Interchangeable mounting assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9781313-B2
Application number	US-201615154740-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 13, 2016
Priority date	Apr 28, 2014
Publication date	Oct 3, 2017
Grant date	Oct 3, 2017

Abstract

A platform for interchangeably mounting a payload to a base support is provided. In one aspect, the platform comprises: a support assembly configured to be releasably coupled to a payload via a first coupling and configured to control a spatial disposition of the payload; and a mounting assembly configured to be releasably coupled via a second coupling to a plurality of types of base supports selected from at least two of the following: an aerial vehicle, a handheld support, or a base adapter mounted onto a movable object.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A handheld platform comprising:
an imaging device configured to obtain image data, wherein the image data is transmitted to a terminal that is provided separately from the imaging device;
a support assembly coupled to the imaging device, wherein the support assembly is configured to control a spatial disposition of the imaging device relative to a reference frame of a target that the imaging device is imaging;
a mounting assembly that is coupled to the support assembly; and
a handheld support member comprising a mating interface configured to releasably couple the handheld support member to the terminal, wherein at least one of the handheld support member or the terminal comprises an input interface configured to receive one or more control signals from a user for controlling the spatial disposition of the imaging device relative to the reference frame of the target, wherein said control signals include (1) a first control signal that permits motion of the imaging device relative to the reference frame, and (2) a second control signal that constrains motion of the imaging device relative to the reference frame;
wherein said mounting assembly is configured to be interchangeably coupled to a plurality of types of base support including the handheld support member and an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) via a quick release coupling, wherein the quick release coupling enables the mounting assembly to be coupled to and decoupled from the handheld support member and the UAV, manually without the use of tools,
and wherein, (a) when the mounting assembly and the terminal are coupled to the handheld support member, the mounting assembly is configured to establish communication with the handheld support member and establish communication with the terminal to effect handheld photography using the imaging device supported on the handheld support member, and (b) when the mounting assembly is coupled to the unmanned aerial vehicle with the terminal located remotely from the unmanned aerial vehicle, the mounting assembly is configured to establish communication with the unmanned aerial vehicle and establish communication with the remotely-located terminal to effect aerial imaging using the imaging device supported on the unmanned aerial vehicle.

2. The handheld platform of claim 1 , wherein the handheld support member comprises a handle, wherein the handle comprises a proximal end located away from the mounting assembly and a distal end located close to the mounting assembly.

3. The handheld platform of claim 2 , wherein the handheld support member comprises the input interface with said input interface positioned on the handle.

4. The handheld platform of claim 1 , wherein the terminal comprises a display that is separate from the imaging device, wherein said display is configured to display information indicating (1) the type of base support to which the mounting assembly is coupled and (2) one or more of the spatial disposition of the imaging device, power capacity, and connectivity to other device(s).

5. The handheld platform of claim 4 , wherein the display comprises the input interface, said input interface configured to receive user input to effect control over a function of the imaging device, said function being selected from the group consisting of an image capture function, a record function, a power on function, a power off function, a zoom in function, a zoom out function, a change of focus function, and a change of field of view function.

6. The handheld platform of claim 1 , wherein the support assembly is further configured to control the spatial disposition of the imaging device relative to a reference frame of the handheld support member about at least one of a pitch axis, roll axis, or yaw axis when the mounting assembly is coupled to the handheld support member;
and wherein the support assembly is further configured to control the spatial disposition of the imaging device relative to a reference frame of the unmanned aerial vehicle about at least one of a pitch axis, roll axis, or yaw axis when the mounting assembly is coupled to the unmanned aerial vehicle.

7. The handheld platform of claim 1 , wherein the input interface further receives at least one control signal that is configured to effect control over a function of the imaging device, the function being selected from the group consisting of an image capture function, a record function, a power on function, a power off function, a zoom in function, a zoom out function, a change of focus function, and a change of field of view function.

8. The handheld platform of claim 1 , wherein the quick release coupling enables data from the mounting assembly to be conveyed to (1) the handheld support member when the mounting assembly is coupled to the handheld support member, and (2) the unmanned aerial vehicle when the mounting assembly is coupled to the unmanned aerial vehicle.

9. The handheld platform of claim 1 , wherein the support assembly is configured to rotate the imaging device about a roll axis, a pitch axis, or a yaw axis such that the imaging device maintains its position or orientation (a) relative to the reference frame of the target and (b) independent of movement of the handheld support member.

10. The handheld platform of claim 4 , further comprising a wireless communication unit configured to transmit the image data obtained by the imaging device to the terminal.

11. The handheld platform of claim 10 , wherein the imaging device comprises or is operably coupled to the wireless communication unit.

12. The handheld platform of claim 10 , wherein the terminal comprises a display configured to display the image data transmitted by the wireless communication unit.

13. A handheld platform comprising:
an imaging device configured to obtain image data, wherein the image data is transmitted to a terminal that is provided separately from the imaging device;
a support assembly coupled to the imaging device, wherein the support assembly is configured to control a spatial disposition of the imaging device relative to a reference frame of a target that the imaging device is imaging;
a mounting assembly that is coupled to the support assembly;
a handheld support member comprising a mating interface configured to releasably couple the handheld support member to the terminal, wherein at least one of the handheld support member or the terminal comprises an input interface configured to receive one or more control signals from a user for controlling the spatial disposition of the imaging device relative to the reference frame of the target, wherein said control signals include (1) a first control signal that permits motion of the imaging device relative to the reference frame, and (2) a second control signal that constrains motion of the imaging device relative to the reference frame, wherein the terminal comprises a display configured to display the image data obtained by the imaging device, and wherein the display is separate from the imaging device; and
a communication unit configured to transmit the image data obtained by the imaging device to the display,
wherein said mounting assembly is configured to be interchangeably coupled to a plurality of types of base support including the handheld support member and an unmanned aerial vehicle via a quick release coupling, wherein the quick release coupling enables the mounting assembly to be coupled to and decoupled from the handheld support member and the unmanned aerial vehicle, manually without the use of tools,
wherein when the mounting assembly and the terminal are coupled to the handheld support member, (1) the mounting assembly is confi

Assignees

• Sz Dji Technology Co Ltd

Inventors

• Pan Paul
• Zhao Xifeng
• Zhao Tao

Classifications

• A45F5/10

  Handles for carrying purposes · CPC title

• F16M11/041

  Allowing quick release of the apparatus · CPC title

• F16M11/18

  with mechanism for moving the apparatus relatively to the stand · CPC title

• G03B17/566

  Accessory clips, holders, shoes to attach accessories to camera (if integral part of camera body G03B17/02) · CPC title

• F16M11/22

  with approximately constant height, e.g. with constant length of column or of legs (F16M11/42 takes precedence) · CPC title