Electric Paper Display for Persistent Camera ID Visibility

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Solution Overview

Problem

In broadcasting and video production environments, cameras often require frequent re-identification with new camera numbers, leading to increased user burden and inefficiency, especially since existing solutions like LED or liquid crystal display units for displaying camera identifiers are not visible when cameras are turned off.

Innovation Solution

A display apparatus and camera system utilizing electric paper display units that can show camera identification information without power, using electrophoretic methods to maintain displayed data even after power is off, and a control unit to manage the display of identification information.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If LED or liquid crystal display units are used to display camera identifiers, then the display can be updated easily, but the display disappears when the camera is turned off

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisplay update capabilityVSAvoiddisplay visibility when camera is off

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces active electronic display systems (LED, liquid crystal) with electrophoretic electric paper that uses electrochemical principles. This substitution allows the display to maintain visibility without continuous power supply, as the electrophoretic particles remain in their last positioned state after power is removed, thus resolving the contradiction between easy updates and persistent visibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If physical plates with camera numbers are attached to cameras, then the display is visible when camera is off, but the process of preparing and attaching plates increases user burden

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisplay visibility when camera is offVSAvoiduser burden for plate preparation and attachment

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The electrophoretic display unit automatically maintains the displayed camera identifier without requiring user intervention for plate attachment or replacement. The system serves itself by retaining the display state without power, eliminating the manual labor of preparing and attaching physical plates while maintaining visibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The electrophoretic display unit combines the functions of both active electronic displays (easy updates) and passive physical plates (visibility without power). This multi-functional device can be updated electronically like LED displays while maintaining the persistent visibility characteristic of physical plates, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If cameras are frequently re-identified with new camera numbers, then the cameras can be adapted to different programs and users, but the process of changing identifiers increases time consumption

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecamera re-identification capabilityVSAvoidtime for changing camera numbers

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The electrophoretic display unit allows camera identifiers to be updated in advance and maintains the display state without power. Users can prepare the next camera number and have it ready to display immediately when needed, eliminating the time-consuming process of physically attaching new plates during camera re-identification operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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 continuous display of camera identifiers even when cameras are turned off, simplifying the identification process and reducing user burden by eliminating the need for physical plates and ensuring easy identification during setup and connection.

Implementation Method 1

utilizing electric paper display units that can show camera identification information without power, using electrophoretic methods to maintain displayed data even after power is off

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrophoresis: Electrophoresis

Data Source

PatentUS11172116B2Display apparatus, camera apparatus, and method

Publication Date: 2021.11.09 SONY GROUP CORP

AI summary

Implemented is a configuration in which camera identification information is displayed on an electric paper display unit such that the identification information can be confirmed during a power-off time. An electric paper display unit on which camera identification information is displayed, and a control unit that executes displaying upon receiving an input of identification information to be displayed or information for designating the identification information, are included. The control unit receives an input of the identification information or information for designating the identification from an external apparatus, an external memory, or an inner memory of the camera, and displays, on the electric paper display unit, the identification information or synthesized information including the identification information and additional information. Further, an electric paper display module includes a secure memory in which an option key for defining a process that is executable in the camera apparatus is stored.