Spherical Camera Drive Using Magnetic Levitation for Wide-Angle Stabilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional camera-shake compensation devices are limited in compensating for larger camera shake angles and frequencies, particularly when a photographer is walking, as they struggle with large tilt angles and high-frequency control due to structural and frictional issues, and lack the ability to rotate components around the optical axis effectively.
Innovation Solution
A camera driving apparatus with a movable unit having an attracting magnet and a convex partial spherical surface, supported by a fixed unit with a magnetic member and recess, allowing for panning, tilting, and rolling movements with point or line contact, enabling free rotation around a sphere center and precise angle detection for improved compensation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional camera-shake compensation devices use elastic support or pivot structures, then they can compensate for small angle camera shake, but they cannot effectively compensate for large tilt angles and high-frequency camera shake during walking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies spheroidality by using a spherical lens barrel that can rotate freely around a spherical rotation center. The movable unit includes a spherical surface that contacts the fixed unit at a point, enabling the lens barrel to rotate smoothly in multiple directions (panning, tilting, rolling) without the friction and mechanical resistance limitations of conventional elastic or pivot structures. This spherical configuration allows effective compensation for both small and large camera shake angles.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces conventional mechanical support structures (elastic elements, pivot structures) with a magnetic field-based support system. Attracting magnets are embedded in the movable unit and magnetic members in the fixed unit, creating a magnetic field that provides support force and enables frictionless rotation. This substitution eliminates mechanical friction and resistance, allowing the lens barrel to respond effectively to high-frequency camera shake during walking.
2Stability of the object's composition
If conventional devices use mechanical support structures, then they provide stable support, but they generate frictional loads and mechanical resonance that limit compensation performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical contact-based support with a magnetic field-based support system. Attracting magnets in the movable unit interact with magnetic members in the fixed unit through magnetic attraction force, providing stable support without physical contact. This eliminates frictional loads and mechanical resonance generated by conventional mechanical structures, while the magnetic field naturally centers the lens barrel at the spherical rotation center.
3Device complexity
If conventional devices lack rolling rotation capability, then they simplify the structure, but they cannot rotate the camera section around the optical axis for effective shake compensation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a spherical lens barrel configuration that can rotate freely around a spherical rotation center in three axial directions: panning direction (horizontal rotation), tilting direction (vertical rotation), and rolling direction (rotation around the optical axis). This spherical design inherently provides rotation capability in all three directions without requiring complex mechanical mechanisms, maintaining structural simplicity while achieving full three-axis rotation for comprehensive shake compensation.
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
The apparatus achieves effective compensation for larger camera shake angles and higher frequencies, reducing mechanical resonance and frictional loads, enabling precise control and compact design for image stabilization during walking.
Implementation Method 1
a magnetic attracting force between the at least one attracting magnet and the at least one magnetic member puts the first convex partial spherical surface of the movable unit and the recess into point or line contact with each other
Data Source
AI summary
A camera driving apparatus includes a camera section including an imaging plane; a movable unit having the camera section built therein, having an attracting magnet therein, and having a convex partial spherical surface along an outer surface thereof; a fixed unit having a magnetic member therein and having a recess loosely fitted with the movable unit, wherein a magnetic attracting force of the attracting magnet with respect to the magnetic member puts the convex partial spherical surface of the movable unit into point or line contact with the recess and thus the movable unit is freely rotatable around a sphere center of the first convex partial spherical surface; a panning driving section; a tilting driving section; a rolling driving section; a first detector for detecting a tilt angle of the camera section in the panning and tilting directions with respect to the fixed unit; and a second detector for detecting a rotation angle of the camera section in the rolling direction. The second detector is provided in the vicinity of the sphere center of the first convex partial spherical surface.