ITPD20060304A1 - ADJUSTABLE SUPPORT HEAD FOR OPTICAL AND / OR PHOTO-CINEMATOGRAPHIC EQUIPMENT - Google Patents

Description

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to an orientable support head for optical and / or photo-cinematographic equipment according to the preamble of main claim n. 1 and a system including such a head.

Adjustable heads of the type indicated are notoriously used in conjunction with tripods, tripods or other supports in the field of optical equipment and in particular in the specific sector of photo-cinematographic equipment to support such equipment in an orientable way.

In general, both optical and cinematographic equipment need to be positioned in such a way as to form well-defined angles with respect to spatial directions, or more simply to be “level”. As a rule, for a video camera the possibility of placing the camera with respect to two directions perpendicular to each other is required, while, in the case of professional photographic equipment, the movement around three orthogonal axes, two horizontal ones, must preferably be guaranteed. so-called “tilt” and “level”, with which the inclination of the equipment with respect to the horizon is adjusted, and a vertical one, so-called “pan”. In any case, depending on the type of equipment and its use, the number of degrees of freedom of the head to which the equipment is connected may vary.

In order to determine whether the photo-camera or video camera coupled to the head is in a substantially horizontal position (or at a certain angle with respect to one or more axes) after having carried out the posting, one or more spirit levels, one for each rotation axis, and possibly a graduated scale, for example shown on a label.

The spirit levels of the known art include a transparent body inside which a liquid and an air bubble are provided, which is always positioned at the point of the body farthest from the earth's surface or, in other words, always positioned to indicate the zenith.

However, the provision of bubble levels on the orientable heads has some drawbacks.

With the reduction of the dimensions of the heads, the positioning of the spirit level itself becomes problematic: it is in fact necessary to place the bubble in a place that is both of adequate size for its containment and visible to the user for checking the position indicated by it during the stakeout.

This problem is particularly felt when more than one spirit level is provided on the adjustable head to control the angle of the equipment with respect to multiple axes around which the head in question is rotatable.

In addition, in the case of using large professional equipment, the area where the spirit level is placed may be hidden or at least not very visible after the equipment has been assembled.

It is also known that the indications and information provided by the spirit level are not very usable during night stalking due to the non-visibility of the same.

The main technical problem of the invention is to provide an adjustable support head suitable for both video and photographic equipment, and a system including said head, structurally and functionally conceived to allow the overcoming of all the drawbacks complained of with reference to the prior art cited.

This problem is solved by the invention by means of an orientable head for optical and / or photo-cinematographic equipment and a system including this head made in accordance with the following claims.

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become clearer from the detailed description that follows of some of its preferred embodiments illustrated, by way of example and not of limitation, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 represents a first preferred example of embodiment of an orientable support head for optical and / or photocinematographic equipment made in accordance with the present invention; - Figure 2 represents a second preferred example of realization of an adjustable support head for optical and / or photocinematographic equipment of the invention;

figure 3 shows a detail of an orientable support head for optical and / or photo-cinematographic equipment according to the known art;

- Figures 4 to 6 represent a detail of three variants of preferred examples of implementation of an adjustable support head for optical and / or photo-cinematographic equipment of the invention. In all the above figures, 1 globally indicates an orientable support head for optical and / or photo-cinematographic equipment made in accordance with the present invention.

The support head 1 for optical and / or photo-cinematographic equipment is suitable for orienting in space (hereinafter "post") a plate 7 to which the optical and / or photo-cinematographic equipment is fixed, indicated with 50, with respect to a support 2.

The removable fixing of the equipment 50 (shown only in Figure 1 as a camera, however any equipment in the sector is foreseen in the use of the present invention) on the plate 7 takes place by means of attachment means of the type known per se in the technical sector of reference. and object, among others, of patent applications by the same Applicant. Merely by way of example, the plate 7 can be provided with a screw connection (visible in figure 2 and indicated with 43) capable of screwing in a corresponding nut screw portion (not visible) of the aforementioned fixture 50 for its fixing. relative to the plate.

The head 8 can also preferably be removably fastened to the structure of the support 2 by means of an attachment (not shown) in a manner known in the field. However, it is expected that the head and support may constitute a single element.

