Rotating Camera Lens for Privacy and Oblique Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing camera apparatuses require additional components to hide the lens during non-imaging modes and cannot perform oblique upward monitoring due to the lens orientation.
Innovation Solution
A camera apparatus with a rotatable camera unit and a rotating mechanism that switches the camera lens from an imaging position to a non-imaging position in response to an emergency signal, eliminating the need for a separate hiding component and allowing oblique monitoring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a plate member (cover) is provided to hide the lens during non-imaging mode, then the lens can be hidden from view, but the number of components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the camera unit rotatable rather than using a static cover. The camera unit can dynamically change its orientation between imaging mode (facing the target region) and non-imaging mode (facing away from the target region), allowing the lens to be hidden from view through rotation. This eliminates the need for a separate cover component while achieving the same visual recognition effect.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies the universality principle by making the camera unit serve multiple functions: it can rotate to face the target region for imaging, rotate to face away from the target region to hide the lens, and the rotating mechanism itself becomes the means for both positioning and privacy protection. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for a dedicated cover component.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the lens faces upward when not performing imaging, then the lens is hidden from the imaging target region, but oblique upward monitoring cannot be performed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by enabling the camera unit to rotate to various angles rather than being fixed in an upward-facing position. This allows the camera to dynamically adjust its orientation to perform oblique upward monitoring when needed, while still being able to rotate to hide the lens from the target region for privacy protection when imaging is not required.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies the dimensionality change principle by adding rotational freedom in multiple directions to the camera unit. This enables the camera to access oblique upward angles and other previously inaccessible viewing angles, expanding monitoring capabilities while maintaining the ability to protect privacy through rotation.
3Loss of information
If a cover is used to hide the lens, then visual recognition of non-imaging status is achieved, but an additional component is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the universality principle by making the camera unit serve dual purposes: it can rotate to face the target region for imaging operations and rotate to face away from the target region to provide visual status indication of non-imaging mode. This eliminates the need for a separate cover component while achieving the same visual status indication function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies the merging principle by combining the functions of the camera unit and the privacy protection mechanism into a single integrated system. The camera unit itself performs both imaging and privacy protection functions through rotation, merging what would traditionally be separate components into one unified structure.
Data Source
AI summary
A camera apparatus includes a camera unit that is provided with a camera lens, a camera body that rotatably holds the camera unit, and a rotating mechanism that rotates the camera unit in response to an emergency signal so as to be switched from a first state where the camera lens is stored inside the camera body to a second state where the camera lens is exposed to an outside of the camera body.