Magnetic Display-Mounted Camera for Natural Eye Contact
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing information handling system cameras, especially peripheral cameras, are difficult to position correctly with larger peripheral displays, leading to unnatural images due to misalignment between the user's gaze and the camera's field of view, and often obstruct the display or interfere with desktop usage.
Innovation Solution
A camera with a magnetically attached cylindrical housing that couples to a display panel using a ferromagnetic backplate, ensuring the camera lens is aligned with the user's gaze, and includes features like touch controls and light guides to minimize disruption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a peripheral camera is used with a larger peripheral display, then the viewing area is improved, but the alignment between user gaze and camera field of view deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The camera is nested within a magnetic mounting structure that attaches to the display bezel. The camera housing contains the lens, magnet, and control elements in a compact nested arrangement, allowing precise positioning relative to the display surface while maintaining accurate alignment with user gaze.
Solution Approach 2:
A magnetic mounting mechanism serves as an intermediary between the camera and display. This intermediary provides automated alignment through magnetic attraction to ferromagnetic material in the display backplate, ensuring the camera lens is positioned at the correct location and orientation without manual adjustment.
2Measurement precision
If a peripheral camera is placed on a bracket or stand, then the camera position is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical bracket or stand mounting system is replaced with a magnetic mounting system. The magnet in the camera housing attracts to ferromagnetic material in the display backplate, providing secure attachment and automated alignment without complex mechanical structures, adjustment mechanisms, or external supports.
Solution Approach 2:
The magnetic mounting system provides self-alignment and self-positioning. When the camera is brought near the display, magnetic attraction automatically draws it to the correct position on the display bezel, eliminating the need for manual positioning or complex adjustment mechanisms.
3Ease of operation
If a camera is integrated in the display bezel, then the ease of operation is improved, but the camera lens size is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The camera mounting transitions from a fixed integrated position to a dynamic magnetic attachment system. The camera can be easily attached and detached from the display bezel through magnetic attraction, providing integration convenience while allowing the use of larger lens elements than would fit in a permanently integrated configuration.
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 allows users to maintain eye contact with the camera while viewing the display, reduces visual and audio disruptions during movement, and integrates seamlessly with the display, enhancing videoconference interactions.
Implementation Method 1
a magnet disposed at an opposing end, the magnet providing magnetic attraction to hold the camera against a display panel surface
Implementation Method 2
couples to a display panel using a ferromagnetic backplate
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. The camera has a housing of a light guide material, such as an extruded acrylic, that guides light from the display panel to the front of the camera. A camera dock having a charging light indicator illuminates from the rear of the camera through the light guide material to the front of the camera to present a charging state of the camera in the dock.