Abstract
A device for supporting a smartphone having a video camera or supporting an action video camera has a grip configured for supporting the smartphone having the video camera in it or supporting the action video camera, a holder configured to be controlled by a user, and components for receiving audio signals from an audio signal source and reproducing the received audio signals in the vicinity of the holder so that the video recorded by the camera includes the received audio signals.
Claims
1. A device for supporting a smartphone having a video camera for recording a video or supporting an action video camera for recording a video, comprising a gimbal that stabilizes a video recording by the smartphone video camera or by the action video camera; a grip connected to the gimbal and securing the smartphone having the video camera or the action video camera; a holder connected to the gimbal and controllable by a user and also provided with a speaker; a power button provided in the holder and operative for powering on or off the movement of the gimbal and thereby the movement of the grip; components provided in the holder allowing to receive in the device audio signals from an outside audio source, in order to reproduce these audio signals in the vicinity of the holder and the grip of the device so that during video recording with the supported smartphone video camera or the action video camera, the video recording can include the reproduced audio signals from the device; an audio signal powering up and a volume adjustment up button for powering on the audio signals reproduced in the speaker and for adjusting the volume of the received audio signals up, independently from powering up the movement of the gimbal and thereby the movement of the grip.
2. (canceled)
3. A device for supporting a smartphone having a video camera for recording a video or supporting an action video camera for recording a video, comprising a gimbal that stabilizes a video recording by the smartphone video camera or by the action video camera; a grip connected to the gimbal and securing the smartphone having the video camera or the action video camera; a holder connected to the gimbal and controllable by a user and also provided with a speaker; a power button provided in the holder and operative for powering on or off the movement of the gimbal and thereby the movement of the grip; components provided in the holder allowing to receive in the device audio signals from an outside audio source, in order to reproduce these audio signals in the vicinity of the holder and the grip of the device so that during video recording with the supported smartphone video camera or the action video camera, the video recording can include the reproduced audio signals from the device; and an audio signal powering down and a volume adjusting down button, for powering off the audio signals reproduced in the speaker and for adjusting the volume of the received audio signals down.
4. A device as defined in claim 1, further comprising video camera activation and recording means operating so that the video recording and the receiving of the audio signals are actuated at the same time.
5. A device as defined in claim 1, further comprising an antenna for receiving and transmitting audio signals which are radio signals, a receiver circuitry and a transmitter circuitry both connected to a processor circuitry, a control processor, a knob for switching radio waves of the radio signals, and a knob for dialing a corresponding wavelength within radio frequency ranges of the radio signals, and a display for showing wavelengths of the radio signals.
6. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein the gimbal includes at least two motors arranged between the holder and the grip and operative for moving the grip and thereby the smartphone with a video camera secured in the grip or the action video camera secured in the grip for stabilizing a position of the smartphone having the video camera or a position of the action video camera.
7. A device as defined in claim 3, further comprising video camera activation and recording means operating so that the video recording and the receiving of the audio signals are actuated at the same time.
8. A device as defined in claim 3, further comprising an antenna for receiving and transmitting audio signals which are radio signals, a receiver circuitry and a transmitter circuitry both connected to a processor circuitry, a control processor, a knob for switching radio waves of the radio signals, and a knob for dialing a corresponding wavelength within radio frequency ranges of the radio signals, and a display for showing wavelengths of the radio signals.
9. A device as defined in claim 3, wherein the gimbal includes at least two motors arranged between the holder and the grip and operative for moving the grip and thereby the smartphone with a video camera secured in the grip or the action video camera secured in the grip for stabilizing a position of the smartphone having the video camera or a position of the action video camera.
