Adaptive Focus Tracking Control for Obstruction Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image pickup apparatuses struggle to maintain optimal focus during tracking operations, especially when variations in the image pickup environment occur, such as obstructions or changes in object motion, leading to potential misfocus on the object or background.
Innovation Solution
A control apparatus with a focus detecting unit, continuity determining unit, characteristic detecting unit, and focus adjusting unit that detects defocus amounts, determines focus continuity, and adjusts parameters for tracking operations based on object and environmental characteristics, including obstruction detection, to ensure accurate focus on the main object.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If general image pickup modes are used for various environments, then the camera can handle different scenarios, but optimal focus tracking cannot be achieved when objects move in complex patterns or when obstructions occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the focus detection parameters adaptive rather than fixed. The system dynamically adjusts focus detection parameters based on real-time analysis of object motion patterns, obstruction presence, and focus continuity. This allows the camera to transition from general-purpose image pickup modes to specialized tracking modes automatically, resolving the contradiction between versatility and tracking reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements parameter changes by modifying focus detection parameters (such as detection sensitivity, tracking window size, and focus metric thresholds) based on detected scene characteristics. When obstructions are detected or motion patterns change, the system automatically adjusts these parameters to maintain reliable focus tracking, thereby improving reliability without sacrificing the ability to handle various image pickup scenarios.
2Ease of operation
If the camera automatically sets various parameters for different image pickup modes, then ease of operation is improved, but the system cannot respond to specific object motion patterns and environmental variations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs feedback mechanisms where the system continuously monitors focus detection results, object motion patterns, and obstruction presence. Based on this feedback, the camera automatically adjusts focus detection parameters in real-time. This closed-loop control enables the system to maintain ease of operation while adapting to specific object motion patterns and environmental variations, as the feedback-driven adjustments happen automatically without user intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-service by automatically analyzing scene characteristics and adjusting its own focus detection parameters without requiring user input. The camera independently detects obstructions, analyzes motion patterns, and modifies tracking parameters accordingly, thereby maintaining ease of operation while achieving high adaptability to specific conditions.
3Device complexity
If the focus tracking system operates with fixed parameters, then the system is simple to implement, but it cannot properly track objects when obstructions occur or when focus continuity is disrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-establishing multiple focus detection parameter sets corresponding to different scene conditions (e.g., clear view, obstruction present, fast motion, slow motion). When the system detects a change in conditions, it quickly switches to the appropriate pre-configured parameter set. This approach maintains relatively simple system architecture while significantly improving tracking reliability during obstructions and focus disruptions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from static fixed parameters to dynamic adaptive parameters. By continuously evaluating focus detection continuity and scene conditions, the system dynamically selects and adjusts parameters to maintain reliable tracking. This dynamic approach resolves the contradiction by keeping the base system simple while adding intelligence that activates only when needed.
Data Source
AI summary
A control apparatus includes a focus detecting unit configured to detect a defocus amount, a continuity determining unit configured to determine a continuity of a focus detection result, a characteristic detecting unit configured to detect characteristics of a main object and of surroundings of the main object, a controlling unit configured to change a parameter relating to a tracking operation based on the characteristics during the tracking operation and a focus adjusting unit configured to perform a focus adjustment based on the defocus amount, the continuity of the focus detection result and the parameter.