Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090231451 | SHOCK AND VIBRATION ISOLATOR FOR A CAMERA - A shock and vibration isolator for a movie or video camera has a vertical axis system including a base, an arm pivotably attached to the base, and at least one spring connected to the base and to the arm. One or more dampeners are connected to the base and to the arm. A horizontal axis system is supported by the vertical axis system. A leveling linkage connects the vertical and horizontal axis systems. The leveling linkage has adjustment features that allow for compensation of camera lens angulation caused by movement of the camera supported on a vehicle rolling over rough or uneven ground. | 09-17-2009 |
20110079105 | STEERING HANDLE ADAPTER FOR A CAMERA DOLLY - An adapter for a steering handle of a camera dolly includes a first part and a second part attached to the first part in a way that allows for angular adjustment between them. This allows the steering handle to be aligned or squared up relative to the dolly chassis. The first part may be an adapter base and the second part may be a riser. The adapter base may have a flange with slotted holes alignable with holes in the riser. Fasteners, such as cap screws, extending through the slots and holes, may be loosened to allow angular movement between the adapter base and the riser. Once properly aligned, the fasteners are tightened. Grooves, openings, pins, or similar engagement features may be provided at the top end of the adapter base, to allow a steering handle to attach to, and to rotate with, the adapter base. A bore may extend through the adapter base and the riser, with a fitting on the riser adapted to engage with a steering system in the camera dolly. When installed on a camera dolly, the adapter allows the steering handle to align as desired. The adapter also raises the steering handle up, to allow for ergonomic use by a taller dolly operator. | 04-07-2011 |
20110200320 | ELECTRONIC DAMPENING FOR A CAMERA CRANE - A camera platform may be stabilized by reducing or avoiding oscillating movement, when active stabilization systems are not used. A passive dampener resists the back driving of the motors used in the active stabilization system. This dampening or resistance to back driving the motors in turn dampens movement of the camera platform. Oscillations are reduced or avoided and the camera platform may return more quickly and smoothly to a level position. The dampener may be provided as an add-on or temporarily electrically switched in accessory. The dampener may include a circuit that connects the first and second motors of the active stabilization system in series, and connects the series output of the two motors to a variable resistor through a rectifier. A transistor may be with the variable resistor to provide for more linear adjusting and a more compact variable resistor. | 08-18-2011 |
20110255854 | TELESCOPING CAMERA CRANE - A camera crane includes an arm having a back section, a middle section telescopically extendible into and out of the back section, and a front section telescopically extendible into and out of the middle section. A camera platform is pivotally attached at or near the front end of the front section. A counterweight is movable along the back section. An arm support can support the back section at two or more positions. Consequently the pivot axis of the arm can be shifted to the front or rear, to change rear clearance requirements, counterweight requirements, and the reach of the arm. An electronic controller is linked to a motor and a sensor on a camera head, with the motor acting to keep the head level. | 10-20-2011 |
20110273612 | EXPANDABLE TWO AXIS OR THREE AXIS CAMERA SUPPORT - A camera support or head has a pan frame pivotably attached to a support hub. The support hub is attached to a camera crane or similar apparatus. The pan frame has first and second spaced apart and parallel adjustable length pan arms. A pan motor is attached to the pan frame and adapted to pivot the pan frame about a pan axis relative to the support hub. A tilt frame is pivotably attached to the pan frame. The tilt frame may include first and second spaced apart and parallel adjustable length tilt arms attached to opposite ends of a camera mounting plate. A tilt motor is attached to the tilt frame and to the pan frame and is adapted to pivot the tilt frame about a tilt axis perpendicular to the pan axis. The adjustable length tilt arms allow the camera head to extended to accommodate cameras requiring more vertical clearance. The adjustable length tilt arms allow the camera platform to be moved to better locate the center of gravity of the camera on the tilt axis, for more balanced loading. | 11-10-2011 |
