WO2006028390A1

WO2006028390A1 - Camera steadying apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2006028390A1
Application number: PCT/NZ2005/000231
Authority: WO
Inventors: Rong Shao Wan; Leigh Wanstead
Original assignee: Rong Shao Wan; Leigh Wanstead
Priority date: 2004-09-09
Filing date: 2005-09-07
Publication date: 2006-03-16
Also published as: TW200624983A

Abstract

A camera mounting system (1) for suspending and isolating movement of a camera from a mounting point. The suspension assembly (9) comprising a cantilever mount arm (13) from which is pivotally mounted (19) a cantilever arm (17) to rotate pivotally in the vertical plane. A biasing means (21) acts between locations fixed relative to the cantilever mount arm and cantilever arm. The camera (23) can be mounted (25) from the cantilever arm, directly or indirectly, and is stabilised and isolated by the suspension assembly from the mounting point induced movement, save for purposeful movements imparted to said camera.

Description

CAMERA STEADYING APPARATUS FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to camera steadying apparatus and in particular though not solely to video camera steadying apparatus which is mounted on a user wearable harness, or is user held, or mounted to a camera transportation system. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Typically when a video camera or film camera is held by a user and the user moves (without the assistance of a tripod or other apparatus), there are certain motion artifacts which present themselves in the resulting video image due to the movement induced to the camera by the user. Such undesirable camera movement may be due to either walking or running or perambulation and may also be due to an unsteady hand or other external vibration which may impart the movement to the camera. Further when a camera is mounted to a car, camera crane or similar camera transport apparatus or systems there may be similar undesirable vibration or movement induced.

One method to prevent movement being imparted to a camera is by the use of a tripod. This allows even panning and may not have the problem of movement by the user affecting, unduly, the resulting video image. However tripods by their very nature, if picked up and moved round, (as may be desired when a running or walking shot takes place), will revert back to the undesirable situation of inducing the user's movement to the camera; thus the same problems result. Such a solution is not advantages in a moving transportation system. There are a number of products which address these problems presently available. The most well known goes by the trade mark name Steadicam™. This equipment utilises a harness that the user wears. It has an articulated suspension arm from which the camera is mounted, directly or indirectly. The suspension arm utilises either a hydraulic ram or a spring between parallel arms to isolate the movement (for example induced by running or walking) of a user from that of the camera. It thus allows steady filming whilst still allowing independent movement of the camera user. These devices are often very expensive with costs being typically between US $3,000 and US $100,000. A user also requires many years of training to become proficient in its operation. The apparatus is typified in US Patent US 5,360,196.

5 It is therefore an object of the present invention to at least go some way to overcoming the above disadvantages of the prior art and/or to provide the public with a useful choice. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In a first aspect the present invention can be said to broadly consist in a lOcamera mounting system for suspending and isolating movement of a camera from a mounting point, comprising or including, a suspension assembly comprising, a cantilever mount arm from which is pivotally mounted, a cantilever arm to rotate pivotally substantially in the vertical plane, 15 at least one biasing means acting between locations fixed relative to said cantilever mount arm and said cantilever arm, wherein said camera can be mounted from said cantilever arm, directly or indirectly, and is stabilised and isolated by said suspension assembly from mounting point induced movement, save for purposeful movements imparted 20 to said camera.

In a second aspect the present invention can be said to broadly consist in a camera mounting system comprising or including, a suspension assembly comprising, a cantilever mount arm from which is pivotally mounted, a cantilever 25 arm pivotally to rotate substantially in the vertical plane, at least one biasing means interconnecting and extending between said cantilever mount arm and cantilever arm, wherein a camera may be mounted from said cantilever arm, directly or indirectly, the camera is therefore stabilised and isolated from body induced 30 movement of the user (for example walking and running) save for purposeful movements imparted to the camera, for example, for panning or turning. Preferably said biasing means is at least one spring. Alternatively said biasing means is a gas based spring system. Alternatively said biasing means is a liquid based spring system. Preferably said biasing means is in tension. Preferably wherein at least one of said locations is able to be varied.

Preferably said biasing means is engaged by a sliding mount at at least one of its ends, selected from one or both which are proximate more said cantilever mount arm and said cantilever arm, to allow the effective biasing means lever arm to be adjusted as to the degree of isolation or to accommodate different weights mounted from said cantilever arm.

Preferably said biasing means can be adjusted by changing the effective length of the biasing means, between said biasing means and one or more of its or locations fixed on said cantilever arm and said cantilever mount arm. Preferably there is means to a damping means to control the motion of said suspension assembly.

Preferably said camera is or is to be mounted to or on a pole which is gimbal mounted to said cantilever arm.

Preferably said gimbal allows for rotation of the camera about a vertical axis or axis coaxial with or parallel to the axis of the pole.

Preferably said biasing means is interconnecting and extending between said cantilever mount arm and said cantilever arm.

Preferably said biasing means is indirectly connecting and extending between said cantilever mount arm and said cantilever arm. Preferably said camera is mounted on a camera mount of said cantilever arm away from said pivotal mounting, said camera mount's angle can be adjusted relative to the cantilever arm.

