System for supporting a shooting camera

Abstract

Described is a system for supporting a camera, said camera being fixed on an articulated head which allows the homogeneous movement along axes Z.sub.pan and Y.sub.tilt, said articulated head being equipped with variable fluid dampening means and counterbalancing means, for annulling the weight of the camera when rotated about the Y.sub.tilt axis, aid system being equipped with a structure for the rotation of the camera about a third X.sub.roll axis, said structure being interposed between said head, above the same, and said camera, below the same.

Claims

1. A system for supporting a camera, said camera being fixed on an articulated head permitting smooth movement along Zpan and ytilt axes, said articulated head being provided with dampening variable fluid means and counterbalancing means, to annul the weight of the camera when rotated about the Ytilt axis, said system being provided with a structure for rotation of the camera around a third X.sub.roll axis, said structure being interposed between said head, above the same, and said camera, below the same, and comprising, from the articulated head to the camera, fixing means to the articulated head, a first and a second profiled elements, hinged in correspondence of the X.sub.roll axis, so as to allow a complete 360° rotation γ of said second profiled element with respect to said first profiled element about the X.sub.roll axis, having at least a first arm substantially parallel with respect to a support plane of the system and a second arm substantially perpendicular with respect to said first arm, said first profiled element being coupled to said fixing means to the articulated head, said first and second profiled elements being provided with means for mutual adjustment and the camera along two planes parallel with respect to said first and second arm, a machine plate, coupled above said second profiled member, and supporting above said camera, the profiled element having an interface for coupling with the head, by said fixing means, and the profiled element having an interface allowing the fixing of the camera, by the plate.

2. System for supporting a camera according to claim 1, wherein there are provided, on said second arm of said second profiled element, means for fixing counterbalancing weights, necessary for making a nodal shooting.

3. System for supporting a camera according to claim 1, wherein said first and second profiled elements are “L” shaped elements.

4. System for supporting a camera according to claim 1, wherein said fixing means between the head and the first profiled element are comprised of a plate.

5. System for supporting a camera according to claim 1, wherein said means for the mutual adjustment of the first and the second profiled elements and the camera along two planes parallel with respect to said first and second arms of the respective first and second profiled elements are linear guides.

6. System for supporting a camera according to claim 5, wherein said linear guides are comprised of slots, within which slide elements projecting from the respective plates.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 schematically shows a perspective view of a system according to the prior art which does not allow the rotation of the camera about a third axis;

(2) FIG. 2 shows a side view of the system of FIG. 1;

(3) FIG. 3 shows a front view of the system of FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 4 schematically shows a perspective view of a first system according to the prior art which allow the limited rotation of the camera about a third axis;

(5) FIG. 5 shows a side view of the system of FIG. 4;

(6) FIG. 6 shows a front view of the system of FIG. 4;

(7) FIG. 7 schematically shows a perspective view of a second system according to the prior art which allow the limited rotation of the camera about a third axis;

(8) FIG. 8 shows a side view of the system of FIG. 7;

(9) FIG. 9 shows a front view of the system of FIG. 7;

(10) FIG. 10 shows an exploded perspective view of the system according to the invention;

(11) FIG. 11 shows a perspective view of the system of FIG. 10 according to a first configuration;

(12) FIG. 12 shows a schematic side view of the system of FIG. 11;

(13) FIG. 13 shows a front view of the system of FIG. 11;

(14) FIG. 14 shows a perspective view of the system of FIG. 10 according to a second configuration;

(15) FIG. 15 shows a schematic side view of the system of FIG. 14;

(16) FIG. 16 shows a front view of the system of FIG. 14;

(17) FIG. 17 shows a perspective view of the system of FIG. 10 according to a third configuration;

(18) FIG. 18 shows a schematic side view of the system of FIG. 17; and

(19) FIG. 19 shows a front view of the system of FIG. 17.

(20) FIGS. 10-19 shown an embodiment of the system according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(21) The same reference numerals are use in FIGS. 10-19 for identifying the same elements of the previous FIGS. 1-9, relative to the prior art solutions.

(22) As shown in particular in FIG. 10, the solution according to this invention comprises the introduction of a system, indicated generically with reference numeral 4, constrained to the head 1 by fixing means 5, which allows the camera 2 to be connected by means of a coupling plate 3 of the camera 2.

(23) In this way, it is possible to rotate the camera 2 by an angle γ of 360° about the X.sub.roll axis, without the use of any counterbalancing means, with the possibility of assisting the movement with fluid dampening or motorization. Moreover, as mentioned, the possibility is guaranteed of taking a nodal shot about the Xroll axis, wherein the axis of rotation Xroll coincides exactly with the Xfocus axis of the optical centre of the camera. Said system 4 is characterized by two “L” shaped profiles 4′ and 4″, hinged at the Xroll axis, in such a way as to allow a complete 360° rotation γ of 4″ relative to 4′ about the Xroll axis.

