Control device for a gimbal and method of controlling the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9851046-B2
Application number	US-201615298836-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 20, 2016
Priority date	Apr 30, 2014
Publication date	Dec 26, 2017
Grant date	Dec 26, 2017

Abstract

The present invention discloses a controlling device, a gimbal on which the controlling device is applied and a method for controlling a gimbal. The gimbal, for controlling an optical device to perform an action, may comprise a controlling device, a controlling assembly connected with the controlling device, and a performing assembly connected with the controlling assembly; wherein the controlling device may comprise a rocker for receiving an action instruction and generating a control instruction to be sent to the controlling assembly, the rocker may comprise a rocker handle and a potentiometer assembly connected with the rocker handle; the controlling assembly may be configured for generating a performing instruction for implementing a corresponding action according to the control instruction sent by the controlling device, and send the performing instruction to the performing assembly; the performing assembly may be configured for implementing a directional control for the optical device according to the performing instruction. The gimbal according to the present invention is easy to operate and has a good hand feeling, since the rocker is utilized to send the control instruction.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A gimbal for controlling an optical device, said gimbal comprising:
a rocker for receiving an action instruction and generating a control instruction, wherein the rocker comprises a rocker handle, a potentiometer assembly operably connected to the rocker handle, and a keypad for switching between two or more operating modes of the gimbal, the operating modes of the gimbal comprising: (1) a follow mode in which a shooting direction of the optical device follows a moving direction of the gimbal and (2) a locked mode in which the shooting direction of the optical device is locked in a specified direction regardless of movement of the gimbal;
a controlling assembly configured to (1) receive the control instruction from the rocker, and (2) generate, based on the control instruction, a performing instruction for controlling the optical device;
a performing assembly configured to (1) receive the performing instruction from the controlling assembly, and (2) implement a directional control of the optical device in accordance with the performing instruction; and
a support arm configured to support the rocker, the controlling assembly and the performing assembly on an end of the support arm.

2. The gimbal according to claim 1 , wherein the potentiometer assembly comprises a first potentiometer configured to control a pitch action of the optical device, and a second potentiometer configured to control a rotation action of the optical device.

3. The gimbal according to claim 1 , wherein the rocker handle is operably coupled to the keypad to generate a switch control instruction for switching between the two or more operating modes of the gimbal.

4. The gimbal according to claim 1 , further comprising a bracket located on another end of the support arm.

5. The gimbal according to claim 1 , wherein the support arm has a bucket shape.

6. The gimbal according to claim 1 , wherein the performing assembly comprises a first rotation member, a second rotation member connected with the first rotation member, a carrying member connected with the second rotation member, a first motor for driving the second rotation member to rotate relative to the first rotation member and a second motor for driving the carrying member to rotate relative to the second rotation member.

7. The gimbal according to claim 1 , wherein the action instruction is a short press action instruction or a long press action instruction.

8. The gimbal according to claim 7 , wherein the short press action instruction is configured to cause the gimbal to switch between the two or more operating modes.

9. The gimbal according to claim 7 , wherein the long press action instruction is configured to cause the rocker handle to return to a middle position.

10. A controlling device for controlling an action of a gimbal, said controlling device comprising:
a rocker for receiving a control instruction and sending the control instruction to a controlling assembly to effect action of the gimbal, wherein the rocker comprises a rocker handle, a potentiometer assembly connected with the rocker handle, and a keypad for switching between two or more operating modes of the gimbal, the operating modes of the gimbal comprising: (1) a follow mode in which a shooting direction of an optical device follows a moving direction of the gimbal and (2) a locked mode in which the shooting direction of the optical device is locked in a specified direction regardless of movement of the gimbal; and
a support arm configured to support the rocker and the controlling assembly on an end of the support arm.

11. The controlling device according to claim 10 , wherein the potentiometer assembly comprises a first potentiometer for controlling a pitch action of the optical device via the gimbal and a second potentiometer for controlling a rotation action of the optical device via the gimbal.

12. The controlling device according to claim 10 , wherein the rocker handle is operably coupled to the keypad to generate a switch control instruction for switching between the two or more operating modes of the gimbal.

13. The controlling device according to claim 10 , wherein the control instruction is generated based on a short press action instruction or a long press action instruction.

14. A method for controlling an optical device, said method comprising:
receiving an action instruction and generating a control instruction by a rocker, wherein the rocker comprises a keypad for switching between two or more operating modes of a gimbal, the operating modes of the gimbal comprising: (1) a follow mode in which a shooting direction of the optical device follows a moving direction of the gimbal and (2) a locked mode in which the shooting direction of the optical device is locked in a specified direction regardless of movement of the gimbal;
sending the control instruction to a controlling assembly;
generating, based on the control instruction, a performing instruction for a directional control of the optical device;
sending the performing instruction to a performing assembly; and
implementing, with aid of the performing assembly, the directional control for the optical device according to the performing instruction, wherein the rocker, the controlling assembly and the performing assembly are supported on an end of a support arm.

15. The method according to claim 14 , wherein the performing assembly comprises a first rotation member, a second rotation member connected with the first rotation member, a carrying member connected with the second rotation member, a first motor for driving the second rotation member to rotate relative to the first rotation member and a second motor for driving the carrying member to rotate relative to the second rotation member.

16. The method according to claim 14 , wherein the rocker further comprises a potentiometer assembly which comprises a first potentiometer for controlling a pitch action of the optical device via the gimbal and a second potentiometer for controlling a rotation action of the optical device via the gimbal.

17. The method according to claim 14 , wherein the rocker further comprises a rocker handle connected with the potentiometer assembly.

18. The method according to claim 17 , wherein the rocker handle is operably connected with the keypad to generate a switch control instruction for switching between the two or more operating modes of the gimbal.

19. The method according to claim 14 , wherein the action instruction is a short press action instruction or a long press action instruction.

20. The method according to claim 19 , wherein the short press action instruction is configured to cause the gimbal to switch between the two or more operating modes.

Assignees

• Sz Dji Osmo Technology Co Ltd

Inventors

• Pan Paul
• Zhu ming liang
• Zhao xi feng

Classifications

• F16M13/022

  repositionable · CPC title

• G03B17/561 Primary

  Support related camera accessories · CPC title

• G05D3/12

  using feedback · CPC title

• F16M11/18 Primary

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

• G05D3/00

  Control of position or direction (G05D1/00 takes precedence; numerical control to execute positioning G05B19/18) · CPC title