Preferably said camera is or is to be mounted to a gimbal mounted from said cantilever arm at a location away from said pivotal mounting. Preferably said gimbal allows rotation about 3 mutually orthogonal axes, one vertical and two horizontal. Preferably there is a travel limiter to prevent said cantilever mount arm pivoting past a certain point relative to said cantilever mount arm

Preferably there is a sliding handgrip on said pole to further isolate the user's movements from vertical movement but still allow panning and or turning of the camera.

Preferably said biasing means is covered by sheath.

Preferably said sheath performs a damping function for said biasing means.

Preferably said pole is mounted to said gimbal between its ends. Preferably said pole has said camera and/or mount located towards one end.

Preferably said pole has a variable weighted mass, mounted towards the other end to lower the centre of mass of said pole and camera and/or mount, away from said camera and/or mount towards said mid-mounted gimbal. Preferably said cantilever mount arm is curved or angled, towards its distal pivot end, to lie above said cantilever arm to reduce the effective lever arm on the biasing means to enable a greater range of weight to be mounted from said cantilever arm.

Preferably the cantilever arm is an arm itself articulated along its length in at least two portions pivoting to each other about a vertical pivot.

Preferably there is a monitor for viewing the camera image mounted on the mounting system.

Preferably said monitor is mounted from any one or more of the following, the harness of the user, the articulation arm, cantilever mount arm, cantilever arm, gimbal arm, or gimbal.

Preferably there is a second camera mount located on said mounting system to allow a back up camera to be mounted.

Preferably said second camera mount is selected from any one of the following, other end of said pole, cantilever mount arm, cantilever arm, or user wearable harness. Preferably a digital storage media is located on the mounting system and images from said camera are streamed directly to said storage media.

Preferably said storage media is mounted in a laptop or equivalent computer. Preferably said cantilever mount arm and/or said cantilever arm are adjustable in length.

Preferably said biasing means and said damping means are combined in a single unit.

Preferably said camera mounting system is holdable by a user. Preferably said camera mounting system is a human body carried system.

Preferably said mounting point is a user wearable harness, from which is pivotally mounted an articulation arm to pivot substantially in the horizontal plane, said suspension assembly is in turn pivotally mounted from said articulation arm to pivot substantially in the horizontal plane. Preferably said mounting point is a camera crane, car or other camera carrying or transporting apparatus.

In a third aspect the present invention consists in a stable video camera mounting comprising or including, a user wearable harness, an articulation arm pivotally mounted from said harness substantially in the horizontal plane, a suspension assembly pivotally mounted from said articulation arm substantially in the horizontal plane, an articulation connection pivotable between said suspension assembly and said harness such that a four bar chain type linkage is formed by said harness, articulation arm, suspension assembly and said articulation connection to allow single handed movement-operation of said stable video camera mounting.

Preferably said movement is substantially in the horizontal plane. Preferably said articulation arm and said articulation connection are mounted from the anterior portion of the harness or a user's body. Preferably said articulation connection can only resist tensile forces.

Alternatively said articulation connection can only resist compressive forces.

Alternatively said articulation connection is able to resist both tensile and compressive forces.

In a further aspect the present invention consists in a stable camera mounting system comprising or including, a camera mount which is isolated by at least one suspension system from a user's movement, a monitor to view or allow viewing of the image from a mounted video camera, wherein said monitor is mounted directly from the harness of the user, keeping monitor movement independent of the camera mount and camera, thus allowing the user to move in a desired direction and have the monitor in a line of sight of that direction whilst the camera and mount can be moved independently in any direction desired.

Preferably said mounting system is mounted on the anterior portion of a harness for a user.

Preferably transmission of images from said camera to said monitor is transmitted wirelessly. In a yet a further aspect the present invention consists in a stable camera mounting system comprising or including, a camera mount which is isolated by at least one suspension system from a user's movement, a monitor to view or allow viewing of the image from a mounted video camera, wherein said monitor is mounted directly from any one or more of the following: i) the harness of the user, ii) the articulation arm, iii) the cantilever mount arm, iv) the cantilever arm, v) the gimbal arm, vi) the gimbal, to allow the user to follow the view from the camera whilst still controlling the mount system and camera.

Preferably transmission of images from said camera to said monitor is transmitted wirelessly.

In a further aspect still aspect the present invention consists in a stable video camera system as described herein.

In yet another aspect the present invention consists in a stable video camera system with reference to any one or more of the accompanying drawings.

In yet another aspect still the present invention can be said to broadly consist in a camera mounting system comprising or including, an articulation arm pivotally mounted from a harness to lie in substantially the horizontal plane, a suspension assembly comprising a cantilever mount arm which is pivotally mounted from the articulation arm substantially in the horizontal plane, a cantilever arm pivotally mounted from said mount arm in substantially the vertical plane, a biasing means mounted between said two arms wherein a camera may be mounted for said cantilever arm, directly or indirectly, the camera is stabilised and isolated from body induced movement of the user (for example walking and running) save for purposeful movements imparted to the camera, for example panning or turning. In yet a further aspect the present invention consists in a stable video camera system as described herein. In yet a further aspect still the present invention consists in a stable video camera system with reference to any one or more of the accompanying drawings.

