Spindle-less Turntable Centering via Lateral Light Beam
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional spindle-less turntables have an invisible rotation center, making it difficult to align objects accurately during photography, especially due to manufacturing tolerances and the presence of a driving mechanism, which obstructs the light beam used for centering.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a spindle-less turntable with a centering pointer disposed adjacent to the edge, emitting a light beam that passes through a gap between the object and the platter to continuously point onto the rotation center, allowing the user to visualize the center even when the object is close to the platter surface, and a preview image is used to define a reference center based on the fixture's moving track.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a centering pointer emits a light beam vertically downward onto the platter surface to mark the rotation center, then the rotation center can be marked, but the photographed object blocks the light beam transmission path and prevents the cross point from pointing onto the platter surface
Solution Approach 1:
The centering pointer is moved from a vertical position above the platter center to a lateral position adjacent to the platter edge. The light beam is emitted at an angle rather than vertically downward, allowing the beam to pass through the gap between the photographed object and the platter surface, thus avoiding blockage while still marking the rotation center on the platter surface
Solution Approach 2:
The gap between the photographed object and the platter surface serves as an intermediary space through which the light beam passes. By positioning the centering pointer laterally and emitting the beam at an angle, the system utilizes this gap as a transmission channel, avoiding direct blockage by the object while maintaining accurate rotation center marking
2Ease of manufacture
If the rotation center is made invisible by using a light transmissive platter, then the spindle is not visible in pictures, but the rotation center becomes hard to recognize and align
Solution Approach 1:
The light beam from the laterally positioned centering pointer acts as an intermediary visual indicator. It projects a visible cross point onto the platter surface at the rotation center without requiring a physical spindle, thus maintaining the spindle-less aesthetic while providing clear alignment guidance for placing photographed objects
Solution Approach 2:
The platter maintains its light transmissive property across most of its surface for aesthetic purposes, but the rotation center area serves a different function as a projection target for the light beam. This local differentiation allows the rotation center to be visible as a marked point while the rest of the platter remains visually appealing and spindle-less
3Measurement precision
If the relative position between the platter surface and centering pointers or the driving mechanism is changed, then the rotation center marking becomes inaccurate, but resetting the marking is difficult due to the invisible rotation center
Solution Approach 1:
The lateral positioning of the centering pointer adjacent to the platter edge creates a stable reference frame that is less sensitive to minor positional changes. The geometric relationship between the lateral pointer position and the platter center provides self-aligning characteristics, making the system more tolerant of assembly variations and easier to reset if needed
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 easy alignment and visibility of the rotation center, ensuring accurate placement of objects on the spindle-less turntable, even when the object is directly above the rotation center and close to the platter surface, and allows for realignment after any changes in the turntable's components.
Implementation Method 1
emitting a light beam that passes through a gap between the object and the platter to continuously point onto the rotation center
Data Source
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AI summary
A method for marking a rotation center on a spindle-less turntable(100) comprises displaying a preview image(410) of a fixed shooting device(400) on a display device(500), defining the rotation center according to a moving track of a fixture in the preview image(410), and pointing a light beam from a centering pointer(140a)(140b)(140c) onto the reference center C. A light box(200a) and a spindle-less turntable(100) suitable for the method are also provided and comprises a round platter(110), a driving mechanism(120) and at least a centering pointer(140a)(140b)(140c). The driving mechanism(120) drives the round platter to rotate around a rotation center from the platter edge. The centering pointer(140a)(140b)(140c) is disposed adjacent to the platter edge to emit a light beam toward the platter surface(112). The light beam continuously passes through a gap between a photographed object(300) and the round platter(110) and points onto the rotation center during the photographed object(300) is put onto the platter surface(112).