360 Lighting Instrument with Matte Black Disk Shield
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current lighting solutions for 360 video/photo production are inadequate as they are often visible to the camera, causing distractions, lens flare, and blooming issues, as 360-degree cameras capture all angles without blind spots.
Innovation Solution
A 360-degree lighting instrument is mounted on a tripod below the camera, emitting diffused light outward but not upward, making it 'virtually invisible' to the camera, with a matte black disk visible instead, which can be used for branding or editing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If production lights are placed to illuminate the scene, then lighting adequacy is improved, but visibility to camera increases causing lens flare and blooming
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting instrument is positioned in the vertical dimension below the camera, emitting light downward and outward to illuminate the scene. This dimensional placement removes the light source from the camera's horizontal field of view, eliminating lens flare and blooming while maintaining adequate scene illumination.
Solution Approach 2:
The lighting instrument features a directional emission pattern that provides full illumination coverage for the scene while directing light away from the camera sensor. The local quality of light distribution is optimized to illuminate horizontal surfaces without creating upward glare visible to the camera.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If lights are hidden or camouflaged from camera view, then lens flare is reduced, but setup complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of attempting to hide lights within the scene or use complex camouflage techniques, the solution inverts the approach by positioning the light source below the camera where it is naturally excluded from the field of view. This eliminates the need for hiding efforts entirely.
3Ease of operation
If ambient lighting is used, then setup simplicity is maintained, but lighting control and adequacy are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting instrument combines multiple functions: it provides adequate scene illumination, maintains setup simplicity by mounting to the existing tripod, and enables lighting control through adjustable settings. The single instrument delivers both the simplicity of ambient lighting and the control of professional lighting systems.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Provides even, unobtrusive lighting for 360-degree scenes without hiding lights, allowing for quick setup, portability, and scalability, while minimizing lens flare and blooming issues.
Implementation Method 1
The instrument spreads diffused light in all directions outward below where the camera is mounted but not upward into the camera main field of view
Data Source
AI summary
A lighting apparatus designed for the 360 degree videography/photography/virtual reality market, comprising an annular light emitter which distributes even light in a 360 degree pattern supporting all camera viewpoints yet avoids lens flares and is invisible to the camera lenses by way of a disk shielding the camera from the annular light emitter. The slope of the annular light emitter allows light to distribute upwards, downwards and outward while masking light from the camera lenses. The apparatus is capable of supplying continuous light or may be used as a photo flash.