As referred to here in vertical and horizontal are the preferred orientations and relative relationships of and between components. However when a user, for example, moves their arm holding the cantilever mount arm, or leans forward when the mounting system is harness mounted, for example in Figure 8, then components will move out of the horizontal and vertical, yet will largely retain their relative relationship (e.g. at 90° to each other). The term 'comprising' as used in this specification and claims means

'consisting at least in part of, that is to say when interpreting independent claims including that term, the features prefaced by that essential term (subject to any purposive interpretation of such a term) in each claim will need to be present but other features can also be present. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, whereby,

Figure IA shows in front elevation a user with a wearable harness, articulation arm and suspension assembly which holds via a gimbal mount a pole mounted camera with balancing variable mass, the detail of the gimbal mount and control is shown in Figure IB, Figure 1C shows a close up of the pivoting of the articulation arm between the harness and the cantilever mount aπn,

Figure 2 shows similar set up of that to Figure 1 viewed from above, Figure 3 is a close up front view of the spring and part of the suspension assembly,

Figure 4 is similar view to that of Figure 3 showing the full suspension assembly articulation arm and more of a user wearable harness, gimbal, and pole, Figure 5 shows at A the force diagram for a prior art arrangement and at B the force diagram for the present invention, Figure 6 shows in side profile a further embodiment of the present invention utilising a lighter weight system which is suspended from the harness of a user,

Figure 7 shows a similar apparatus to that of Figure 8, Figure 8 shows a further form of the apparatus whereby the articulation arm and user harness are not present and the user holds directly onto the cantilever mount arm, whilst still isolating the camera from the movements of the user,

Figure 9 is a close up of the mounting system mounted from the wearable harness of the user showing an alternative mounting location of the monitor, and the additional articulation connection,

Figure 10 shows a user with a camera mounted on the system and the mounting system being in turn mounted from a user wearable harness,

Figure 11 shows in wire frame the various rotations of each of the components, being the articulation arm, cantilever mount arm, cantilever arm, and the resulting movement at the end of the cantilever arm,

Figure 12 shows an angled cantilever mount arm,

Figure 13 shows a curved cantilever mount arm,

Figure 14 shows in side elevation a number of embodiments (a) through (o) of the present invention with variations on the biasing means, adjustment thereof, and adjustment of the length of the cantilever mount arm, and cantilever arm, and damping of the system,

Figure 15 shows in side elevation a number of embodiments (a) through (o) of the present invention with variations on mounting of the biasing means, including tensile and compressive biasing mounting and parallel cantilever arms,

Figure 16 shows in side elevation a number of embodiments (a) through (o) of the present invention with variations on biasing means mounting (both compressive and tensile) and biasing means adjustment,

Figure 17 shows further embodiments and articulations or the cantilever mounting system in (a) where the cantilever system is articulated from a parallel arm mount, (b) and (c) cantilever system pivotally mounted on a rigid articulation, (d) a system similar to (a) but where a differing parallel arm system, and (e) where a parallel arm system is depicted and the biasing means lies outside the parallel arms, and

Figure 18 shows a further 3 embodiments of the suspension system, at a) showing a parallel arm system with additional biasing means between the parallel arms, at (b) showing a wire actuated spring via a pulley, and at (c) showing a similar arrangement to that of (a) but where the main biasing means extends past ant below that arms.

With reference to Figures 1 through 18 there is shown a camera steadying apparatus for a video camera.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Several embodiments are shown, however generally they can be divided into harness mounted from user and user controlled, user held and controlled, or user controlled but mounted on a mechanical mount, such as a car, camera crane or similar.

FIRST EMBODIMENT -HARNESS MOUNTED

The mounting system 1 consists of a user wearable vest or harness 3 which a user 2 can wear such that weight of the mounting system 1 is borne by the body of the user 2, for example at least in part from the shoulders of the user. The mounting system 1 is mounted to be disposed on the anterior portion ofthe user 2.

An articulation arm 5 is mounted from a harness arm pivot point 7 such that the articulation arm 5 can rotate in a substantially horizontal plane from the harness arm pivot point 7. Such pivoting may be achieved by any common method known in the art. In one embodiment this consists of a hollow channel section 18 the hollow being upwardly directed and the longitudinal axis of the section 18 being vertically aligned. Mating with this hollow is a downwardly directed pivot 5B of articulation arm 5 of lesser diameter then that hollow of the section 18. This allows rotation of the articulation arm 5 relative to the harness 3. In other embodiments such pivoting may be carried on bearings or the like or any other system which will allow reduction of friction and smooth movement. The arm 5 preferably is only capable of rotating about a vertical axis relative to the harness, though other orientations if required can be utilised. Optionally the articulation arm 5 may have one or more links or articulation to give added flexibility of movement. Such links may for example allow adjustment of angle of the articulation arm 5 relative to the harness 3. This adjustment allows for situations where the user 2 has to lean forward, or backward. Alternatively the camera axis 23b may need to be above or below the horizontal.

