# US 10,871,704 B2 · Gimbal

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- Number: US 10,871,704 B2
- Document ID: US10871704B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/699,382
- Filed: 2019-11-29
- Published: 2020-03-26
- Granted: 2020-12-22
- Earliest claimed: 2014-08-13
- Assignees: Sz Dji Osmo Technology Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Sz Dji Osmo Technology Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Li Zhou; Yanchong Zhao
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10871704B2

## CPC

- G03B 17/561: {Support related camera accessories}
- F16M 11/045: {adapted to left-right translation movement}
- F16M 11/12: in more than one direction
- F16M 11/18: with mechanism for moving the apparatus relatively to the stand
- F16M 11/205: {the axis of rotation intersecting in a single point, e.g. gimbals}
- F16M 11/2092: {comprising means allowing depth adjustment, i.e. forward-backward translation of the head relatively to the undercarriage}
- F16M 11/24: changeable in height or length of legs, also for transport only, {e.g. by means of tubes screwed into each other}(F16M11/42 takes precedence)
- F16M 13/02: for supporting on, or attaching to, an object, e.g. tree, gate, window-frame, cycle
- F16M 13/04: for supporting on, or holding steady relative to, a person, e.g. by chains {, e.g. rifle butt or pistol grip supports, supports attached to the chest or head (apparatus or arrangements for taking photographs or for projecting or viewing them G03B)}
- G03B 17/563: {Camera grips, handles (means in general for steadying hand-held apparatus F16M13/00)}
- H04N 23/54: Mounting of pick-up tubes, electronic image sensors, deviation or focusing coils
- H04N 23/57: Mechanical or electrical details of cameras or camera modules specially adapted for being embedded in other devices
- F16M 11/04: Means for attachment of apparatus; Means allowing adjustment of the apparatus relatively to the stand
- F16M 11/10: around a horizontal axis {(F16M11/12 takes precedence)}
- F16M 2200/044: for balancing rotational movement of the undercarriage
- G03B: APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR (optical parts of such apparatus G02B; photosensitive materials or processes for photographic purposes G03C; apparatus for processing exposed photographic materials G03D)
- F16M: FRAMES, CASINGS OR BEDS OF ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS, NOT SPECIFIC TO ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE; STANDS; SUPPORTS
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION

## Abstract

A gimbal for carrying an imaging device includes a support frame and a center of gravity adjusting unit arranged at the support frame. The center of gravity adjusting unit is configured to adjust a center of gravity of the support frame by moving one part of the support frame relative to another part of the support frame. The center of gravity adjusting unit includes a threaded rod. One end of the threaded rod is provided with a rotating handle or a driving motor configured to drive the threaded rod to rotate.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A gimbal for carrying an imaging device comprising:
a support frame; and
a center of gravity adjusting unit arranged at the support frame and configured to adjust a center of gravity of the support frame, the center of gravity adjusting unit including a threaded rod, one end of the threaded rod being provided with a rotating handle or a driving motor configured to drive the threaded rod to rotate, and the center of gravity adjusting unit being configured to convert a rotation of the threaded rod into a linear movement of one part of the support frame relative to another part of the support frame to adjust the center of gravity of the support frame.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The gimbal of claim 1, wherein the support frame includes:
two pillars; and
a guiding post coupled to the two pillars, the guiding post being arranged approximately perpendicular to the two pillars and configured to carry the imaging device.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The gimbal of claim 2, wherein the center of gravity adjusting unit is arranged on one of the pillars and configured to at least adjust a position of the guiding post on the pillars.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The gimbal of claim 3, wherein:
the center of gravity adjusting unit further includes two snap rings sleeved at two ends of the one of the pillars, respectively; and
the threaded rod is sleeved in the snap rings.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The gimbal of claim 4, wherein:
the center of gravity adjusting unit further includes two bearings;
each of the two snap rings includes a bearing hole configured to receive one of the bearings; and
two ends of the threaded rod are respectively received in the two bearings.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The gimbal of claim 4, wherein:
the support frame further includes two clamping devices arranged on the two pillars, respectively;
the guiding post is coupled to the two pillars through the two clamping devices, respectively;
one of the clamping devices is located between the two snap rings and includes a threaded hole; and
the threaded rod of the center of gravity adjusting unit is threadedly connected with the threaded hole.

