Bird Feeder with Side-Mounted Camera and Adjustable Perch
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bird feeders fail to provide clear visibility of birds while feeding, protect the feed from precipitation, and selectively allow birds of a specific size to perch and feed, while also enabling reliable image capture from a remote location.
Innovation Solution
A bird feeder design featuring an adjustable offset perch and access ports, integrated with a camera system that captures images of birds, and a refillable enclosure with tapered sides to prevent seed spoilage, allowing for selective bird size exclusion and improved viewing and image capture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a traditional bird feeder design is used, then birds can feed, but the visibility of birds is poor and image capture is unreliable
Solution Approach 1:
The camera is positioned on the side of the enclosure rather than above or behind it, utilizing a lateral viewing dimension. This side-mounted position allows the camera to capture birds on the perch without obstruction from the feeder structure, solving the visibility problem while maintaining a relatively simple overall device structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The perch is positioned asymmetrically with an offset from the centerline of the enclosure, and the camera is mounted on the side to exploit this asymmetric arrangement. This asymmetric configuration allows the camera to view birds from the side without being blocked by the symmetric structure of the enclosure, improving image capture reliability.
2Ease of operation
If the perch is positioned directly under the enclosure, then birds can easily access feed, but the camera cannot capture images of birds on the perch
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of positioning the camera directly above the perch (vertical dimension), the camera is mounted on the side of the enclosure, utilizing the lateral horizontal dimension for viewing. This dimensional change allows simultaneous bird access to feed and reliable side-view image capture without mutual obstruction.
Solution Approach 2:
The side-mounted camera acts as an intermediary viewing position, indirectly observing birds on the perch through a lateral angle rather than direct overhead viewing. This intermediary position avoids the obstruction problem while maintaining effective monitoring capability.
3Ease of operation
If feed is exposed without protection, then birds can easily access it, but the feed is vulnerable to precipitation and spoilage
Solution Approach 1:
The enclosure provides a protective shell around the feed reservoir, shielding the feed from precipitation while maintaining structured access points. This protective enclosure prevents water damage to feed while allowing birds to access feed through designated openings, resolving the contradiction between protection and accessibility.
4Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed perch position is used, then the structure is simple, but it cannot selectively attract different bird species by size
Solution Approach 1:
The perch position is made dynamically adjustable rather than fixed, allowing the offset distance to be changed. This dynamic adjustment capability enables selective attraction of different bird species by modifying the perch-to-enclosure distance, while the adjustment mechanism itself remains relatively simple in structure.
Data Source
AI summary
A bird feeder has a perch that is configured to enable a bird of a particular size to perch thereon and feed from the bottom of an enclosure. The offset distance between the perch and the bottom of the feeder enables birds of only a particular size to effectively pull seed from the access ports in the bottom of the enclosure. A camera is located to take images, still or moving, of birds as the feed from the feeder and theses images may be wirelessly transmitted to a remote electronic device, such as a cell phone. A motion detector may detect when a bird lands on the perch and the control system may then initiate the capture of images by the camera. The offset distance between the perch and the bottom of the feeder may be adjusted to enable birds of a desired size to feed from the feeder.