The articulation arm 5 has in turn a suspension assembly 9 mounted there from. The suspension assembly 9 is mounted to the articulation arm 5 via an articulation arm-cantilever mount pivot point 15. Such a pivot point 15 allows movement of the suspension assembly 9 in, again, substantially (and preferably only in) the horizontal plane.

The pivot point may be achieved in a similar method to that of the harness arm pivot point 7. A channel section may be used with a bottom opening hollow with a vertically aligned longitudinal axis. In a preferred embodiment there are two tabs 15A and 15B, pending from the cantilever mount arm 13 through which there are drilled two co-axial holes for the pivot axle 5 C of the articulation arm 5.

Of course, other methods known in the art for achieving such pivoting and articulation such as, but not limited to, bearings are also covered in the present invention. The suspension assembly 9 consists of a cantilever mount arm 13 which in the preferred embodiment is substantially vertical. In other embodiments however this may be angled 13A or curved 13B toward or away from the user 2. Further embodiments are shown in Figure 12 through 18 and will be discussed later. The suspension assembly 9 further consists in a cantilever arm 17 which is pivotally mounted from or relative to the cantilever mount arm 13 via a mount- arm cantilever arm pivot point 19. Such a pivot point 19 allows the cantilever arm 17 to rotate substantially in the vertical plane. The pivot point 19 may run on bearings, bushes or like friction reducing components.

In another embodiment the pivot point 19 may be formed by a live hinge bending within the elastic limit of the pivot material, e.g. a carbon fibre material or spring steel. Such a line hinge may also reduce the biasing requirement.

The pivot point 19 may also have a travel limiter 300. Such a limiter 300 will prevent the full movement of the cantilever arm 17 should the biasing means 21 fail. The travel limiter may simply be a bar or stop 301 as shown in Figure 16h.

Running or extending between the cantilever mount arm 13 and cantilever arm 17 and away from the pivot point 19 there is a biasing means 21. In the preferred embodiment such biasing means is a coil spring preferably manufactured from mild or spring steel. Alternatively the biasing means may be provided by a gas strut, or air spring, or any other means known in the art to provide a biasing means. Systems using liquid biasing means also, such as compressible or elastic liquids can also be used. Any form of elastic element, solid (e.g. rubber or similar), liquid or gaseous can be used when appropriately packaged and mounted and falls within the scope of the invention. There may be more than one biasing means 21, and a simple yet effective way or increasing or decreasing the biasing means force is the addition or deletion of biasing means from the suspension system 9, such as shown in Figure IB.

Additionally there may be a damping mechanism such as an oil or similar damped telescoping component 10. One embodiment may provide a coil over damper system combining biasing means 21 and damper 10. The system is designed as such that only the spring force required to support the load is utilised whilst the damping unit smoothes out oscillations. Thus the system is capable of catering for small and large oscillations and forces alike. This functionality is increased if the compression and/or damping rates of the damping unit are adjustable. This can be achieved via valving in the unit as known in the art or may be achieved via changing the lever arm the damper unit is subjected to such as shown in Figure 14 (1). Other damping systems may also be utilised such as a viscous damper material at the pivot point 19. The covering 22 may also be of an energy dissipating material such as a viscoelastic rubber and this may also perform a damping function on the suspension system 9 and/or the biasing means 21.

The biasing means 21 in a preferred embodiment is attached directly or indirectly to the cantilever arm 17 and then attached to the cantilever mount arm 13 via a sliding mount 29. The sliding mount 29 allows for the adjustment of the lever arm of the suspension assembly 9. Such adjustment allows the suspension assembly to be adjusted to allow it to carry greater or lighter weights and/or adjusts the degree of isolation the suspension assembly 9 affords the mounted camera 23 from the users movement. Adjustment also allows for variation in spring manufacture tolerance to be accounted for. The advantages of the adjustment via the sliding mount 29 and the use of a mild steel or spring steel are two fold. First of all the adjustment allows the obvious benefit of catering for a varying mass which the suspension assembly 9 can take. For example a heavier camera requires more isolation than a lighter camera. Therefore the suspension assembly must be able to accommodate this variation in suspended mass. Typically such variation allowance was achieved by using a heavier duty suspension arm. Alternatively heavier springs had to be used. This increases cost due to the spare parts required and time taken to alter the setup. To keep the weight down also, typically titanium was used for the springs, thus further adding to cost. The adjustment via the sliding mount 29 also allows for easy height adjustment to the camera. A change in lever arm will raise or lower the camera height. The sliding mount 29 may alternatively be mounted upon the cantilever arm or may have mounts which are variable on both the cantilever arm 17 and cantilever mount arm 13. The cantilever mount arm 15 may additionally slope away from or curve away from the user 2. When the spring 21 is slid up such a curving or angling away mount, then the lever arm on the biasing means is further reduced and therefore the suspension assembly 9 can thus take a greater mass.

The use of a damper 10 in between the cantilever mount arm 13 and cantilever arm 17 reduces any oscillations that may be induced, by dissipating movement energy due to the nature spring mass nature of the suspended load. The damping system may be adjustable to give the best damping for the suspended mass and movement of the user or may be just a simple gas or oil strut. Other damping systems may also be used at any one of the pivot points of the entire mounted system to reduce or at least slow any oscillation so that movement appears smooth and continuous from the camera's perspective.

