Camera Mount Accessory for Power-Off Light and Dust Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image pickup apparatuses are vulnerable to damage from strong light and dust ingress when in a power-off state, particularly when pointed at the sun or when an interchangeable lens is removed, and existing solutions are inadequate for lenses without aperture stops or those that break down upon power loss.
Innovation Solution
An accessory with a protective member and communication unit that controls aperture units and shields the mount portion, preventing light and dust ingress by driving protective members and aperture units based on power-off signals and lens state changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the aperture stop in the interchangeable lens is closed to protect the image sensor from strong light, then the image sensor is protected, but the aperture stop itself may get damaged
Solution Approach 1:
A protective member (light-shielding member) is introduced as an intermediary component between the strong light and the aperture stop. This protective member absorbs or blocks the harmful light before it reaches the aperture stop, thereby protecting both the image sensor and the aperture stop from damage. The protective member acts as a sacrificial element that takes the place of the aperture stop in bearing the brunt of light exposure.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the aperture stop is closed to prevent dust entry when lens is removed, then dust protection is improved, but the mechanism may break down due to power supply cutoff
Solution Approach 1:
The protective member is positioned and configured to automatically cover the mount portion opening before power supply is cut off. By arranging the protective member such that it naturally blocks the opening in its default position or through spring-loaded mechanisms that engage before power loss occurs, the system prevents dust entry without requiring active control during power cutoff, thereby avoiding mechanical breakdown.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a protective member is added to shield the mount portion, then protection against external elements is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The protective member is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it shields the mount portion opening from dust and other external elements, and also blocks strong light from reaching the aperture stop and image sensor. By consolidating these protection functions into a single component, the design avoids adding separate mechanisms for each function, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while achieving comprehensive protection.
Data Source
AI summary
An accessory attachable and detachable between an interchangeable lens and an image pickup apparatus includes a communication unit communicable with the interchangeable lens and the image pickup apparatus, a protective member configured to suppress an external element entering the image pickup apparatus through a mount portion of the image pickup apparatus, and a processor configured to drive the protective member so as to suppress the external element upon receiving information regarding power off from the image pickup apparatus via the communication unit, control a first aperture unit via the communication unit upon receiving information regarding driving of the first aperture unit in the interchangeable lens from the image pickup apparatus via the communication unit, and control the first aperture unit using different methods before and after the processor receives the information regarding the power off.