Piezoelectric Camera Support for Compact Direction Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image pickup apparatuses for action cams and drones require complex rotational drive mechanisms that increase size and weight, limiting their mounting flexibility and freedom due to the need for multiple pulleys and timing belts to control lens barrel rotation, which complicates changing the shooting direction without altering the drone or handle orientation.
Innovation Solution
The actuator is integrated into a supporting unit that holds the driven body, reducing the overall space volume and allowing for a downsized image pickup apparatus by eliminating the need for separate pulleys and timing belts, enabling more compact and lightweight designs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a rotational drive mechanism with multiple pulleys and timing belts is used to control lens barrel rotation, then the shooting direction can be changed without altering drone orientation, but the size and weight of the image pickup apparatus increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the actuator and supporting unit into an integrated assembly where the actuator is mounted on the supporting unit that holds the lens barrel. This merging eliminates the need for separate pulleys and timing belts, directly reducing the weight and size of the image pickup apparatus while maintaining the capability to change shooting direction through coordinated actuator movements.
2Ease of operation
If a rotational drive mechanism with multiple pulleys and timing belts is used to control lens barrel rotation, then the shooting direction can be changed without altering drone orientation, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the actuator directly onto the supporting unit, merging two previously separate components. This reduction in component count simplifies the overall drive mechanism structure, reducing device complexity while preserving the functional capability to adjust shooting direction through the coordinated operation of the integrated actuator-supporting unit assembly.
3Volume of moving object
If the actuator and supporting unit are integrated, then the space volume is reduced and the apparatus is downsized, but the actuator must be precisely positioned on the supporting unit
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the actuator and supporting unit into a compact integrated assembly, significantly reducing the overall space volume of the image pickup apparatus. The design accepts the need for precise positioning during assembly as a trade-off for achieving the downsized form factor, with the precision requirement managed through careful manufacturing and assembly processes.
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
An image pickup apparatus capable of decreasing a space capacity occupied by component elements and being downsized compared to a case where an actuator is arranged independently of a supporting unit. The image pickup apparatus has an image pickup unit driven by the actuator, a base unit, and the supporting unit provided in a standing manner from the base unit and rotatably supports the image pickup unit. The actuator has a piezoelectric element and an oscillator including a transmission unit which transmits a driving force caused by vibration excited by the piezoelectric element. The transmission unit is arranged in the supporting unit so as to be brought into pressure contact with the image pickup unit. The image pickup unit has a transmitted plane with which the transmission unit is brought into pressure contact, and the vibration excited by the oscillator causes the transmitted plane to move relatively to the oscillator.