An advantage of the present system over that of the prior art is highlighted in Figure 5. The prior art parallel swing arm arrangement is shown at 5A. The lever arm is small relative to the suspended mass MG which is suspended out from the pivot point by distance L. This results in a significantly higher spring constant being required. The present invention (shown in Figure 5A) has a longer effective lever arm for the same suspended mass over the same length. Therefore a lower spring constant is used in the present invention. Having a lower spring constant gives the advantage of added sensitively to small bumps and therefore the present invention has the advantage of being more sensitive and being able to damp out more small motions, which would otherwise be induced to the camera, thus giving a more steady camera picture.

Suspended from the pivot distal end of the cantilever arm 17 is a gimbal 35. The gimbal is suspended off a gimbal arm 35 A, though may equally be suspended directly from the cantilever arm 17. The gimbal consists of a yoke 60 which is rotationally mounted about an axis 61 Y from the gimbal arm 35 A. The slider 34A mounted on the gimbal arm 35A allows the operator to only induce panning movement and isolate vertical movement, or can be keyed into the gimbal arm 35A to allow both panning and rotation (there may be a vertical rotation axis between the cantilever arm 17 and the gimbal arm 35A) or maybe totally locked to the gimbal arm. In the option where the gimbal is mounted directly from the cantilever arm 17 the rotational axis 61 Y can either be located between the cantilever arm 17 and the z slider 34A as shown in Detail A, or can be located after the z slider 34A, between the slider and the other gimbal axes, as shown in Detail B. The first option allows the user to control the rotation about 61 Y directly, the alternative option isolates the user input from rotation of the camera pole / camera mount.

Mounted about an orthogonal axis 6 IX in the horizontal plane is a further yoke upon which a bearing 62 is mounted to allow rotation about the z- axis 6 IZ and/or height selection by sliding up and down of the pole along the z- axis. It is immediately obvious to one skilled in the art that such a gimbal allows for a wide variation in placement of the camera both in height , a rotation about the z-axis variation (panning) and also tilting the camera to and away from the user and/or all other variations which a 3 axis of rotation gimbal mount allows for.

The camera steadying apparatus when mounted on a user wearable harness therefore allows for isolation of the camera from the motions of the user in so far as the user may impart vibration and or up and down and side to side movement which is undesired as a result of the following of action which is to be captured on video by the user. Such isolation however still allows for the panning from side to side of the camera, and also its movement up an down to follow action in a smooth manner and removing the motion artefacts which occur due to the user's perambulation or movement.+

The camera 23 is mounted via a camera mount 25 either directly to the suspension assembly 9 from the end of the cantilever arm 17 or indirectly via a pole 33 which passes through the gimbal 35. The camera mount 25 (and thus also the camera) may also be directly mounted to the gimbal if so desired. The camera mount 25 can adjust the x, y position (i.e. the initial position in the horizontal plane) of the camera to adjust the centre of the gravity of the camera to allow it to pass through the vertical of the centre of the pole 33, i.e. to balance the camera through the centre of the gimbal. The pole 33 allows for elevation of the camera in a steady manner above the height of the user thus allowing the user to still control the motion of the camera at such a height by manipulation of the pole 33 and/or the articulation between the pole and the user. Such elevation may be achieved by sliding the pole 33 relative to the gimbal 35 and/or by extension of the pole itself.

As an optional extra a sliding hand grip 34 may be mounted on the pole at any desired location so that the user may only impart to the pole a side to side motion (i.e. panning) or may be additionally keyed vertically into the pole to allow a side to side motion and also a turning motion about the z-axis whilst being allowed to slide up and down in a z direction to prevent vertical motion being imparted to the pole and thus the camera. Alternatively the sliding hand grip 34 may be locked physically to the pole 33 to act as a point of control for the entire system. Such a slider may be mounted above or below the gimbal as required. A further z slider 34A may be mounted directly off the suspension system 9. This will allow similar movements to be imparted to the system as that of 34 whilst still being steadied by the suspension system. Again the sliding hand grip 34 may be completely free floating, or may be at least a rotationally keyed into the suspension system and as such can be used to impart rotation whilst still not imparting z motion. Alternatively the sliding hand grip 34A may be completely locked the suspension system as another point of full control. The user of such a sliding hand grip 34A may be useful when the camera is directly mounted from the suspension system rather than via a pole 33.

The pole 33 is mounted between its end to the gimbal 35. At one end is the camera mount 25 to which is mounted a camera, and the other end varies a variable weighed mass 36.

The variable weighted mass 36 is located in one embodiment towards the bottom end of the pole 33 so that the centre of mass of the pole combined with the camera mount 25 and camera 23 is lowered to or toward the point of rotation, being the gimbal 35. Thus the weight which would normally be ungainly held aloft is more manageable by the user and may be further stabilized if the centre of mass is moved to a point below and/or around that of the gimbal. Of course the varying weighted mass allows for not only the different movements of the centre of mass but also for different weights of camera which may be held aloft. The adjustability of the suspension assembly 9 therefore allows for an isolated and steady mounting of the camera and pole from the gimbal together with this varied mass.

