Follow focus devices, and remote-control follow focus systems and aerial vehicles with follow focus devices

A follow focus device includes a signal receiver, a controller electrically connected to the signal receiver, and a control interface electrically connected to the controller and configured to be electrically connected to a camera device. The signal receiver is configured to receive a control instruction for controlling a focal length of a lens of the camera device and send the control instruction to the controller. The controller is configured to generate a control signal according to the control instruction and send the control signal to the camera device via the control interface.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to the field of remote-control shooting, and in particular to follow focus devices, and remote-control follow focus systems and aerial vehicles with follow focus devices.

BACKGROUND

Currently, follow focus devices are widely used in the field of imaging systems such as cameras, video cameras and camcorders, for assisting imaging systems in achieving dynamic adjustment and tracking of the focus in the process of shooting or mobile shooting. Generally, when there is a need to operate the focus, zoom and aperture of a lens, a three-channel follow focus device system is usually used. However, since a traditional three-channel follow focus device system cannot directly output electrical signals to control a camera and a controllable module of a camera lens, the three-channel follow focus device system does not apply to most semi-electronic camera systems (e.g. scenarios such as a camera lens having a built-in focusing motor) nowadays. In addition, a traditional three-channel follow focus device system generally involves a relatively large number of cables and the weight thereof is relatively heavy, therefore, it does not apply in conditions such as aerial shooting with unmanned aerial vehicles, which are sensitive to weight.

SUMMARY

In view of the above, it is necessary to provide a follow focus device having a simple structure and being capable of directly outputting a control signal to control an imaging system, and remote-control follow focus systems and aerial vehicles with follow focus devices.

A follow focus device comprises a signal receiver, a controller and a first interface, wherein the signal receiver is electrically connected to the controller, the controller is electrically connected to the first interface, the first interface is used for electrical connection to a camera device, the signal receiver is used for receiving a control instruction to control the focal length of a lens of the camera device to be changed and sending the control instruction to the controller, and the controller is used for generating a corresponding control signal according to the control instruction and sending the control signal to the camera device via the first interface.

Furthermore, the first interface is one of a high definition multimedia interface (HDMI), a standard universal serial bus (USB) interface, a MINI_USB interface, a MICRO_USB interface, a digital visual interface (DVI), a serial digital interface (SDI), a composite video broadcast signal (CVBS) interface, a video graphics array (VGA) interface, and a low-voltage differential signaling (LVDS) interface.

Furthermore, the follow focus device further comprises a second interface, wherein the second interface is electrically used for electrical connection to a first power supply unit, so as to supply power to the follow focus device.

Furthermore, the second interface is one of an HDMI interface, a USB interface, a MINI_USB interface, a MICRO_USB interface, a DVI interface, an SDI interface, a CVBS interface, a VGA interface and an LVDS interface.

Furthermore, the interface type of the second interface is the same as the interface type of the first interface.

Furthermore, the camera device comprises a signal interface, wherein the interface type of the signal interface is the same as the interface type of the first interface, and the first interface is electrically connected to the signal interface via a cable.

Furthermore, the camera device comprises a signal interface, wherein the interface type of the signal interface is different from the interface type of the first interface, and the follow focus device further comprises a signal converter, wherein the signal converter is electrically connected between the first interface and the signal interface and is used for converting a control signal output from the controller via the first interface into a signal adapted to the signal interface.

Furthermore, the follow focus device further comprises a motor and a gear assembly, wherein: the motor is electrically connected to the controller and the gear assembly; the gear assembly is mated with the lens; and the controller sends the control signal to the motor to control the rotation of the motor, and thus drive the rotation of the gear assembly, thereby adjusting a working parameter of the lens.

A follow focus device comprises a signal receiver, a controller and a motor, wherein: the signal receiver is electrically connected to the controller; the signal receiver is used for receiving a control instruction to control a working parameter of a lens of a camera device, and sending the control instruction to the controller; the motor is electrically connected to the controller; and the motor is mated with the lens of the camera device to adjust the working parameters of the lens of the camera device;

Wherein the controller generates a corresponding control signal according to the control instruction, and optionally sends the control signal to the camera device and/or the motor.

