Patents by Inventor Tabb Firchau

Tabb Firchau has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10298846
    Abstract: A method for adjusting a pointing angle of an actively stabilized camera is provided. The camera is housed by an active stabilization system configured to stabilize the camera in accordance with a commanded pointing angle. The active stabilization system comprises a steering member rotatable around one or more of a pan axis, tilt axis, and roll axis of the system. The method comprises: deriving a joint angle measurement of the steering member associated with a rotational movement of the steering member and adjusting the pointing angle of the camera, based on the derived joint angle measurement, in a direction of the rotational movement of the steering member, if the joint angle measurement exceeds the threshold window. If the joint angle measurement is within the threshold window, the pointing angle of the camera is actively stabilized in accordance with the commanded pointing angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: FREEFLY SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Steve Webb, John Ellison, Tabb Firchau, David Bloomfield
  • Patent number: 9900511
    Abstract: A remote control device, method, and system for controlling a stabilized camera remotely are disclosed. The remote control device includes a steering member rotatable around a pan axis, a tilt axis, and/or a roll axis of the remote control device, an inertial measurement unit (IMU) mounted on the steering member and configured to measure a pointing direction of the steering member in relation to the pan axis, the tilt axis, and/or the roll axis, a controller configured to derive a pointing direction update based on the measurements obtained by the IMU, and a transmitter configured to transmit, to a stabilization system configured to stabilize the camera in accordance with a commanded pointing direction, the derived pointing direction update as the commanded pointing direction to effectuate adjustment of a pointing direction of the camera to follow a rotational movement of the steering member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Freefly Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Hugh Bell, Tabb Firchau, Shane Colton, David Bloomfield, John Ellison, Steve Webb
  • Patent number: 9574703
    Abstract: A stabilization system or gimbal having a mounting arrangement (3) for a camera providing for rotation about pan, roll, and tilt axes (210, 230, 220) where tilt and roll axis (220, 230) position can be independently adjusted is described. The arrangement can be configured so that when adjusting the stabilization frame relative to the roll axis, adjustment of the camera COG relative to the tilt axis is inhibited. The system can further be arranged such that when adjusting the roll axis, adjustment relative to the tilt axis is inhibited. Similarly, when adjusting the pan axis, adjustment to the tilt or roll axes may be inhibited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: FREEFLY SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Tabb Firchau, David Bloomfield, Shane Colton, Ian Roper
  • Publication number: 20160301845
    Abstract: A remote control device, method, and system for controlling a stabilized camera remotely are disclosed. The remote control device includes a steering member rotatable around a pan axis, a tilt axis, and/or a roll axis of the remote control device, an inertial measurement unit (IMU) mounted on the steering member and configured to measure a pointing direction of the steering member in relation to the pan axis, the tilt axis, and/or the roll axis, a controller configured to derive a pointing direction update based on the measurements obtained by the IMU, and a transmitter configured to transmit, to a stabilization system configured to stabilize the camera in accordance with a commanded pointing direction, the derived pointing direction update as the commanded pointing direction to effectuate adjustment of a pointing direction of the camera to follow a rotational movement of the steering member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2016
    Publication date: October 13, 2016
    Inventors: HUGH BELL, TABB FIRCHAU, SHANE COLTON, DAVID BLOOMFIELD, JOHN ELLISON, STEVE WEBB
  • Publication number: 20160201847
    Abstract: A stabilization system or gimbal having a mounting arrangement (3) for a camera providing for rotation about pan, roll, and tilt axes (210, 230, 220) where tilt and roll axis (220, 230) position can be independently adjusted is described. The arrangement can be configured so that when adjusting the stabilization frame relative to the roll axis, adjustment of the camera COG relative to the tilt axis is inhibited. The system can further be arranged such that when adjusting the roll axis, adjustment relative to the tilt axis is inhibited. Similarly, when adjusting the pan axis, adjustment to the tilt or roll axes may be inhibited.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2014
    Publication date: July 14, 2016
    Inventors: Tabb FIRCHAU, David BLOOMFIELD, Shane COLTON, Ian ROPER
  • Publication number: 20160028956
    Abstract: A method for adjusting a pointing angle of an actively stabilized camera is provided. The camera is housed by an active stabilization system configured to stabilize the camera in accordance with a commanded pointing angle. The active stabilization system comprises a steering member rotatable around one or more of a pan axis, tilt axis, and roll axis of the system. The method comprises: deriving a joint angle measurement of the steering member associated with a rotational movement of the steering member and adjusting the pointing angle of the camera, based on the derived joint angle measurement, in a direction of the rotational movement of the steering member, if the joint angle measurement exceeds the threshold window. If the joint angle measurement is within the threshold window, the pointing angle of the camera is actively stabilized in accordance with the commanded pointing angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: January 28, 2016
    Inventors: Steve WEBB, John ELLISON, Tabb FIRCHAU, David BLOOMFIELD
  • Patent number: 8938161
    Abstract: A method for adjusting a pointing angle of an actively stabilized camera is provided. The camera is housed by an active stabilization system configured to stabilize the camera in accordance with a commanded pointing angle. The active stabilization system comprises a steering member rotatable around one or more of a pan axis, tilt axis, and roll axis of the system. The method comprises: deriving a joint angle measurement of the steering member associated with a rotational movement of the steering member and adjusting the pointing angle of the camera, based on the derived joint angle measurement, in a direction of the rotational movement of the steering member, if the joint angle measurement exceeds the threshold window. If the joint angle measurement is within the threshold window, the pointing angle of the camera is actively stabilized in accordance with the commanded pointing angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Freefly Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Steve Webb, John Ellison, Tabb Firchau, David Bloomfield
  • Patent number: 8934023