The camera 23 is mounted via a camera mount 25 either directly to the suspension assembly 9 from the end of the cantilever arm 17. Indirect mounting means may also be used, e.g. extensions and similar to locate the camera where desired. Additionally between the suspension assembly and preferably the cantilever arm of the suspension assembly there is an adjustable length articulation connection 8 which can take at least tension along its length, which is mounted between the suspension assembly 9 (preferably at the cantilever arm 17) and the user's harness 3. In doing so a four bar chain linkage is created between the articulation arm 5, the cantilever arm 17, the user's harness 3 and the articulation connection 8. This further constrains the mounting system to movement in the horizontal plane whilst still isolating the camera 23 from user 2 induced movement. In having the articulation connection 8 the user 2 is afforded the ability to control the panning of the camera 23 with one hand. This therefore allows the user 2 to have a free hand either to control other aspects of the camera 23, or cabling or for other such duties as may be required. Such an articulation connection 8 gives the user great variability in control of the camera. The articulation connection may also be configured to take compressive load. Ideally the articulation is able to slide in the z direction (i.e. vertical) to allow unfettered movement of the suspension assembly in that direction.

The biasing means which, as stated is preferably a spring, also may be covered by an elastic membrane 22 which prevents the biasing means (e.g., the coils of the spring) from being fouled, damaged or contaminated. Such an elastic membrane also serves to give the mounting system an aesthetic appearance and may also be used to damp the system, if for example rubber, having a hysteresis, behaviour is used. The substantially horizontal pivot axes of the gimbal 35 allow for the rotation of the pole 33 and thus the camera 23 in vertical planes. In doing so however on a normal system the camera would rotate the same number of degrees from the vertical as the camera mount itself is rotated. In doing so eventually should the camera be rotated from a high location 50 to a low location 58 the image viewable through the camera would essentially be inverted and would appear upside down or at least changed in angle relative to the horizon. Such change in perspective of the camera from high to low or from low to high or any position there between is desirable when the subject of the camera moves from a high to low position or vice versa or a different aspect on the subject is desired. However it is undesirable to suddenly turn the subject of the camera from which would normally be a correct orientation to a now upside down ordination or somewhere in between. Therefore a rotational mount 15 consisting of a camera mounting 52 to which a camera 23 may be mounted, lies within a rotational member 53. The centre of mass of the camera mounting and camera combined lies below the centre of rotation of the rotational mount 50. The rotational mount 50 is attached to the pole 33. Thus for example as the pole is rotated about the gimbal or rotation point 35/54 the camera 23 and camera mount 52 are allowed to freely rotate relative to the rotational member 53. Therefore a movement of a high position to a low position or vice versa or anywhere in between allows the camera to retain the same rotational orientation in relation to the subject. Thus the subject will not appear to turn upside down in the ensuing video footage. Alternatively however the rotational mount may be locked such that there is no relevant movement between the rotational member 53 and the camera mounting 52, if this is desired. Other methods also may allow such a rotation and provided the camera is able to rotate relative to the pole 33 then the same object is achieved and is taken to be within the scope of the present invention. For example a singular rotational mounting point which is co-axle with an axis of the camera may exist between the camera mount 52 and the pole 33 and provided that the centre of mass of the camera and mount and rotation means is below that of the centre of rotation then the same object is achieved. The rotational mount may also be powered and controlled by achieve the same objective, and or to achieve selective camera angles.

Typically when using such steady camera mounting apparatus the user must not only view the video footage from the camera on a monitor but must also view the direction in which they are moving e.g. to follow the action which is the subject of the video camera, or the motion the shot requires. In a situation where for example the user and the user is moving in a direction away from the subject then the users focus must be split almost to 180 degrees i.e. in the direction of the subject and also in the direction of the user's movement, separately. This is further complicated when adjustments must be made to the controls of the steadying apparatus to follow the action of the subject. To overcome such complexity the monitor 24 showing the video footage from the camera 23 is mounted via an adjustable stalk 16 from the harness 3. Thus regardless of the orientation of the camera the monitor may be adjusted to be in the line of site of the user in the direction of travel of the user. The user is therefore free to rotate the camera or move the camera to any position as required whilst retaining one particular direction of vision (i.e. that of the monitor and the user's movement).

Alternatively the monitor maybe mounted on any point of the mounting system, e.g. the harness of the user, the articulation arm, cantilever mount arm, cantilever arm, gimbal arm, or gimbal.

The transmission of images from the camera 23 to the monitor 24 is preferably via a wireless connection to free the user of entanglement of cables and the like. Of course the use of cables is also to be considered within the scope of this invention. The storage of video footage is preferably in a digital form and is streamed to a digital media storage device which is resident on either the user or the apparatus. Such video streaming may be either via a wireless or cable link. Such digital media may be located within a lap top or may be a separate stand alone device. The advantages of such immediate streaming to digital storage elevate the necessity to later download and convert the image into digital format and the user has the image immediately available to them for editing and transmission.

