360-Degree Camera Housing with Blind Spaces for Invisible Lighting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current 360-degree cameras face challenges in achieving sufficient and even lighting without the lighting apparatus being visible in the spherical image, as there is no 'behind the camera' in panoramic video setups, leading to insufficient lighting and visibility issues with external lighting sources.
Innovation Solution
A single unit 360-degree camera with an integrated lighting array that is fixably or removably attached, featuring a housing with blind spaces to position light sources in areas invisible to the lenses, ensuring the lighting array is substantially hidden during image capture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If external lighting sources are used to illuminate the scene, then lighting intensity is improved, but the lighting apparatus becomes visible in the spherical image
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the lighting array with the camera housing into a single integrated unit. The lighting array is positioned within blind spaces of the housing, combining the functions of illumination and camera support while keeping the lighting apparatus invisible to the lenses. This resolves the contradiction by providing intense lighting without the apparatus appearing in the spherical image.
Solution Approach 2:
The blind spaces of the camera housing serve as an intermediary structure that holds the lighting array. These blind spaces act as a mediator between the lighting sources and the lenses, allowing light to illuminate the scene while preventing the lighting apparatus from being captured by the lenses. This intermediary structure resolves the visibility issue while maintaining lighting intensity.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If lighting array is integrated into the camera housing, then visibility of lighting apparatus is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The camera housing is designed to serve multiple functions: it protects the camera components, provides structural support, and contains blind spaces that hide the lighting array. By making the housing multi-functional, the patent reduces the need for separate structures, thereby managing device complexity while achieving invisibility of the lighting apparatus.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing is segmented into visible surfaces and blind spaces. The blind spaces are strategically positioned areas that are not visible to any of the lenses, creating a segmented structure that accommodates the lighting array. This segmentation allows the lighting apparatus to be hidden without requiring complete redesign of the entire housing, thus managing complexity.
3Area of stationary object
If multiple lenses are used to capture spherical image, then image coverage is improved, but lighting uniformity worsens due to shadowing and hot spots
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting array uses multiple light sources positioned in different blind spaces, each illuminating specific regions of the scene. This local quality approach ensures that different areas receive appropriate illumination, reducing shadowing and hot spots while maintaining comprehensive coverage across the spherical image. Each light source is strategically positioned to address specific lighting needs in different regions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single-point or single-plane lighting approach to a three-dimensional distributed lighting array within the housing. By positioning light sources in multiple blind spaces at different locations and orientations, the system achieves uniform illumination across the entire spherical field of view, resolving the shadowing and hot spot issues while maintaining comprehensive image coverage.
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 solution provides a 360-degree camera with integrated, invisible lighting that enhances image quality by eliminating shadowing and hot spots, achieving uniform illumination and minimizing the visibility of lighting apparatus in spherical images.
Implementation Method 1
positioning a plurality of lenses on the housing to collect a plurality of imaging spaces that are stitched together to form the spherical image
Data Source
AI summary
Methods of creating a 360 degree camera as a single unit with an integrated lighting array are provided. The lighting array is invisible to the camera when acquiring a spherical image. The creating includes selecting a housing for the 360 degree camera, the housing (i) configured to carry the integrated lighting array and (ii) having a plurality of surfaces that includes at least a first outer surface and a second outer surface; and, positioning a plurality of lenses on the housing to collect a plurality of imaging spaces that are stitched together to form the spherical image. In order to keep the lighting array at least substantially invisible to the lenses of the camera, the methods can include defining a plurality of blind spaces, n, each of which includes a blind area on the housing.