3D Touch Panel Depth Sensing for Camera Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Digital cameras face challenges in balancing display space for live-view images and camera controls, as larger displays limit control space and obscure live-view images when displaying numerous functions like auto-focusing, auto-exposure, and auto-white balance.
Innovation Solution
A digital photographing apparatus with a 3D touch panel that determines plane coordinate and depth information of objects to perform operations such as auto-focusing, auto-exposure, and auto-white balance, allowing for intuitive control and image capture by sensing touches on the panel, enabling setup locking/unlocking and zooming based on depth information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a touch screen is used to display both images and camera controls, then control functionality is improved, but the live-view image becomes obscured and difficult to view
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies 3D touch technology that adds a depth dimension to the traditional 2D touch screen. By detecting the Z-axis position (depth) of the object in addition to X-Y plane coordinates, the system can distinguish between different touch depths. This allows controls to be activated only when the object is within a specific depth range, while maintaining full visibility of the live-view image at other depths, thus resolving the contradiction between control functionality and image visibility.
2Ease of operation
If controls for many functions are displayed on the display unit, then ease of control is improved, but the live-view image is obscured
Solution Approach 1:
The invention utilizes the depth dimension (Z-axis) to create a spatial separation between the live-view image display and control activation. The live-view image occupies the full 2D display area, while control functions are activated by detecting objects within specific depth ranges above the screen. This allows full-screen image display without control icons overlaying the image, as controls are triggered by depth-based touch detection rather than visual elements on the screen.
3Area of stationary object
If a larger display unit is used to view live-view images, then image viewing capability is improved, but space for controls is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends the control interface into the third dimension (depth/Z-axis) above the display surface. This allows the display unit to be maximized for image viewing while control functions are accessed through depth-based touch detection in the space above the screen. The control space is not constrained by the 2D display area but by the 3D interaction zone, enabling larger displays without sacrificing control functionality.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are a digital photographing apparatus including a 3D touch panel through which various manipulation signals of a photographer are input, and a method of controlling the digital photographing apparatus. Accordingly, not only plane coordinates information of an object is determined but also a distance between the object and the digital photographing apparatus is recognized as depth information to thereby control execution of a predetermined operation according to the depth information.