Digital storage media device, such as for example a hard drive within a laptop may have the laptop mounted directly off the user wearable harness or alternatively may be mounted somewhere on the suspension arm depending upon the user's requirements. The additional benefit of a laptop as the host for the digital media storage device is that the LCD or similar screen of a laptop can be used as the monitor or a second backup monitor of the video footage.

A second camera such as a miniDV™ camera may be mounted from the bottom of the pole 33 to allow simple transfer from one perspective to another, or to simply rotate around to replace the main camera, or may be mounted directly off the cantilever mount arm 13, or articulation arm 5 or may be mounted off the harness 3. Additionally also the monitor typically available in such small video cameras may be used as the main monitor for the system or simply as a back up monitor. Where it may be used as a monitor a simple connection from the main camera to that of the input on the back up camera will allow the monitor to be used. Such connection of course also may be available via wireless connection. The main monitor 24 may also be mounted off the cantilever mount arm 13 if so desired. The increased adjustability, reduction of weight and simplification of the system results in apparatus that is cheaper to manufacture, maintain and/or supply parts for than that of the prior art. The increased adjustability also combined with the increased effective overall lever arm results in a greater sensitivity to small bumps and perturbations that may otherwise be induced in the camera. Thus the present invention results, overall in a steadier looking video picture. This increase in sensitivity and simplicity of use therefore allows a user with relativity little experience to rapidly produce quality steady pictures that may otherwise take a number of years of training to perfect such a technique. The present invention therefore also has the advantage of reducing the time of training required to effectively utilise such equipment. SECOND EMBODIMENT - USER HELD

A further embodiment of the present invention is that shown in Figure 6 whereby a smaller digital video camera 23 complete with its own or separate monitor may be suspended directly or indirectly from a similar suspension mechanism 9A previously described. The same adjustability is present in the location of the biasing means 21 via a sliding mount 29A. The resulting steadying apparatus may either be shown from a user wearable harness 3A via an articulation arm 5A in a similar way to the previous embodiment described. In this case is it is merely smaller version of the harness mounted first embodiment described. Alternatively the equivalent cantilever mount arm 13A may be grasped by the user and suspended from the user's arm such as shown in Figure 7, to also result in steadier camera image then if the camera was directly held by the user.

THIRD EMBODIMENT - MOVING OBJECT MOUNTED.

A third embodiment of the present invention exists where by the mounting system 1, rather than being user 2 mounted or held, is mounted to moving object.

The moving object for example may be a car, truck, motorbike, bicycle, aircraft, hovercraft or similar moving means. Alternatively the moving object may be a gantry crane or specialised crane or boom as used in the motion picture industry for tracking shots.

In either of these two situations the mounting system is mounted to the moving object via an articulation arm 5 and a mount 5B on the moving object.

The mounting system may still be user controlled directly by the user's manipulation. Alternatively the mounting system may be indirectly controlled by a user, for example via remote (e.g. radio) control and manipulation or by computer controlled systems.

FURTHER EMBODIMENTS OF THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM Figures 12 through 18 disclose further embodiments of the suspension system 9. The embodiments can basically be broken down into tensile biasing means 21d arrangements (Figure 12 through Figure 151, Figures 16 h and i and Figures 17 b, c and d) and compressive biasing 21e means arrangements (Figure 15m through Figure 16g and Figures 16j through o).

The pivot point 19 can also be mounted in various locations either directly or indirectly from the cantilever mount arm 13. For example the Figure

15b has the pivot point 19 mounted out from the cantilever mount arm 13. There may be brackets which place the pivot point 19 further out or further in from the cantilever mount arm 13.

Additionally Figure 17a shows a combination suspension system 9, having both a tensile biasing means 21 d and compressive biasing means 21 e.

Further variations have a set of parallel cantilever arms 17c mounted from the cantilever mount arm 13. These have the advantage that the camera axis 23b when mounted directly off the end can be maintained in an parallel orientation throughout the arc of motion 100 of the cantilever arm 17c. In some user arrangements this axis may be desired to be horizontal, whilst in other arrangements the user may desire the axis to be tilted up (e.g. when filming over head action) or down (e.g. when filming action below).

Such parallel cantilever arms 17c to impart parallel movement are not to be confused with merely having two cantilever arms 17 as in Figure 16a. These do not impart parallel motion, but merely are another way of affecting the cantilever arm, by having two arms either side of the cantilever mount arm 13.

The same can be said for having two cantilever mount arms 13 as in Figure 16i.

Other ways to adjust the camera angle may be by of a camera mount angle adjustment 200. This may be a simple friction plate system where the friction is lowered, angle adjusted and then friction increased again, e.g. by doing up a bolt or similar assembly.

The sliding mount 29 can be mounted on either the cantilever mount arm

13 or the cantilever arm 17, or may be present in both. Optionally additionally there may be a mount pulley 101 and tensile element 102 (e.g. a steel wire) between the sliding mount 29 and the termination point 103. The biasing means 21 (either tensile or compressive) may lie parallel to any arm 13 or 17 or lie in between the parallel arms 17c.

