Optical Assembly for Eye-Level Camera Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional computing devices with integrated cameras often struggle to provide a natural face-to-face experience during videoconferencing, as the camera's field of view is typically suboptimal, leading to a lack of direct eye contact and impaired communication due to the camera's fixed position and angle, which does not align with the user's eye level.
Innovation Solution
An optical assembly is positioned over the display area, allowing the camera's angle of view to be adjusted so that the origin of the camera's view is lowered to align with the user's eye level, providing a more natural image capture that simulates direct eye contact and enhancing the sense of gaze between participants.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the camera is positioned at the top of the display housing, then the device structure is simple and compact, but the camera's field of view does not align with the user's eye level, resulting in poor videoconferencing experience
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a new spatial dimension by positioning the optical assembly in front of the display area rather than at the top of the housing. This dimensional change allows the camera to achieve eye-level alignment while keeping the device structure relatively simple, resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and functional effectiveness.
2Reliability
If the camera origin is positioned above the display area, then the camera can capture the user's face, but the user appears to be looking down at the screen, breaking the illusion of direct eye contact
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by specifically addressing the camera's vertical positioning relative to the display area. By lowering the camera origin to align with the display area's vertical position, the solution locally modifies the camera's spatial characteristics to achieve eye-level capture, maintaining both reliable image capture and natural eye contact perception.
3Ease of operation
If an optical assembly is added in front of the display area, then the camera can capture images at eye level, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The optical assembly serves multiple functions: it positions the camera at eye level, provides structural support, and integrates with the display housing. By combining these functions into a single multi-functional component, the patent reduces the overall device complexity despite adding the optical assembly.
4Device complexity
If the camera is integrated into the display housing, then the device is compact, but the camera's fixed position prevents adjustment to achieve optimal eye contact alignment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamics by making the optical assembly adjustable rather than fixed. The optical assembly can be positioned at different locations in front of the display area, allowing the camera to achieve optimal eye contact alignment while maintaining device compactness. This dynamic positioning capability resolves the contradiction between compactness and adaptability.
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
This configuration improves the perception of eye contact during videoconferencing, allowing users to view each other at eye level while being captured at or near eye level, thereby enhancing the naturalness and effectiveness of communication.
Implementation Method 1
an optical assembly that includes an optical element that defines an origin of a view of a camera
Data Source
AI summary
A device can include a display that includes a display area; and an optical assembly that includes an optical element that defines an origin of a view of a camera, where the optical element is positionable directly in front of the display area of the display.