Multi-Camera Angle-of-View Selection with Cropped Previews

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional electronic devices with multiple cameras experience delays and increased heat generation when switching between cameras for preview screen selection due to physical camera switching, leading to inefficiencies and performance issues.

Innovation Solution

An electronic device activates a first camera with a wide angle of view, crops the image to fit a second camera's narrower view, and displays the cropped image on the screen, then activates the second camera upon user input, eliminating the need for physical camera switching.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If physical camera switching is performed to provide preview screens for multiple cameras, then camera selection functionality is achieved, but switching time increases and heat generation occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecamera selection functionalityVSAvoidcamera switching time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a virtual copy of the narrow-angle camera view by cropping the wide-angle camera image. Instead of physically switching cameras, the system generates a preview screen that simulates the narrow-angle view through image processing, eliminating the need for physical camera switching while maintaining the appearance of multiple camera views.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical camera switching system with a software-based image processing system. The physical act of switching cameras is substituted by cropping and processing images from a single wide-angle camera, thereby eliminating mechanical wear, switching delays, and associated heat generation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Adaptability or versatility

If physical camera switching is performed to provide preview screens for multiple cameras, then camera selection functionality is achieved, but heat generation increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecamera selection functionalityVSAvoidheat generation

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a virtual copy of the narrow-angle camera view by cropping the wide-angle camera image. Instead of physically switching cameras, the system generates a preview screen that simulates the narrow-angle view through image processing, eliminating the need for physical camera switching while maintaining the appearance of multiple camera views.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical camera switching system with a software-based image processing system. The physical act of switching cameras is substituted by cropping and processing images from a single wide-angle camera, thereby eliminating mechanical wear, switching delays, and associated heat generation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Loss of time

If images are cropped from wide-angle camera to simulate narrow-angle view, then camera switching time is reduced, but image quality may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecamera switching timeVSAvoidimage quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The wide-angle camera continuously captures high-resolution images that cover the entire field of view. By preparing these images in advance and cropping them in real-time, the system ensures that the cropped narrow-angle view maintains high image quality without requiring actual camera switching, thus eliminating time delays.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS12452522B2Method of obtaining a user-selected angle of view from among a plurality of angles of view of respective cameras and electronic device supporting the same

Publication Date: 2025.10.21 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

An electronic device including: a housing; a first camera having a first angle of view; a second camera having a second angle of view that is smaller than the first angle of view; a touchscreen display; and a processor. The processor is configured to: based on a photographing direction of the first camera and a photographing direction of the second camera being substantially the same, activate the first camera; display a first image acquired via the first camera on the display; acquire a second image by cropping the first image in accordance with the second angle of view, in response to reception of a first input event; display the second image on the display; activate the second camera in response to reception of a second input event; and display a third image acquired via the second camera on the display.