Rotatable Lighting Unit for Multi-Lens Imaging Device

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing multi-lens camera devices with fixed lighting devices face challenges in appropriately illuminating the imaging range when lens units with different optical specifications are replaced, leading to unnecessary illumination of non-imaging ranges.

Innovation Solution

The imaging device includes a plurality of lens units and lighting units, a detachable lens holder, and a circular guide member that allows for the replacement of lens and lighting units with different optical specifications, ensuring appropriate illumination of the imaging range.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If a fixed lighting device illuminates a wide area continuously, then the imaging range is appropriately illuminated, but non-imaging ranges are also illuminated causing unnecessary power consumption and heat generation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveillumination of imaging rangeVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The lighting device is made rotatable around the optical axis instead of being fixed, allowing dynamic adjustment of the illumination direction. This enables the lighting to be concentrated on the actual imaging range rather than continuously illuminating a wide area, reducing power consumption while maintaining appropriate illumination intensity where needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If a fixed lighting device is used, then the structure is simple, but lens units with different optical specifications cannot be appropriately illuminated when replaced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompatibility with different lens unitsVSAvoidlighting device structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The rotatable lighting device allows the illumination direction to be dynamically adjusted to match different lens units' imaging ranges. This simple mechanical rotation mechanism provides adaptability to various optical specifications without adding complex control systems or multiple lighting devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple lighting devices are used to illuminate different areas, then all imaging ranges can be covered, but the device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoverage of imaging rangeVSAvoidnumber of lighting devices

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of using multiple fixed lighting devices for different areas, a single lighting device is segmented in function through rotation. The lighting device can be rotated to different angular positions to serve different imaging ranges, achieving the coverage capability of multiple devices with a single unit.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A single lighting device is designed to perform multiple functions by rotating to different positions. The same lighting unit can illuminate different imaging ranges corresponding to different lens units, making it a universal solution that replaces what would otherwise require multiple specialized lighting devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS20250126342A1Imaging device

Publication Date: 2025.04.17 CANON KK

AI summary

An imaging device includes a plurality of lens units, a plurality of lighting units; a lens holder that detachably supports a lens unit of the plurality of lens units and a lighting unit of the plurality of lighting units; and a circular guide member that guides an imaging unit including the lens holder in a circumferential direction.