The head 1 includes at least one articulation joint 10 which allows the coupling between head 1 and support 2 and is adapted to adjust the inclination of the head 1 (and therefore of the plate 7) around a certain number of axes. The type of joint selected is determined by the type of equipment 50 used and by the conditions of use thereof. The number of joints provided for a single head 1 (for example a joint for each possible axis of inclination of the head 1 as in figure 2) and their type is irrelevant for the application of the present invention which is adaptable to any type and number of joints, i.e. of rotation axes around which the head 1 can be swiveled.

The support 2 (of which only a small portion is illustrated in Figures 1 -3) to which the head 1 is fixed is not decisive for the application of the present invention and can be of any type known in the reference technical sector, such as example a tripod, a monopod, a tripod, a pole etc.

The head 1 can also be of the motorized type or not and can also be equipped with a remote control for positioning.

According to a peculiar characteristic of the invention, the head 1 comprises at least one leveling and / or positioning sensor 20 of the digital type suitable for displaying the positioning of the head 1 with respect to at least a predetermined axis. Preferably, the head 1 comprises a leveling and / or positioning sensor 20 for each axis around which the head 1 itself can be oscillated by means of one or more joints 10.

In the following, with the statement that the sensor 20 measures "the angle" between the plate and a predetermined axis, it must be understood that the angle measured by the sensor is the angle formed by a reference plane, called the "zero" plane sensor or simply "sensor zero" and the plane formed by the plate rotated along the predetermined axis.

The leveling and / or positioning sensor 20 is coupled, in a preferred embodiment thereof, to a device 21 for displaying the positioning measurement information with respect to a selected axis. A preferred example of a display device is a digital display. The head assembly 1 including the sensor (s) 20 and the display device 21 will hereinafter be referred to as "system". Preferably, the display device 21 also comprises lighting means (not shown) which allow the reading of the information present in the display device 21 even in the absence of external light (for example for night shooting or photographs) or, alternatively, the display device display 21 themselves, or parts thereof such as graphic elements or alphanumeric characters of the display, can be made of material having an intrinsic brightness, for example of fluorescent or phosphorescent material.

In the system according to the invention, the display device 21 can be positioned on the head 1 (see Figures 1 and 2) and connected to the sensor 20 by means of an electrical connection, or, in a preferred embodiment not visible in the figures detailed below, it can be remote from it (as well as from the support 2 and from the equipment 50 if necessary). For example, the information coming from the sensor 20 can be sent to a remote display with respect to the head and connected to the sensor through a wireless connection.

More in detail, in this variant of embodiment with remote device 21, the sensor 20 comprises a radio frequency or infrared transmitter and the system also includes a corresponding receiver coupled to the display device 21. Furthermore, the display device 21 may comprise a cellular telephone and the communication networks dedicated to these telephones are used for transmitting the information from the sensor 20 to the device 21.

According to a further embodiment not shown, the information coming from the sensors can be displayed in a display device 21 integral with the camera or video camera 50 itself, suitably modified for the aforementioned reception, for example the display device 21 can be placed in the camera viewer 50.

The system including the leveling and / or positioning sensor 20 also optionally comprises control means for the sensor 20 (not shown) preferably positioned at or near the display device 21, for controlling the sensor itself. The control means include, for example, an on / off key, a "reset" key, a "relative reset" key (ie a key to designate a new zero value for the sensor, keeping in memory the "absolute zero" ", Ie set during sensor manufacturing), etc. These control means can also be integrated in the display device itself, for example by using touch keys (touch-screen).

Preferred examples of leveling and / or positioning sensors 20 according to the invention are a digital inclinometer and / or a digital protractor and / or a digital level, for example more specifically an accelerometer, a magnetometer, an encoder or a potentiometer. Other leveling and / or positioning sensors can however be used in the head according to the invention.

With initial reference now to Figure 1, the system comprises the head 1, on which the camera 50 is fixed (although a camera is displayed, the head 1 is particularly suitable for use with video cameras), which is coupled to the support 2 by means of an articulation joint 10 of the spherical type, to allow the orientable positioning of the equipment 50 along two rotation axes orthogonal to each other and denoted by X and Y.

A leveling and / or positioning sensor, both indicated with 20, and located on head 1, is associated with each axis of rotation, i.e. both the X and Y axes. The positioning of the sensors 20 can be the most varied and depends on the constructive characteristics of the head itself. Furthermore, the positioning of the sensors 20 and of the display device 21 of the information coming from the sensors are independent of each other.

