Movable Arm Camera with Compressible Segments for Pan Tilt Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Pan-Tilt-Zoom (PTZ) camera designs face issues with expensive and prone-to-failure slip rings and potential image quality degradation from spherical bubbles, while robotic arms with cameras lack efficient control mechanisms for precise pan and tilt movements.
Innovation Solution
An electronic movement-controlled apparatus featuring a camera attached to a movable arm with a bending mechanism, comprising multiple compressible and expandable arm segments, and a controller that maps desired pointing directions to requisite positions, enabling precise pan and tilt movements without the need for slip rings or spherical bubbles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a slip ring is employed to achieve 360 degree pan motion in PTZ camera design, then the camera can rotate continuously, but the system becomes expensive and prone to failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the slip ring component entirely from the PTZ camera system. Instead of using a slip ring to enable 360-degree rotation, the invention employs a robotic arm mechanism with multiple segments that can position the camera in any direction without requiring continuous rotation around a fixed axis, thereby eliminating the reliability issues associated with slip rings
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical slip ring system with a robotic arm mechanism driven by motors and control systems. The robotic arm uses segmented links with joints that can be independently actuated to achieve pan and tilt movements, substituting the simple rotational mechanical system with a more complex but reliable multi-joint robotic system
2Reliability
If a spherical bubble is employed to protect the PTZ camera, then the camera is protected, but image quality may be degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the protective structure into multiple separate arm segments rather than using a single spherical bubble enclosure. Each segment can be independently designed and positioned, allowing the camera to be protected while maintaining clear optical paths and avoiding the image quality degradation that would result from viewing through a spherical interface
3Device complexity
If traditional PTZ camera components are used, then the structure is simple, but the system is expensive and less reliable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a segmented robotic arm structure with multiple links and joints, where each segment serves a specific function. This segmentation allows the system to achieve complex movements and positioning capabilities while maintaining modularity, which can simplify manufacturing and assembly even though the overall structure is more complex than traditional PTZ cameras
Solution Approach 2:
The robotic arm mechanism serves multiple functions: it provides pan movement, tilt movement, and positioning capabilities all through a single integrated structure. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components that would be required in a traditional PTZ camera, potentially simplifying the overall system architecture despite the increased mechanical complexity
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic movement-controlled apparatus that includes a camera and a movable arm is disclosed. The movable arm has both a stationary end and a movable end with the camera being attached to the movable end so as to be movable therewith. The stationary end is configured to be coupled to a rigid support structure. The movable arm includes a plurality of arm segments connected in series to form the movable arm. The arm segments are configured to have cooperating segment regions in terms of each of the arm segments being compressible and expandable in unison to move the movable end and effect a pan and tilt movement of the camera.