    Abstract: A method for introducing controlled disturbance into a video being captured by a camera housed by an active stabilization system executing a stabilization process to stabilize a pointing angle of a camera housed by the active stabilization system in accordance with a commanded angle is provided. The method comprises acquiring a measurement associated with a movement of the active stabilization system, determining a noise value based on the acquired measurement, and injecting the noise value into the stabilization process causing the process to adjusting adjust the pointing angle of the camera in a direction away from the a commanded pointing angle of the camera using the noise value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Freefly Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Steve Webb, John Ellison, Tabb Firchau
  • Patent number: 8861947
    Abstract: A active stabilization system and a method for correcting a pointing direction of a camera to compensate for translational movements of the camera are described. The system actively stabilizes a pointing direction of the camera in accordance with a commanded pointing angle. A distance from the camera to a filming target is determined and one or more translational measurements associated with a translational movement of the camera are derived. A correction update is calculated as a function of at least the distance and the one or more translational measurements. The commanded pointing angle of the camera is adjusted based on the correction update to retain the filming target within a field of view of the camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Freefly Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Steve Webb, John Ellison, Tabb Firchau
  • Publication number: 20140270744
    Abstract: A active stabilization system and a method for correcting a pointing direction of a camera to compensate for translational movements of the camera are described. The system actively stabilizes a pointing direction of the camera in accordance with a commanded pointing angle. A distance from the camera to a filming target is determined and one or more translational measurements associated with a translational movement of the camera are derived. A correction update is calculated as a function of at least the distance and the one or more translational measurements. The commanded pointing angle of the camera is adjusted based on the correction update to retain the filming target within a field of view of the camera.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: FREEFLY SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: STEVE WEBB, JOHN ELLISON, TABB FIRCHAU
  • Publication number: 20140270743
    Abstract: A method for adjusting a pointing angle of an actively stabilized camera is provided. The camera is housed by an active stabilization system configured to stabilize the camera in accordance with a commanded pointing angle. The active stabilization system comprises a steering member rotatable around one or more of a pan axis, tilt axis, and roll axis of the system. The method comprises: deriving a joint angle measurement of the steering member associated with a rotational movement of the steering member and adjusting the pointing angle of the camera, based on the derived joint angle measurement, in a direction of the rotational movement of the steering member, if the joint angle measurement exceeds the threshold window. If the joint angle measurement is within the threshold window, the pointing angle of the camera is actively stabilized in accordance with the commanded pointing angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: FREEFLY SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: STEVE WEBB, JOHN ELLISON, TABB FIRCHAU, DAVID BLOOMFIELD
  • Publication number: 20140267810
    Abstract: A method for introducing controlled disturbance into a video being captured by a camera housed by an active stabilization system executing a stabilization process to stabilize a pointing angle of a camera housed by the active stabilization system in accordance with a commanded angle is provided. The method comprises acquiring a measurement associated with a movement of the active stabilization system, determining a noise value based on the acquired measurement, and injecting the noise value into the stabilization process causing the process to adjusting adjust the pointing angle of the camera in a direction away from the a commanded pointing angle of the camera using the noise value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: FREEFLY SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: STEVE WEBB, JOHN ELLISON, TABB FIRCHAU
  • Publication number: 20140267778
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for controlling a gimbal and other displacement systems are disclosed herein. In accordance with one or more embodiments of the invention, a pointing angle of a camera attached to a gimbal may be controlled based, at least in part, on one or more control signals provided by a controller. The control signals may be used to compensate for displacement of the camera, to add perceived displacement of the camera, to selectively align a pointing angle of the camera and/or to allow a pointing angle to be manually determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: FREEFLY SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: STEVE WEBB, JOHN ELLISON, TABB FIRCHAU, DAVID BLOOMFIELD
  • Publication number: 20130026689
    Abstract: An adjustable vibration reduction device is provided to dampen and reduce vibration in order to maintain performance of equipment attached to a system. The vibration reduction device includes at least one resilient vibration dampener coupling an upper assembly to a lower assembly. The upper assembly is attached to an equipment mount frame via a pair of stop members extending through a pair of stop apertures in the lower assembly to control movement of the lower assembly relative to the upper assembly. The lower assembly is attached to a structure frame via a pair of fastening devices. The vibration reduction device may be adjusted by selectively including at least one resilient vibration dampener, such as an o-ring, having predetermined characteristics to maximize vibration reduction or isolation. A plurality of vibration reduction devices are provided in a system that causes or transfers vibration, such as a vehicle, having electronic equipment attached thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: FREEFLY SYSTEMS INC.
    Inventors: David Bloomfield, Tabb Firchau
  • Patent number: D720833
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Freefly Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Phillip Whitton, Tabb Firchau, David Bloomfield, Hugh Bell
  • Patent number: D723090
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Freefly Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Tabb Firchau, David Bloomfield, Shane Colton, Ian Roper
  • Patent number: D732103
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: FREEFLY SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Ian Roper, Tabb Firchau, David Bloomfield, Keith Hoffman
  • Patent number: D744580
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: FREEFLY SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Tabb Firchau, David Bloomfield, Ian Roper