10. A device for supporting a smartphone having a video camera for recording a video or supporting an action video camera for recording a video, comprising a gimbal that stabilizes a video recording by the smartphone video camera or by the action video camera; a grip connected to the gimbal and securing the smartphone having the video camera or the action video camera; a holder connected to the gimbal and controllable by a user and also provided with a speaker; a power button provided in the holder and operative for powering on or off the movement of the gimbal and thereby the movement of the grip; components provided in the holder allowing to receive in the device audio signals from an outside audio source, in order to reproduce these audio signals in the vicinity of the holder and the grip of the device so that during video recording with the supported smartphone video camera or the action video camera, the video recording includes the reproduced audio signals from the device; an audio signal powering up and a volume adjustment up button for powering on the audio signals reproduced in the speaker and for adjusting the volume of the received audio signals up, independently from powering up the movement of the gimbal and thereby the movement of the grip; and an audio signal powering down and a volume adjusting down button, for powering off the audio signals reproduced in the speaker and for adjusting the volume of the received audio signals down.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0030] FIG. 1 is a view showing a known device for supporting a smartphone having a camera or an action camera; and
[0031] FIG. 1a-16 are views showing details and different embodiments of the device for supporting a smartphone having a camera or an action camera according to the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0032] FIG. 1 of the drawings shows a perspective view of a known mobile gimbal device 1 for supporting a smartphone having a video camera or an action video camera. The gimbal device 1 has a holder 2 adapted to be held by a user and connected with a grip 3 for securing and gripping a not shown smartphone with a video camera or gripping an action video camera. It further has a gimbal 80 with a tilt axis motor 4, a roll axis motor 5, and a pan axis motor 6 for imparting corresponding movements to the grip 3 and thereby to a smartphone with a video camera or an action video camera held in the holder 3. Arms 7 and 8 connect the corresponding motors of the gimbal with one another.
[0033] The holder 2 is provided with an on/off power button 9 for turning the operation of the motors 4, 5, and 6 as well as the video recording controls on or off of the device, a joystick button 10 for controlling a video recording and the movement of the video camera of the smartphone or the action video camera, an orientation button 11 for orienting the smartphone with the video camera or the action video camera, a button 12 for operating corresponding modes, and a button 13 for video camera activation and recording.
[0034] FIG. 1A shows a gimbal device 1a designed in accordance with the present invention. It corresponds to the known device in that it can be provided with some or all above described components of device 1. The device according to the invention further has novel components and operates in a novel manner, which will now be described in detail.
[0035] In the gimbal device 1a for supporting a smartphone having a camera that provides for recording video or supporting an action video camera that provides for recording video, the holder 2 has an additional portion which is identified with reference numeral 14. This portion is provided with components 15 allowing to receive in the device 1a audio signals from an outside audio source, in order to reproduce these audio signals in the vicinity of the holder and grip of the device 1a so that therefore during video recording with the supported smartphone video camera or the action video camera, the video recording can include the reproduced audio signals from the device in real time.
[0036] The gimbal device 1a has a screen display 16 for showing wavelengths of the radio audio signals. The gimbal device 1a has an audio signal powering up and a volume adjustment up button 17 and an audio signal powering down and a volume adjusting down button 18 for adjusting the volume of received audio signals up or down correspondingly and for powering on or off the audio signals reproduced in the speaker. The gimbal device 1a has a knob 19 for switching between AM radio waves and FM radio waves, and a knob 20 for dialing a corresponding wavelength within the AM and FM ranges. The gimbal device 1a also includes an additional component knob 21 that powers up or powers down the power of the speaker that reproduces the corresponding audio signals and adjusts up or adjusts down the volume of the speaker which reproduces the corresponding audio signals.
[0037] FIG. 1B shows a cross section of the holder 2 in the area 14 accommodating the means 15. This area of the holder contains a flexible PCB 22, an AM receiver 23, an FM receiver 24, an AM transmitter 25, an FM transmitter 26, and a speaker 27. Corresponding lead wires are identified with reference numerals 28. A user of the gimbal device 1a in correspondence with this embodiment of the present invention, in addition to supporting a smartphone with a video camera or supporting an action video camera and adjusting their orientation and providing smooth stable movement video recording, can operate the above identified elements of the means 15 so as to receive the audio signals from the signal source via the receivers 23 and 24, transmit the received audio signals via the transmitters 25 and 26, and optimally reproduce in the vicinity of smartphone having a video camera or action video camera supported by the gimbal device 1a the audio signals via the speaker 27 positioned in the holder 2 below the grip 3.
