Modular Digital Camera System with Interchangeable Broadcast Module
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional digital cameras have limited configurability and are not upgradeable, forcing users to replace the entire device to access improved components or adapt to different applications, and are often unsuitable for multiple photography types such as still and motion photography.
Innovation Solution
A modular digital camera system that allows users to interchange and upgrade individual components like the sensor module, recording module, power module, and lens mount, enabling various configurations for different applications and resolutions without needing to replace the entire camera.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If digital cameras use permanently integrated components in a main framework, then structural stability is improved, but adaptability and upgradeability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The camera system is divided into separate functional modules (sensor module, recording module, power module, processing module, display module) that can be independently replaced. Each module connects to a common framework through standardized interfaces, allowing structural stability while enabling component-level upgrades and adaptations.
2Reliability
If digital cameras use permanently integrated components, then device reliability is improved, but upgradeability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the camera into reliable core components (processing module, framework) and replaceable functional modules, the system maintains overall reliability while allowing specific components to be upgraded independently as technology advances.
3Device complexity
If digital cameras are designed for limited applications, then device complexity is reduced, but versatility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The camera system achieves multi-functionality through modular design, where the same core framework and processing module can support different applications (still photography, video, broadcasting) by simply changing the sensor module or recording module, avoiding the need for multiple specialized cameras.
4Adaptability or versatility
If users need multiple cameras for different applications, then application coverage is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
A single modular camera system replaces multiple application-specific cameras by allowing users to swap modules (e.g., different sensor modules for stills vs. video, different recording modules for various formats), reducing overall system complexity and cost while maintaining broad application coverage.
5Adaptability or versatility
If broadcast components are connected in conventional cameras, then functionality is achieved, but connection time and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
Broadcast-specific components (SDI output, professional audio interfaces, timecode input) are integrated into dedicated modules that can be pre-configured and then quickly attached to the camera system, reducing setup time compared to connecting individual components separately.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple broadcast-related functions (video output, audio processing, timecode synchronization) are merged into integrated broadcast modules, allowing users to attach a single unit that provides comprehensive broadcast capability rather than connecting multiple separate components.
Data Source
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AI summary
A broadcast module for a modular video camera is disclosed. The broadcast module is configured to generate a plurality of data streams formatted for broadcast purposes. Each data stream can represent a reduced-resolution representation of the video data captured with the video camera or each data stream can represent a fraction of a full- resolution portion of the video data captured with video camera. The broadcast module can apply color processing to a raw digital video stream to enable real-time previews on one or more monitors of captured video data. The broadcast module can also apply color processing to a raw digital video stream to enable storage of processed video data.