Camera Privacy Shutter With Electromagnetic Auto-Closure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing digital cameras, particularly those connected to smart TVs or set-top boxes, lack a secure privacy shutter mechanism that ensures automatic closure after use, leaving users vulnerable to unauthorized access when the camera is hacked.
Innovation Solution
A camera with a privacy shutter mechanism that includes an electromagnet and a magnetic material to hold the shutter open during use and automatically close when the camera is turned off, ensuring physical obstruction of the lens unless manually opened.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a manual privacy shutter is used, then the camera can be covered when not in use, but the shutter may be left open accidentally allowing unauthorized access
Solution Approach 1:
The privacy shutter system performs the closing action automatically without requiring user intervention. The electromagnet de-energizes when the camera session ends, causing the shutter to close automatically, thereby eliminating the risk of human error in manual operation while maintaining ease of use through automatic control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the camera session status as feedback to control the shutter position. When the camera session ends, this status change triggers the electromagnet to de-energize, which automatically closes the shutter. This feedback mechanism ensures the shutter state always corresponds to the actual camera usage state, improving reliability.
2Reliability
If an electromagnet is used to hold the shutter open, then automatic closure is achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces a purely mechanical spring-based holding system with an electromagnet-based system. The electromagnet uses electromagnetic force to hold the shutter open during camera sessions, and automatically releases it when de-energized. This substitution enables automatic control while maintaining a relatively simple mechanical structure with fewer moving parts.
Solution Approach 2:
The electromagnet serves multiple functions: it holds the shutter open during camera operation, releases the shutter automatically when the camera session ends, and can be controlled through software. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate mechanical components for each function, thereby managing complexity while achieving reliable automatic closure.
3Reliability
If the shutter is always closed for security, then privacy is protected, but the camera cannot be used when needed
Solution Approach 1:
The privacy shutter transitions from a static always-closed state to a dynamic state that automatically opens when the camera session starts and closes when it ends. This dynamic behavior is controlled by the electromagnet, which energizes to hold the shutter open during camera operation and de-energizes to close it when not in use. This resolves the contradiction by making the shutter adaptive to actual usage needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The electromagnet is pre-configured to automatically energize when the camera session starts, opening the shutter in advance of any potential unauthorized access. Similarly, it de-energizes automatically when the session ends, ensuring the shutter is closed before the camera stops functioning. This preliminary action ensures privacy protection is always in place when the camera is not actively being used.
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
Provides secure and reliable privacy by ensuring the camera lens is covered automatically when not in use, preventing unauthorized access even if the camera system is compromised.
Implementation Method 1
an electromagnet operable to hold the privacy shutter in the second position by acting on the piece of magnetic material
Implementation Method 2
a spring biasing the privacy shutter towards the first position
Data Source
AI summary
A camera comprises a camera lens, a privacy shutter movable between a first position in which it obstructs the camera lens and a second position in which the camera lens is exposed, and a spring that biases the privacy shutter towards the first position. A piece of magnetic material is coupled to the privacy shutter, and an electromagnet is operable to hold the privacy shutter in the second position by acting on the piece of magnetic material. The camera may further comprise a switch located on the camera to deenergize the electromagnet.