In the example of figure 1, the display device 21 is a digital display placed in correspondence with an extension of the plate 7 protruding laterally from the head 1 to facilitate the viewing of the display by the user even when the equipment 50 is mounted.

The display device 21 is connected by means of one or more electric cables not displayed to both sensors 20, therefore the information relating to the leveling and / or positioning of the plate 7 with respect to the two rotation axes of the head 1 coming from the two sensors 20 are displayed on the same display, providing the user with all the information necessary for correct positioning of the equipment 50 in an extremely simple way: in fact, a single glance at a single point (the display) is sufficient, which is easy to observe even when the equipment is mounted, and not a series of checks in different points of the head, as in the case of traditional bubbles.

Furthermore, having a single display device 21 requires less "free" space in the head for its positioning, thus gaining space and allowing greater "m iniaturizations" of the head 1.

This independence between the position of the sensor and the position of the display device facilitates the mounting process with respect to the standard bubbles used in the prior art since the preselected position of the sensor 20 in the head can be selected only on the basis of the characteristics of the sensor and of the head (and to the free spaces on the latter) and not to the need for the sensor to be visible.

The head 1 also comprises locking / unlocking means 15, which include means for applying the locking load of the head 1, for example pins which can be moved by means of the knobs (such as the knob 60 shown in figure 1) or levers (not shown ), or other means known in the reference sector, for example magnetic means, which, by means of a frictional force, block the movement of the support head 1. Once the posting has been carried out, thanks to the posting information coming from the sensors 20 and presented in the display device 21, the head 1 is therefore blocked by means 15 in the predetermined position.

Figure 2 instead shows a system including a head 1 preferably for professional photographic equipment and comprising three joints, all indicated with 10 ', each of which allows the oscillation of the plate 7 in the three axes Χ, Υ, Ζ commonly referred to in the axis sector of "level", "tilt" and "pan". Each rotation axis has an associated leveling and / or position sensor 20 housed in correspondence with the head 1. It is also provided by the invention that a sensor 20 is associated with only one, or only some, axes of oscillation of the head and not with all the axes of oscillation present.

The sensors 20 send the position and / or leveling information in the preferred example of Figure 2 to a single display device 21 (which is not shown) positioned in a plate 24 protruding from the plate 7 and angled with respect to it so as to be easily visible even when the camera is mounted.

The same display therefore summarizes the leveling and / or staging information around all three axes Χ, Υ, Ζ around which head 1 can swing through its three 10 'joints.

Once the desired position has been reached, the joints are locked by means of locking / unlocking 15, in this case of the knobs 40 ', one for each joint 10'.

In systems according to the prior art, an example of which is shown in Figure 3, a display device 121 is generally associated with the tilt and level angles, therefore for each axis of oscillation of the head 100 according to the known art (made by the same Applicant) for which a sensor 120 is provided, information is displayed relating to the angle with respect to a certain reference plane and the plate 700 about a certain axis. In figure 3 there are two labels, the first relating to the tilt angle and the second to the level angle.

It was therefore necessary to create a "zero" mark in the fixed part of the head and to create a graduated scale 550 on the mobile part of the head (for example by applying a label with the graduated scale on the mobile part), this for each axis of rotation of the head according to the known art.

Therefore, the head according to the invention eliminates the prediction of these labels, simplifying the assembly of the head itself (for example, no calibrations or adjustments must be made for the positioning of the label) and thus increasing the accuracy obtainable in posting.

The head 1 preferably comprises, between the position and / or leveling sensors, an azimuth sensor 30 (essentially a goniometric compass), or a sensor of the earth's magnetic field capable of measuring the azimuth angle ut. This sensor can be used in addition to or in place of the displayed "pan" sensor 20, providing an angle with respect to an "absolute" zero rather than established by the manufacturer as in the case of the pan sensor 20.

The azimuth sensor 30 is particularly important especially in so-called “panoramic” photographs, in which a plurality of photographs are taken at predetermined angular intervals.

The information coming from the sensor (s) 20, 30 and displayed in the display device 21 can be processed and represented in the most disparate ways. The device 21 in fact can for example display alphanumeric characters 58 indicating the angle or slope around the axis of interest. As an example, see Figure 4 which shows a digital display which shows the angles of tilt (level) and level (arranged at 45 °).

