Webcam Edge-Mounted Transparent Support for Gaze Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current webcam systems fail to maintain a natural semblance of eye contact between remotely interacting participants due to the spatial separation between the camera and the display screen, leading to an unnatural viewing experience where participants appear to be looking away from the camera.
Innovation Solution
A webcam apparatus with an image capture device and energy transfer device designed to be attached to the edge of a display screen, ensuring the camera's optical axis aligns with the user's gaze direction, while maintaining a small footprint to minimize obstruction of the display area, using transparent energy transfer components and wireless power/data transmission for flexibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the webcam camera is positioned near the center of the top edge of the display screen, then the camera can capture the user's face, but the subject's gaze direction does not align with the camera lens, creating an unnatural appearance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent moves the camera from the traditional 2D plane of the display screen (edge position) to the 3D space in front of the screen, allowing the optical axis to be aligned with the user's gaze direction while maintaining a natural appearance. This spatial repositioning resolves the contradiction between capture accuracy and natural appearance.
Solution Approach 2:
The transparent energy transfer device serves as an intermediary that carries the camera into the optimal position in front of the display screen. This mediator allows the camera to be positioned where it can capture natural gaze alignment while still being supported and powered, resolving the positioning contradiction.
2Measurement precision
If the camera is positioned below the display area at the bottom edge of the screen, then the camera can capture the user's face, but the subject would appear to be looking upwards, creating an unnatural appearance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions the camera from a 2D edge position (bottom edge) to a 3D position in front of the display screen, allowing proper alignment with the user's natural gaze direction. This eliminates the unnatural upward-looking appearance while maintaining accurate face capture.
3Measurement precision
If the webcam is integrated into the display screen during manufacture, then the camera can be positioned on the display, but it obscures part of the display area and reduces effective display visibility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent separates the camera system from the display screen into independent components. The camera is mounted on a separate transparent energy transfer device that can be attached to the screen edge, allowing the camera to be positioned accurately while not integrating it into the display area, thus preserving display visibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The transparent energy transfer device acts as an intermediary that supports the camera in front of the display screen without requiring integration into the screen itself. This mediator enables accurate camera positioning while maintaining full display area visibility.
4Measurement precision
If a large footprint device is used to position the camera in front of the display screen, then the camera can be positioned correctly, but it significantly reduces the effective display area
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a transparent energy transfer device that is thin and minimally intrusive, allowing the camera to be positioned correctly in front of the display screen without significantly blocking the display area. The thin film-like structure provides support while maintaining visibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The energy transfer device is made transparent, making it optically invisible when viewed through it. This allows the device to fulfill its structural and positioning function while not reducing the effective display area, as it does not obstruct the view of the display content.
Data Source
AI summary
A webcam apparatus, having a display surface characterized by a display area, includes an image capture device characterized by an optical axis and a first footprint in a plane perpendicular to the optical axis; and an energy transfer device with a first portion coupled to the image capture device; and a second portion allowing attachment to an edge of a display screen. When attached, the image capture device and the first portion lie against and in contact with the display surface, or in a proximate and parallel plane. An optical axis characterizing the image capture device is aligned with a gaze direction of a user addressing a viewer via the captured images. The first portion of the energy transfer device is transparent at optical wavelengths, and has a second footprint in the plane perpendicular to the optical axis. The first and second footprints are small relative to the display area.