Camera Gaze Attractant Device for Pet Photography
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Solution Overview
Problem
Photographers face challenges in capturing the gaze of pets, particularly dogs, towards the camera lens due to their inattention and tendency to look at their owners instead, exacerbated by the small size and placement of camera lenses in devices like smartphones and pads.
Innovation Solution
A device that resembles an animal, with facial features and a compressive mouth area to hold food, is designed for removable engagement with cameras, positioning a gaze attractant inline with the lens to capture and maintain the pet's attention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a photographer waves food or a toy to attract the pet's attention, then the pet's gaze may be attracted, but the photo is ruined by the movement of the photographer's hand and the inability to position the object inline with the lens
Solution Approach 1:
The device merges the camera and the gaze attractant (food/toy holder) into a single integrated unit. The attractant holder is positioned at the front of the camera device, allowing the pet to focus on the attractant while the camera captures the image through the lens behind the attractant holder. This eliminates the need for the photographer to manually position separate objects while holding the camera.
Solution Approach 2:
The attractant holder serves as an intermediary element between the photographer and the pet. Instead of the photographer directly manipulating food or toys, the device provides a dedicated structure that holds the attractant in the correct position relative to the lens, mediating the interaction and ensuring proper alignment.
2Manufacturing precision
If the photographer positions the attractant behind the camera, then the lens alignment is maintained, but the user cannot look through the viewfinder or at the video display
Solution Approach 1:
The attractant holder is positioned in front of the lens along the optical axis, creating a three-dimensional arrangement where the attractant, lens, and subject are aligned. This spatial arrangement allows the attractant to be visible to the pet while the camera operator maintains access to the viewfinder and display from the rear of the device.
3Volume of moving object
If the camera lens is made smaller to reduce device size, then the device becomes more compact, but the placement becomes odd and gaze attraction becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The device is segmented into distinct functional components: the camera body, the attractant holder, and the lens assembly. This segmentation allows the attractant holder to be positioned optimally for gaze attraction while the lens maintains its required size and placement for proper imaging, with each component serving its specific function independently.
Data Source
AI summary
A gaze-attracting device is provided having a body which is removably engageable to a camera or smartphone. The body of the device is configured with a recess which will hold food or a toy therein, to attract the gaze of an animal being photograhed such as a dog or cat. Additional gaze attracting for longer gaze time periods is provided by the inclusion of facial indicia of a small animal, such as eyes, ears and a nose, on a front facing surface of the body.