Gravity-Driven Conducting Member for Digital Photo Frame Orientation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Digital photo frames lack an efficient mechanism to automatically rotate images based on their orientation, which limits user convenience when the device is placed horizontally or vertically.
Innovation Solution
An image controlling apparatus with a pivot shaft, conducting member, and switching contact points that detect the orientation of the digital photo frame and send signals to the processing unit to control the display orientation, utilizing a conducting member that rotates under gravity to connect specific contact points and send controlling signals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a digital photo frame includes devices such as a display panel and a card reader, then users can display digital pictures by inserting a memory card, but the device lacks an efficient mechanism to automatically rotate images based on orientation, limiting user convenience
Solution Approach 1:
The conducting member rotates automatically under gravity to connect specific contact points based on the device's orientation, enabling the system to self-detect and self-adjust the image rotation without user intervention. The apparatus serves itself by using the physical principle of gravity to trigger the appropriate contact point connection, which then sends signals to the processing unit to rotate the image accordingly.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex electronic orientation detection systems with a simple mechanical-gravitational system. The conducting member's rotation is driven purely by gravity, and the electrical connection is established mechanically through contact points, substituting what could have been a complex electronic sensor system with a straightforward physics-based mechanism.
2Ease of manufacture
If the device structure is simplified by integrating the base and chassis, then manufacturing is easier, but the mechanism for detecting orientation and controlling display orientation must be efficiently integrated
Solution Approach 1:
The base and chassis are integrated into a single unified structure, reducing the number of separate components and simplifying manufacturing. The conducting member and contact points are integrated within this combined structure, with the contact points distributed on a circle that is part of the integrated base-chassis assembly, eliminating the need for separate mounting structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated base-chassis structure serves multiple functions: it provides structural support, houses the conducting member and contact points, and enables orientation detection. The conducting member itself serves dual purposes as both a mechanical element that rotates under gravity and an electrical conductor that establishes circuit connections when contacting the switching contact points.
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 automatic image rotation based on the device's orientation, enhancing user convenience by maintaining proper image orientation without manual intervention, while simplifying the device's structure by integrating the base and chassis.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing a conducting member that rotates under gravity to connect specific contact points and send controlling signals
Data Source
AI summary
An image controlling apparatus in a digital photo frame includes a base defining an accommodating space, a pivot shaft, a conducting member on the pivot shaft and switching contact points in a circle with a radius of the conducting member. The pivot shaft and the conducting member are received in the accommodating space, and the conducting member can rotate under gravity, when two of the plurality of switching contact points are connected by the conducting member, the image controlling apparatus sends a predetermined controlling signal to control display orientation of an image. The digital photo frame is further disclosed.