Universal Camera Support With Integrated Lighting for Video Ergonomics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users of camera-enabled mobile devices face challenges in maintaining optimal positioning and lighting during video sessions, leading to ergonomic discomfort and poor facial illumination, especially when using laptops, tablets, or cell phones.
Innovation Solution
A portable support apparatus with an upright structure and adjustable device support platform and facial lighting unit, designed to accommodate various mobile devices, ensuring proper viewing angles and lighting conditions, with height adjustments to accommodate different user positions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If users hold or prop mobile devices on available surfaces during video sessions, then the device can be positioned for viewing, but the user ends up in ergonomically poor positions and struggles to maintain proper alignment
Solution Approach 1:
The support apparatus is divided into multiple functional components: a base structure for stability, an adjustable support arm for positioning, and a device holder for securing the mobile device. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, providing ergonomic support while easily accommodating different device types and user positions.
Solution Approach 2:
The support apparatus incorporates adjustable mechanisms that allow dynamic repositioning of the mobile device in multiple dimensions (height, angle, distance from user). This dynamic adjustability enables users to achieve and maintain ergonomic positions while keeping the device within camera coverage area throughout the video session.
2Ease of operation
If mobile devices are moved about during video sessions, then users can adjust positioning, but facial lighting suddenly and unpredictably changes from decent to poor
Solution Approach 1:
The support apparatus integrates a lighting unit with the device holder, combining the functions of device positioning and facial illumination in a single integrated structure. This ensures that as the device is repositioned, the lighting unit moves correspondingly to maintain consistent facial lighting quality throughout the video session.
Solution Approach 2:
The support apparatus acts as an intermediary between the mobile device and the user, providing a stable platform that couples device positioning with coordinated lighting adjustment. This intermediary structure ensures that device movement and lighting changes are linked, preventing sudden lighting transitions when the device is repositioned.
3Reliability
If users position themselves to be within camera coverage area, then their face can be seen by remote participants, but they compromise ergonomic positioning
Solution Approach 1:
The support apparatus extends the positioning capability into multiple spatial dimensions (vertical height, horizontal distance, angular orientation), allowing the mobile device to be positioned in three-dimensional space to simultaneously achieve camera coverage alignment and ergonomic user posture. Users can adjust the device along these dimensions to find positions that satisfy both requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
A universal support apparatus for supporting different camera enabled mobile computer devices, such as laptop computers, tablets and cell phones, that have a display screen and camera coverage areas in front of the display screen and that are used for creating video sessions such as for on-line meetings, webinars and podcasts. The support apparatus includes mobile device support platform configured to support a laptop computer such that it's folded out display screen and camera can be positioned to face the user and an adaptor for the mobile device support platform for holding planar tablets, cell phones and the like in the same or similar user facing orientation.