Auto-Focusing Camera with Pre-Registered Subject Tracking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing camera focusing methods require manual intervention or auto-focusing on the center of the image, necessitating repeated focusing during continuous photography, which is inefficient for capturing specific subjects.

Innovation Solution

An apparatus and method that automatically focus on a predetermined subject by pre-registering focus items, such as names or images, and tracking them in a preview image, using a camera device with a display unit and control unit to display a focus mark and adjust focus accordingly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If manual focusing or center auto-focusing is used, then the camera can capture images, but the focusing process must be repeated every time a specific subject is photographed in continuous photography mode, reducing efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvephotography efficiencyVSAvoidtime for repeated focusing
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-registers focus items (specific subjects) before photography. When photographing, the camera automatically identifies and focuses on these pre-registered subjects without requiring manual intervention or repeated auto-focusing, thereby eliminating time loss and improving photography efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system displays a focus mark on the screen to indicate when the camera has successfully focused on the predetermined subject. This visual feedback confirms to the user that focusing is complete, eliminating the need for repeated focusing attempts and improving operational efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Measurement precision

If auto-focusing searches the entire preview image for the focus item, then the specific subject can be located, but the searching process increases processing time and reduces focusing speed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesubject identification accuracyVSAvoidfocusing speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

Focus items are registered in advance before the photography session. During continuous photography, the system only needs to match the pre-registered focus item templates against the current preview image, rather than searching for arbitrary subjects. This preliminary preparation significantly reduces processing time while maintaining accurate subject identification

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the search parameter from finding any focused subject to specifically matching pre-registered focus items. This parameter change transforms the search from a broad, time-consuming process to a targeted pattern-matching operation, improving both speed and precision of subject identification

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP2793458B1Apparatus and method for auto-focusing in device having camera
Publication Date: 2017.09.20 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP2793458B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2793458B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2793458B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

This disclosure provides an apparatus and a method for auto-focusing in a device having a camera. The method includes displaying a focus item in a preview screen while driving a camera, auto-focusing by searching an image of the focus item from a preview image and displaying a focus mark, and processing a focused image if the auto-focusing is completed.