Apparatus mountings providing at least one axis of movement with

Details Apparatus mountings providing at least one axis of movement with Apparatus mountings providing at least one axis of movement with

1996-04-08

1999-08-31

Schwartz, Chris

Brakes

Internal-resistance motion retarder

Using a rotary-type fluid damper

188293, 1883225, F16D 5702

Patent

active

059441526

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to apparatus mountings having at least one axis of movement and more specifically to manually movable mountings incorporating variable resistance devices for damping movement of the apparatus. The invention is particularly although not exclusively applicable to mountings for film, T.V. or video cameras which, typically, are moveable in at least pan and tilt modes.


BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various forms of dampers have been used in camera pan/tilt mountings, some, of the friction type, embodying inter-engaging sliding surfaces and others, of the viscous type, having relatively moveable surfaces with a viscous fluid therebetween sheared by the relative movement between the surfaces to provide resistance. Still other forms of dampers have embodied both friction and viscous components. Examples of such arrangements can be found in our U.S. Pat. No. 4,177,884 our International Patent Publication No. WO92/03683 and our International Patent Application No. PCT/GB93/00746.
The above arrangements are all essentially mechanical in nature and while it is normal to provide adjustment for varying a maximum resistance offered, the torque/speed characteristics of such dampers are inherent in their design and construction and cannot readily be varied thereafter.


SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention provides an apparatus mounting providing movement for the apparatus in at least one axis and damping means being provided for controlling the movement, the damping means comprising a variable resistance device for opposing movement of the mounting, electrically operated control means for the variable resistance device for varying the resistance in accordance with one or more variable parameters relating to movement of the mounting and means to detect variation in the parameter or parameters to cause the control means to vary the resistance device to provide a requisite resistance in accordance with variation in the parameter or parameters.
For example, means may be provided for detecting applied force and speed of movement and the control means may adjust the variable resistance to provide a resistance to movement which varies with speed in accordance with a predetermined relationship.
One such control means may include a micro-processor programed with an algorithm to provide the required resistance/speed characteristic. In the latter case the micro-processor may be adapted to receive different algorithms for the force/speed relationship for selection by the operator.
Furthermore the micro-processor may contain a number of algorithms for different force/speed relationships and means are provided for the operator to select a requisite algorithm.
In any of the above arrangements the control means may have further means for detecting ambient conditions for adjusting the variable force device to suit the conditions.
For example the means for detecting the ambient conditions may include means for detecting temperature and wind speed.
Also in any of the above arrangements the control means may include means for varying the variable resistance in accordance with adjustment of a camera parameter.
In one arrangement according to the invention the apparatus may comprise a camera having a zoom lens, and means may be provided for providing varying resistance to movement in response to change in focal length of the lens and thereby field of view of the lens.
Also in any of the above arrangements the mounting may provide pan and tilt movement of the camera and variable resistance devices for controlling movement of the camera in both pan and tilt are provided operated by the control means.


BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following is a description of some specific embodiments of the invention, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which;
FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of a labyrinth type variable viscous damper for a camera mounting in accordance with the invention;
FIG. 2 is also a diagrammatic illustration showing two such dampers utilised in controll

REFERENCES:
patent: 3907079 (1975-09-01), Chapman
patent: 4351515 (1982-09-01), Yoshida
patent: 4742998 (1988-05-01), Schubert
patent: 4759534 (1988-07-01), Hartel
patent: 4899854 (1990-02-01), Cartoni
patent: 4973031 (1990-11-01), Takano et al.
patent: 5176368 (1993-01-01), Shtarkman
patent: 5249784 (1993-10-01), Murakami et al.

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