Alternatively, a graduated scale can be represented in the display device 21, such as the graduated scale 550 of the known art in the form of a goniometer, or linear 56 with notches 57 corresponding to a predetermined angular interval as shown in figure 5. In the same display, for example two (or more) graduated scales relating to rotations around different axes corresponding to information deriving from two different sensors 20. The "zero" position can also be displayed in bold or in another conventional way in measurement equipment .

The position of the plate 7 with respect to the zero reference plane of the sensor 20 can therefore be represented by a point or any luminous symbol in a point of the graduated scale corresponding to its angular position. In the case of protractor graduated scales, an indicator constrained in rotation around a point shaped like a bar, arrow, tip, etc. may indicate the aforementioned angular position.

Alternatively, the data relating to two distinct sensors can be represented in a single graph in the device 21, as for example represented in Figure 6 in which two perpendicular linear graduated scales display the position of the plate respectively to two orthogonal axes. Angles and slopes can be measured in degrees, percentages, radians, etc etc.

In any case, it is envisaged in the present invention that the graphic and / or alphanumeric display in the display device 21 of the leveling and / or position information deriving from sensors 20 can be the most varied and dependent on the user's needs and on the type of photographic equipment. / film used.

The "zero" level of each sensor 20, that is the reference plane with respect to which the angle and / or slope measurements are carried out around a given axis (i.e. the angle measurements with respect to the X axis are performed measuring the angle by means of the sensor 20 which is formed between the reference plane, or zero plane, and the plane formed by the plate rotated along the X axis), it is calibrated at the time of mounting each sensor 20 on the head 1 using a special reference plane and this reduces the alignment errors that are instead obtained in the assembly of standard bubbles (which must be aligned "visually"), thus providing the user with a head with greater precision in the positioning.

The invention therefore solves the problem proposed by achieving numerous advantages over the prior art mentioned, as outlined above.

Claims (18)

RI VENDICAZI ONI 1. Adjustable support head (1) for optical and / or photocinematographic equipment comprising a plate (7) for coupling said head (1) to said optical and / or photocinematographic equipment, at least one joint (10; 10 ') for rotation of said plate (7) around at least one axis (X; Y; Z), and an angle and / or positioning sensor (20) to display information relating to the angle of said plate around said axis (X; Y ; Z) with respect to a reference plane, characterized in that said leveling and / or positioning sensor (20; 30) is a digital sensor. Head (1) according to claim 1, comprising a leveling and / or positioning sensor (20) for each rotation axis (X; Y; Z) of said head (1). Head (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein said leveling and / or positioning sensor (20) is a digital inclinometer. Head (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein said leveling and / or positioning sensor (20) is a digital goniometer. Head (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein said leveling and / or positioning sensor (20; 30) comprising control means. Head (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein said control means comprise on / off means. Head (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein said control means comprise relative zeroing means for temporarily varying the predetermined zero of said sensor (20; 30). 8. Head (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, in which said leveling and / or positioning sensor (30) is an azimuth angle reading sensor. System comprising a head (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, and a display device (21) of the information coming from said leveling and / or positioning sensor (20; 30) connected to said leveling and / or leveling sensor or positioning (20; 30). System according to claim 9, wherein said display device (21) is positioned on said head (1) and said connection is an electrical connection. 1 1. System according to claim 10, wherein said head (1) comprises an angled plate (24) in proximity of said plate (7), said display device (21) being positioned in said plate (24). System according to one or more of claims 9 to 11, wherein said display device (21) comprises a digital display. System according to one or more of claims 9 to 12, wherein said display device (21) comprises lighting means. System according to one or more of claims 9 to 13, wherein said display device (21) is remote with respect to said head (1) and said connection is infrared and / or radio frequency. System according to claim 14, wherein said display device (21) is a mobile phone. System according to one or more of claims 9 to 15, wherein said display device (21) comprises a graduated scale (550; 56). System according to claim 16, wherein said graduated scale (550; 56) is a protractor. System according to one or more of claims 9 to 17, comprising a plurality of leveling and / or positioning sensors (20) and a display device (21) connected to said plurality of leveling and / or positioning sensors (20 ; 30) for displaying information from said plurality.