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US 8,523,462 B2Granted
Roll-tilt ball turret camera having coiled data transmission cable
AssigneeAeroVironment, Inc.
InventorManolis Pavlos Dimotakis
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In one embodiment, a ball turret assembly for supporting a camera includes a first shaft rotatable about a first axis relative to a first fixed point, the first shaft having an axially-extending interior region in communication with an exterior of the first shaft by way of a first exit port. A first guide disposed at least partially circumferentially on the first shaft proximally to the first exit port is provided, and a cable extends along the interior region of the first shaft and exits the first shaft at the first exit port, the cable looping at least partially around the first shaft and affixed at the first fixed point.
Claims14
A ball turret assembly for supporting a camera, comprising:
- a first shaft rotatable about a first axis relative to a first fixed point, the first shaft having an axially-extending interior region in communication with an exterior of the first shaft by way of a first exit port;
- a first guide disposed at least partially circumferentially on the first shaft proximally to the first exit port;
- and
- a cable extending along the interior region of the first shaft and exiting the first shaft at the first exit port, the cable looping at least partially around the first shaft and affixed at the first fixed point,
- wherein rotation of the first shaft imparts roll motion to the camera, and wherein the first shaft is configured to rotate less that 360 degrees.
2 more elements
A ball turret assembly for supporting a camera, comprising:
- a first shaft rotatable about a first axis relative to a first fixed point, the first shaft having an axially-extending interior region in communication with an exterior of the first shaft by way of a first exit port;
- a first guide disposed at least partially circumferentially on the first shaft proximally to the first exit port;
- and
- a cable extending along the interior region of the first shaft and exiting the first shaft at the first exit port, the cable looping at least partially around the first shaft and affixed at the first fixed point,
- wherein rotation of the first shaft imparts roll motion to the camera, and wherein the first shaft is configured to rotate about 270 degrees.
2 more elements
A ball turret assembly for supporting a camera, comprising:
- a first shaft rotatable about a first axis relative to a first fixed point, the first shaft having an axially-extending interior region in communication with an exterior of the first shaft by way of a first exit port;
- a first guide disposed at least partially circumferentially on the first shaft proximally to the first exit port;
- and
- a cable extending along the interior region of the first shaft and exiting the first shaft at the first exit port, the cable looping at least partially around the first shaft and affixed at the first fixed point,
- wherein rotation of the first shaft imparts tilt motion to the camera, and wherein the first shaft is configured to rotate less that 135 degrees.
2 more elements
A ball turret assembly for supporting a camera, comprising:
- a first shaft rotatable about a first axis relative to a first fixed point, the first shaft having an axially-extending interior region in communication with an exterior of the first shaft by way of a first exit port;
- a first guide disposed at least partially circumferentially on the first shaft proximally to the first exit port;
- and
- a cable extending along the interior region of the first shaft and exiting the first shaft at the first exit port, the cable looping at least partially around the first shaft and affixed at the first fixed point,
- wherein the first guide is arcuate in shape.
2 more elements
A ball turret assembly for supporting a camera, comprising:
- a first shaft rotatable about a first axis relative to a first fixed point, the first shaft having an axially-extending interior region in communication with an exterior of the first shaft by way of a first exit port;
- a first guide disposed at least partially circumferentially on the first shaft proximally to the first exit port;
- and
- a cable extending along the interior region of the first shaft and exiting the first shaft at the first exit port, the cable looping at least partially around the first shaft and affixed at the first fixed point,
- wherein the first guide has an increasing radius.
2 more elements
A ball turret assembly for supporting a camera, comprising:
- a first shaft rotatable about a first axis relative to a first fixed point, the first shaft having an axially-extending interior region in communication with an exterior of the first shaft by way of a first exit port;
- a first guide disposed at least partially circumferentially on the first shaft proximally to the first exit port;
- and
- a cable extending along the interior region of the first shaft and exiting the first shaft at the first exit port, the cable looping at least partially around the first shaft and affixed at the first fixed point,
- wherein the first exit port is a notch formed at one end of the first shaft.
2 more elements
A ball turret assembly for supporting a camera, comprising:
- a first shaft rotatable about a first axis relative to a first fixed point, the first shaft having an axially-extending interior region in communication with an exterior of the first shaft by way of a first exit port;
- a first guide disposed at least partially circumferentially on the first shaft proximally to the first exit port;
- and
- a cable extending along the interior region of the first shaft and exiting the first shaft at the first exit port, the cable looping at least partially around the first shaft and affixed at the first fixed point,
- wherein the cable is one of multiple cables forming a cable bundle.
2 more elements
A ball turret assembly for supporting a camera, comprising:
- a first shaft rotatable about a first axis relative to a first fixed point, the first shaft having an axially-extending interior region in communication with an exterior of the first shaft by way of a first exit port;
- a first guide disposed at least partially circumferentially on the first shaft proximally to the first exit port;
- and
- a cable extending along the interior region of the first shaft and exiting the first shaft at the first exit port, the cable looping at least partially around the first shaft and affixed at the first fixed point,
- wherein the cable is a coaxial cable.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.