20110280565 | DUAL LOOP CAMERA STABILIZATION SYSTEMS AND METHODS - A method for stabilizing a camera platform includes generating a first signal from a platform sensor, such as a gyro sensor, on the camera platform indicative of a change in angular position of the camera platform. The first signal is added to a control signal provided from a camera platform position controller, typically operated by the camera operator. A first correction value based on the sum of the first signal and the control signal is calculated. A second correction value is calculated based on a signal from an encoder associated with a motor linked to the camera platform. Adding the first correction value and the second correction value provides a motor control signal which is amplified and used to control the motor. | 11-17-2011 |
20120026467 | CAMERA CRANE MOBILE BASE - A camera crane mobile base has a drive motor assembly at each corner of a chassis. The drive motor assemblies may have an electric motor linked to an axle via gearing, and one or more wheels attached to the axle. The electric motors may be separately controlled to propel and steer the mobile base. A column is pivotally attached to the chassis and pivotal in lateral and longitudinal directions via actuators. The drive motor assemblies may be removed from the chassis for storage or transport. With the drive motor assemblies installed, the mobile base is highly stable and maneuverable. With the drive motor assemblies removed, the chassis is narrow enough to fit through a typical doorway. Steering systems may be linked to the drive motor assemblies at the front and/or rear of the chassis, to allow steering control of the mobile base in corrective, crab and/or round steering modes. The chassis may optionally have an upward curvature from either end towards the center location. | 02-02-2012 |
20120070143 | HYDRAULIC STOP VALVE FOR A CAMERA CRANE - A stop valve for a camera support such as a telescoping camera crane may include a valve pin engagable onto a valve seat, with a pin plate attached to the valve pin. A spring urges the valve pin in a first direction, which may be an opening direction or a closing direction. First and second dampener pins in first and second cylinders are attached to the pin plate. A closed loop fluid filled flow path connects the first and second cylinders. First and second check valves may be used to control flow in the flow path. | 03-22-2012 |
20120120371 | CAMERA CRANE MOBILE BASE - A camera crane has a telescoping arm on a mobile base. The mobile base has a drive motor assembly at each corner of a chassis. The drive motor assemblies may have an electric motor linked to an axle via gearing, and two or more wheels attached to the axle. The wheels can be set to free wheel, so that the mobile base may be pushed or towed, without back driving the electric motor. The wheels may also be linked to the axle, so that the electric motor can provide torque to each of the wheels. The electric motors may be separately controlled to propel and steer the mobile base. | 05-17-2012 |
20120152630 | CAMERA CRANE MOBILE BASE - A mobile base for a camera crane includes a front left drive motor assembly, a front right drive motor assembly, a rear left drive motor assembly, and a rear right drive motor assembly, attached to a chassis. Each drive motor assembly may include an electric motor linked to an axle via a gear reduction and at least one wheel on the axle. A middle left drive motor assembly and a middle right drive motor assembly may each also include an electric motor linked to an axle via a gear reduction, at least one wheel on the axle, and a spring suspension assembly attached to the chassis and supporting the axle. An electrical power supply on the chassis may be linked to each of the electric motors. | 06-21-2012 |
20120200722 | STABILIZED CAMERA PLATFORM SYSTEM - A stabilized camera system has a roll frame formed as a parallelogram linkage and pivotably attached to a pan frame. A tilt frame is pivotably attached to the roll frame. Control circuits are provided to compensate for drift, to allow manual aiming of the camera during stabilized camera operation, and for providing rapid leveling. The stabilized camera system is compact with low moments of inertia to allow rapid movements. | 08-09-2012 |