[0038] FIG. 1C of the drawings shows a schematic block diagram of the device in accordance with the present invention. The device is identified as a whole with reference numeral 31 and has an antenna 32 which is used for transmitting and receiving radio audio signals. The received signals are passed to a receiver circuitry 34, while the transmitted signals are sent to the antenna 32 from a transmitter circuitry 36. The receiver circuitry 34 and the transmitter circuitry 36 are both connected to a processor circuitry 38 which, in this case, is used to represent both a signal processing circuitry and a control processor which controls the operation of the device. The processor circuitry 38 can receive audio inputs from a microphone 33, and alphanumeric or other inputs from a keypad 37, and provide audio outputs through a loudspeaker 35 and visual outputs through a display 39.
[0039] FIG. 1D of the drawings shows a schematic block diagram of the device for supporting a smartphone having a video camera or supporting an action video camera in accordance with another aspect of the present invention. In particular it shows a portable communication apparatus in which the present invention can be applied. The device is identified as a whole with reference numeral 81 and has an antenna 32 which is used for transmitting and receiving audio signals. The received signals are passed to a receiver circuitry 34, while the transmitted signals are sent to the antenna 32 from a transmitter circuitry 36. The receiver circuitry 34 and the transmitter circuitry 36 are both connected to a processor circuitry 38 which, in this case, is used to represent both a signal processing circuitry and a control processor which controls the operation of the device. The processor circuitry 38 can receive audio inputs from a USB flash drive 43 for inserting a USB flash drive with a digital mp3 music files playlist, and alphanumeric or other inputs from a keypad 37, and provide audio outputs through a loudspeaker 35 and visual outputs through a display 39.
[0040] FIG. 2 of the drawings shows the gimbal device for supporting a smartphone having a video camera or supporting a action video camera in accordance with further features of the present invention. It includes the components shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B and at the same time it has additional novel features. In the device shown in FIG. 2 the holder 2 in its end which is opposite to the grip 3 is provided with an opening 29 for attaching the device to a not shown support, such as a monopod, a tripod or the like. The opening 29 can be provided with an inner thread for screwing in a corresponding threaded end of such a support. The opening 29 can be provided in a part 30 connectable with a remaining part of the holder 2, for example also by a threaded connection.
[0041] FIG. 3 of the drawings shows the device for supporting a smartphone with a video camera or supporting an action video camera in accordance with further features of the present invention. It includes the components shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B and 2 and at the same time it has additional novel features. In the device shown in FIG. 3 the part 30 which has a threaded portion 31 is provided with an outer thread 32. It can be screwed into the lower part of the holder 2 which is hollow and provided with an inner thread 33. When the part 30 is unscrewed and removed from a remaining part of the holder 2, an inner opening in the holder is exposed and a replaceable battery 34 can be inserted into the hollow holder, with the subsequent threaded connection of the part 30 to the remaining part of the holder 2 to close the inner opening. While FIG. 3 shows that the device for supporting a smartphone with a video camera or supporting an action video camera of the invention is battery operated, and possibly with a rechargeable battery, the device can be designed so that it can be rechargeable from an outside current source without any need from a battery.
[0042] FIG. 4 of the drawings shows the device for supporting a smartphone having a video camera or supporting an action video camera in accordance with a further feature of the present invention. It includes the components shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B and at the same time it has additional novel features. In the device shown in FIG. 4 the holder 2 is connected with remaining components of the device via a multi-part telescoping connecting unit 40 composed of a plurality of elements 41 which are telescopingly connectable with one another and are displaceable relative to one another. More particularly, while one end of the telescoping connecting unit 40 is connected with the holder 2, its opposite end is connected with the pan axis motor 6. As a result, by extending or retracting of the telescoping connecting unit 40 the distance of the grip 3 gripping a not shown smartphone with a video camera or with an action video camera from the holder 2 can be reduced or increased depending on a user's preference.
