Abstract: A head assembly for a tripod comprising a head portion and a bowl portion releasably connectable to one another, the bowl portion having a clamp stud and the head portion having a stud catch mechanism, wherein the stud catch mechanism is adapted to be releasably connectable to the clamp stud, and wherein the head assembly further comprises an adjustment mechanism adapted to adjust the connection between the head portion and the bowl portion when the head portion and bowl portion are connected to one another.

Abstract: A leg spreader (10) for a tripod comprising at least two portions (12, 14) selectably moveable with respect to one another along an axis; a first portion comprising a latch (16) and a second portion comprising an engagement region (18); the latch being releasably engageable with the engagement region, the latch being moveable by an actuator (20) between an engaged position in which the portions are substantially non-moveable with respect of one another and a disengaged position in which the portions are moveable with respect to one another; wherein the latch is biased towards the engaged position.

Abstract: A foot having a base portion and a handle, the handle being pivotally attached to the base portion at a first end and including a gripping portion at a second end, said handle further comprising a centrally deployed securing member attached to the gripping portion, the handle being movable between a first position in which the foot is removable from a leg and a second position in which an end of the securing member is secured within a securing recess in the leg portion whereby the foot is secured to the leg.

Abstract: An extendable leg 10 for a tripod, the leg 10 comprises two or more leg-stages 11b, 11c, each leg-stage 11b, 11c moveable axially relative to one or more of the or each other leg-stages to lengthen or shorten the leg. The leg 10 includes a clamp assembly to releasably prevent the relative movement when the leg is at the desired length. The clamp assembly includes a leg brake 22a moveable between a first leg-stage locking position and a second leg-stage release position. In order to control movement of the leg brake 22a between the first and second positions, an actuation means 16 is provided. A cable 17 is operably connected at a first end to the actuation means 16 and at a second end to the leg brake 22a, such that operation of the actuation means 16 causes the cable 17 to move the leg brake 22a.

Abstract: A tripod leg (3) comprises a lever wherein said lever (13) is arranged on a portion of said leg (3), which in use, does not move in relation to an attached tripod head element (2); characterized in that said lever (13) further comprises an aperture (15) which is sized to cooperate with one or more digits of a user's hand.

Abstract: A focus control device is adapted to adjust a camera lens. The device comprises a rotational input device (1), a variable gear ratio means (10) and a rotational output means so coupled to communicate a first rotational movement applied to said rotational input device to said variable gear ratio means (10) and to communicate a second rotational movement from said variable gear ratio means (10) to said rotational output means. The variable gear ratio means provides a variable adjustment of the angular velocity of said second rotational movement relative to the angular velocity of said first rotational movement.

Abstract: A tripod (1) for mounting a camera or the like is disclosed. The tripod (1) comprises a support (5) having three legs (40) which are moveably mounted at a proximal end about the support (5) and circumferentially equidistant from each other. The legs (40) are moveable between an expanded configuration to support the tripod (1) and a folded configuration when the legs (40) lie adjacent to each other. In order to retain the legs in the folded configuration, at least one leg (40) includes a magnet (11) spaced distally along the leg (40) from the support. Each of the other two legs (40) includes a further magnet (12) or a magnetically attracted portion to magnetically engage the magnet (11) and releasably retain the tripod (1) in the folded configuration.

Abstract: An extendable leg (11) for a tripod (10) (for supporting an optical apparatus such as a video camera), the leg being V-shaped and having telescopic side members (15,16) to enable the length of the leg to be varied with hinge means to connect the side members to each other at an apex of the V, means to connect the side members to a head (12) of the tripod which allow the angle of the V to vary with extension and retraction of the leg, and clamping means (50) to clamp the side members at a required length; wherein the leg has a mechanism for controlling the extension and retraction of the side members when the locking means is released whereby the apex of the leg is constrained to move generally linearly in the lengthwise direction of the leg.

Abstract: A tripod (1) for supporting a video camera includes a head element (4) and a plurality of supporting legs (2), whereby each leg (2) is attached at one end to the head element (4). The tripod includes an illumination means (6) which is arranged to illuminate a space beneath said head element (4).

Abstract: An extendable leg 10 for a tripod, the leg 10 comprises two or more leg-stages 11b, 11c, each leg-stage 11b, 11c moveable axially relative to one or more of the or each other leg-stages to lengthen or shorten the leg. The leg 10 includes a clamp assembly to releasably prevent the relative movement when the leg is at the desired length. The clamp assembly includes a leg brake 22a moveable between a first leg-stage locking position and a second leg-stage release position. In order to control movement of the leg brake 22a between the first and second positions, an actuation means 16 is provided. A cable 17 is operably connected at a first end to the actuation means 16 and at a second end to the leg brake 22a, such that operation of the actuation means 16 causes the cable 17 to move the leg brake 22a.

Abstract: A tripod (1) for supporting a video camera is disclosed. The tripod (1) comprises a head element (4) and a plurality of supporting legs (2), whereby each said leg (2) is attached at one end to said head (4). The tripod comprises an illumination means (6), the illumination means (6) being arranged to illuminate a space beneath said head element (4).

