Photometric Scanner Housing With Movable Visor for Large Flat Objects

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing photometric stereo scanner housings are not designed to accommodate larger flat objects without requiring folding or crumpling, limiting their usability for items like scarves, shirts, and towels.

Innovation Solution

A housing design featuring a movable visor-shaped wall section that allows easy access to the interior, enabling larger flat objects to be placed unfolded, with lamps and cameras positioned to capture images from various angles, and a control unit to process these images using a photometric stereo method.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If the housing uses a fixed closed structure with rigid walls, then the structural stability and enclosure are improved, but the accessibility for placing large flat objects is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidaccessibility for placing objects
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The housing incorporates a movable wall section that can transition between closed and open positions. This dynamic structure allows the housing to maintain stability during scanning while enabling easy access for placing large flat objects like scarves and shirts without folding or crumpling them.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Area of stationary object

If the housing base is kept compact and small, then the device portability and size are improved, but the capacity to accommodate larger flat objects is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehousing base areaVSAvoidcapacity for different object sizes
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The housing design allows the object to extend beyond the base area in the vertical dimension. The movable wall section opens upward to accommodate objects larger than the base footprint, enabling the compact base to handle larger flat objects by utilizing the third dimension rather than expanding the base area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Strength

If the housing walls are made rigid and fixed, then the structural integrity and light sealing are improved, but the ease of accessing the interior space is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidease of accessing interior
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The housing wall is segmented into a fixed first wall section and a movable second wall section. This segmentation allows the majority of the structure to remain rigid for structural integrity and light sealing, while the movable section provides easy access to the interior space for placing and removing objects.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4668013A1Stereo photometric scanner
Publication Date: 2025.12.24 COLORDIGITAL GMBH
  • EP4668013A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4668013A1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP4668013A1 patent drawingFigure 6~8

AI summary

A housing (12) for a photometric stereo scanner (10), the interior of which is easily accessible and which is also suitable for larger planar objects, comprises: - a base (16) having a first side edge (16a), a second side edge (16b) opposite the first side edge, and a front edge (16d) connecting the first and second side edges; - a ceiling (18) on which at least three lamps (38) can be mounted such that they are directed towards the floor; - a perimeter wall (20) connecting the base to the ceiling and having a first and a second wall section (20a, 20b); - a mount (36) on which a camera (14) can be mounted such that the camera is either mounted below the ceiling and directed towards the floor or mounted on the ceiling and directed towards the floor through an opening (32b) in the ceiling;wherein - the second wall section is essentially designed in the form of a helmet visor and is movably mounted on the floor, the ceiling and/or the first wall section; - the second wall section can assume a closed position in which it, together with the floor, the ceiling and the first wall section, encloses an interior space of the housing; - the second wall section can assume an open position in which the interior space is accessible from the outside and the first and second side edges and the front edge are exposed.;