Unmanned aerial vehicle and multi-ocular imaging system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11343443-B2
Application number	US-202016890582-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 2, 2020
Priority date	Jan 26, 2016
Publication date	May 24, 2022
Grant date	May 24, 2022

Abstract

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) includes a vehicle body and a multi-ocular imaging assembly. The multi-ocular imaging assembly includes at least two imaging devices disposed in and fixed to the vehicle body.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), comprising:
a vehicle body including a fuselage and a landing gear rotatably connected to the fuselage; and
a multi-ocular imaging assembly including at least two imaging devices fixed to the landing gear, the at least two imaging devices being connected to the fuselage through the landing gear;
wherein the landing gear is configured to be rotated relative to the fuselage to adjust a distance between the imaging devices.

2. The UAV of claim 1 , wherein: the landing gear includes a first portion connected to the fuselage and a second portion rotatably connected to the first portion; the imaging devices are fixedly disposed in the second portion; and the second portion is configured to be rotated relative to the first portion to adjust a distance between the imaging devices.

3. The UAV of claim 1 , wherein the multi-ocular imaging assembly further includes a supporting frame, the multi-ocular imaging assembly being fixedly disposed in the vehicle body via the supporting frame.

4. The UAV of claim 3 , wherein:
the supporting frame includes a frame portion and arm portions connected to the frame portion;
the imaging devices are fixedly disposed on the arm portions; and
the multi-ocular imaging assembly further includes a control circuit board electrically connected to the imaging devices and fixedly disposed on the frame portion.

5. The UAV of claim 4 , wherein:
the frame portion has a substantially polyhedral shape; and
the control circuit board is disposed on a surface of the frame portion.

6. The UAV of claim 5 ,
wherein the surface is a first surface of the frame portion;
the UAV further comprising:
an inertial measurement unit (IMU) disposed on a second surface of the frame portion.

7. The UAV of claim 6 , further comprising:
a damper between the IMU and the frame portion.

8. The UAV of claim 7 , wherein the damper includes elastic damping balls.

9. The UAV of claim 5 , wherein the control circuit board is electrically connected to the IMU.

10. The UAV of claim 4 , wherein each one arm portion of the arm portions extends from the frame portion by a predetermined distance and includes a mounting member formed at a distal end of the one arm portion and against which one of the imaging devices abuts.

11. The UAV of claim 10 , wherein:
a side of the mounting member opposite to the one arm portion is planar; and/or
the mounting member protrudes from the distal end of the one arm portion.

12. The UAV of claim 4 , wherein the arm portions are rotatably connected to the frame portion and are stationary with respect to the frame portion after the arm portions rotate relative to the frame portion by a predetermined angle.

13. The UAV of claim 4 , further comprising:
a shock absorbing pad between each of the imaging devices and the corresponding arm portion.

14. The UAV of claim 13 , wherein the shock absorbing pad is made of at least one of a foam, a sponge, a rubber, or a silicone.

15. The UAV of claim 4 , wherein the control circuit board is electrically connected to each one imaging device of the imaging devices through a flexible circuit board extending to the one imaging device along the corresponding arm portion.

16. The UAV of claim 4 , wherein each of the imaging devices includes a sensing head and a holder holding the sensing head to the supporting frame.

17. The UAV of claim 16 , wherein the holder includes:
a holder frame receiving and holding the sensing head; and
a connecting member connected to the holder frame and fixed to the arm portion.

18. The UAV of claim 17 , wherein
the holder frame includes a receiving cavity receiving the sensing head;
the holder includes an opening at a side of the holder opposite to the sensing head, the opening being in communication with the receiving cavity and allowing light to reach the sensing head; and
the holder further includes an optical member enclosing the opening.

19. The UAV of claim 1 , wherein the fuselage includes a first housing case and a second housing case, the first housing case being snapped with the second housing case to form an accommodating space, and
wherein light transmission holes are provided on the landing gear corresponding to the imaging devices.

Assignees

• Sz Dji Technology Co Ltd

Inventors

• Zhao Cong
• Zhou Guyue
• Zhang Honghui
• Tang Yin
• Nong Guisheng
• Feng Jiangang

Classifications

• H04N7/185 Primary

  from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control · CPC title

• H04N23/90 Primary

  Arrangement of cameras or camera modules, e.g. multiple cameras in TV studios or sports stadiums · CPC title

• H04N23/57

  Mechanical or electrical details of cameras or camera modules specially adapted for being embedded in other devices · CPC title

• B64U2101/30

  for imaging, photography or videography · CPC title

• H04N23/45 Primary

  for generating image signals from two or more image sensors being of different type or operating in different modes, e.g. with a CMOS sensor for moving images in combination with a charge-coupled device [CCD] for still images · CPC title