Reversible Chargeable Camera Dock with Rear-Wall Privacy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Peripheral cameras for videoconferencing with large displays are difficult to position correctly, often resulting in unnatural images due to the camera being off-axis from the user's gaze, and can obstruct the display or interfere with desktop usage.
Innovation Solution
A camera with a magnetically attached cylindrical housing that couples to a display panel using a ferromagnetic backplate, ensuring the camera captures images with the user looking directly at the camera while viewing the display, and includes features like touch controls and wireless charging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a peripheral camera is placed on a bracket coupled to the display perimeter, then the camera can capture the user's image, but the user appears to be looking away from the camera creating an unnatural image
Solution Approach 1:
The patent moves the camera from the peripheral display edge to the front surface of the display panel, changing the spatial dimension of camera placement. This allows the camera to be positioned at the optimal location for capturing natural eye contact while maintaining alignment with the display center, resolving the contradiction between field of view alignment and gaze naturalness
2Measurement precision
If a peripheral camera is placed on a stand in front of the display, then the camera can be positioned for better alignment, but it blocks the user's viewing and interferes with desktop surface usage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the camera mounting location with the display panel itself by attaching the camera to the front surface of the display. This eliminates the need for separate stands or brackets that occupy desktop space, while maintaining optimal camera alignment through magnetic attachment and rotational positioning
3Ease of operation
If a camera is magnetically attached to the display panel, then the camera can be easily positioned and adjusted, but the magnetic attraction force may not be sufficient to hold the camera securely
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the magnetic attachment system into multiple components: a magnet in the camera housing, a ferromagnetic backplate behind the display panel, and additional ferromagnetic pieces on the display front surface. This segmentation allows the magnetic force to be distributed across multiple contact points, increasing total holding force while maintaining positioning flexibility
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite magnetic attachment structures combining ferromagnetic backplate material with ferromagnetic pieces on the display surface. This composite approach creates multiple magnetic interaction zones that collectively provide sufficient holding force while allowing the camera to be easily positioned and repositioned
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
The solution allows the user to maintain eye contact with the camera while viewing the display, minimizes disruption during movement, and integrates seamlessly with the display, enhancing videoconferencing experience.
Implementation Method 1
a magnet disposed at an opposing end, the magnet providing magnetic attraction to hold the camera against a display panel surface
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3
AI summary
A camera integrates a magnet at one end of a housing to magnetically attract and attach the camera to a front side of a peripheral display, such as to support a video conference through an information handling system interfaced with the display. A camera dock couples to a top side of the display and includes a back privacy support having an area that blocks the camera module from accepting external light when the camera is placed in the dock with the camera module aligned towards the back privacy support. An end user places the camera with a field of view directed in front of the display to capture visual images and flips the camera module to face the back privacy support to secure the camera against capture of visual images.