20120217718 | CAMERA CAR - A mobile camera vehicle has a roll cage or similar structure attached to a chassis. Upper and lower horizontal bars are attached to the vehicle structure. Front and rear vertical bars are each attached to the upper and lower horizontal bars. A lift plate is attached to and vertically moveable on the front and rear vertical bars. A lift plate actuator may be attached to the lift plate and used to raise and lower the lift plate on the front and rear vertical bars. Alternatively, the lift plate may be moved manually. A camera platform is supported on the lift plate. A vertical shock isolator may optionally be supported on the lift plate, and with a camera on the camera platform on the vertical shock isolator. | 08-30-2012 |
20120228838 | CAMERA DOLLY JACK - Apparatus and methods allow the wheels of a camera dolly to be quickly and easily changed by a single person. A dolly jack may have a leg attached to a foot and pivotable relative to the foot about a first axis. A jack rod is attached to the leg spaced apart from the first axis. An arm may be pivotally attached to the leg as desired, to provide greater mechanical advantage in lifting the camera dolly. Dolly wheels may be changed by inserting a jack rod into a receptacle on one side of the camera dolly, with the foot of the jack on the ground and with the jack leg substantially in a non-vertical position. The jack leg rotated into a second position wherein the jack leg is substantially vertical, with the dolly rolling slightly in the direction of the rotation. This lifts the side of the dolly sufficiently so that the front and back wheels, or wheel pairs, on the one side of the dolly are lifted off of the ground, allowing the wheels to be changed. | 09-13-2012 |
20120269504 | QUICK REPOSITIONER FOR A CAMERA HEAD - An accessory for use on a camera crane has a first plate attachable to an end of the camera crane arm. A second plate is pivotally attached to the first plate and moveable into a first position and into a second position perpendicular to the first position. First and second latches secure the second plate into the first and second positions, respectively. The accessory allows a camera head on a camera crane arm to be quickly and easily reoriented. | 10-25-2012 |
20130025401 | STEERING HANDLE ADAPTER FOR A CAMERA DOLLY - An adapter for a steering handle of a camera dolly includes a first part and a second part attached to the first part in a way that allows for angular adjustment between them. This allows the steering handle to be aligned or squared up relative to the dolly chassis. The first part may be an adapter base and the second part may be a riser. The adapter base may have a flange with slotted holes alignable with holes in the riser. When installed on a camera dolly, the adapter allows the steering handle to align as desired. The adapter also raises the steering handle up, to allow for ergonomic use by a taller dolly operator. | 01-31-2013 |
20130094000 | CAMERA CRANE MOBILE BASE - A camera crane has a telescoping arm on a mobile base. The mobile base has a drive motor assembly at each corner of a chassis. The drive motor assemblies may have an electric motor linked to an axle via gearing, and two or more wheels attached to the axle. The wheels can be set to free wheel, so that the mobile base may be pushed or towed, without back driving the electric motor. The wheels may also be linked to the axle, so that the electric motor can provide torque to each of the wheels. The electric motors may be separately controlled to propel and steer the mobile base. | 04-18-2013 |
20130113599 | HAND CONTROLLER FOR A CAMERA CRANE - A controller for a camera crane has a rocker button pivotally supported in or on a controller housing about a first pivot axis. A shaft of an electrical component, such as a variable resistor, is on a second pivot axis spaced apart from the first pivot axis. An arm is attached to the shaft. A spring urges the arm to a center position. Movement of the rocker button moves the arm. Due to the offset of the first and second pivot axes, movement of the rocker button results in proportionally reduced movement of the shaft of the electronic component. Smooth crane arm movements are readily achieved as the controller is less sensitive to the operators hand or finger movements. | 05-09-2013 |
20130183028 | TELESCOPING CAMERA CRANE - In a telescoping camera crane arm, a second section is telescopically extendible into and out of the first section. The second section divided into a front segment attached to a back segment by a connector, to allow the front segment to be removed from the back segment. An adapter is attachable to the front end of the first section. A camera support attachable to the adapter and to the front end of the front segment. To configure the crane for increased maximum payload, the front segment is removed from the back segment. The adapter is attached to the front end of the front section, and the camera support is attached to the adapter, so that the camera support is then supported directly by the first section. A spring balancing system compensates for out-of-balance forces associated with changes in the elevation angle of the crane arm. | 07-18-2013 |
