Camera Array Heat Sink Passive Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing camera systems using multiple cameras to record videos often suffer from overheating, leading to poor image quality due to excessive heat generation, and solutions like active cooling systems can cause vibrations, making them unsuitable for continuous recording, especially in environments like live events.
Innovation Solution
A camera array system with a housing divided into quadrants, each containing multiple camera modules with passive heat sinks and a daisy chain communication mechanism, allowing for continuous operation above room temperature and synchronized recording without vibrations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If an active cooling system such as a fan is used to reduce heat, then the heat dissipation is improved, but vibrations are generated that result in poor image quality and poor audio quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the active mechanical cooling system (fan) with a passive thermal management system consisting of heat sinks and thermal conduction structures. The heat sinks are integrated into the camera module housing and utilize natural heat dissipation through thermal conduction and convection, eliminating mechanical moving parts that cause vibrations and thereby maintaining image and audio quality while still achieving effective heat dissipation.
2Temperature
If the camera system is used for a limited amount of time to avoid overheating, then the temperature is controlled, but critical moments of events may be missed during continuous recording
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary thermal management design by integrating heat sinks and thermal conduction structures into the camera module housing before operation begins. This pre-configured passive cooling system enables the camera to sustain continuous operation without temperature-related shutdowns, eliminating the need to interrupt recording to prevent overheating and ensuring no critical moments are missed.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple camera modules are used to capture 360 degree views, then the field of view is improved, but the amount of heat generated increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the camera system into multiple independent camera modules, each with its own integrated heat sink and thermal management structure. This segmentation allows each module to manage its own heat generation independently while collectively providing 360-degree coverage. The distributed thermal management approach prevents heat accumulation that would occur if all cameras were housed in a single compact unit.
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
The camera array system enables high-quality, continuous 360-degree video capture in environments exceeding 25 degrees Celsius, preventing overheating and maintaining image quality by using passive heat sinks and synchronized module operations.
Implementation Method 1
each of the plurality of camera modules further comprises a top heat sink and a bottom heat sink through which air passively moves
Implementation Method 2
air passively moves through the top heat sink and the bottom heat sink
Data Source
AI summary
A camera system is configured to capture video content with 360 degree views of an environment. The camera array comprises a housing including a first quadrant, a second quadrant, a third quadrant, and a fourth quadrant, wherein each of the first quadrant, the second quadrant, the third quadrant, and the fourth quadrant form a plurality of apertures, a chassis bottom that is removably coupled to the housing, and a plurality of camera modules, each camera module comprising a processor, a memory, a sensor, and a lens, wherein each of the camera modules is removably coupled to one of the plurality of apertures in the housing, wherein the first quadrant, the second quadrant, the third quadrant, and the fourth quadrant each include a subset of the plurality of camera modules. Each of the plurality of camera modules includes a heat sink.