Auto-Focus Method Using Nested High-Resolution Preview
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Solution Overview
Problem
The limited resolution of display panels in electronic devices makes it difficult for users to determine if an image is in focus when using a digital camera module, as the higher resolution images captured cannot be fully rendered, leading to inconvenient and time-wasting methods like zooming in on stored images or using zoom functions.
Innovation Solution
An auto-focus method and device that converts high-resolution images from a digital camera module to a lower resolution suitable for display, allowing the central coordinate of the focus frame to be calculated and displayed, enabling users to zoom in or out within the focus frame, thus ensuring image definition without the need for additional steps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the display panel resolution is increased to match the digital camera module resolution, then the user can determine focus accuracy directly on the display panel, but the current technology limits the display panel resolution to a lower level
Solution Approach 1:
The patent embeds a high-resolution preview image (first image) within a low-resolution full image (second image) on the display panel. The focus frame from the high-resolution image is nested within the corresponding position in the low-resolution image, allowing users to view detailed focus information in a specific region while maintaining the overall image context.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single-resolution display approach to a multi-resolution composite display approach. By combining images of different resolutions in a composite display layout, the system effectively adds a dimensional aspect to the display information, enabling simultaneous presentation of detailed and overview information.
2Measurement precision
If the user zooms in on stored images or uses zoom function to check focus, then the user can determine image definition, but this process is inconvenient and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs focus determination in advance by capturing a first image at high resolution and generating a focus frame before the user needs to verify focus. This preliminary processing allows the focus information to be ready for immediate display, eliminating the need for users to perform time-consuming zoom operations after image capture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a copy of the high-resolution image's focus frame and displays it within the low-resolution image on the display panel. This copying mechanism allows users to view focus information directly without accessing the original high-resolution image or performing zoom operations, significantly reducing verification time.
Data Source
AI summary
An auto-focus method includes steps of receiving a first image from an image capturing unit, wherein the first image conforms to a first resolution of the image capturing unit; setting a focus frame in the first image; converting the first image into a second image, wherein the second image conforms to a second resolution of a display unit and the second resolution is smaller than the first resolution; and displaying the second image and the first image within the focus frame in the display unit.