Camera LCD Screen Hood with Magnifying Lens and Light Blocking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Digital camera LCD screens experience significant glare in outdoor settings due to sunlight, making it difficult for photographers to view images effectively, often requiring awkward shielding with one hand, which hinders picture quality and the shooting process.
Innovation Solution
An illuminatable screen hood with a lens arrangement and eye cup that covers the LCD screen, blocking ambient light and allowing for magnified, glare-free viewing with adjustable diopter settings to accommodate different vision needs, made from materials like plastic or metal with glass or plastic lenses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the LCD screen is exposed to ambient light in outdoor settings, then the screen is visible and accessible, but glare from sunlight severely hinders viewing capability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a hood as an intermediary structure between the ambient light and the LCD screen. The hood contains a light-blocking material that mediates the interaction by preventing harmful ambient light from reaching the screen while allowing the user to view the screen through a controlled opening, thus eliminating glare without compromising viewing capability
Solution Approach 2:
The hood provides localized light blocking specifically around the LCD screen area while maintaining transparency or openness in other regions of the camera body. The light-blocking material is selectively positioned only where needed to prevent glare on the screen, without affecting other functional areas of the camera
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a user uses one hand to shield the LCD screen from sunlight, then some glare protection is achieved, but the operation becomes awkward and picture quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The hood is attached to the camera body and automatically provides glare protection when the camera is held in the shooting position. The hood's structure allows it to self-position and maintain optimal light blocking without requiring the user to manually adjust or hold it, thus providing continuous protection while leaving both hands free for stable camera handling and picture taking
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the LCD screen is covered to block ambient light, then glare is eliminated, but the screen becomes inaccessible for viewing
Solution Approach 1:
The hood is segmented into different functional zones: a light-blocking section that prevents ambient light from reaching the LCD screen, and a viewing section with an opening or window that allows the user to access and view the screen. This segmentation enables simultaneous light blocking and screen accessibility
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 screen hood provides improved outdoor viewing capabilities by eliminating glare, allowing photographers to view images clearly and comfortably, with adjustable magnification and diopter settings for optimal image clarity and convenience.
Implementation Method 1
An optical lens is disposed inside of the lens housing. The optical lens magnifies the image on the screen.
Implementation Method 2
The diopter adjustment may be performed by rotating the lens housing relative to the sidewall of the hood.
Data Source
AI summary
In an exemplary embodiment, an LCD screen hood is provided for use with digital cameras. The hood includes a hood tube that defines a light blocking sidewall having an open camera end and an opposite viewing end and enclosing a longitudinally extending viewpath therebetween. An eyepiece mounted on the viewing end includes an eyepiece lens for enlarging an image on an associated LCD screen disposed at the camera end of the hood tube. An eye cup is mounted on the eyepiece for shielding the eyepiece lens from ambient light. An objective tube fixed to the hood tube carries a three piece objective lens mounted between the eyepiece lens and the camera end of the hood tube. Magnification of the eyepiece lens varies as appropriate between 1× and 2.5×. Rotation of the eyepiece tube provides for diopter adjuxtment.