Simple Day Actions

This technical description explores the fundamental principles of a 1080P Mini Portable Digital Camera. Details about the materials and manufacturers’ general information are listed in the materials section, along with any measurements. Looking at parts and subparts of this artifact, this analysis will provide a comprehensive understanding of the mechanics. I will examine the general process of capturing photos and videos and delve into the physical, mathematical, industrial, and chemical processes in a digital camera like this one. This analysis has several engineering disciplines associated with it. Detailed photographs will document the camera’s disassembly, which will help visualize the internal processes through an in-depth exploration. Readers will gain insight into the mechanisms and electrical circuits operating in simple digital cameras with notes and final observations to use as references from the author.

First, I began by looking at the manufacturer’s information. I found this by searching where I originally purchased the camera. This place was SHEIN.com. On the website, I could see the retailer’s name, USclubu. According to their information, this is a battery-powered camera made of PVC  (polyvinyl chloride), a commonly used thermoplastic polymer. Its color is pink, measured in figures 1 and 2 on page two.  Not much information was found on the vendor’s manufacturers. Subsequently, I began taking pictures of this camera’s outer and inner shells while disassembling the camera. In Figures 3, and 4 on page three, there is a broad view of all parts and subparts of the camera for a closer view of the internal mechanisms of the camera.

Figure 1 shows the object’s characteristics. (L3.2 x W1.9 x H2.4).

When taking a picture, several physical phenomena occur. Clicking the shutter button of a camera will activate a set of yes and no responses from the object. This moment is where mechanics and electricity work to create an electromechanical system. For simplicity, I would like to classify and describe the behavior of a camera as different types of physics phenomena.  Light phenomena (reflection, refraction, diffraction), photoelectric phenomena (photons, light energy, electrical charges), electronic processes(binary, signals, data), and mechanics(shutter mechanism, controls, open/closes). This process is extensive for a basic explanation, but with a fundamental understanding of physics and open-source libraries, this is all legally obtainable information.

As light enters through the lens and passes through an aperture (an adjustable opening), the lens focuses this light onto a unique sensor called a CCD (Charge-Coupled Device) or CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor) sensor, according to Cannon Science Lab News. “This sensor has millions of tiny light-sensitive elements called photosites or pixels. Each photosite converts light into an electrical charge – brighter light creates a stronger electrical signal. This process is called the photoelectric effect.”  The camera’s processor then converts these electrical signals from analog to digital data. Processes the raw data to adjust color, contrast, and sharpness. Then, it compresses the image into a file format like JPEG and saves it to the memory card. The LCD screen, which is made out of polarizing filters (TFT), Thin Film Transistors, and protective layers, shows you a preview by constantly repeating this process in real time but at a lower resolution.

These are some of the components that work in a collaborative action to retrieve information. According to the data retrieved from the digitalKamera Museum and the book Physics for Engineers and Scientists by Douglas C. Giancoli andRaymond A. Serway,  The lens gathers and focuses light. The aperture controls how much light enters. The shutter controls how long light enters. The Image sensor converts light to electrical signals. The processor converts signals to digital data, and the memory stores the final image. In a digital camera, no chemical processes are involved in capturing or processing images. Instead, the process is entirely electronic and digital, relying on the interaction of light with the camera’s sensor. However, it is essential to note that there are electrodes in an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) screen; these play a critical role in controlling the orientation of liquid crystal molecules, which ultimately determines how light passes through the screen to create images.

Figure 2 shows the object’s internal disassemble.

Figure 3 shows the object’s external disassemble.

Figure 4 shows outer shells, viewfinders, LCD (liquid crystal display) screen, lens mount, battery, mixed-signal circuit, wiring configuration, frame holders, shutter buttons, and  FPCs (flexible printed circuits). 

Taking a picture, recording a video, or using an interactive LCD screen does not require a valuable understanding of how the universe’s properties work, but analyzing quantum mechanics and light waves can help anyone appreciate the incredible complexity hidden in these “simple everyday actions.”

References

Canon : Canon technology: Canon science lab: Photographs. Canon Global. (n.d.). https://global.canon/en/technology/s_labo/light/003/01.html 

Mims, F. M. (2016).  Getting started in Electronics. Master Publishing, Inc. 

History of the digital camera and digital imaging. History. (n.d.). https://www.digitalkameramuseum.de/en/history 

Physics for Scientists and Engineers Raymond A. Serway Raymond A. Serway & John W. Jewett. (2013).