Magnetic Camera for Video Conference Eye Contact
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Solution Overview
Problem
Integrated cameras in portable information handling systems have limited utility due to their small size, which restricts the camera lens and display presentation area, leading to unnatural video conference images as users tend to look away from the camera while interacting with larger peripheral displays.
Innovation Solution
A camera system with a magnetically attached cylindrical housing that couples to a display panel's front face, allowing the camera to capture images with a field of view originating from the display panel's front surface, ensuring the user appears to be looking directly at the camera and the video conference window.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a camera is integrated into a portable information handling system, then the device portability is improved, but the camera lens size and image quality deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The camera system is separated from the portable information handling system. The camera is now a standalone device that can be positioned independently on a display surface, allowing the portable device to maintain its thin profile while the camera can have a larger lens for better image quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The camera is repositioned from being integrated within the portable device's thin form factor to being placed on the display surface in front of the user. This spatial repositioning allows the camera to have adequate space for a larger lens while the portable device maintains its portability.
2Manufacturing precision
If a camera is placed on a peripheral display, then the image quality is improved, but the user appears to look away from the camera creating unnatural video conference images
Solution Approach 1:
The camera is made movable on the display surface, allowing dynamic adjustment of its position and angle. The camera can be repositioned to achieve the optimal angle that captures the user looking naturally at the camera while still providing high-quality images from the peripheral display location.
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 camera system provides improved video conference interactions by ensuring the user is captured looking at the camera while viewing the active speaker, with minimal disruption to the display and desktop usage, and allows for higher quality image capture with enhanced magnetic attachment and orientation features.
Implementation Method 1
a magnet disposed at an opposing end, the magnet providing magnetic attraction to hold the camera against a display panel surface
Data Source
AI summary
A camera integrates a magnet at one end of a housing to magnetically attract and attach the camera to a front side of a peripheral display, such as to support a video conference through an information handling system interfaced with the display. Camera position movement at a display panel front face is detected, such as with a touchscreen of the display panel, and accelerometer or an infrared curtain presented from the camera dock along the display panel front face. Audio and visual information communicated from the camera is altered when movement is detected at the camera, such as muting a microphone of the camera and cutting off capture of visual images by the camera module.