Camera Control System for Real-Time Viewfinder Editing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional digital cameras lack the ability to accurately represent users' intentions during the capture process, particularly when using computational photography techniques, leading to sub-optimal image acquisition due to separated capture and editing processes.
Innovation Solution
A camera control system that performs real-time viewfinder editing, allowing users to apply edits directly on the viewfinder prior to capture, using a unified framework for tone, color, and focus adjustments, and propagating these edits to optimize capture parameters such as exposure and focus.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If computational photography techniques are used, then image processing capabilities are improved, but the user cannot directly see the final results and must imagine post-processing effects
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary visualization of post-processing effects by displaying a preview image that shows an approximation of the final processed image before the user actually captures and processes the photograph. This allows users to see the intended result including computational photography effects like HDR tone-mapping and synthetic blur before committing to the capture.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a copy or representation of the final processed image in the form of a preview that approximates what the captured image will look like after post-processing. This preview copy allows users to evaluate the final result without having actually captured and processed the original image yet.
2Adaptability or versatility
If capture and editing processes are separated, then post-processing flexibility is improved, but image acquisition becomes sub-optimal due to lack of real-time feedback
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by displaying a preview image that shows an approximation of the final processed image during the capture phase. This real-time visual feedback allows users to adjust composition, framing, and capture parameters based on how the final processed image will look, optimizing image acquisition quality while maintaining post-processing flexibility.
3Device complexity
If traditional digital cameras are used, then device simplicity is improved, but the interface does not fully utilize touch-based interface potential
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces traditional mechanical knobs and buttons with a touch-based graphical user interface that displays a preview image. Users can interact with the preview image directly using touch gestures to adjust parameters and see immediate visual feedback, fully utilizing the potential of touch-based interfaces while maintaining device simplicity.
Data Source
AI summary
An approach is provided for performing back-end operations for camera control. In one example, a method includes the following: receiving a user edit via a user interface device that displays an interpretation of a scene at which a camera lens of the camera is pointing, wherein the user edit is based on user input that is associated with a selection region on the user interface device; generating an edits mask based on one or more matching image patches, which are based on the user edit and a high dynamic range (HDR) image generated by the camera; performing one or more tone mapping operations based on the edits mask and the HDR image in order to generate a tone mapped HDR image; and performing one or more metering operations based on the edits mask and the tone mapped HDR image in order to generate metering parameters for frame capturing operations.