# US 2017/0254473 A1 · Gimbals

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- Number: US 2017/0254473 A1
- Document ID: US20170254473A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/062,780
- Filed: 2016-03-07
- Published: 2017-09-07
- Earliest claimed: 2016-03-07
- Assignees: Cloud Cap Technology, Inc.
- Applicants: Cloud Cap Technology, Inc.
- Inventors: Gene I. Katz
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170254473A1

## CPC

- B64D 43/00: Arrangements or adaptations of instruments
- F16M 11/123: {the axis of rotation intersecting in a single point, e.g. by using gimbals}
- F16M 11/18: with mechanism for moving the apparatus relatively to the stand
- B64D: EQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT; FLIGHT SUITS; PARACHUTES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF POWER PLANTS OR PROPULSION TRANSMISSIONS IN AIRCRAFT
- F16M: FRAMES, CASINGS OR BEDS OF ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS, NOT SPECIFIC TO ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE; STANDS; SUPPORTS

## Abstract

A gimbal includes a first member, a second member, wherein the first member of the gimbal is rotatably mounted to the second member to be movable relative to a second member of the gimbal about a first rotational axis and a gimbal actuator assembly. The gimbal actuator assembly includes a first portion of an electromagnetic actuator mounted on the first member and a second portion of the electromagnetic actuator mounted on the second member, wherein an electromagnetic interaction of the first portion of the electromagnetic actuator and the second portion of the electromagnetic actuator causes a torque on the first member about the rotational axis.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A gimbal, comprising:
a first member;
a second member, wherein the first member of the gimbal is rotatably mounted to the second member to be movable relative to a second member of the gimbal about a first rotational axis; and
a gimbal actuator assembly, comprising:
a first portion of an electromagnetic actuator mounted on the first member; and
a second portion of the electromagnetic actuator mounted on the second member, wherein an electromagnetic interaction of the first portion of the electromagnetic actuator and the second portion of the electromagnetic actuator causes a torque on the first member about the rotational axis.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The gimbal of claim 1, wherein the first member of the gimbal is a circular inner platform.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The gimbal of claim 2, wherein the first portion of the electromagnetic actuator is positioned 90 degrees about the circular inner platform relative to the first rotational axis.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The gimbal of claim 3, wherein the first portion of the electromagnetic actuator is a permanent magnet mounted to the first member and the second portion of the electromagnetic actuator is an electromagnet mounted to the second portion of the electromagnetic actuator such that the electromagnet is in selective electromagnetic communication with the permanent magnet to impart force upon the permanent magnet.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The gimbal of claim 1, further comprising a third member, wherein the second member of the gimbal is rotatably mounted to the third member to be movable relative to the third member of the gimbal about a second rotational axis which is different from the first rotational axis.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The gimbal of claim 5, further comprising a fourth member, wherein the third member of the gimbal is rotatably mounted to the fourth member to be movable relative to the fourth member of the gimbal about a third rotational axis which is different from the first and second rotational axes.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The gimbal of claim 6, wherein the first, second, and third rotational axis are orthogonal such that the gimbal can provide three-dimensional motion compensation.

### Claim 8

An aircraft sensor system, comprising:
a gimbal, comprising:
a first member;
a second member, wherein the first member of the gimbal is rotatably mounted to the second member to be movable relative to a second member of the gimbal about a first rotational axis; and
a gimbal actuator assembly, comprising:
a first portion of an electromagnetic actuator mounted on the first member; and
a second portion of the electromagnetic actuator mounted on the second member, wherein an electromagnetic interaction of the first portion of the electromagnetic actuator and the second portion of the electromagnetic actuator causes a torque on the first member about the rotational axis; and
at least one sensor mounted to the first member to stabilize the at least one sensor.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The system of claim 8, wherein the first member of the gimbal is a circular inner platform.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The system of claim 9, wherein the first portion of the electromagnetic actuator is positioned 90 degrees about the circular inner platform relative to the first rotational axis.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The system of claim 10, wherein the first portion of the electromagnetic actuator is a permanent magnet mounted to the first member and the second portion of the electromagnetic actuator is an electromagnet mounted to the second portion of the electromagnetic actuator such that the electromagnet is in selective electromagnetic communication with the permanent magnet to impart force upon the permanent magnet.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The system of claim 8, further comprising a third member, wherein the second member of the gimbal is rotatably mounted to the third member to be movable relative to the third member of the gimbal about a second rotational axis which is different from the first rotational axis.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The system of claim 12, further comprising a fourth member, wherein the third member of the gimbal is rotatably mounted to the fourth member to be movable relative to the fourth member of the gimbal about a third rotational axis which is different from the first and second rotational axes.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13, wherein the first, second, and third rotational axis are orthogonal such that the gimbal can provide three-dimensional motion compensation.

### Claim 15 (depends on 8)

The system of claim 8, wherein the sensor includes an imaging device.