Sliding Cover Locks Rotating Camera Body
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hand-portable electronic devices with rotatable camera assemblies face issues of inadvertent rotation and damage to the imaging window or lens due to rough handling, necessitating a solution that protects the camera while minimizing mechanical components for cost-effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
A slidable cover mechanism that serves both to protect the imaging window and lock the rotating parts of the device, using a reduced number of mechanical parts to prevent accidental rotation and damage, while allowing for orthogonal orientation of the camera axis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a protective cover is added to protect the imaging window, then the camera assembly is protected from scratches and soiling, but the device complexity increases due to additional mechanical components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the protective cover function with the rotation locking mechanism into a single integrated component. The cover acts as both the protective element for the imaging window and the locking element that engages with the rotating camera assembly to prevent inadvertent rotation. This merging eliminates the need for separate protective covers and locking mechanisms, thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining both protection and locking functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective cover is designed to perform multiple functions: it protects the imaging window from damage, serves as a locking mechanism when engaged with the rotating assembly, and can also function as a release mechanism when actuated by the user. This multi-functionality reduces the total number of components needed in the device while achieving multiple protective and operational goals.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a locking mechanism is added to prevent inadvertent rotation, then the camera assembly stability is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional mechanical components
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is merged with the protective cover into a single integrated component. The cover includes engagement features that interact with corresponding features on the rotating camera assembly to provide locking functionality. This integration means the same component that protects the imaging window also provides the locking action, eliminating the need for separate locking mechanisms and reducing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective cover serves as a universal component that simultaneously provides protection, locking, and release functions. When the cover is in its closed position, it locks the camera assembly in place; when actuated by the user, it releases the lock to allow rotation. This multi-functionality achieves rotation stability without requiring additional dedicated locking components.
3Reliability
If more mechanical components are used to provide both protection and locking functions, then the reliability of protection is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the protective cover and locking mechanism into a single integrated component, the patent reduces the total number of parts that need to be manufactured, assembled, and quality-checked. This integration simplifies the manufacturing process, reduces assembly steps, and lowers overall production costs while maintaining the reliability of both protection and locking functions through the unified design.
Data Source
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AI summary
A hand-portable electronic device 10 comprising: a first body part 11; a second body part 12 rotatably connected to the first body part, the second body part comprising a camera assembly 14 having an imaging axis 15 and an imaging window 16; and a slidable cover 13, the first and second body parts being rotatable with respect to each other about a rotation axis 17, the camera assembly being configured such that the imaging axis is orthogonal to the rotation axis, the slidable cover being adapted to slide between: i) a first position in which the first and second body parts are unlocked and are thereby able to rotate relative to one another; and ii) a second position in which the first and second body parts are locked by engagement of the slidable cover therebetween, relative rotation of the first and second body parts being thereby prevented, and in which the slidable cover covers the imaging window.