Furthermore, the motor comprises at least one of the following: a focus motor for adjusting a focusing parameter of the lens, a zoom motor for adjusting a zooming parameter of the lens, and an aperture motor for adjusting an aperture parameter of the lens.

Furthermore, when the motor is not in operation, the controller directly sends the control signal to the camera device.

Furthermore, the follow focus device further comprises a first interface, wherein the first interface is used for electrical connection to the camera device, and the controller is electrically connected to the first interface and is used for sending the control signal to the camera device via the first interface.

Furthermore, the first interface may be one of a high definition multimedia interface (HDMI), a standard universal serial bus (USB) interface, a MINI_USB interface, a MICRO_USB interface, a digital visual interface (DVI), a serial digital interface (SDI), a composite video broadcast signal (CVBS) interface, a video graphics array (VGA) interface, and a low-voltage differential signaling (LVDS) interface.

Furthermore, the follow focus device further comprises a second interface, wherein the second interface is electrically used for electrical connection to a first power supply unit, so as to supply power to the follow focus device.

Furthermore, the second interface is one of an HDMI interface, a USB interface, a MINI_USB interface, a MICRO_USB interface, a DVI interface, an SDI interface, a CVBS interface, a VGA interface and an LVDS interface.

Furthermore, the interface type of the second interface is the same as the interface type of the first interface.

Furthermore, the camera device comprises a signal interface, wherein the interface type of the signal interface is the same as the interface type of the first interface, and the first interface is electrically connected to the signal interface.

Furthermore, the camera device comprises a signal interface, wherein the interface type of the signal interface is not the same as the interface type of the first interface, and the follow focus device further comprises a signal converter, wherein the signal converter is electrically connected between the first interface and the signal interface and is used for converting a control signal output from the controller via the first interface into a signal adapted to the signal interface.

A remote-control follow focus system comprises a remote controller and the above-mentioned follow focus device, wherein the remote controller communicates with the follow focus device and is used for outputting the control instruction to the follow focus device.

Furthermore, the remote controller comprises a signal sender, wherein the signal sender transmits the control instruction to the signal receiver in a wired and/or wireless manner.

An aerial vehicle comprises a camera device and the above-described remote-control follow focus system, wherein the follow focus device is disposed on the camera device.

Furthermore, the power supply unit is a built-in power supply of the aerial vehicle.

The remote-control follow focus system of the present disclosure can directly connect the first interface to a signal interface of the camera device via a cable, so as to implement functions such as focusing, adjusting a aperture assembly, adjusting shutter speed and turning on/off video recording of the lens of the camera device, thereby enabling the remote-control follow focus system to apply to a camera having an automatic focusing function. In addition, the remote-control follow focus system is further provided with a motor. Therefore, the remote-control follow focus system can directly drive the motor to generate a mechanical motion and then to drive the lens to zoom, so as to be applicable to ordinary cameras, i.e. the remote-control follow focus system can be applied in different types of camera devices. The above-described remote-control follow focus system has a simple structure and the whole weight thereof is relatively light and the cost thereof is relatively low, and therefore, it can widely apply to application scenarios such as aerial shooting, which are sensitive to volume and weight.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE SIGNS FOR MAIN ELEMENTS

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Technical solutions of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. It will be appreciated that embodiments as described in the disclosure are a part rather than all of the embodiments of the present disclosure. Other embodiments, which are conceived by those having ordinary skills in the art on the basis of the disclosed embodiments without inventive efforts, should fall within the scope of the present disclosure.

With reference toFIG. 1, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides an aerial vehicle100, comprising a camera device10and a remote-control follow focus system30. The camera device10is mounted on the aerial vehicle100. The remote-control follow focus system30comprises a remote controller31and a follow focus device33. The follow focus device33is mounted on the camera device10. The remote controller31is used for communicating with the follow focus device33and thus controlling the follow focus device33to assist the camera device10in performing automatic focusing in the process of shooting or mobile shooting.

