Peripherally controllable time-lapse photography device
AssigneeAlpine Laboratories, LLC
InventorsMarcus Albonico, Kris Cheng, Jonathan Denby, Stephen Hibbs, Kevin Ting
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a motion time-lapse photography device. The device includes an outer enclosure, base, motor, controlling circuitry, stepper-motor, a plurality of gears, a backlash mitigation membrane, and an external interface panel. Embodiments of the motion time-lapse photography device enable the capture of a sequence of photographs at an interval in coordination with axial movement in at least one rotational degree of freedom of a photographic capture device attached to the motion time-lapse photography device.
Claims16
A motion time-lapse photography device comprising:
- a main enclosure having a substantially cylindrical form, said main enclosure having ribs projecting inwardly from the interior surface of said main enclosure, a closed end with a fastening feature at said closed end, and an open end opposite said closed end;
- a base portion connected to said main enclosure, creating an outer surface opposite said closed end of said main enclosure, exhibiting an axis of rotation oriented substantially parallel to the central axis of said main enclosure;
- a drive train comprising a drive motor, a drive gear and a driven gear, wherein said drive motor is affixed to the interior of said main enclosure;
- said driven gear affixed coaxially with said base portion;
- said drive motor and said drive gear engaging through said drive train to create rotational movement between said main enclosure and said base portion;
- a main shaft attached to said base portion wherein said main shaft is coaxial and rotationally constrained with said driven gear and protruding through an aperture of a flexible backlash mitigation mechanism;
- said flexible backlash mitigation mechanism located external to said drive motor;
- said flexible backlash mitigation mechanism further comprising slits;
- and
- said aperture providing frictional resistance to said main shaft and slits interfacing with said ribs, whereby backlash between said drive gear and said driven gear is mitigated.
A motion time-lapse photography device comprising:
- a main enclosure comprising integrated stiffening features, said main enclosure having an open end and a closed end opposite said open end, and a fastening feature at said closed end;
- a base portion connected to said main enclosure, creating an outer surface opposite the closed end of said main enclosure, said base portion exhibiting an axis of rotation oriented substantially parallel to the central axis of said main enclosure;
- a drive train comprising a drive motor, a drive gear and a driven gear, said drive motor being affixed to the interior of said main enclosure;
- said driven gear affixed coaxially with said base portion;
- said drive motor driving and said drive gear engaging through said drive train to create rotational movement between said main enclosure and said base portion;
- a main shaft attached to said base portion wherein said main shaft is coaxial and rotationally constrained with said driven gear and protrudes through an aperture of a flexible backlash mitigation mechanism;
- said flexible backlash mitigation mechanism further comprising mating features and located external to drive motor;
- said aperture of said flexible backlash mitigation mechanism providing rotational resistance to said main shaft;
- and
- said mating features interfacing with said stiffening features, whereby backlash between said drive gear and said driven gear is mitigated.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.