### Claim 7 (depends on 2)

The gimbal of claim 2, further comprising:
a support assembly including an adaptor slidably arranged on the guiding post.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The gimbal of claim 7, wherein the center of gravity adjusting unit is coupled to the adaptor and configured to adjust a position of the adaptor on the guiding post.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The gimbal of claim 7, wherein the support assembly further includes:
a mounting plate fixed to the adaptor;
a supporting plate slidably arranged on the mounting plate; and
a press-locking device arrange at one side of the mounting plate and configured to fix the supporting plate on the mounting plate.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

The gimbal of claim 7, wherein:
the adaptor is a first adaptor; and
the support assembly further comprises a second adaptor slidably arranged on the guiding post.

### Claim 11 (depends on 2)

The gimbal of claim 2, wherein:
the support frame further includes two clamping devices arranged on the two pillars, respectively; and
the guiding post is coupled to the two pillars through the two clamping devices, respectively.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The gimbal of claim 11, wherein:
one of the two clamping devices includes a threaded hole; and
the threaded rod of the center of gravity adjusting unit is threadedly connected with the threaded hole.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The gimbal of claim 12, wherein:
the guiding post is a first guiding post;
the support frame further includes a second guiding post arranged approximately parallel to the first guiding post and coupled to the two pillars through the two clamping devices, respectively;
each of the two clamping devices includes two guiding post receiving portions each configured to receive one end of the first guiding post or the second guiding post; and
the threaded hole is arranged between the two guiding post receiving portions of the one of the two clamping devices.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The gimbal of claim 13, wherein:
the first support frame includes:
two first-frame pillars; and
a guiding post coupled to the two pillars, the guiding post being arranged approximately perpendicular to the two pillars and configured to carry the imaging device; and
the second support frame includes:
a driving device;
two second-frame pillars, one of the second-frame pillars being pivotably connected with a rotating shaft of one of the first-frame pillars, and another one of the second-frame pillars being pivotably connected with a rotating shaft of another one of the first-frame pillars through the driving device; and
a connecting pillar connecting the two second-frame pillars.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The gimbal at claim 14, further comprising: a third support frame pivotably connected with the second support frame, the third support frame including: a third-frame pillar connected with the connecting pillar; and a connecting plate movably arranged on the third-frame pillar.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The gimbal of claim 1,
wherein the support frame is a first support frame;
the gimbal further comprising:
a second support frame pivotably connected with the first support frame.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The gimbal of claim 1, wherein:
the support frame includes:
a pillar; and
a connecting plate movably arranged on the pillar; and
the center of gravity adjusting unit is arranged in the connecting plate and configured to adjust a position of the pillar on the connecting plate.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The gimbal of claim 17, wherein:
the connecting plate includes a bottom surface having a receiving groove;
the threaded rod is sleeved on two sidewalls of the receiving groove; and
the center of gravity adjusting unit further includes:
a moving member rotatably movably arranged on the threaded rod, the moving member including:
a first moving portion fixedly connected with the pillar; and
a second moving portion connected with the first moving portion and including a threaded hole, the threaded rod being inserted in the threaded hole and threadedly connected with the threaded hole.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The gimbal of claim 18, wherein:
the receiving groove includes an outer sidewall;
the center of gravity adjusting unit further includes two bearings, one of the bearings being fixed to the outer sidewall, and another one of the bearings being fixed in the receiving groove; and
the one end of the threaded rod is sleeved in the one of the bearings and another end of the threaded rod is sleeved in the another one of the bearings.

### Claim 20

A gimbal operating method comprising:
providing a gimbal, the gimbal including:
a support frame; and
a center of gravity adjusting unit arranged at the support frame and including a threaded rod, one end of the threaded rod being provided with a rotating handle or a driving motor configured to drive the threaded rod to rotate; and
configuring the center of gravity adjusting unit to convert a rotation of the threaded rod, through rotating the rotating handle or starting the driving motor, into a linear movement of one part of the support frame relative to another part of the support frame to adjust a center of gravity of the support frame.