With reference toFIG. 2, the camera device10comprises a machine body11and a lens13disposed on the machine body11. In the present embodiment, the camera device10is an ordinary camera, i.e. the machine body11and the lens13are not provided with a focus motor therein. Certainly, in other embodiments, the camera device10may also be a camera having the function of automatic focusing, i.e. the machine body11or the lens13may be provided with a focus motor.

One side of the machine body11is provided with a signal interface111. The signal interface111may be one of a high definition multimedia interface (HDMI), a standard universal serial bus (USB) interface, a MINI_USB interface, a MICRO_USB interface, a digital visual interface (DVI), a serial digital interface (SDI), a composite video broadcast signal (CVBS) interface, a video graphics array (VGA) interface, and a low-voltage differential signaling (LVDS) interface. In the present embodiment, the signal interface111is an HDMI interface for being connected to the follow focus device33via cables, data lines, etc. and receives a control instruction from the follow focus device33according to an HDMI protocol. It can be understood that in other embodiments, the signal interface111may also be connected to external devices such as computers, televisions, so that the camera device10can perform exchange and transmission of audio and/or image signals with external devices.

The remote controller31may be a cell phone, a tablet computer, a notebook computer, a desktop computer, etc. The remote controller31comprises a signal sender311. The signal sender311is used for generating a control instruction capable of controlling the focal length of a lens13of the camera device10to be changed, and transmitting the control instruction to the follow focus device33in a wired and/or wireless manner.

With reference toFIG. 3, in the embodiment shown in the figure, the follow focus device33comprises a housing331, a first interface332, a second interface333, a signal receiver334, a controller335, a motor336and a gear assembly337. The housing331is used for accommodating the signal receiver334and the controller335. The first interface332and the second interface333are both arranged at one side of the housing331. The first interface332may be one of an HDMI interface, a USB interface, a MINI_USB interface, a MICRO_USB interface, a DVI interface, an SDI interface, a CVBS interface, a VGA interface and an LVDS interface.

In the present embodiment, the interface type of the first interface332is the same as the interface type of the signal interface111. As such, one end of the first interface332is electrically connected to the controller335, the other end thereof is directly electrically connected to the signal interface111of the camera device10via a signal output line (such as a cable), so that the controller335establishes an electrical connection with the camera device10via the first interface332and the signal interface111.

One end of the second interface333is electrically connected to circuit elements, such as the signal receiver334, the controller335, and the motor336, and the other end thereof may be electrically connected to a power supply unit50via a cable. As such, the power supply unit50may supply power to the circuit elements in the follow focus device33via the second interface333. It can be understood that the power supply unit50may be a built-in power supply of the aerial vehicle100, i.e. the second interface333may be directly connected to the built-in power supply of the aerial vehicle100via a cable. Certainly, in other embodiments, the power supply unit50may also be an additional power supply.

It can be understood that in other embodiments, the interface type of the second interface333is the same as the interface type of the first interface332, such that the second interface333can be exchanged with the first interface332. For example, the first interface332is connected to the power supply unit50via a cable, while the second interface333is connected to the signal interface111via a signal output line.

In the present embodiment, the signal receiver334and the signal sender311communicate with each other in a wireless manner such as via a local area network, wide area network, infrared ray, radio, Wi-Fi, 2G network, 3G network, 4G network, 5G network, point to point (P2P) network, telecommunication network, or cloud network. Alternatively, in wireless communications, a relay station such as a signal tower, a satellite or a mobile base station will be used. Wireless communications may be short-range, or not short-range. Certainly, the signal receiver334and the signal sender311can perform communication with each other in a wired manner such as using cables, or optical fibers. The signal receiver334is also electrically connected to the controller335, for receiving a control instruction sent from a signal sender311in the remote controller31and sending the control instruction to the controller335.

