Rotatable Grip Lock Member with Asymmetric Buttons
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing digital video cameras with rotatable grip parts face issues of erroneous operation between the unlock button and other controls due to similar operational directions, leading to increased manufacturing costs from complex link mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A digital video camera design featuring a rotatable grip part with a lock member that pivots between locking and unlocking positions, an urging member to maintain the lock, and an unlocking operation part integrated with the lock member, allowing distinct operational directions for unlocking and other controls, eliminating the need for a link mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the unlock button is disposed apart from the photographing start/stop button, then erroneous operation is prevented, but operability deteriorates because the two buttons are configured to be operated by the same finger
Solution Approach 1:
The unlock button is designed with an asymmetric operational direction (pressing in the direction opposite to the urging member's urging direction) compared to the photographing start/stop button (pressing in the urging member's urging direction). This asymmetric design allows both buttons to be operated by the same finger without causing erroneous operations, as the operational directions are fundamentally different.
2Ease of operation
If a link mechanism is provided to convert pressing operation to rotation, then unlocking function is achieved, but device complexity increases due to increased number of components
Solution Approach 1:
The unlock button is integrated with the lock member such that the button's pressing operation directly causes the lock member to rotate without requiring a separate link mechanism. The button and lock member are combined into a unified structure where the button serves as both the operation interface and the rotating element, eliminating the need for additional transmission components.
Solution Approach 2:
The lock member is designed to rotate directly in response to the pressing operation of the unlock button, with the button's movement self-sufficiently converting into rotational motion through the integrated structure. The system uses its own components (the button and lock member) to achieve the conversion without external or additional mechanisms.
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
This design reduces component parts and manufacturing costs while maintaining operability and preventing erroneous operations between controls, ensuring reliable and efficient locking and unlocking mechanisms.
Implementation Method 1
an urging member configured to urge the lock member toward the locking position
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic apparatus reduced in the number of components without impairing the operability of an unlocking operation part and an adjacent other operation part of a grip part. A digital video camera has a camera body and a grip part rotatable with respect to the camera body. A lock member within the grip part is rotatable in unison with the grip part, and is pivotally moved between a locking position for locking the grip part and an unlocking position for unlocking the same. A spring member urges the lock member toward the locking position. An operation knob formed on the lock member pivotally moves the lock member to the unlocking position against the urging force of the spring member. A recording start/stop button is formed in the lock member adjacent to the operation knob. The knob and the button are operated in respective different directions.