Camera Autofocus Switching Between Flash and LED Assist Light
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image capturing systems face challenges in achieving high autofocusing accuracy when optical accessories, such as filters and diffusers, are used, as they interfere with the effectiveness of assist light methods like flash and LED assist light.
Innovation Solution
An image capturing system that includes a flash unit with a detection unit to determine if optical accessories are present, selectively switching between flash assist light and LED assist light emission to ensure accurate focus detection, using a control unit to choose the appropriate assist light based on the presence of optical accessories.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If flash assist light is used for focus detection, then wide coverage is achieved, but effectiveness is reduced when optical accessories are used
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between flash assist light and LED assist light based on detection of optical accessory presence. The control unit changes the light source type in real-time according to shooting conditions, optimizing both coverage and focus detection accuracy for each scenario
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the parameter of light source type (from flash to LED) when optical accessories are detected. This parameter change adapts the assist light system to work effectively with optical accessories while maintaining wide coverage through the flash unit's inherent lighting area
2Reliability
If LED assist light is used for focus detection, then effectiveness for low-contrast subjects is improved, but coverage is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the advantages of both flash and LED assist light by combining them in a single flash unit. The flash unit provides wide coverage while the LED unit enhances contrast detection, and they work together or independently based on optical accessory presence to achieve both wide coverage and high accuracy
3Ease of operation
If optical accessories are used in flash unit, then lighting quality is improved, but focus detection accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit acts as an intermediary that detects optical accessory presence and mediates between the flash assist light and LED assist light systems. It selects the appropriate light source to maintain focus detection precision while allowing optical accessories to continue providing their lighting quality improvements
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
This solution ensures high autofocusing accuracy even when optical accessories are used, reducing power wastage and delays by switching to LED assist light when flash assist light is ineffective, thereby improving focus detection and reducing power consumption.
Implementation Method 1
a second assist-light emitting unit that emits LED assist light, which is second assist light, for the image capturing apparatus to use in detecting focus to the image sensing field
Implementation Method 2
applying flash light from a discharge tube of an illumination apparatus
Data Source
AI summary
An image capturing system includes an image capturing apparatus, a first light emitting unit, a second light emitting unit having a light coverage smaller than a light coverage of the first light emitting unit, and a control unit configured to perform control according to whether a predetermined optical accessory for the first light emitting unit is present in such a manner that, when focus detection is performed in the image capturing apparatus, one of the first light emitting unit and the second light emitting unit is used as a light emitting unit that emits assist light for the focus detection.