In the present embodiment, the controller335is electrically connected to the motor336, for generating a corresponding control signal according to the received control instruction and thus controlling the rotation of the motor336and to drive the rotation of the gear assembly337. In the present embodiment, the gear assembly337is also connected to a zoom ring on the lens13. As such, when the motor336rotates, the motor336drives the rotation of the gear assembly337and thus controls the lens to change the focal length so as to achieve a self-adaptive zoom effect. That is to say, the follow focus device33can apply to an ordinary camera, i.e. a camera having the machine body11and the lens13that are not provided with a focus motor therein.

It can be understood that in other embodiments, where the camera device10need not adjust zoom or the camera device10is a camera having an automatic focusing function (i.e. the lens13or the machine body11has a built-in motor), the motor336in the follow focus device33is not in operation or can be directly omitted, such that the weight of the follow focus device33can be further reduced. In that case, the follow focus device33can be separately used as a controller. Particularly, after receiving the control instruction from the remote controller31via the signal receiver334, the controller335can generate a corresponding control signal. Furthermore, the controller335transmits the control signal to a signal input end, i.e. the signal interface111, of the camera device10via the first interface332. As such, the control signal can achieve operation control of the camera device10by means of a control circuit inside the camera device10. For example, the controller335transmits the control signal to the built-in focus motor inside the camera device10, and thus performs the automatic focusing function of the lens13.

Certainly, in other embodiments, the control signal input by the controller335to the camera device10or the motor336via the first interface332can be used for adjusting other working parameters of the lens13of the camera device10, for example, a zooming parameter, a aperture parameter, a shutter parameter, a video recording ON/OFF parameter, etc., apart from being used for adjusting a focusing parameter of the lens13of the camera device10.

Accordingly, there may be a plurality of built-in motors inside the camera device10or there may be a plurality of motors336, for example, there may be at least one of the following: a focus motor for adjusting a focusing parameter of the lens13, a zoom motor for adjusting a zooming parameter of the lens13, and a aperture motor for adjusting a aperture parameter of the lens13.

It is important to note that where there are a plurality of motors336, the plurality of motors336are connected in series via a bus, i.e. the controller335controls the plurality of motors336at the same time via a bus.

It can be understood that since the types of signal interfaces111of different types of camera devices10may not be the same. When the interface type of the first interface332does not match the interface type of the signal interface111of the camera device10, for example, the first interface332is a USB interface while the signal interface111is an HDMI interface, the follow focus device33may further comprise a signal converter338. The signal converter338is used for converting the control signal output via the first interface332from the controller335into a signal adapted to the signal interface111of the camera device10.

It is important to note that the signal converter338may also be a standalone module, i.e. the signal converter338can be separately arranged outside the follow focus device33.

Certainly, the above-mentioned remote-control follow focus system30can directly connect the first interface332to a signal interface111of the camera device10via a cable, so as to implement functions such as focusing, adjusting a aperture assembly, adjusting shutter speed and turning on/off video recording of the lens13of the camera device10, thereby enabling the remote-control follow focus system30to apply to a camera having a built-in motor. In addition, the remote-control follow focus system30is further provided with a motor336. Therefore, the remote-control follow focus system30can directly drive the motor336to generate a mechanical motion and then drive the lens13to zoom, so as to be adapted to ordinary cameras, i.e. the remote-control follow focus system30can apply to different types of camera devices10. The above-described remote-control follow focus system30has a simple structure and the whole weight thereof is relatively light and the cost thereof is relatively low, and therefore, it can widely apply in application scenarios such as aerial shooting which are sensitive to volume and weight.

It can be understood that the camera device10can not only be arranged on an aerial vehicle100, but can also be arranged on other static or movable objects. Herein the static objects may be buildings (for example, guideboards, billboards, columns, cross bars, walls, etc.) or natural objects (for example, trees, rocks on hills, etc.). The movable objects may be vehicles, ships, humans or animals, etc.

The foregoing disclosure is merely illustrative of the embodiments of the disclosure but not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure. Any equivalent modifications to a structure or process flow, which are made without departing from the specification and the drawings of the disclosure, and a direct or indirect application in other relevant technical fields, shall also fall into the scope of the disclosure.