Flexible Webcam Cable with Counterweight for Eye Contact
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current webcams fail to maintain eye-to-eye contact during video communications, leading to unnatural interactions and a lack of social etiquette, as users tend to look away from the lens due to focusing on the screen rather than the camera, which affects both professional and personal relationships.
Innovation Solution
An image capturing apparatus with a flexible cable and counter-balance weight system that allows the camera to be positioned at a desired angle, ensuring the user appears to maintain eye contact by aligning with the T-zone of the face, and includes features like a high-friction casing and retractable design for stability and usability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the webcam is mounted on the display screen or placed on a platform, then the device structure is simple and easy to set up, but the user cannot maintain eye contact with the recipient as the user must look at the screen instead of the camera lens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible cable with counter-balance weight system that allows the image capture module to be dynamically positioned at different locations (above the display, on the side, or at an angle) rather than being fixed in a single position. This dynamic positioning capability enables the user to look at the lens while capturing the correct image angle, resolving the eye contact problem without requiring a completely rigid complex structure
Solution Approach 2:
The counter-balance weight system provides mechanical equilibrium to support the image capture module at various positions along the flexible cable. This counterweight mechanism enables the module to be positioned above the display screen or at angled positions without requiring complex mounting structures, thus achieving eye contact capability while maintaining relatively simple device structure
2Adaptability or versatility
If the flexible cable is made retractable and extendable, then the device becomes more adaptable to different positions, but the device complexity increases due to additional mechanisms like spindles and biasing mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The retractable cable system incorporates a self-service mechanism where the biasing mechanism automatically extends or retracts the flexible cable based on the positioning needs, and the spindle automatically coils the cable when not in use. This self-service capability provides adaptability to different positions while minimizing the need for additional control mechanisms, thus reducing overall system complexity despite the retractable feature
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 users to appear as if they are directly looking at the recipient during video conferences, enhancing the naturalness of communication and reducing misunderstandings by maintaining eye contact, thus improving the video communication experience.
Implementation Method 1
an external surface of the flexible casing in contact with the stand has a high coefficient of friction to prevent movement of the image capture module when the image capture module is at the desired position
Implementation Method 2
The flexible cable may retractable and extendable using a spindle through use of either a biasing mechanism or manual winding
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided an image capturing apparatus able to be draped onto a stand. The apparatus includes an image capture module for capturing at least one image; and a flexible cable originating from the image capture module for connection of the image capture module to a host. The flexible cable may be for supporting the image capture module at a desired position when the image capturing apparatus is draped onto the stand. Advantageously, locating the image capture module at the desired position enables a user to look at a lens of the image capture module in a manner where a recipient of an image of the user views the user looking directly at the recipient during a video conference session. There are also provided methods for enabling a user to appear to be looking directly at a recipient of an image of the user during a video conferencing session.