Rotatable Camera Coupling for Flexible Imaging Angles
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional mobile information terminals with dual cameras have limited imaging directions, restricting user postures during image capture and requiring separate high-performance and low-performance cameras, which is costly and inconvenient for self-photography modes.
Innovation Solution
A mobile information terminal with an image capture unit coupled rotatably to a body unit via multiple rotation axes, allowing the camera to be directed arbitrarily relative to the terminal body, enabling free-position photography while viewing the camera viewpoint image.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single high-performance camera is used with multiple rotation axes, then imaging direction freedom is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the image capture unit rotatable relative to the body unit through multiple rotation axes. The coupling unit enables the camera to change its orientation dynamically in at least two directions (tilt and roll axes), transforming a static camera setup into a dynamic one that can adapt to various imaging directions while maintaining a single camera component.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the terminal into distinct functional modules: a body unit containing the display unit and a separate coupling unit containing the image capture unit. This modular segmentation allows the camera to be independently positioned and rotated without affecting the main body structure, enabling complex imaging directions while keeping each module relatively simple.
2Ease of manufacture
If a single camera is used for both self-photography and other-people photography, then device cost is reduced, but imaging quality may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing a single image capture unit that can serve multiple functions: self-photography mode, other-people photography mode, and various creative photography modes. The rotatable coupling unit allows one camera to replace what would traditionally require separate front and rear cameras, reducing device cost while maintaining imaging quality through proper positioning and orientation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the image capture unit is made rotatable with multiple axes, then photography flexibility is improved, but the terminal size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the nested doll principle by placing the image capture unit within or attached to the body unit through the coupling unit, which acts as an intermediate structure. The rotatable mechanism is integrated into the existing terminal architecture rather than adding a completely separate external structure, thereby minimizing the increase in overall terminal size while still providing multi-axis rotation capability.
Data Source
AI summary
An information processing terminal includes a camera serving as an image capture unit for capturing an image of a subject; a body part having a front surface which is a predetermined surface on which a display unit for displaying a captured image including the subject captured by the image capture unit is disposed; and a coupling part that directly or indirectly couples the image capture unit relatively rotatably to the body part via a plurality of rotation axes including a pivot axis that is a first rotation axis for changing an angle formed by an optical axis direction of the image capture unit and the normal direction to the display unit, and a pivot axis that is a second rotation axis in a direction different from the first rotation axis.