Rotation mechanism with sliding joint

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11287081-B2
Application number	US-201916975723-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 25, 2019
Priority date	Jan 7, 2019
Publication date	Mar 29, 2022
Grant date	Mar 29, 2022

Abstract

Rotation mechanisms for rotating a payload in two, first and second degrees of freedom (DOF), comprising a static base, a first rotation arm coupled mechanically to the static base through a first rotation joint and used for rotating the payload relative to the static base around a first rotation axis that passes through the first rotation joint, a second rotation arm coupled mechanically to the static base through a second rotation joint and used for rotating the payload relative to the static base around a second rotation axis that passes through the second rotation joint, and a follower member rigidly coupled to the payload and arranged to keep a constant distance from the second rotation arm, wherein the rotation of the first arm rotates the payload around the first DOF and the rotation of the second arm rotate the payload around the second DOF.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A rotation mechanism for rotating a payload in two, first and second degrees of freedom (DOF), comprising:
a) a static base;
b) a first rotation arm coupled mechanically to the static base through a first rotation joint and used for rotating the payload relative to the static base around a first rotation axis that passes through the first rotation joint;
c) a second rotation arm coupled mechanically to the static base through a second rotation joint and used for rotating the payload relative to the static base around a second rotation axis that passes through the second rotation joint; and
d) a follower member rigidly coupled to the payload and arranged to keep a constant distance from the second rotation arm,
wherein the rotation of the first arm rotates the payload around the first DOF and wherein the rotation of the second arm rotates the payload around the second DOF.

2. The rotation mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the payload is coupled mechanically to the first rotation arm through an inner rotation joint.

3. The rotation mechanism of claim 1 , further comprising a first motor for rotating the payload relative to the static base around the first rotation axis and a second motor for rotating the payload relative to the static base around the second rotation axis, wherein the first and second motors are rigidly attached to the static base.

4. The rotation mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the follower member is a magnetic member separated from the second rotation arm by a constant air-gap.

5. The rotation mechanism of claim 2 , further comprising a first motor for rotating the payload relative to the static base around the first rotation axis and a second motor for rotating the payload relative to the static base around the second rotation axis, wherein the first and second motors are rigidly attached to the static base.

6. The rotation mechanism of claim 2 , wherein the follower member is a magnetic member separated from the second rotation arm by a constant air-gap.

7. The rotation mechanism of claim 3 , wherein the follower member is a magnetic member separated from the second rotation arm by a constant air-gap.

8. The rotation mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the second rotation arm includes a ring section centered around the first rotation axis.

9. The rotation mechanism of claim 1 , further comprising at least one sensing mechanism for determining a position of the payload.

10. The rotation mechanism of claim 9 , wherein the at least one sensing mechanism comprises at least one pair of a magnet and a Hall sensor.

11. The rotation mechanism of claim 9 , wherein the at least one sensing mechanism is operable to determine a position of the payload relative to the static base in the first and second DOFs.

12. The rotation mechanism of claim 10 , wherein the at least one pair of a magnet and a Hall sensor comprises a first pair of a magnet and a Hall sensor that allows determination of a rotation of the payload around the first DOF, and a second pair of a magnet and a Hall sensor that allows determination of a rotation of the payload around the second DOF.

13. The rotation mechanism of claim 11 , wherein the determinations of the position of the payload relative to the static base in the two DOFs are decoupled from each other.

Assignees

• Corephotonics Ltd

Inventors

• Bachar Gil
• Goldenberg Ephraim
• Cohen Noy
• Kowal Yiftah

Classifications

• F16M11/06

  allowing pivoting · CPC title

• F16M11/2035

  in more than one direction · CPC title

• G12B5/00

  Adjusting position or attitude, e.g. level, of instruments or other apparatus, or of parts thereof (levels per se G01C9/00); Compensating for the effects of tilting or acceleration, e.g. for optical apparatus · CPC title

• G03B17/561

  Support related camera accessories · CPC title

• F16M11/123 Primary

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