System and method for multi-mode imaging device control

1. A system comprising:

a manipulator comprising one or more first joints and one or more second joints, the one or more first joints being configured to pivot a focal point of an imaging device about a pivot, and the one or more second joints being configured to position the pivot within a three-dimensional space; and

a controller configured to:

actuate the one or more first joints in response to sensed movement of one or more input devices until a release of the actuation of the one or more first joints is detected;

detect the release of the actuation of the one or more first joints based on one or more interactions of an operator with the one or more input devices, wherein to detect the release of the actuation of the one or more first joints, the controller is configured to perform at least one action selected from the group consisting of:

determining that a force exerted by the operator while manipulating the one or more input devices to cause the actuation of the one or more first joints exceeds a threshold force,

determining that a velocity of operator manipulated movement of the one or more input devices to cause the actuation of the one or more first joints exceeds a threshold velocity,

determining that a magnitude of operator manipulated movement of the one or more input devices to cause the actuation of the one or more first joints exceeds a threshold magnitude, and

detecting a predefined movement of at least two of the one or more input devices relative to each other; and

actuate the one or more second joints in response to sensed movement of the one or more input devices following the detection of the release of the actuation of the one or more first joints.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more first joints comprise a wrist, and wherein a position of the wrist defines the pivot.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein:

the manipulator further comprises a plurality of links including a first link having a first longitudinal axis and a second link having a second longitudinal axis; and

the first and second longitudinal axes remain parallel with respect to each other when the pivot is positioned within the three-dimensional space by the actuation of the one or more second joints.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein:

the one or more second joints comprise a third joint and a fourth joint: and

as the third joint pivots the first link, the fourth joint pivots the second link in a complementary fashion.

5. The system of claim 3 , wherein the first link is moveable along the first longitudinal axis to position the pivot within the three-dimensional space.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to lock the pivot in position in three-dimensional space when the one or more first joints are actuated to pivot the focal point of the imaging device about the pivot.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to lock the one or more first joints when the one or more second joints are actuated to position the pivot within the three-dimensional space.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more first joints are configured to pivot the imaging device in pitch and yaw directions about the pivot.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to constrain a focal point of the imaging device to move on a curved virtual surface during actuation of the one or more second joints.

10. A method comprising:

actuating, by a controller, one or more first joints of a manipulator in response to sensed movement of one or more input devices until a release of the actuating of the one or more first joints is detected, the one or more first joints being configured to pivot a focal point of an imaging device about a pivot;

detecting, by the controller based on one or more interactions of an operator with the one or more input devices, the release of the actuating of the one or more first joints, wherein detecting the release of the actuating of the one or more first joints comprises at least one action selected from the group consisting of:

determining that a force exerted by the operator while manipulating the one or more input devices to cause the actuation of the one or more first joints exceeds a threshold force,

determining that a velocity of operator manipulated movement of the one or more input devices to cause the actuation of the one or more first joints exceeds a threshold velocity,

determining that a magnitude of operator manipulated movement of the one or more input devices to cause the actuation of the one or more first joints exceeds a threshold magnitude, and

detecting a predefined movement of at least two of the one or more input devices relative to each other; and

actuating, by the controller, one or more second joints of the manipulator in response to sensed movement of the one or more input devices following the detection of the release of the actuating the one or more first joints, the one or more second joints being configured to position the pivot within a three-dimensional space.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the one or more first joints comprise a wrist, and wherein a position of the wrist defines the pivot.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein:

the manipulator further comprises a plurality of links including a first link having a first longitudinal axis and a second link having a second longitudinal axis; and

the method further comprises keeping the first and second longitudinal axes parallel with respect to each other when the pivot is positioned within the three-dimensional space by the actuating of the one or more second joints.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein:

the one or more second joints comprise a third joint and a fourth joint: and

as the third joint pivots the first link, the method comprises pivoting the second link in a complementary fashion using the fourth joint.

14. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

moving the first link along the first longitudinal axis to position the pivot within the three-dimensional space.

15. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

locking the pivot in position in three-dimensional space during the actuating of the one or more first joints to pivot the focal point of the imaging device about the pivot.

16. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

locking the one or more first joints during the actuating of the one or more second joints to position the pivot within the three-dimensional space.

17. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

pivoting the imaging device in pitch and yaw directions about the pivot using the one or more first joints.

18. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

constraining a focal point of the imaging device on a curved virtual surface during actuation of the one or more second joints.