20130286233 | STABILIZED CAMERA PLATFORM SYSTEM - A stabilized camera system has a roll frame formed as a parallelogram linkage and pivotably attached to a pan frame. A tilt frame is pivotably attached to the roll frame. Control circuits are provided to compensate for drift, to allow manual aiming of the camera during stabilized camera operation, and for providing rapid leveling. The stabilized camera system is compact with low moments of inertia to allow rapid movements. | 10-31-2013 |
20130322996 | CAMERA CRANE TRANSPORT VEHICLE - A camera crane carrier includes a vehicle having a front end and a back end. A front elevator is movable vertically between up and down positions, at a forward position on a deck vehicle. A back elevator is movable vertically between up and down positions, at a rearward position, below the deck. A ramp may be provided on the vehicle, with the ramp extendible from the deck at the back end of the vehicle to the ground. The elevators allow a camera crane to be more easily loaded onto the vehicle, and also allow lowering the center of gravity of the loaded vehicle. The vehicle may optionally be used as a camera car when not carrying a camera crane. | 12-05-2013 |
20130336645 | CAMERA HEAD WITH PAN, ROLL AND TILT MOVEMENT - A remote control and/or gyrostabilized camera head has circular roll track segments on roll arms. A roll frame has first and second motor supports or housings. A roll motor on or in the first motor support moves the roll frame about a roll axis. A tilt motor on or in the second motor support rotates a tilt frame about a tilt axis. The weight of the roll motor support and the roll motor may be substantially the same as the tilt motor support and the tilt motor, so that the roll frame is balanced, allowing for better performance. As the camera head is a pan/roll/tilt head, the head can continue to provide movement in three axes, regardless of the camera position. | 12-19-2013 |
20140021422 | HYDRAULIC FLOAT DOWN VALVE FOR A CAMERA DOLLY OR CAMERA CRANE - A camera dolly or camera crane has an arm pivotably attached to a chassis, and a hydraulic system including a hydraulic cylinder for raising the arm, a hydraulic valve and a valve control. The hydraulic valve has a normal operation mode where opening and closing of the valve is controlled by the valve control. The hydraulic valve is also provided with a float down mode, where the valve remains partially open providing an intentional slight leakage, regardless of operation of the valve control. In float down mode, as soon as the arm reaches its highest point, the arm automatically and instantaneously reverses direction and starts to move back down, in a smooth continuous movement. The hydraulic system may optionally also include a fast down valve, to allow the arm to move down quickly, even when minimally loaded. | 01-23-2014 |
20140064720 | BODY-MOUNTED CAMERA CRANE - A body-mount camera crane includes a camera platform pivotally attached to the front ends of the left and right tubes and an accessory platform pivotally attached to the back ends of the left and right tubes. A hip belt is pivotally attached to the left and right tubes at an intermediate position. In use, the crane is supported largely on the operator's hips via the hip belt. The elevation of the lens is changed by pivoting the crane up and down. The operator correspondingly pivots the camera platform to keep the camera level. Alternatively a parallelogram linkage keeps the camera platform level. The length of the tubes may be adjusted based on the weights of the camera and the accessories, such as batteries, on the accessory platform, to keep the crane balanced. | 03-06-2014 |
20140334809 | INVERTIBLE VERTICAL AXIS SHOCK AND VIBRATION ISOLATOR FOR A CAMERA - A vertical axis shock and vibration isolator for a camera has first and second plates connected by linkages which allow the plates to move towards and away from each other, while keeping the plates parallel to each other. The second plate is suspended from the first plate on dampener assemblies having a spring and a fluid dampener. The isolator may be used in an under slung or an over slung position, without changing its isolation characteristics. When set up in an over slung position, the dampener assemblies may be inverted separately from the isolator so that the springs remain loaded in compression. | 11-13-2014 |