Abstract: A camera support apparatus for supporting a video camera comprises a drive train device (1), a first inductive position sensor (23), (14) attached to a rotational output device (11) of the drive train device (10), and a second inductive position sensor (2), (3) attached to a rotational input device (4) which is operably connected to the drive train device (1), whereby the inductance sensed by the first position sensor (23), (14) is indicative of the rotational displacement of the rotational output device (11) and the inductance sensed by the second position sensor (2), (3) is indicative of the rotational displacement of the rotational input device (4).

Abstract: A camera support apparatus for supporting a video camera comprises a drive train device (1), a first inductive position sensor (23), (14) attached to a rotational output device (11) of the drive train device (10), and a second inductive position sensor (2), (3) attached to a rotational input device (4) which is operably connected to the drive train device (1), whereby the inductance sensed by the first position sensor (23), (14) is indicative of the rotational displacement of the rotational output device (11) and the inductance sensed by the second position sensor (2), (3) is indicative of the rotational displacement of the rotational input device (4).

Abstract: A drive train apparatus (1) adapted for driving a pan and tilt head, which in use is intended to support a payload (for example a video camera), the apparatus includes respective successive drive elements (2, 3, 4) so coupled as to communicate a rotational movement applied at one end of the apparatus (1) from an output of a rotational input device (8) to a rotational output (16) disposed at the other end of the apparatus (1), in a manner whereby the rotational velocity of the rotational movement is reduced across the drive elements (2, 3, 4) thereby converting the torque applied to the input of each drive element (2, 3, 4) into an increased torque at the output of each drive element (2, 3, 4); a first stage one of the drive elements including a belt drive.

Abstract: The invention concerns correcting an error in an estimated pose of a moveable camera. The camera is at least a part of a camera system that generates an output image on the basis of the camera pose. Incremental pose measurements for the camera are taken over time and a pose of the camera using the incremental pose measurements is estimated, the estimated camera pose having an error. A pose correction is determined on the basis of the difference between an absolute pose measurement for the camera and the estimated camera pose. A rate of change in the camera image caused by a change in the camera is monitored. A parameter of the camera system is periodically adjusted based on the incremental pose measurements. The adjustment is further set in order to effect the pose correction so as to correct for the estimated camera pose error and the pose correction is effected at a rate based on the monitored rate of change in the camera image.

Abstract: A pan and tilt head for supporting a payload such as a TV, video or motion picture camera comprising a base and a tiltable support including a platform for receiving a payload pivotally mounted on the base to tilt about a horizontal axis to either side of a neutral position in which the platform is generally horizontal. A balancing mechanism for the platform includes an adjustable spring mechanism mounted on the base to enable a pre-load in the spring mechanism to be varied and means coupling the tilting support to the spring mechanism. Adjustable mounting for one end of the spring mechanism includes an upright post mounted on the base and having rotary height adjustment. A manually operable rotary thumb wheel is mounted on the base for rotation about an upright axis.

Abstract: A camera support apparatus for supporting a video camera comprises a drive train device (1), a first inductive position sensor (23), (14) attached to a rotational output device (11) of the drive train device (10), and a second inductive position sensor (2), (3) attached to a rotational input device (4) which is operably connected to the drive train device (1), whereby the inductance sensed by the first position sensor (23), (14) is indicative of the rotational displacement of the rotational output device (11) and the inductance sensed by the second position sensor (2), (3) is indicative of the rotational displacement of the rotational input device (4).

Abstract: A drive train apparatus (1) adapted for driving a pan and tilt head, which in use is intended to support a payload (for example a video camera), the apparatus includes respective successive drive elements (2, 3, 4) so coupled as to communicate a rotational movement applied at one end of the apparatus (1) from an output of a rotational input device (8) to a rotational output (16) disposed at the other end of the apparatus (1), in a manner whereby the rotational velocity of the rotational movement is reduced across the drive elements (2, 3, 4) thereby converting the torque applied to the input of each drive element (2, 3, 4) into an increased torque at the output of each drive element (2, 3, 4); a first stage one of the drive elements including a belt drive.

Abstract: A battery pack for mounting to a camera and camera stand is described. The battery pack has attachment means on opposite sides. The attachment means are of complementary design so that the battery pack can be mounted between the camera and the stand. Each attachment means permits linear adjustment of the camera. The two means provide parallel linear adjustment of the camera with respect to the battery pack and of the battery pack with respect to the stand.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method of eliminating unwanted movement from a static or moving image which is captured or created in an optical apparatus. The method comprises determining unwanted movement in the image, providing an image control feature which has a zero reference position and a range over which the control can be varied to counter in the moving or static image said unwanted movement and using said control feature to remove said unwanted movement in a static or moving image. Non-zeroing in the image control to said reference position is monitored and a restoration to the image control is applied to bias the control towards the reference position at a rate which is a function of the speed of movement of the image in the optical apparatus to minimise the effect of the restoration correction on the image.