Document Camera Flat Fold Mechanism for Compact Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional document cameras face challenges in reducing thickness and width when folded, and have low usability due to unclear grasping and pivoting directions in the folded state.
Innovation Solution
The document camera design includes a base with a pivotable first arm and a second arm, where the first arm extends parallel to the base, and the second arm is juxtaposed or raised, allowing the camera head to be housed within recesses, enabling a flat fold without overlapping parts and clear operational direction indication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of stationary object
If the first and second arms are housed vertically one upon the other in the arm housing recess, then the structure is compact, but the thickness of the document camera cannot be reduced when folded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the housing arrangement from vertical stacking (one dimension) to horizontal side-by-side placement (another dimension). The first arm housing recess and second arm housing recess are positioned adjacent to each other horizontally, allowing the arms to be housed side-by-side rather than one above the other, thereby reducing the thickness dimension when folded.
2Ease of operation
If the camera head and second arm are laid in the first arm with coplanar upper surfaces, then the document camera is foldable, but it cannot be determined at a glance which ends should be grasped and pivoted, resulting in low usability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses visual differentiation (analogous to color changes) by providing different surface treatments or markings on the arm surfaces. Specifically, the upper surface of the first arm and the upper surfaces of the second arm and camera head are made substantially coplanar, creating a visually distinct flat surface that indicates the correct folded state and pivoting direction to users.
3Area of stationary object
If the arms are extended in parallel positions, then the camera can image documents effectively, but the width of the document camera increases when folded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements nesting by allowing the second arm to be housed within the first arm housing recess and the camera head to be housed within the second arm housing recess when folded. This nested arrangement minimizes the width and thickness of the folded document camera while maintaining the parallel extending configuration for effective document imaging during use.
Data Source
AI summary
A document camera includes a base, a first arm assembled to the base, a second arm assembled to the first arm, and a camera head assembled to the second arm. The first arm is pivotable between a parallel extending position and a raised position. The second arm is pivotable between a juxtaposed position and a raised position and between the raised position and a parallel extending position. The camera head is pivotable between a juxtaposed position and a position where the camera head is raised from the second arm. When the document camera is to be folded, the first arm is set to the parallel extending position, the second arm and the camera head are to the respective juxtaposed positions. When the document camera has been folded, upper surfaces of the first and second arms and the camera head are substantially coplanar.