[0043] FIGS. 5 and 6 of the drawings show the device for supporting a smartphone having a video camera or supporting an action video camera in accordance with a further feature of the present invention. It includes the components shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B and at the same time has additional novel features. In the gimbal device shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 a foldable arm 50 is provided. The foldable arm 50 has one end 51 connected with the tilt axis motor 4 and another opposite end 52 which is pivotable and connected with the pan axis motor 5, with covers 53 covering opposite axial ends of the pivotal connection. As shown in this figure, the device can be folded so as to occupy a substantially small space, which can be convenient for its storage and transportation.
[0044] FIG. 7 of the drawings shows a gimbal device for supporting a smartphone having a video camera or supporting an action video camera in accordance with a further feature of the present invention. The supporting device 1f has a holder 2 adapted to be held by a user and connected with a grip 3 for securing and gripping a not shown smartphone with a video camera or holding an action video camera. It further has a gimbal with a tilt axis motor 4, a roll axis motor 5, and a pan axis motor 6 for imparting corresponding movements to the grip 3 and thereby to a smartphone with the video camera or to an action video camera held in the grip 3. A multi-part telescoping connecting unit 40 is provided and composed of a plurality of elements 41 that are telescopingly connectable with one another and are displaceable relative to one another. This telescoping connecting unit 40 connects the holder 2 with the pan axis motor 6. As a result, by extending or retracting the telescoping connecting unit 40 the distance of the grip 3, and thereby of a not shown smartphone with a video camera or of an action video camera secured in the grip 3, can be reduced or increased depending on a user's preference. A foldable arm 50 is further provided and has one end 51 connected with the tilt axis motor 4 and another opposite end 52 which is pivotable connected with the pan axis motor 6, with covers 53 covering opposite axial ends of the pivotal connection. As a result, the device can be folded so as to occupy a substantially small space, which can be convenient for its storage and transportation.
[0045] FIG. 8 of the drawings shows the device for supporting a smartphone having a video camera or supporting an action video camera in accordance with a further feature of the present invention. The supporting device 1g has a holder 2 adapted to be held by a user and connected with a grip 3 for securing and holding a not shown smartphone with a video camera or an action video camera. It further has a roll axis motor 5 and a tilt axis motor 4 for imparting corresponding movements to the grip 3 and thereby to a smartphone with the video camera or to an action video camera held in the grip 3. The holder 2 in the embodiment has a substantially rectangular cross section. Similarly to the embodiment of FIGS. 1A and 1B, it has an additional portion which is identified with reference numeral 14 and provided with components 15 which allow receiving audio signals from outside audio sources and reproducing them in the vicinity of the device and therefore in the vicinity of a supported smartphone with the video camera or of the supported action video camera during recording by the video camera so that the video recording includes the reproduced audio signals from the device.
[0046] FIG. 9 of the drawings shows the device for supporting a smartphone having a camera or supporting a camera in accordance with a further feature of the present invention. The supporting device 1h is a small tripod that has a holder 2 connected with the grip 3 for gripping a not shown smartphone with a video camera or an action video camera. The device 1h includes a housing 60 that has an additional portion which is identified with reference numeral 14 and is provided with components 15 which allow receiving audio signals from outside audio sources and reproducing them in the vicinity of the holder of the device and therefore in the vicinity of the supported smartphone with a video camera or of a supported action video camera during recording by the video camera so that the video recording includes the reproduced audio signals from the device. The housing 60 is supported on a tripod 61 with adjustable legs 62 that allow to extend the height and reach of the device. The grip 3 is connected with the housing 60 via a ball joint 64 and fixed by a screw 63 in its desired position.
[0047] FIG. 10 of the drawings shows the device 1h of FIG. 9 for supporting a smartphone having a video camera or supporting an action video camera in accordance with a further feature of the present invention. The supporting device 1h can further support the previously shown device 1b via the insert 29. This way the gimbal device 1h can stand on a table or flat surface. Supporting device 1h has a holder 2 that is supported by the tripod 61 with adjustable legs 62. The holder 2 is connected with the housing 60 via a ball joint 64 and fixed by a screw 63 in its desired position.
