Self-Balancing Camera Inner Structure with Counterweight
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional video camera systems fail to consistently right themselves upright on uneven or soft surfaces, disrupting video transmission quality.
Innovation Solution
An encapsulated self-balancing remote video camera system with a weighted inner structure and transparent outer container, featuring rotational adjustment means and a balancing mass to ensure the camera lens remains upright, allowing for wireless image transmission and remote operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a bottom-weighted single sphere is used for video camera systems, then the camera can be righted upright on flat surfaces, but the system fails to right itself on uneven or soft surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into two main segments: an inner container holding the camera and balancing mass, and an outer container providing structural support. The inner container can rotate independently within the outer container, allowing the camera assembly to right itself separately from the outer shell, enabling reliable upright positioning on various surfaces including uneven and soft surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
A balancing mass is positioned at the bottom of the inner container to create a counterweight effect. This balancing mass generates torque that rotates the inner container until the camera lens reaches an upright position, compensating for the limitations of simple bottom-weighting in the outer container and ensuring reliable righting on diverse surfaces.
2Device complexity
If the camera is mounted on a single sphere, then the structure is simple, but the video transmission quality is disrupted on uneven surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the camera mounting function from the structural support function by using an inner container within an outer container. This segmentation allows the camera to be isolated in a controlled environment that maintains upright orientation, ensuring reliable video transmission quality while keeping the overall structure relatively simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention adds a rotational degree of freedom by allowing the inner container to rotate independently within the outer container. This dimensional change enables the camera assembly to achieve upright orientation through rotation, maintaining video transmission quality on uneven surfaces without significantly increasing structural complexity.
3Reliability
If a transparent outer container is used, then the camera can be protected and the system can be sealed, but the rotational movement must be frictionless
Solution Approach 1:
The rotational adjustment mechanism is extracted and positioned within the outer container, separate from the transparent viewing surface. This allows the inner container to rotate freely within the sealed outer container without compromising the seal integrity, while the rotational mechanism can be independently designed and maintained.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs dynamic rotational adjustment means including bearings and gimbal mechanisms that enable smooth, low-friction rotation of the inner container within the sealed outer container. These dynamic elements allow the camera assembly to freely orient itself while maintaining the seal, balancing protection requirements with rotational freedom.
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
Ensures clear video image transmission regardless of the surface, with the camera automatically rotating to an upright position due to gravitational forces, and enabling remote control of camera movements.
Implementation Method 1
a balancing mass disposed in or formed contiguous with the inner structure, said balancing mass being disposed such that the balancing mass exerts a sufficient torque upon the inner structure to rotate same to a position wherein the lens is disposed upright
Implementation Method 2
the inner structure is freely rotatable within the hollow outer container
Data Source
AI summary
An encapsulated self-balancing remote video camera system is provided, which is capable of righting itself into an upright, balanced position. The encapsulated self-balancing remote video camera system has a video camera, wireless communication means and balancing mass disposed within an internal, self-righting, inner structure. The inner structure is disposed within a transparent outer container, such that the inner structure may rotate within the outer container when resting upon a surface, such that the video camera rotates into an upright position by gravitational forces acting upon the balancing mass disposed with the inner structure. In addition, a remote operation means is provided, which enables a user of the present system to view video images transmitted from the video camera, and to remotely control movement of the lens and/or video camera.