IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,001,696

Granted Patent B2

US 10,001,696 · App. 15/296,487 · Granted Jun 19, 2018

Imaging apparatus

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 10,001,696
App. No.: 15/296,487
Granted: Jun 19, 2018
Kind: B2

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Abstract

An imaging apparatus includes a pan housing that is supported so as to be pan-rotatable about a pan-axis, a supporting arm of which a base end is supported by one end of the pan housing so as to be rotatable about a first tilt-axis which is spaced away from and perpendicular to the pan-axis, and a tilt housing which accommodates a camera, and of which one end side opposing the supporting arm is supported by a tip of the supporting arm so as to be rotatable about a second tilt-axis which extends in the same direction as the first tilt-axis extends.

Claims (44)

1. An imaging apparatus comprising:

a pan housing that is supported so as to be pan-rotatable about a pan-axis;

a supporting arm of which a base end is supported by one end of the pan housing so as to be rotatable about a first tilt-axis which is spaced away from and perpendicular to the pan-axis; and

a tilt housing which accommodates a camera having an optical axis, and one end side of the tilt housing opposing the supporting arm is supported by a tip of the supporting arm so as to be rotatable about a second tilt-axis which extends in the same direction as the first tilt-axis extends, wherein

when the imaging apparatus is in a normal position, the pan-axis intersects the second tilt axis, and the second tilt-axis is interposed between the optical axis of the camera and the first tilt-axis such that the optical axis of the camera is spaced away from and extends perpendicular to the second tilt-axis, and

when the imaging apparatus is in the normal position, the first tilt axis is offset from the pan-axis at a position spaced from the pan-axis in a direction along the optical axis.

2. The imaging apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:

a worm wheel of which one side is fixed to any one of the pan housing and the supporting arm, and of which an axis corresponds to the first tilt-axis; and

a first tilt-motor to which the other one of the pan housing and the supporting arm is fixed, and in which a worm fixed to a drive shaft meshes with the worm wheel.

3. The imaging apparatus of claim 2 , further comprising:

a second tilt-motor that is provided at the tip of the supporting arm and that rotates the tilt housing; and

a controller, wherein the second tilt-motor and the first tilt-motor are rotated synchronously by control of the controller.

4. The imaging apparatus of claim 1 , wherein

the tilt housing has an auxiliary device addition space that can accommodate an auxiliary imaging device on a side opposite to the supporting arm with the camera being interposed between the auxiliary device addition space and the supporting arm.

5. The imaging apparatus of claim 1 , wherein

when the imaging apparatus is in the normal position, the optical axis of the camera is offset from the second tilt axis at a position above the second tilt axis.

6. The imaging apparatus of claim 1 , wherein

when the supporting arm is rotated about the first tilt-axis, the pan-axis does not intersect the second tilt-axis, and an offset length between the optical axis of the camera and the second tilt-axis is maintained.

7. The imaging apparatus of claim 1 , wherein

when the tilt housing is rotated about the second tilt-axis, an offset length between the optical axis of the camera and the second tilt-axis is maintained.

8. The imaging apparatus of claim 1 , wherein

when the imaging apparatus is in the normal position and the optical axis of the camera is substantially parallel to a mounting surface of the imaging apparatus, the first tilt-axis is positioned between a plane including the second tilt-axis and a plane including a surface of a cover lens which covers the camera and attached to the tilt housing.

9. The imaging apparatus of claim 1 , wherein

10. The imaging apparatus of claim 1 , wherein

a shape of the tilt housing comprises at least part of a sphere.

11. The imaging apparatus of claim 1 , wherein

the pan housing is connected to the tilt housing solely via the supporting arm.

12. An imaging apparatus comprising:

a pan housing that is pan-rotatable about a pan-axis;

a supporting arm that is rotatable about a first tilt-axis perpendicular to the pan-axis, and of which a first portion is physically connected with the pan housing; and

a tilt housing, accommodating a camera having an optical axis, that is rotatable about a second tilt-axis parallel to the first tilt-axis and perpendicular to the pan-axis, and physically connected with a second portion of the supporting arm, wherein

when the imaging apparatus is in the normal position, the first tilt axis is offset from the pan-axis at a position spaced from the pan-axis in a direction along the optical axis.

13. The imaging apparatus of claim 12 , wherein

14. The imaging apparatus of claim 12 , wherein

when the tilt housing is rotated about the second tilt-axis, an offset length between the optical axis of the camera and the second tilt-axis is maintained.

15. The imaging apparatus of claim 12 , wherein

16. The imaging apparatus of claim 12 , wherein

17. The imaging apparatus of claim 12 , wherein

the pan housing is connected to the tilt housing solely via the supporting arm.

Assignments (7)

CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Mar 16, 2023

From: PANASONIC I-PRO SENSING SOLUTIONS CO., LTD.

To: I-PRO CO., LTD.

Reel/Frame 063101/0966 →

CHANGE OF ADDRESS Recorded Mar 16, 2023

From: I-PRO CO., LTD.

To: I-PRO CO., LTD.