Magnetic Privacy Shutter for Sealed Camera Enclosures
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Solution Overview
Problem
Privacy shutters in devices with cameras mounted behind glass panels face challenges as they require openings in the glass, making them susceptible to dust and water ingress, which is not suitable for sealed enclosures.
Innovation Solution
A magnetic privacy shutter system is implemented within the enclosure defined by the housing and transparent panel, using a shutter magnet that moves between enabled and disabled positions via a magnetic actuator outside the enclosure, allowing obstruction or clearing of the camera's field of view without direct contact and maintaining the enclosure's seal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a privacy shutter is implemented in a device with a camera mounted behind a glass panel, then the camera's field of view can be obscured to prevent image capture, but openings in the glass panel are required which allow dust and water to enter the enclosure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical shutter system (which requires physical openings in the glass panel) with a magnetic field-based actuation system. The magnetic actuator generates a magnetic field that interacts with a magnetic element on the shutter, enabling remote actuation without mechanical connections through the glass panel, thus maintaining the panel's integrity and preventing dust and water ingress.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a magnetic field as an intermediary between the actuator and the shutter. The magnetic field can penetrate the glass panel without requiring physical openings, allowing the actuator to control the shutter position while maintaining the seal of the enclosure. This intermediary enables communication and force transmission through the glass panel without compromising its protective function.
2Reliability
If a privacy shutter is implemented in a device with a camera mounted behind a glass panel, then the camera's field of view can be obscured, but the enclosure's seal is compromised requiring openings in the glass panel
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical shutter system (which requires physical openings in the glass panel) with a magnetic field-based actuation system. The magnetic actuator generates a magnetic field that interacts with a magnetic element on the shutter, enabling remote actuation without mechanical connections through the glass panel, thus maintaining the panel's integrity and preventing dust and water ingress.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a magnetic field as an intermediary between the actuator and the shutter. The magnetic field can penetrate the glass panel without requiring physical openings, allowing the actuator to control the shutter position while maintaining the seal of the enclosure. This intermediary enables communication and force transmission through the glass panel without compromising its protective function.
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 magnetic privacy shutter system effectively obstructs or clears the camera's field of view while maintaining the enclosure's integrity, preventing dust and water ingress, thus ensuring the device remains sealed and functional.
Implementation Method 1
the shutter magnet and being movable via magnetic activation between (i) an enabled position obstructing the field of view, and (ii) a disabled position clearing the field of view
Data Source
AI summary
A computing device includes: a housing supporting a transparent panel to define an enclosure; a camera supported within the enclosure, the camera having a field of view extending through the transparent panel; and a privacy shutter supported within the enclosure, between the transparent panel and the camera, the privacy shutter having a shutter magnet, and being movable via magnetic activation between (i) an enabled position obstructing the field of view, and (ii) a disabled position clearing the field of view.