Threaded Peripheral Coupling With Limited Rotation for Precise Aiming
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing coupling systems for peripheral devices such as cameras, lighting devices, and microphones often restrict positioning options, allowing only full coupling or no coupling, limiting user flexibility in device placement and alignment.
Innovation Solution
A rotatable coupling system comprising a housing and a shaft assembly that allows a limited range of rotational motion (between 180 degrees and 355 degrees) around a longitudinal axis, enabling secure positioning and aiming of peripheral devices without direct user manipulation of the shaft assembly, through threaded engagement and controlled rotational movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a peripheral device is fully coupled to the coupling system, then the device is securely attached, but the device cannot be repositioned or adjusted
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling system transitions from a static fully-coupled or fully-uncoupled state to a dynamic system that allows continuous adjustment within a limited range of motion. The shaft assembly is rotatably coupled to the housing, enabling the peripheral device to be positioned at various angles between approximately 180 degrees and 355 degrees while maintaining secure attachment through threaded engagement.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the shaft assembly allows free rotation, then positioning flexibility is improved, but the device cannot be securely locked in position
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the rotational parameter from unrestricted (360 degrees or more) to a controlled limited range of approximately 180 to 355 degrees. This parameter change allows the shaft assembly to provide positioning flexibility within the permitted range while the threaded engagement mechanism maintains secure attachment and prevents unintended rotation or loosening.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the peripheral device can be rotated relative to the shaft assembly, then alignment flexibility is improved, but the threaded coupling becomes unreliable
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling system is segmented into two independent rotational functions: (1) rotation of the shaft assembly relative to the housing within a limited range to achieve secure attachment and basic positioning, and (2) rotation of the peripheral device relative to the shaft assembly to achieve fine alignment adjustments. The threaded engagement on the shaft assembly maintains coupling integrity during alignment adjustments while allowing the necessary rotational movement.
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 secure and flexible positioning of peripheral devices by allowing relative rotational motion between the device and the housing within defined rotational positions, facilitating precise alignment and secure attachment without affecting the shaft assembly, thus enhancing user control over device placement.
Implementation Method 1
the second end is threaded and is configured to threadedly couple to the peripheral device by relative rotational movement between the peripheral device and the shaft assembly around the longitudinal axis
Data Source
AI summary
A coupling system for peripheral devices may include a housing and a shaft assembly. An end of the shaft assembly is threaded and couples to and uncouples from a peripheral device by relative rotational movement between the peripheral device and the shaft assembly. An inner cavity of the housing and another end of the shaft assembly defines a limited range of rotational motion between first and second rotational positions. Rotating the shaft assembly to the first rotational position allows for the peripheral device to be rotated relative to both the shaft assembly and the housing to couple the peripheral device to the housing via the shaft assembly. With the peripheral device coupled to the shaft assembly, relative rotational motion between the peripheral device and the housing is allowed between the first rotational position and the second rotational position without rotating the peripheral device relative to the shaft assembly.