Underwater Camera Nozzle Layout for Clear Imaging in Turbid Water
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Solution Overview
Problem
Underwater inspections face significant challenges due to limited visibility caused by high levels of suspended matter, making it difficult to obtain usable images with conventional underwater cameras.
Innovation Solution
An underwater camera design that includes a nozzle unit with multiple nozzles arranged to direct clear water in the viewing direction, improving visibility and image quality even in poor visibility conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional underwater cameras are used in areas with high suspended matter density, then the camera structure remains simple, but visibility is severely limited and usable images cannot be obtained
Solution Approach 1:
The device is segmented into distinct functional modules: a camera unit for image capture, a nozzle unit with multiple nozzles for water jet generation, and a water supply system. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently while working together to solve the visibility problem in contaminated water environments.
Solution Approach 2:
Clear water acts as an intermediary medium between the camera and the contaminated environment. The nozzle unit directs jets of clear water through the contaminated water to create a temporary clear viewing path in front of the camera, allowing high-quality images to be captured without requiring the entire environment to be clear.
2Illumination intensity
If spotlights are used to improve visibility in contaminated water, then illumination intensity increases, but suspended matter reflects and diffuses light into the camera, worsening image quality
Solution Approach 1:
The clear water jets are directed in advance to clear the suspended matter from the camera's field of view before the camera captures the image. This preliminary clearing action creates a temporary clear path, allowing subsequent illumination and image capture to proceed without light diffusion from suspended particles.
Solution Approach 2:
The harmful suspended matter is effectively extracted or removed from the optical path between the camera and the inspection target. The nozzle unit directs clear water jets that push suspended particles away from the viewing direction, isolating the camera's field of view from the contaminated environment.
3Ease of operation
If tactile examinations with divers are used instead of visual inspection, then the inspection can be conducted in poor visibility, but the assessment becomes subjective and incomplete
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces the mechanical tactile examination method with an optical visualization system. Instead of using divers' hands to physically inspect surfaces, the clear water jet system creates visual clarity that allows the camera to capture high-resolution images, replacing subjective tactile assessment with objective visual documentation.
4Ease of operation
If sonar examinations are used in poor visibility, then the inspection can proceed without divers, but the resolution is very low and cannot detect non-deformation damage
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces acoustic sonar examination with optical imaging. By using clear water jets to create a transparent viewing path, the system enables high-resolution optical photography that can detect surface corrosion, discoloration, and other non-deformation damage that sonar cannot detect, while maintaining automation without requiring divers.
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 camera effectively captures usable images in areas with high suspended matter density, enhancing the accuracy of underwater inspections and reducing the need for tactile or low-resolution sonar examinations.
Implementation Method 1
water directed through the nozzles flows out of the nozzles essentially in the direction of view, preferably laminarly
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to an underwater camera (1) for taking underwater images, comprising a camera (2) which is designed to take images in one viewing direction, a nozzle unit and a water supply (5) for supplying the nozzle unit (3) with clear water, wherein the nozzle unit comprises a plurality of nozzles (3), each having a water inlet (E) and a water outlet (A) and arranged such that water guided through the nozzles (3) flows out of the nozzles (3) essentially in the viewing direction, wherein an inflow region (B) of the nozzles (3) at the water inlet (E) narrows towards the water outlet (A).