Electronically Controlled Camera Cover for Telemedicine Privacy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing telemedicine systems lack effective mechanisms for ensuring local user privacy, particularly in managing camera visibility, which can be intrusive and require manual intervention, and motorized cameras may not adequately address expansive field of view demands.
Innovation Solution
Implementing an electronically controlled physical or smart glass cover over the camera lens that can be configured to block the field of view upon detecting specific conditions, such as authorization codes or session initiation/conclusion, ensuring privacy through automated control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a manual camera cover is used to protect privacy, then user privacy is improved, but user convenience deteriorates due to manual intervention requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The camera cover system automatically protects privacy by detecting conditions (such as unauthorized presence or session state) and actuating the cover without requiring manual user intervention. The system serves itself by autonomously making privacy decisions based on detected conditions, eliminating the need for users to manually cover or uncover the camera.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors conditions (such as motion detection, time of day, or telemedicine session state) and uses this feedback to automatically control the camera cover. When unauthorized conditions are detected, the cover actuates to block the view, and when authorized conditions prevail, the cover retracts, creating a closed-loop privacy protection system.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a motorized camera system is used to expand field of view, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the camera functionality from the privacy protection functionality by using a fixed camera with a movable cover rather than a motorized camera system. This segmentation allows the camera to remain simple and fixed while the cover provides the necessary adaptability through its own motorized mechanism, reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The camera cover acts as an intermediary element between the fixed camera and the user/environment. Instead of making the camera itself motorized and complex, the cover serves as a mediator that provides the necessary field of view control and privacy protection through its own actuation mechanism, keeping the camera simple while achieving adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
A system of camera privacy for telemedicine includes a computing device, a camera comprising a lens, and a cover extending over at least the lens. The cover is communicatively connected to the computing device, and the cover is configurable to be in a first state or a second state. The first state configures the cover to block a field of view of the lens to prevent the camera from capturing visual information from a far side of the cover. The computing device is configured to identify a first condition. In response to identifying the first condition, the computing device transmits a signal to the cover that configures the cover to be in the second state.