Rotating Light-Reflecting Member for Stable Panoramic Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for capturing panoramic or wide-ranged images require users to manually rotate the image-capturing device, leading to instability and poor image quality, and existing auto-rotating platforms are cumbersome and expensive, necessitating a solution that allows for image capture without shifting the device.
Innovation Solution
An image-capturing device with a light-reflecting member driven by a rotating unit to undergo limited pivotal motion, enabling the capture of multiple images from different areas without moving the image-capturing unit or lens module, which are then integrated into a single combined image.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the whole optical image-capturing device is rotated to capture panoramic images, then multiple photos with different photo-ing areas can be obtained, but the operation becomes cumbersome and image stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the rotation function from the main device body by introducing an independent light-reflecting member that can rotate separately. This allows the device to capture multiple photo-ing areas without rotating the entire optical image-capturing device, thereby maintaining image stability while achieving panoramic coverage
Solution Approach 2:
The light-reflecting member acts as an intermediary between the fixed image-capturing unit and the external environment. By rotating this intermediary component, the system can redirect light from different directions to the fixed sensor, achieving versatile photo-ing area coverage without compromising device stability
2Manufacturing precision
If an auto-rotating platform is used to stabilize the device during rotation, then image quality improves, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the rotation function from the complex auto-rotating platform and concentrates it in a simple light-reflecting member. This eliminates the need for expensive and complex stabilization platforms while maintaining sufficient image quality through the simplified rotation mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of rotating the entire device or using a complex platform, the patent creates a simplified optical path copy through the light-reflecting member. This member can be rotated easily to redirect light paths, achieving the same effect as complex platforms but with much simpler structure
3Adaptability or versatility
If the image-capturing unit and lens module are shifted to capture different areas, then wide-ranged images can be obtained, but the device portability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of moving the image-capturing unit and lens module to capture different areas, the patent inverts the approach by keeping these components fixed and rotating the light-reflecting member. This inversion allows wide-ranged image capture without affecting device portability, as the heavy optical components remain stationary
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
Enables stable and high-quality panoramic or wide-ranged image capture without the need for user rotation or device displacement, improving image quality and reducing equipment costs.
Implementation Method 1
a light-reflecting member for redirecting a light image in a foreign photo-ing area to an optical path
Data Source
AI summary
An image-capturing device uses a light reflecting member to redirect an exterior light image toward a lens module in order to focus the light image onto an image-capturing unit. The image-capturing device includes a rotating unit for driving the light-reflecting member to rotate within a limited range in such a manner that the image-capturing device can capture at least two light images of different photo-ing areas and combine them into one single combined image without a need of moving the image-capturing unit and the lens module. When a user takes a panoramic or wide-ranged picture, he/she doesn't need to move the whole image-capturing device, but only needs to stand at the same position, faces the same direction and simply pushes the shutter button, and then the image-capturing device will automatically capture light images of different photo-ing areas and then integrate them into one single panoramic or wide-ranged picture.