(24) It is clearly evident that the “L” shaped profiles can also adopt a different configuration, for example “U” shaped, without thereby departing from the scope of the inventive concept. What is necessary is that there is the possibility of adjustment on two substantially parallel axes.

(25) For this purpose, the “L” shaped elements 4′ and 4″ have linear guides a and a′ which allow the position of the camera 2 and the system 4 along the Xroll axis to be adjusted, in such a way as to allow the possibility of adjusting the position of the centre of gravity of the system, which is in this way balanced under rotations α about the Ytilt axis, and guides b and b′ for adjusting the position of the camera 2 along the Zpan axis, in such a way as to allow the possibility of adjusting the position of the centre of gravity of the camera 2, balancing the system following rotations γ about the Xroll axis.

(26) Moreover, the element 4′ has an interface B for the coupling, with the fixing means 5, to the head 1.

(27) On the other hand, the element 4″ has an interface A which allows the fixing of the camera 2, by means of the plate 3, and of the elements C for the connection of any counterweights (not shown).

(28) FIGS. 11-13 show how the system according to the invention can be provided on any supporting head 1 of a camera 2, which allows the homogeneous movement with rotation about the Zpan and Ytilt axes, and allows the camera 2, positioned on 4″, to be rotated according to an angle γ about the Xroll axis.

(29) The movement of the camera 2, thanks to the adjustments described in more detail below, allow a nodal shooting over an arc 360° without angular limitations.

(30) Reference P indicates the system comprising “L” shaped plate 4″, plate 3 for attaching camera, and camera 2; reference Ω indicates the system comprising fixing means 5, “total Dutch” system 4, plate 3 for attaching camera, and camera 2.

(31) An Xroll axis is generally defined as an axis not coinciding with the XP axis of the centre of gravity P, in turn not coinciding with the Xfocus axis of the optical centre of the camera.

(32) Similarly, there is a Zpan axis, for α=0, not coinciding with the ZΩ axis of the centre of gravity of Ω in turn not coinciding with the Zfocus axis of the optical centre of the camera.

(33) By using the linear guides b and b′ it is possible to adjust the system in such a way that the centre of gravity of P is in a position such that XP coincides with Xroll, making the system balanced under rotations γ about the Xroll axis.

(34) By using the linear guides a and a′ it is possible to adjust the system in such a way that the centre of gravity Ω for α=0 is in a position such that ZΩ coincides with Zpan, making the system balanced under rotations α about the Ytilt axis (carrying out the opportune adjustments on the counterbalancing means with which the head 1 is equipped).

(35) In the configuration illustrated in FIGS. 14-16, the system is perfectly balanced and allows a complete rotation β of 360° about the Zpan axis (without angular limitations), a rotation α of ±90° about the Ytilt axis and a complete rotation γ of 360° about the Xroll axis (without angular limitations).

(36) In the case in which XP and ZΩ do not coincide with Xfocus and Zfocus it is possible to add opportune counterweights (not shown) at the element C of 4″ in such a way that XP coincides with Xfocus and ZΩ coincides with Zfocus.

(37) In the configuration illustrated in FIGS. 17-19, the system according to the invention is perfectly balanced and allows a complete rotation β of 360° about the Zpan axis (without angular limitations), a rotation α of ±90° about the Ytilt axis and a complete rotation γ of 360° about the Xroll axis (without angular limitations).

(38) It is also possible to take a nodal shot about the Xroll axis, as it coincides with Xfocus which in turn coincides with XP.

(39) Lastly, having fixed the angle of rotation α about Ytilt equal to zero (α=0), it is also possible to take a nodal shot about the Zpan axis as it coincides with Zfocus which in turn coincides with ZΩ.

(40) From the above description it may be clearly inferred how the solution according to this invention resolves all the problems which characterize the prior art solutions, and the following advantages are achieved: the possibility of carrying out a rotation about a third axis-camera Xroll by the introduction of a system which needs neither a counterbalancing system (significantly lowering the centre of gravity of the payload) nor a system which mechanically allows the rotation (for example, rack and worm screw);

(41) a complete rotation γ of 360° about the Xroll axis without any angular limitation;

(42) possibility of taking a nodal shot about the Xroll axis;

(43) for α=0 (angle of rotation about the Ytilt axis), possibility of taking a nodal shot about the Zpan axis;

(44) possibility of making the adjustments through the micrometric linear guides a, a′, b and b′ for an easy and precise setting of the system;

(45) possibility of acting on the third Xroll axis through a manual (handle or lever) or motorised actuation;

(46) possibility of making the movement on the third Xroll axis assisted by fluid dampening means with continuous or step-like variability.

(47) The present invention is described by way of example only, without limiting the scope of application, according to its preferred embodiments, but it shall be understood that the invention may be modified and/or adapted by an expert in the field without thereby departing from the scope of the inventive concept, as defined in the claims herein.