Stereo Camera Support Frame With Elastic Shock and Thermal Isolation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Camera support structures in head-mounted displays face challenges in maintaining positional and postural accuracy due to thermal expansion and external shocks, which can cause cameras to shift or change posture.

Innovation Solution

A camera support structure with a support frame mounted on a housing and elastic members, such as rubber members, interposed between the housing and the support frame, allowing for elastic deformation to absorb thermal expansion and shocks, thereby maintaining camera accuracy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If a rigid support frame is used to maintain camera position, then manufacturing precision is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to thermal expansion and shock-induced deformation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecamera positional accuracyVSAvoidcamera postural stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The support frame transitions from a completely rigid structure to one with controlled flexibility through elastic members. The elastic members allow the frame to deform elastically under thermal expansion or shock loads, then return to its original position, maintaining camera accuracy while accommodating environmental variations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The support frame combines rigid components (for maintaining positional accuracy) with elastic members (for absorbing thermal and shock-induced stresses). This composite structure integrates both rigidity and flexibility to resolve the contradiction between manufacturing precision and reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Measurement precision

If the support frame is made completely rigid to prevent displacement, then positional accuracy is improved, but adaptability deteriorates due to inability to withstand thermal expansion and shocks

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecamera positional accuracyVSAvoidresistance to environmental changes

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

Elastic members are pre-installed between the housing and support frame to provide cushioning before thermal expansion or shock occurs. These members absorb the anticipated thermal and mechanical stresses, allowing the rigid support frame to maintain camera positional accuracy while adapting to environmental changes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

Elastic members act as intermediary elements between the housing and the rigid support frame. They mediate the transmission of thermal expansion and shock forces, isolating the camera-bearing support frame from direct environmental stresses while maintaining positional accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If elastic members are added to absorb thermal expansion and shocks, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecamera positional stabilityVSAvoidsupport frame structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The elastic members function as flexible elements that can be integrated into the existing support frame structure without requiring complex mechanisms. These flexible components absorb thermal expansion and shock forces through simple elastic deformation, improving reliability while adding minimal structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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 solution effectively maintains the positional and postural accuracy of cameras by absorbing thermal expansion and shock-induced deformations, ensuring accurate ranging capabilities.

Implementation Method 1

at least one elastic member that is interposed between the housing and the support frame and has at least a portion elastically deformable between the housing and the support frame upon deformation or displacement of the support frame

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS11953809B2Camera support structure and head-mounted display

Publication Date: 2024.04.09 SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT LLC

AI summary

A positional and postural accuracy of stereo cameras 30 is maintained. A camera support structure (100) includes a support frame (130) that is mounted on a housing (110) of a head-mounted display 1 and supports stereo cameras (30), and at least one rubber member (40) that is interposed between the housing (110) and the support frame (130) and has at least a portion elastically deformable between the housing (110) and the support frame (130) upon deformation or displacement of the support frame (130).