Imaging system

Abstract

An optical zooming system with a stationary center of gravity includes a lens element configured to move along an optical axis, a counterweight operably coupled to the lens element and configured to maintain a center of gravity of the optical zooming system during movement of the lens element, and a threaded rod extending along a direction parallel to the optical axis and coupled to the lens element and the counterweight. The threaded rod includes a first threaded portion and a second thread portion. Threads in the first threaded portion are different from threads in the second threaded portion. The lens element is arranged in the first threaded portion, and the counterweight is arranged in the second threaded portion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An optical zooming system with a stationary center of gravity, comprising:
 a lens element configured to move along an optical axis;   a counterweight operably coupled to the lens element and configured to maintain a center of gravity of the optical zooming system during movement of the lens element; and   a threaded rod extending along a direction parallel to the optical axis and being coupled to the lens element and the counterweight, the threaded rod including a first threaded portion and a second thread portion, threads in the first threaded portion being different from threads in the second threaded portion, the lens element being arranged in the first threaded portion, and the counterweight being arranged in the second threaded portion.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a rotation of the threaded rod causes the lens element and the counterweight to move towards opposite directions along the optical axis. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a motor coupled to one end of the threaded rod and configured to drive the threaded rod to rotate.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a movement of the counterweight is equidistant to the movement of the lens element. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a direction of the threads in the first threaded portion is opposite to a direction of the threads in the second threaded portion. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a direction of the threads in the first threaded portion is perpendicular to a direction of the threads in the second threaded portion. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein both the threads in the first threaded portion and the threads in the second threaded portion are arranged tilted with respect to the optical axis and a direction perpendicular to the optical axis. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a guiding structure configured to guide the lens element and the counterweight to move translationally along the threaded rod without moving rotationally.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the guiding structure includes a guiding rod penetrating at least one of the lens element or the counterweight. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the guiding structure includes a groove configured to guide the lens element and the counterweight to move along the groove. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the optical zooming system is on-board an imaging device. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the optical zooming system is fully contained within a housing of the imaging device. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the counterweight is located outside a housing of the imaging device. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the imaging device is coupled to a movable object. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the movable object is an unmanned aerial vehicle. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the imaging device is coupled to the movable object via a gimbal. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the counterweight is disposed at the gimbal. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 ,
 wherein the counterweight is a first counterweight,   the system further comprising at least one of:
 a second counterweight disposed at the housing of the imaging device; or 
 a third counterweight disposed at the movable object. 
   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the counterweight includes a hollow structure. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the hollow structure of the counterweight is filled with a deformable material.