Cooking oven with a camera assembly
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Installing a camera in an oven door handle to achieve the correct angular orientation is challenging due to the harsh conditions within the oven cavity and the risk of misalignment or external forces affecting the camera's position.
Innovation Solution
A camera assembly is integrated into the oven door handle, featuring a camera module with orientation means such as slanted abutment surfaces and fixation mechanisms to ensure precise angular alignment, protection from high temperatures and external forces, and a design that conceals the camera for aesthetic purposes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the camera is mounted at the exterior side of the front door to avoid harsh conditions, then the camera is protected from high temperature and humidity, but the viewing angle is compromised and cannot provide the desired perspective into the oven cavity
Solution Approach 1:
The camera module is nested within the door handle structure, which itself is integrated into the oven door. This allows the camera to be positioned at the optimal location for viewing into the oven cavity while being protected by the door handle housing from harsh environmental conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The door handle serves as an intermediary structure that houses the camera module. It provides both the optimal positioning for the camera to achieve the desired viewing angle and the protective enclosure to shield the camera from high temperature and humidity.
2Manufacturing precision
If the camera is mounted at the door handle to achieve optimal viewing angle and design integration, then the camera position is improved, but the camera is exposed to external forces that may cause misorientation
Solution Approach 1:
The door handle housing is designed to enclose and protect the camera module from external forces before any damage can occur. The housing structure absorbs and distributes external impacts, preventing misorientation of the camera module.
Solution Approach 2:
The door handle housing provides localized protection specifically for the camera module region. The housing structure is designed with appropriate rigidity and mounting features to protect the camera from external forces while maintaining the optimal viewing angle position.
3Ease of manufacture
If the camera module is mounted without precise angular alignment features, then the installation is simpler, but the camera cannot achieve the exact angular orientation required for proper viewing
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting plate includes an asymmetrically oriented abutment surface that engages with a corresponding feature on the door handle. This asymmetric geometry provides precise angular alignment of the camera module without requiring complex alignment procedures during installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The precise angular orientation features are pre-formed during the manufacturing of the mounting plate and door handle. This preliminary action ensures that when the camera module is installed, the correct angular orientation is automatically achieved without requiring complex alignment steps.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~6
Figure 7~9
AI summary
A camera assembly (36) configured to be mounted within a door handle (30; 108) of an oven door (106), wherein the camera assembly comprises: a camera module (38) comprising an optical sensor (39) and an interface for outputting sensor data obtained from the optical sensor; and housing means for housing the camera module (38), the housing means comprising a cover (42) with a window (44) for the optical sensor (39), and fixation means (48) for fixedly attaching the housing means at the door handle (30; 108); wherein the housing means comprises orientation means (72, 84) for mounting the camera module (38) in a single pre-determined angular orientation with respect to the housing means.