Waterproof Housing Optics for Underwater 360° Panoramic Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional panoramic imaging apparatuses face issues with light blocking and blind spots when used underwater due to diving housings, which hinder effective light collection and panoramic imaging.
Innovation Solution
A waterproof housing design with light-transmitting portions that refract light at angles greater than 90 degrees, providing 360-degree coverage and overlapping fields of view, and incorporating a shell structure with raised portions to enhance light entry and minimize obstruction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional diving housing is used to provide waterproof protection, then waterproof protection is achieved, but light blocking occurs resulting in blind spots in view-finding
Solution Approach 1:
The diving housing is segmented into multiple light-transmitting portions (first, second, third, and fourth light-transmitting portions) with different transparency characteristics. The front and rear light-transmitting portions allow light transmission for view-finding, while the side light-transmitting portions provide structural support and partial light transmission. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by distributing different functions across different segments of the housing.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the housing have different light transmission properties. The front and rear light-transmitting portions are designed with high light transmission to enable view-finding, while the side portions have moderate light transmission. The raised portion is specifically designed with a light-transmitting material to allow light entry above the housing. This local differentiation of properties resolves the contradiction between waterproof protection and light blocking.
2Reliability
If the diving housing structure is used for waterproof protection, then waterproof protection is achieved, but obstruction occurs in light collection for panoramic imaging
Solution Approach 1:
The raised portion extends vertically above the main housing body in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis, creating an additional dimension for light entry. This raised structure with light-transmitting material allows light to enter the housing from above, bypassing the obstruction problem of the traditional flat housing structure and improving light collection for panoramic imaging.
Solution Approach 2:
The light-transmitting portions act as intermediaries between the external light environment and the internal imaging devices. These portions are designed with specific light transmission properties to facilitate light entry while maintaining waterproof protection, resolving the contradiction between structural protection and optical performance.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple light-transmitting portions are used to achieve 360-degree coverage, then panoramic imaging capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple light-transmitting portions (front, rear, side, and raised portions) are merged into a single integrated housing structure. The connection portions join these different light-transmitting portions together to form a unified waterproof housing. This merging approach achieves 360-degree panoramic coverage while managing complexity through integrated design rather than separate components.
Solution Approach 2:
The light-transmitting portions serve multiple functions: they provide waterproof protection, enable light transmission for view-finding, support panoramic imaging from multiple directions, and maintain structural integrity. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, managing complexity while achieving comprehensive panoramic capability.
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 design ensures effective light collection and seamless panoramic imaging underwater by minimizing blind spots and obstruction, allowing for high-quality image capture and stitching without distortion.
Implementation Method 1
one of the one or more light-transmitting portions being configured to refract at least a portion of an incident light beam, forming an angle greater than 90 degrees relative to an optical axis of the one of the one or more light-transmitting portions, from the light-entrance surface to the one or more view-finding windows
Data Source
AI summary
In some aspects, a waterproof housing is provided. The waterproof housing includes a shell structure and one or more light-transmitting portions. The shell structure is provided with an accommodating cavity and includes one or more view-finding windows in communication with the accommodating cavity. The one or more light-transmitting portions are configured to seal and correspond to the one or more view-finding windows, and each includes a light-entrance surface. One of the one or more light-transmitting portions is configured to refract at least a portion of an incident light beam, forming an angle greater than 90 degrees relative to an optical axis of the one of the one or more light-transmitting portions, from the light-entrance surface to the one or more view-finding windows.