Other ways to adjust the biasing means effect is by turnbuckle means 201 between the biasing means 21 and the mount point. The biasing means 21 may also be partially or fully housed in a protective sleeve 22. One embodiment is to have the sleeve elastic and covering the spring. Another way is to have the biasing means within a protective sleeve 22, but the sleeve is not elastic, such as in Figure 141, 15a and Figures 16d-g and j-o. In such systems the biasing means may be in compression or tension. The cantilever mount arm 13 and/or the cantilever arm 17 may furthermore be adjustable in each of their respective lengths as adjustable cantilever mount arm 13e and adjustable cantilever arm 17e. In doing so this will allow a greater variation of camera displacement away from the user and also differing lever arm options to be adopted. This can account for lighter or heavier suspended weights and also the sensitivity of the system to bumps and the like movement.

Optionally also one of either of the cantilever mount arm 13 or the cantilever arm 17 maybe partially or fully replaced by a telescoping member 13g or 17g respectively, with an additional biasing means (and damping means) attached to provide a two point triangulated suspension system whilst still having at least one side of the resulting system as a rigid member (even if adjustable in its length). This gives further variety and ability of adjustment to the system. One example of such a member that may be used is a coil spring over a telescoping member.

Claims

1. A camera mounting system for suspending and isolating movement of a camera from a mounting point, comprising or including, a suspension assembly comprising,

5 a cantilever mount arm from which is pivotally mounted, a cantilever arm to rotate pivotally substantially in the vertical plane, at least one biasing means acting between locations fixed relative to said cantilever mount arm and said cantilever arm, wherein said camera can be mounted from said cantilever arm, directly or 10 indirectly, and is stabilised and isolated by said suspension assembly from mounting point induced movement, save for purposeful movements imparted to said camera.

2. A camera mounting system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said biasing means is at least one spring.

153. A camera mounting system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said biasing means is a gas based spring system.

4. A camera mounting system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said biasing means is a liquid based spring system.

5. A camera mounting system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein 20 said biasing means is in tension.

6. A camera mounting system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein at least one of said locations is able to be varied.

7. A camera mounting system as claimed in any- one of claims 1 to 6 wherein said biasing means is engaged by a sliding mount at at least one of its ends, 5 selected from one or both which are proximate more said cantilever mount arm and said cantilever arm, to allow the effective biasing means lever arm to be adjusted to change the degree of isolation or to accommodate different weights mounted from said cantilever arm.

8. A camera mounting system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein 30 said biasing means can be adjusted by changing the effective length of the biasing means, between said biasing means and one or more of its or locations fixed on said cantilever arm and said cantilever mount arm. 9. A camera mounting system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein there is a damping means to control the motion of said suspension assembly. 510. A camera mounting system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein said biasing means is interconnecting and extending between said cantilever mount arm and said cantilever arm.

11. A camera mounting system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein said biasing means is indirectly connecting and extending between said

10 cantilever mount arm and said cantilever arm.

12. A camera mounting system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11 wherein said camera is mounted on a camera mount of said cantilever arm away from said pivotal mounting, said camera mount's angle can be adjusted relative to the cantilever arm.

1513. A camera mounting system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11 wherein said camera is or is to be mounted to a gimbal mounted from said cantilever arm at a location away from said pivotal mounting.

14. A camera mounting system as claimed in claim 13 wherein said gimbal allows rotation about 3 mutually orthogonal axes, one vertical and two 0 horizontal.

15. A camera mounting system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 14 wherein there is a travel limiter to prevent said cantilever mount arm pivoting past a certain point relative to-said cantilever mount arm-.

16. A camera mounting system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 15 wherein 5 said biasing means is covered by a sheath.

17. A camera mounting system as claimed in any claim 16 wherein said sheath performs a damping function for said biasing means.

18. A camera mounting system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 17 wherein said cantilever mount arm is curved or angled, towards its distal pivot end, to 0 lie above said cantilever arm to reduce the effective lever arm on the biasing means to enable a greater range of weight to be mounted from said cantilever arm.

19. A camera mounting system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 18 wherein the cantilever arm is an arm articulated along its length in at least two

5 portions pivoting to each other about a vertical pivot.

20. A camera mounting system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 19 wherein said cantilever mount arm and/or said cantilever arm are adjustable in length.

21. A camera mounting system as claimed in claim 20 wherein said biasing means and said damping means are combined in a single unit.

1022. A camera mounting system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 21 wherein said camera mounting system is holdable by a user.

23. A camera mounting system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 21 wherein the camera mounting system is a human body carried system.

24. A camera mounting system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 21 wherein 15 said mounting point is a user wearable harness, from which is pivotally mounted an articulation arm to pivot substantially in the horizontal plane, said suspension assembly is in turn pivotally mounted from said articulation arm to pivot substantially in the horizontal plane.

25. A camera mounting system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 21 wherein 0 said mounting point is a camera crane, car or other camera carrying or transporting apparatus.

26. A stable video camera system as described herein.

27. A stable video camera- system as shown in any one or more of the accompanying drawings.