Off-Axis Display Mount Hinge for Stable Camera Framing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing display mount systems for video communication devices lack a seamless transition between portrait and landscape modes without disrupting the user's eye gaze, and they often fail to maintain a consistent camera view during orientation changes.
Innovation Solution
A hinge mechanism with an off-axis pivot point, weighting, and damping components that allows the display to rotate and translate between orientations, maintaining a consistent vertical offset of the display's edge or center from the camera, ensuring the user's gaze remains constant and the camera is exposed in active mode.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the display is rotated between portrait and landscape modes using a conventional hinge mechanism, then the orientation changes, but the user's eye gaze position changes and the camera view is disrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge mechanism incorporates both rotational movement (changing orientation from portrait to landscape) and translational movement (adjusting the vertical position of the display). This two-dimensional movement capability allows the display to rotate between orientations while simultaneously maintaining a constant vertical offset from the camera, thus preserving the user's eye gaze position and camera view stability during orientation transitions.
2Reliability
If a hinge mechanism with off-axis pivot point is used to maintain consistent vertical offset, then the camera view stability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge mechanism employs an off-axis pivot point that is asymmetrically positioned relative to the display and camera arrangement. This asymmetric configuration enables the display to rotate and translate along a specific path that maintains a constant vertical offset from the camera. By carefully positioning the pivot point, the mechanism achieves camera view stability during orientation changes while managing the inherent complexity through geometric design rather than additional components.
3Ease of operation
If weighting and damping mechanisms are added for natural feel, then the ease of operation is improved, but the weight of the device increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge mechanism incorporates a weighting system that acts as a counterbalance to the display's weight. This counterweight mechanism compensates for the gravitational force on the display, enabling smooth and controlled rotation between portrait and landscape modes. The counterbalance reduces the effort required by the user to move the display, providing a natural feel while managing the overall weight increase through efficient mechanical design.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge mechanism includes damping elements that are pre-positioned to provide frictional resistance during the display's rotation. This damping mechanism controls the speed and smoothness of the rotation, preventing sudden movements and providing a natural, controlled operation. The damping is built into the hinge structure, cushioning the motion beforehand and ensuring smooth transitions without requiring additional external components.
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
Enables smooth and natural transitions between portrait and landscape modes without affecting the user's eye gaze, ensuring uninterrupted video calls and maintaining camera exposure for image and video capture.
Implementation Method 1
damping mechanisms for a natural feel
Implementation Method 2
weighting and damping mechanisms for a natural feel
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2A
AI summary
A device mount comprises a camera positioned a top edge of a device coupled to the device mount and a hinge configured to rotate the coupled device. The hinge has a mounting plate configured to couple the hinge to the device mount and a shuttle configured to couple the device to the hinge. The shuttle rotates relative to the mounting plate between a landscape mode and a portrait mode such that a distance between a top surface of the coupled device and the camera remains fixed between the landscape mode and the portrait mode.