Asynchronous Pipelines for Simultaneous Still and Video Capture

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional methods for capturing still images and videos simultaneously in electronic devices often result in quality deterioration of the still image due to reduced image quality and shooting speed, and require users to perform recording operations differently from traditional photographing experiences.

Innovation Solution

An apparatus and method that enable the simultaneous acquisition and storage of videos while capturing still pictures, with asynchronous processing to split the pipelines for still picture and video processing, allowing for improved system performance and minimal speed delay between image captures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If a still picture and a video are simultaneously stored using conventional methods, then both can be captured, but image quality deteriorates in the still image due to decreased image quality and shooting speed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesimultaneous capture capabilityVSAvoidstill image quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the processing pipeline into separate asynchronous pipelines: one for still image capture and processing, and another for video recording and processing. This segmentation allows each pipeline to operate independently at optimal speeds without interfering with the other, thereby maintaining high still image quality while enabling simultaneous video capture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-buffering video frames and pre-processing image data before final storage. This allows the still image capture to proceed at full speed and quality while video data is prepared in advance, eliminating the need to slow down either pipeline.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Quantity of substance

If a still picture and a video are simultaneously stored, then both can be acquired, but the user must perform a recording operation instead of having a conventional familiar photographing experience

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedual format captureVSAvoiduser operation simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically initiates video recording when the shutter button is pressed for still image capture, without requiring the user to separately start video recording. The still image capture operation serves dual purposes: capturing the photo and initiating video recording, thereby maintaining the conventional photographing experience while enabling dual format capture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Productivity

If processing pipelines for still picture and video are combined, then system resources are utilized, but speed delay occurs between image captures

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocessing efficiencyVSAvoidcapture delay
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements separate asynchronous processing pipelines for still images and video, allowing them to be processed independently without blocking each other. This eliminates the speed delays that would occur in a shared synchronous pipeline, as each pipeline can operate at its own optimal processing speed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The asynchronous pipelines ensure continuous processing without interruptions or delays. Video frames are continuously captured and processed in the video pipeline while still images are simultaneously captured and processed in the image pipeline, maintaining continuous useful action in both streams without speed delays.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentEP3409007B1Electronic device and operating method thereof
Publication Date: 2022.11.02 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP3409007B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3409007B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3409007B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

According to various example embodiments of the present disclosure, an electronic device may include: a camera; a display; at least one memory; and a processor operatively coupled to the camera, the display, and the memory. According to various example embodiments of the present disclosure, an electronic device may include: a camera module including a camera; a display; a memory; and a processor operatively coupled to the camera module, the display, and the memory, wherein the processor is configured to acquire an image through the camera module in response to entering a capture mode, to display the acquired image as a preview image through the display, to acquire a still picture from the image in response to an operational instruction for capturing the still picture, to acquire a video from at least one part of the preview image, to generate a still picture file of an image format based on the still picture and a video, and store the still picture file in the memory.