Digital Video Camera Orthogonal User Inputs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Digital video cameras designed for action sports often have limited user interface functionality due to a simplified design that prevents advanced camera functions from being controlled, especially when mounted in various orientations, leading to confusion between recording start and stop functions.
Innovation Solution
A digital video camera with user inputs arranged on different orthogonal planes, allowing separate buttons for starting and stopping recording, and additional functions like tagging video segments, ensuring easy operation regardless of camera orientation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a single two-way slider is used for recording control, then the camera is easy to operate and accessible from different mounting positions, but the functionality is limited and accidental operation cannot be prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The recording control function is segmented into two separate user inputs: a first user input for starting recording and a second user input for stopping recording. This segmentation allows each input to be independently positioned on different surfaces of the camera body, enabling advanced functionality while maintaining ease of operation. The separation prevents accidental stop/start operations and allows for additional functions such as tagging video segments.
2Device complexity
If a single two-way slider is used for recording control, then the camera design is simple, but accidental knocks can activate or deactivate recording
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the recording control into two separate user inputs positioned on different surfaces of the camera body, the system reduces the probability of accidental activation. A single knock is unlikely to simultaneously activate both the start and stop inputs, thereby improving reliability while maintaining a simple control mechanism design.
3Device complexity
If user inputs are arranged on the same surface, then the interface is simple, but the user cannot easily locate inputs when camera orientation changes
Solution Approach 1:
The user inputs are arranged on different surfaces of the camera body rather than the same surface, effectively using the three-dimensional space of the camera housing. The first user input is positioned on a first surface and the second user input on a second surface, allowing users to locate inputs by touch regardless of camera orientation, thereby improving ease of operation while maintaining interface simplicity.
Data Source
AI summary
A digital video camera is disclosed comprising a substantially cylindrical camera body defining a longitudinal axis, and first and second user inputs arranged on a wall of the camera body, wherein one of the first and second user inputs is arranged on a side wall of the camera body in a plane that is generally parallel to the longitudinal axis, and the other of the first and second user inputs is arranged on an end wall of the camera body in a plane that is generally orthogonal to the longitudinal axis, one of the first and second user inputs being actuable to start recording and the other of the first and second user inputs being actuable to stop recording.