Lens Unit Rotation Regulation Preventing Wire Kinking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing security cameras with unregulated lens unit rotation in pan directions can cause wire kinking and hinder 360-degree functionality, compromising their crime prevention capabilities.

Innovation Solution

An image capture device with a rotation regulating member that contacts the supporting member to regulate rotation, combined with a move permitting part allowing the regulating member to move, enabling the lens unit to rotate 360 degrees or more while maintaining regulation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a rotation regulating member is provided to regulate the rotation of the supporting member, then the rotation amount of the lens unit can be regulated to prevent wire kinking, but the lens unit cannot rotate 360 degrees in the pan directions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewire kinking preventionVSAvoidrotation range
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The rotation regulating member is designed to dynamically change its regulatory function based on the rotation angle. It regulates rotation in the first direction (preventing wire kinking) while permitting 360-degree rotation in the second direction (enabling full surveillance coverage). This dynamic behavior resolves the contradiction by making the regulation selective rather than absolute.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The rotation regulating member applies different regulatory characteristics to different rotational directions. It provides strong regulation in the first direction to prevent wire kinking, while providing minimal or no regulation in the second direction to enable 360-degree rotation. This local differentiation of regulatory quality allows simultaneous achievement of wire protection and full rotation capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If the rotation regulating member comes into contact with the supporting member to regulate rotation, then the rotation amount can be controlled, but the mechanism increases device complexity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverotation controlVSAvoidmechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The rotation regulating member utilizes the existing supporting member structure itself as part of the regulation mechanism. By having the rotation regulating member contact and interact with the supporting member, the system uses its own components for regulation rather than requiring entirely separate external regulation mechanisms, thereby reducing overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The rotation regulation function is merged with the existing supporting member structure. Rather than adding a completely separate regulation system, the invention integrates the regulation capability into the interaction between the rotation regulating member and the supporting member, combining multiple functions into a unified structure that reduces complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP2894844B1Image pickup apparatus
Publication Date: 2018.03.07 SONY GROUP CORP
  • EP2894844B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2894844B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2894844B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Provided is an image capture device including a lens unit that includes a lens, a supporting member that supports the lens unit and rotates in a predetermined rotating direction with the lens unit, a rotation regulating member that regulates rotation of the supporting member by coming into contact with the supporting member while the supporting member is rotating, and a move permitting part that permits the rotation regulating member being in contact with the supporting member to move a predetermined amount in the rotating direction in a manner that the supporting member is rotatable 360 degrees or more in the rotating direction.