Camera Bayonet Mount Tab Alignment Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing camera systems with bayonet mounts face issues where accessories can become cross-threaded or engaged at an angle due to improper alignment, leading to mechanical and electrical connection problems.
Innovation Solution
A camera accessory and body mount system with a bayonet structure featuring three tabs and elastic members that ensure correct interlock phase alignment, preventing accessory rotation and ensuring symmetrical force application for secure engagement, using specific angular ranges and positions for tabs and gaps to prevent incorrect insertion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If only one tab contacts at a single point in the mount system, then the structure is simple, but the accessory can rotate relative to the body causing cross-threading and angle engagement
Solution Approach 1:
The single contact point between tabs is segmented into multiple contact points. The patent configures three tabs on the accessory mount and three corresponding tabs on the body mount, creating multiple simultaneous contact points that prevent rotation and ensure accurate alignment during engagement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs asymmetric tab configurations where tabs are positioned at specific angular intervals (e.g., 0°, 120°, 240°) with different orientations between body-side and accessory-side tabs. This asymmetric arrangement ensures that only at the correct interlock phase do all tabs align properly, preventing engagement at incorrect angles.
2Reliability
If multiple tabs are used to prevent rotation, then engagement accuracy improves, but the mount structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The tabs serve multiple functions simultaneously: they provide mechanical interlocking to prevent rotation, guide alignment during insertion, and engage at specific angular positions to ensure correct orientation. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate alignment mechanisms, keeping the overall structure relatively simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The tab configuration is designed so that during the insertion process, the tabs naturally guide the accessory into the correct angular position before final engagement. The geometry of the tabs creates preliminary alignment constraints that steer the accessory mount into proper orientation as it approaches the body mount.
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
Ensures reliable and secure attachment of camera accessories by preventing cross-threading and angle engagement, maintaining mechanical and electrical stability, and simplifying the mounting process while enhancing durability.
Implementation Method 1
the first through third tabs each come into contact with an elastic member disposed at the camera body so that a force imparted from the elastic member is applied to the first through third tabs toward a rear side of the camera body
Data Source
AI summary
A camera accessory is detachably engaged with a camera body including a camera body mount and body-side electric contact points. The camera accessory includes a camera accessory mount assuming a bayonet structure with a first tab, a second tab and a third tab. The camera accessory mount is configured to be inserted through the camera body mount without any of the first through third tabs hindered by three camera body-side tabs disposed at the camera body mount as long as the camera accessory mount is inserted at the camera body mount at a correct interlock phase. The camera accessory mount is configured such that insertion of the camera accessory mount through the camera body mount is disallowed at any phase other than the correct interlock phase with at least two tabs among the first through third tabs coming into contact with at least two of the camera body-side tabs.