Infrared-Transparent Baffle for Night Vision Camera Privacy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing camera designs for privacy protection compromise aesthetic appeal and reduce the lifespan of infrared LEDs due to unnecessary light emission, while also failing to thoroughly protect privacy, especially in night vision mode.
Innovation Solution
An imaging device with a control circuit that allows the lens to image and infrared LEDs to emit light only when necessary, featuring a baffle that moves between positions to trigger the control circuit on or off, ensuring privacy protection and preventing unnecessary infrared light emission, while maintaining aesthetic integrity by using an infrared-transmitting baffle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If an opaque baffle is used to block the lens for privacy protection, then privacy is protected, but the infrared LED light is completely wasted and the lifespan of the infrared LED is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The baffle material is changed from opaque to infrared-transparent, allowing infrared light to pass through while still blocking visible light for privacy protection. This parameter change in material properties resolves the contradiction by enabling the baffle to fulfill both privacy protection and infrared light transmission functions simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a composite material structure where the baffle is made of infrared-transparent material that selectively transmits infrared light while blocking visible light. This composite optical property allows the system to achieve both privacy protection and efficient infrared LED utilization.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a small baffle is moved upward to block the lens for privacy protection, then privacy is protected to a certain extent, but the number of components increases and the aesthetic appearance is destroyed
Solution Approach 1:
The baffle is merged with the lens assembly structure, integrating the privacy protection function into the existing optical structure. This merging reduces the number of separate components and maintains aesthetic appearance while still providing effective privacy protection through the infrared-transparent baffle material.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the lens is blocked by an opaque baffle for privacy protection, then privacy is protected, but the camera cannot receive infrared light reflected by objects and night vision function is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The baffle material parameter is changed from opaque to infrared-transparent, enabling the baffle to transmit infrared light while blocking visible light. This allows the camera to maintain night vision function with the lens blocked for privacy protection, resolving the contradiction between privacy protection and night vision capability.
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
The solution effectively enters a privacy protection mode without reducing the lifespan of infrared LEDs and enhances the camera's aesthetic appearance by allowing the baffle to transmit infrared light, ensuring thorough privacy protection and efficient operation.
Implementation Method 1
a baffle provided on the main body, the baffle being configured to be capable of transmitting infrared light emitted from the at least one infrared LED
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to an imaging device having a night vision mode. The imaging device has a lens being capable of perform imaging according to received light and an infrared LED being capable of emitting infrared light as a light source for the lens in a night vision mode, both being controlled by a control circuit. The lens is allowed to perform imaging when the control circuit is turned on, and the lens is prohibited from performing imaging when the control circuit is turned off. The imaging device also has a switch and a baffle, the position of which triggers the switch to turn on and off the control circuit. The imaging device provides privacy protection and avoids the reduction of the lifespan of the infrared LED.