Camera gimbal mount system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9904149-B2
Application number	US-201615385279-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 20, 2016
Priority date	Dec 31, 2015
Publication date	Feb 27, 2018
Grant date	Feb 27, 2018

Abstract

A gimbal mount system is configured to a couple to a gimbal coupled to and securing a camera. The gimbal mount system includes a handle, a power source, a user interface, a mounting interface, a communication interface, and a communication bus. The mounting interface is located within an end of the gimbal mount system and includes an opening configured to receive a reciprocal mounting protrusion of the gimbal. A locking mechanism removably couples the gimbal to the gimbal mount system. The communication interface is located within the mounting interface and is configured to couple to a reciprocal communication interface of the gimbal. The communication bus is coupled to the power source, user interface, and communication interface and is configured to provide power from the power source to the gimbal. The communication bus may provide instructions to the gimbal based on user input received via the user interface.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A gimbal mount system configured to couple to a gimbal, the gimbal configured to secure a camera, the gimbal mount system comprising:
a gimbal mount system body, the gimbal mount system body comprising a handle;
a power source located within the gimbal mount system body;
a user interface located on an outer surface of the gimbal mount system body;
a mounting interface located within an end of the gimbal mount system body, the mounting interface comprising:
an opening configured to receive a reciprocal gimbal mounting protrusion,
a first recess and a second recess extending from the opening and into the gimbal mount system body, the first recess adjacent to the second recess, and
a locking mechanism configured to abut a reciprocal gimbal locking mechanism in a locked configuration, thereby securely coupling the gimbal to the gimbal mount system;

a communication interface located within a surface of the mounting interface and configured to couple to a reciprocal communication interface of the gimbal; and
a communication bus coupled to the power source, the user interface, and the communication interface, the communication bus configured to provide power from the power source to the gimbal and configured to provide one or more instructions based on a user input received via the user interface to the gimbal.

2. The gimbal mount system of claim 1 , further comprising a kickstand configured to protrude from the gimbal mount system body in an extended configuration and configured to fold into the gimbal mount system body in a folded configuration.

3. The gimbal mount system of claim 1 , further comprising a second communication interface located within the outer surface of the gimbal mount system body, the second communication interface communicatively coupled to the communication bus and configured to couple to one or more of an external power source and an external computing system.

4. The gimbal mount system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more instructions comprises one or more of: powering the gimbal on and off, controlling a camera shutter, selecting a camera mode or a gimbal mode, tagging a moment of interest within media captured by the camera, and controlling a pitch or yaw of the gimbal.

5. The gimbal mount system of claim 1 , further comprising an adapter configured to couple to the gimbal mount system, the adapter comprising a plurality of protrusions each including a hole and configured to interlock with a reciprocal plurality of protrusions of a reciprocal mount component each including a hole such that the holes of the adapter and the holes of the reciprocal mount component align and allow for insertion of a pin, thereby coupling the adapter and the gimbal mount system to the reciprocal mount component.

6. The gimbal mount system of claim 1 , wherein the first recess comprises a first diameter and extends from the opening at a first depth and the second recess comprises a second diameter greater than the first diameter and extends from the opening a second depth greater than the first depth.

7. The gimbal mount system of claim 6 , wherein the reciprocal gimbal mounting protrusion comprises:
a first protrusion of substantially the first diameter and a first length; and
a second protrusion of substantially the second diameter and a second length greater than the first length;
wherein the distance between the second length and the first length is substantially equivalent to the distance between the second depth and the first depth, and wherein the reciprocal gimbal mounting protrusion is configured for insertion into the mounting interface such that the first protrusion is inserted into the first recess and the second protrusion is inserted into the second recess.

8. A gimbal mount system configured to couple to a gimbal, the gimbal mount system comprising:
a body comprising a handle;
a mounting interface located within a distal end of the body, the mounting interface comprising an opening for receiving a reciprocal mounting protrusion of the gimbal, the mounting interface further comprising a first recess and a second recess extending from the opening and into the body, wherein the first recess is adjacent to the second recess; and
a locking collar located at the distal end of the body, the locking collar comprising an inner opening substantially aligned with the opening of the mounting interface such that a surface adjacent to the inner opening of the locking collar is substantially flush with a surface adjacent to the opening of the mounting interface, the locking collar rotatably coupled about a surface of the distal end of the body such that rotation of the locking collar in a first direction secures the gimbal to the gimbal mount system and rotation of the locking collar in a second direction releases the gimbal from the gimbal mount system.

9. The gimbal mount system of claim 8 , wherein the first recess comprises a first diameter and extends from the opening at a first depth and the second recess comprises a second diameter greater than the first diameter and extends from the opening a second depth greater than the first depth.

10. The gimbal mount system of claim 9 , wherein the reciprocal mounting protrusion comprises:
a first protrusion of substantially the first diameter and a first length; and
a second protrusion of substantially the second diameter and a second length greater than the first length;
wherein the distance between the second length and the first length is substantially equivalent to the distance between the second depth and the first depth, and wherein the reciprocal mounting protrusion is configured for insertion into the mounting interface such that the first protrusion is inserted into the first recess and the second protrusion is inserted into the second recess.

11. The gimbal mount system of claim 8 , wherein the reciprocal mounting protrusion comprises padding structures to securely fit the reciprocal mounting protrusion within the mounting interface.

12. The gimbal mount system of claim 8 , wherein the locking collar further comprises a plurality of ribs protruding from an inner surface of the locking collar, each rib comprising a rounded detent feature.

13. The gimbal mount system of claim 12 , wherein the reciprocal mounting protrusion further comprises a detented ramp configured for contacting a respective rib, wherein the detented ramp ramps up to a plateau comprising a dimple.

14. The gimbal mount system of claim 13 , wherein rotation of the locking collar in the first direction causes each of the plurality of ribs of the locking collar to slide along its respective detented ramp of the reciprocal mounting protrusion until the respective rounded detent feature of the locking collar mates with its respective dimple of the reciprocal mounting protrusion, thereby securing the reciprocal mounting protrusion within the mounting interface.

15. The gimbal mount system of claim 14 , wherein rotation of the locking collar in the second direction displaces each of the plurality of rounded detent feature of the locking collar from its respective dimple of the reciprocal mounting protrusion, thereby releasing the reciprocal mounting protrusion from the mounting interface.

16. The gimbal mount system of claim 8 , wherein the locking collar can be rotated by an angle between 10 and 180 degrees.

17. The gimbal mount system of claim 8 , wherein a communication interface is located within a surface of the mounting interface of the gimbal mount system and is configured to couple to a reciprocal communication int

Assignees

• Gopro Inc

Inventors

• Casarez Theresa Loney
• Muhlenkamp Iv John George
• Yui Stephen
• Harrison Ryan

Classifications

• F16M11/18

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

• G03B17/38

  Releasing-devices separate from shutter (integral with shutter G03B9/08) · CPC title

• G03B17/561 Primary

  Support related camera accessories · CPC title

• G03B17/566

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

• A45F5/10

  Handles for carrying purposes · CPC title