Camera Autofocus Instability Detection and Gain Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Camera systems face performance degradation due to instability events such as viscoelastic material detachment, broken springs, and electrostatic charges, which affect autofocus performance and image quality, and existing technologies lack effective in-field monitoring and mitigation capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A camera system with a motion control system that includes a lens group, image sensor, actuator, and controllers, capable of monitoring parameters like position and electrical input, detecting instability events through analysis of metrics such as tracking error and image quality, and performing remedial actions by adjusting gain and damping to mitigate performance degradation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional camera systems are used without in-field monitoring, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability of autofocus performance deteriorates due to undetected instability events
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous monitoring of motion control parameters (position, velocity, acceleration, electrical input) and uses feedback analysis to detect instability events. The system compares real-time parameters against expected ranges and triggers remedial actions when deviations are detected, enabling reliable autofocus performance through active feedback monitoring without requiring complete system redesign
Solution Approach 2:
The camera system performs self-diagnosis by autonomously detecting instability events through parameter monitoring and automatically executing remedial actions such as gain adjustments or scheme switching. This self-service capability allows the system to maintain reliability without external intervention or complex additional hardware, resolving the contradiction between reliability improvement and complexity increase
2Reliability
If in-field monitoring and detection capabilities are added, then autofocus performance reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The monitoring system leverages existing motion control system components (actuators, controllers, position sensors) to serve dual purposes: normal autofocus operation and instability detection. By making these components multi-functional, the system achieves reliable performance monitoring without adding separate dedicated monitoring hardware, thus limiting the increase in device complexity
3Reliability
If remedial actions are implemented to mitigate instability, then autofocus performance is maintained, but device complexity increases due to additional control schemes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic switching between different control schemes (e.g., changing gain values, adjusting damping parameters, or switching control modes) based on real-time instability detection. This dynamic adaptability allows the system to maintain autofocus performance under varying conditions while keeping the control architecture flexible rather than requiring multiple fixed complex systems
Data Source
AI summary
A camera system may include one or more controllers to perform in-field monitoring of autofocus performance and instability mitigation. The controllers may monitor one or more parameters associated with adjustment of a relative position between a lens group and an image sensor and/or one or more images. The controllers may analyze the parameters and/or images to calculate various metrics. The controllers may evaluate the metrics with respect to corresponding thresholds. The controllers may detect, based at least in part of the evaluation the metrics, one or more instability events associated with controller performance degradation. In response to detecting the instability events, the controllers may perform one or more remedial actions to mitigate the controller performance degradation.