[0048] FIG. 11 of the drawings shows the device for supporting a smartphone having a video camera or supporting an action video camera in accordance with a further feature of the present invention. The supporting device 1b has a holder 2 to be held by a user and connected with the grip 3 for receiving and gripping a not shown smartphone with a video camera or receiving and holding an action video camera. The holder 2 is connected with an independent external telescoping extension support pole which can be held by a user and is composed of interconnected components 65 which are movable toward one another and away from one another to reduce or to increase the length of the support 64, for convenience of user's operation with the smartphone having a video camera or with the action video camera received in the grip 3. The extension support is inserted at the base of the supporting device 1b via the insert 29.
[0049] FIG. 12 of the drawings shows the device for supporting a smartphone having a video camera or supporting an action video camera in accordance with a further feature of the present invention. The supporting device 1j is a selfie stick that has a holder 2 adapted to be held by a user and connected with a grip 3 for receiving and gripping a not shown smartphone with a camera or an action camera. The supporting device holder 2, similarly to the device of FIG. 1A, has an additional portion which is identified with reference numeral 14. This portion is provided with the components 15 allowing to receive audio signals from audio sources and reproducing them in the vicinity of the holder of the device and therefore in the vicinity of a supported smartphone with a camera or a supported camera during recording by the camera so that the video recording of the camera includes the reproduced audio signals from the device. The holder 2 in this embodiment is telescoping and has a plurality of individual portions telescopingly connected with each other to increase or reduce the length of the holder 2. The individual portion which is the closest to the grip 3 has an element 66 which is turnably connected with an element 67 supporting the grip 3.
[0050] FIG. 13 of the drawings shows the device for supporting an action video camera 68 in accordance with a further feature of the present invention. The supporting device in this embodiment has a holder 2 formed as a casing 69 of the camera 68, which is shown from its front side on the right view and from its rear side on the left view. The camera 68 has a camera casing forming a grip 3, an objective 70 and a viewfinder display 71. The casing 69 of the camera 68 has a portion which is identified with reference numeral 14 and provided with the components 15 allowing receiving audio signals from outside audio sources and reproducing them in the vicinity of the holder of the device and thereby in the vicinity of the supported video camera during recording by the supported video camera so that the video recording of the camera includes the reproduced audio signals from the device, as in the embodiments of FIG. 1A.
[0051] FIG. 14 shows the device for supporting a large video camera 72 in accordance with a further feature of the present invention which is held in the grip 3. This device has components corresponding to the components of the device shown in FIG. 1A. In particular it has the three motors 4, 5, 6 and the grip 3. It also has the holder 2 with an additional portion which is identified with reference numeral 14 and provided with the same components 15 which allow receiving audio signals from outside audio sources and reproducing them in the vicinity of the device and in the vicinity of the supported large video camera during recording by the supported large video camera, so that the video recording of the large video camera includes the reproduced audio signals from the device.
[0052] FIGS. 15 and 16 show a pocket-sized device for supporting a video camera in accordance with a further feature of the present invention. The device has a casing 73 with a portion which corresponds to the holder 2 and another portion which corresponds to the grip 3. A viewfinder with a touch screen is identified with reference numeral 74 and a camera lens objective is identified with reference numeral 75. The device further has a roll axis motor 5, a tilt axis motor 4, and a pan axis motor 6 for imparting corresponding movements to the camera lens objective 75 of the video camera. The supporting device has further components corresponding to the components of the device shown in FIG. 1A. In particular the casing 73 of the device has a portion which is identified with reference numeral 14 and provided with the same components 15 which allow receiving audio signals from outside audio sources and reproducing them in the vicinity of the holder 2 during video recording by the supported video camera, so that the video recording of the camera includes the reproduced audio signals from the device. The holder 2 of the device further has a lower portion with a thread 76 for connecting to a support, such as a monopod, a tripod or the like.
[0053] The present invention is not limited to the details shown since various modification and structural changes are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention.
