Autofocus Control for Touch-Driven Viewfinder Shooting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current image capturing apparatuses face challenges in reducing operational burden and improving convenience when selecting a tracking target through touch operations, especially in viewfinder-based shooting, where accidental eye movement can terminate touch operations unintentionally, and existing methods do not effectively control autofocus during touch-move operations or account for eye proximity detection.
Innovation Solution
An image capture control apparatus and method that allows for reduced operational burden and improved convenience by enabling continuous touch operations while looking through a viewfinder, even if the eye is accidentally removed, and provides appropriate autofocus control through touch operations, using a touch & drag AF function that designates the autofocus position via absolute or relative coordinate methods and manages touch responses to prevent unintended focus changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If touch operations are enabled on a separate touch panel when looking through the viewfinder, then the autofocus position can be designated through touch operations, but the operational burden increases due to the need for multiple touch operations to set the AF position
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by automatically setting the AF position to the touched position immediately upon touch-down, rather than requiring separate confirmation operations. The control unit designates the AF position based on the touched position on the touch panel, and this designation is executed without requiring additional touch operations to confirm or finalize the selection.
2Ease of operation
If the AF position is set to the target cursor position during touch-move operation in object tracking mode, then the cursor can be moved freely, but the object at the cursor position (e.g., background) will be focused instead of the intended tracking target
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by designating the AF position based on the touch-down position before the touch-move operation begins. The control unit sets the AF position to the position where the user initially touched the touch panel, and this predetermined position is maintained as the tracking target even as the cursor moves during the touch operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system inverts the conventional approach by not updating the AF position during touch-move operations. Instead of making the AF position follow the cursor position in real-time, the system maintains the AF position at the originally touched location, effectively reversing the expected behavior where movement would update the target position.
3Ease of operation
If the display switches from viewfinder to separate display when the proximity sensor detects eye movement away, then the display can be switched appropriately, but the touch operation is unintentionally terminated
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by determining whether a touch operation is currently being performed before responding to eye movement detection. When eye movement away from the viewfinder is detected, the system checks if a touch operation is in progress, and if so, maintains the viewfinder display active and continues the touch operation without interruption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback by continuously monitoring both the proximity sensor status and the touch operation state. The control unit adjusts the display switching behavior based on feedback from the touch operation determination, creating a feedback loop that prevents unintended operation termination when eye movement is detected during touch operations.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution reduces operational burden and improves convenience in selecting tracking targets through touch operations, ensuring continuous operation and accurate autofocus, even during accidental eye movement, thereby enhancing user experience and operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
an electronic viewfinder (EVF) is activated when a proximity sensor such as an infrared sensor has detected that an eye is nearby
Data Source
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AI summary
An image capture control apparatus comprises tracking means for tracking a tracking target in a live view image captured by image capturing means; touch detection means capable of detecting a touch operation; AF mode setting means capable of setting one of a plurality of AF modes, each AF mode having a different method for determining an AF position; and control means for carrying out control so that in the case where a first AF mode, which determines an AF position without tracking carried out by the tracking means, is set by the AF mode setting means, AF is executed on the basis of a position based on movement of a touch position while a touch is detected by the touch detection means, and in the case where a second AF mode, which can determine the AF position through tracking carried out by the tracking means, is set by the AF mode setting means, AF based on a position based on the movement of the touch position is not executed while a touch is detected by the touch detection means.