Dome Camera Lens Optical Axis Alignment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fixed-type dome cameras have a limited acceptable setting range for the tilt direction of their camera lenses, resulting in vignetting and deteriorated image quality when the tilt direction exceeds a certain angle, making it difficult to achieve high-quality images across a broader angular range.
Innovation Solution
A dome camera design with a rotatable camera lens and a semispherical dome cover, where the dome cover is inclined to enlarge the tilt setting range by allowing the optical axis to pass through the spherical center, enabling the tilt direction to be set from the vertical direction to an enlarged inclination limit angle, thus maintaining high image quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the tilt direction of the camera lens is set to exceed the inclination limit angle, then the monitoring coverage is improved, but vignetting occurs and image quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by positioning the optical axis of the camera lens at an angle θ (0° < θ ≤ 45°) relative to the normal direction of the dome cover surface, rather than symmetrically at 0°. This asymmetric positioning allows the optical axis to pass through the spherical center of the dome cover, enabling the camera to capture images in directions exceeding the conventional inclination limit angle while maintaining high image quality and avoiding vignetting.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the optical axis is deviated from the spherical center to achieve broader tilt range, then the angular range is improved, but image quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by introducing asymmetric positioning of the optical axis at angle θ, which allows the optical axis to pass through the spherical center while being offset from the normal direction. This enables broader angular range (exceeding the inclination limit angle) while maintaining image quality, as the optical axis alignment with the spherical center eliminates vignetting effects.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of optical axis orientation from the conventional 0° (normal direction) to an angled position θ (0° < θ ≤ 45°). This parameter change allows the system to achieve both broader angular coverage and maintained image quality by aligning the optical axis with the spherical center at the angled position, thereby eliminating the trade-off between angular range and image quality.
3Manufacturing precision
If the dome cover is positioned with optical axis at 0° (normal direction), then image quality is maintained, but the tilt setting range is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by changing the symmetric 0° positioning to an asymmetric angled position θ (0° < θ ≤ 45°). This asymmetric positioning allows the optical axis to pass through the spherical center while enabling the camera to tilt beyond the conventional inclination limit angle, thereby expanding the tilt setting range while maintaining image quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the orientation parameter of the optical axis from 0° (normal direction) to θ (angled direction). This parameter change enables the system to simultaneously achieve maintained image quality (by aligning with spherical center) and expanded tilt setting range (by exceeding inclination limit angle), resolving the contradiction between these two requirements.
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 the setting of the tilt direction in a broader angular range while ensuring high-quality camera images by maintaining the optical axis through the spherical center of the dome cover, addressing the limitations of conventional designs.
Implementation Method 1
Taking the lens effect of a dome cover into account, a camera image in higher quality can be obtained by bringing an optical axis of the camera lens to pass through the spherical center of the dome cover
Data Source
AI summary
The dome camera is a fixed-type dome camera having a camera lens, a direction of which is manually set. An inner cover is supported to a parallel support portion of a base. A dome cover is supported on an inclined step portion of the inner cover with the dome cover inclined by an inclination angle θ1. A pan direction of the camera lens has a predefined target direction to be set, and the inner cover is rotatable in the pan direction relative to the base, so as to be directed toward the target direction. An optical axis X of the camera lens passes through a spherical center of the dome cover, and an inclination limit angle of the dome cover is θ2.