Orthogonal Camera Privacy Shutter Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing camera and videoconferencing equipment privacy mechanisms, such as visual indicators and physical barriers, are unreliable and impractical for ensuring privacy, as they may malfunction or distort the field of view, and lack clear affirmative indicators for both recording and non-recording states.
Innovation Solution
A privacy shutter system comprising orthogonally moving shutters positioned horizontally in front of camera lenses, operated by stepper motors, which can be independently controlled to obscure or expose the lenses, and include visual indicators to display the recording status, ensuring clear privacy affirmation to users.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If physical barriers are placed over cameras, then privacy protection is improved, but field of view is distorted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the privacy shutter in a different spatial dimension relative to the camera lens. Instead of placing barriers in front of the lens that could distort the field of view, the shutter is positioned behind the lens within the camera housing, allowing it to block the lens without interfering with the optical path and field of view.
2Loss of information
If visual indicators are used to show recording status, then user awareness is improved, but reliability is reduced due to malfunction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces the privacy shutter itself as an intermediary visual indicator. The shutter's position (open or closed) directly indicates the recording status - when closed, it physically blocks the lens and simultaneously serves as a visible indicator that recording is active. This eliminates the need for separate indicator lights that can malfunction, as the shutter's mechanical position is inherently reliable and directly tied to the recording state.
3Ease of operation
If motors are positioned closer to camera lenses, then shutter control is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves the motor placement issue by positioning the motor in a different dimension - behind the camera lens within the housing, rather than in front of it. This allows the motor to be in close proximity to the shutter mechanism for effective control, while avoiding interference with the camera's optical path and field of view. The motor drives the shutter through a transmission mechanism that bridges the spatial gap.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the present disclosure include an apparatus with a camera. A shutter is positioned horizontally in front of the lens of the camera. The shutter is configured to move in front of a lens of the camera and is further configured to move orthogonally to the horizontal axis so as to at least partially obscure the lens of first camera in a closed shutter position. The apparatus further includes a motor positioned horizontally behind the front of the lens of the camera. The motor is configured to move the shutter orthogonally to the horizontal axis between the closed shutter position and an open shutter position.