Swiveling Window Mount for Stable In-Vehicle Optical Tracking
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mountings for optical instruments in vehicles, such as spotting telescopes and cameras, often fail to maintain a correct orientation with the subject of interest, resulting in missed opportunities due to the vehicle's position not aligning properly with the subject.
Innovation Solution
A vehicular window mounting system featuring a clamp with a swivelable arm and tiltable platform that allows for lateral and pivotal movement of optical devices about horizontal and vertical axes, enabling adjustment and locking for optimal viewing or capturing images without compromising the field of view, usable whether the vehicle door is open or closed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a tripod mounting is used for spotting telescopes in vehicles, then the device provides stable support, but it cannot accommodate vehicle movement and orientation changes, resulting in loss of field of view
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting system incorporates a swivelable arm that can dynamically adjust its angle and position to track the subject of interest as the vehicle moves and changes orientation. This dynamic adjustment capability allows the mounting to adapt to varying vehicle orientations while maintaining a stable view of the target, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and stability.
2Measurement precision
If the vehicle stops to mount the spotting telescope on a tripod, then the device can be properly positioned, but the subject is already gone by the time mounting is complete
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting system is pre-installed on the vehicle window, allowing the optical device to be positioned and ready for use before the vehicle reaches the subject of interest. The swivelable arm can be quickly adjusted to the correct angle in advance, eliminating the need to stop the vehicle for mounting and preventing loss of the subject due to delayed positioning.
3Ease of operation
If the mounting is fixed to the vehicle window, then it is readily available for use, but it cannot adjust to maintain clear view when vehicle orientation changes
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting system combines a fixed base attachment to the vehicle window with a dynamically adjustable swivelable arm. This allows the system to be readily available in a fixed position while also enabling quick angular adjustments to track the subject of interest as the vehicle moves, maintaining both ease of operation and adaptability.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the arm is swivelable to accommodate vehicle movement, then field of view is maintained, but the device becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting system is divided into distinct functional segments: a fixed base attachment to the window, a swivelable arm for angular adjustment, and a platform for mounting the optical device. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, achieving field of view maintenance through the swivelable arm while keeping the overall device complexity manageable through modular design.
Data Source
AI summary
A clamp, detachably attachable to the upper edge of a vehicular window, supports one end of a swiveling arm. The other end of the arm rotatably supports a conventional platform for a spotting telescope, a telescope, or camera or other device. A handle extends from the platform for selective rotation of the supported device about the vertical and the horizontal axis. Thereby, the supported devise may be repositioned into or out of a vehicle and rotated about the vertical and horizontal axis to be aligned with the subject of interest.