Rearward Navigation Camera for Mobile Workstation Visibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Point-of-application workstations, such as those used in healthcare settings, face challenges in maneuverability due to the obstruction of the display, which limits the user's field of vision when navigating the workstation from one location to another, often requiring users to adjust the workstation's orientation or reposition the monitor, which is not preferred.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a rearward-facing navigation camera that provides a view of what is behind the workstation, allowing the user to see through the monitor and navigate more confidently without having to reorient the workstation or adjust the monitor's position, by displaying the camera's image on the monitor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If the workstation is equipped with a display monitor, then information display capability is improved, but the user's field of vision is obstructed when navigating the workstation
Solution Approach 1:
A camera is introduced as an intermediary device to capture the view behind the workstation and transmit it to the display monitor. This allows the user to see behind the workstation through the monitor, effectively using the monitor as a mediator to provide visual information that would otherwise be blocked by the workstation's physical structure.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of trying to see behind the workstation directly (which is blocked), the solution inverts the approach by placing a camera behind the workstation and displaying its feed on the monitor. This allows the user to view the obscured area through the electronic display rather than direct line of sight.
2Speed
If the workstation is made mobile with wheels, then mobility and repositioning capability is improved, but maneuverability and navigation control deteriorates due to visibility obstruction
Solution Approach 1:
The camera acts as an intermediary that bridges the gap between the user's limited field of vision and the need to navigate the mobile workstation safely. By providing real-time visual feedback of the area behind the workstation, the camera enables better navigation control while maintaining mobile repositioning capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The camera provides continuous visual feedback to the user about the environment behind the workstation during movement. This feedback loop allows the user to make informed decisions about navigation and maneuvering, improving control over the mobile workstation's movement while maintaining its repositioning speed.
3Ease of operation
If the user adjusts the workstation orientation or monitor position to navigate, then field of vision is improved, but operational efficiency and time consumption deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The camera is pre-positioned to capture the view behind the workstation, and the camera feed is continuously displayed on the monitor. This preliminary setup eliminates the need for users to perform time-consuming adjustments of the workstation orientation or monitor position during navigation, as the visual information is already available in real-time.
Solution Approach 2:
The camera provides continuous visual feedback during the entire navigation process, allowing the user to maintain a consistent working position and orientation. This eliminates the need to repeatedly stop and adjust the workstation or monitor position, maintaining continuous and efficient operation throughout the movement from one location to another.
Data Source
AI summary
A mobile computer workstation includes a base assembly including a plurality of wheels, an adjustable column assembly mounted to the base assembly and adapted to support a computer monitor, and a camera configured to communicate a video signal, the camera being mounted on the workstation such that a line of sight of the camera is directed rearward from the computer monitor. The workstation further includes a computing device stored within the workstation operatively coupled to the camera and the computer monitor. The computing device is configured to determine whether the workstation is moving based on a comparison of a sensed motion of the workstation and a predetermined motion threshold and, in response to the comparison, initiate the camera, receive the video signal from the camera, and display the video signal on the computer monitor.