint,
wherein the processor is configured to identify the pivoting state of the joint by using the pivoting angle of the joint detected by using the sensor disposed in the joint.

4. The gimbal device of claim 1 , wherein, when the identified pivoting state is a third state in which the first direction of the angular velocity sensor is the direction of gravity, the processor is configured to assign a detection value of the first direction obtained by using the angular velocity sensor to the yaw axis, assign a detection value of the opposite direction of the second direction to the pitch axis, and assign a detection value of the third direction to the roll axis.

5. The gimbal device of claim 4 , wherein, when the identified pivoting state is the third state, the processor is configured to control a first motor to be designated to pivot on the yaw axis in a forward direction, a second motor to be designated to pivot on the roll axis in the forward direction, and a third motor to be designated to pivot on the pitch axis in the forward direction.

6. The gimbal device of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to:
when the identified pivoting state is the first state, control a first motor to be designated to pivot on the pitch axis in a forward direction, a second motor to be designated to pivot on the roll axis in the forward direction, and a third motor to be designated to pivot on the yaw axis in the forward direction; and
when the identified pivoting state is the second state, control the first motor to be designated to pivot on the yaw axis in a reverse direction, the second motor to be designated to pivot on the roll axis in the forward direction, and the third motor to be designated to pivot on the yaw axis in the forward direction.

7. The gimbal device of claim 6 , wherein the joint is disposed between a lower portion of the third motor pivoting on the yaw axis in the first state and one end of the handle.

8. The gimbal device of claim 1 , further comprising a second angular velocity sensor disposed in the handle.

9. The gimbal device of claim 8 , further comprising an additional processor configured to:
detect an angle of the handle by using the second angular velocity sensor, and
change the axis information assigned to each of detection values of three axes obtained by using the angular velocity sensor, based on the detected angle of the handle.

10. The gimbal device of claim 9 , wherein the additional processor is configured to:
identify a pivoting state of the joint, and
change the axis information assigned to each of the detection values of the three axes obtained by using the angular velocity sensor, based on the identified pivoting state and the detected angle of the handle.

11. The gimbal device of claim 10 , wherein the additional processor is configured to change setting information of each of the plurality of motors based on the changed axis information.

12. The gimbal device of claim 1 , wherein the joint further comprises a lock structure configured to fix to maintain the pivoting state in the first state or the second state.

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Shim Jaekyu
• Lim Baeseok

Classifications

• G03B17/563

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

• F16M13/00

  Other supports for positioning apparatus or articles (heads thereof F16M11/02 {; undercarriages thereof F16M11/20} ; adapted to be stuck in the ground A45F3/44 {; sockets or holders for poles or posts E04H12/22}); Means for steadying hand-held apparatus or articles {(supports for measuring instruments G01D11/30; supports for casings of remote control switching devices H01H9/025)} · CPC title

• F16M11/123

  the axis of rotation intersecting in a single point, e.g. by using gimbals · CPC title

• G03B17/56 Primary

  Accessories (carrying-cases A45C11/38) · CPC title

• H04M1/04

  Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers · CPC title