Camera Imaging Direction Control Using Dynamic Dead Zones

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing PTZ camera systems fail to smoothly adjust the imaging direction when a subject enters or is within a dead zone, leading to incomplete tracking and potential image composition changes that do not meet user intentions.

Innovation Solution

The system adjusts the dead zone settings and PTZ control based on the distance and speed thresholds to maintain the subject at the desired target position, allowing for precise composition adjustments and minimizing image disturbances.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If the imaging direction is stopped when the subject is within the dead zone, then the camera stability is improved, but the tracking completeness deteriorates because the subject may not reach the target position

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecamera stabilityVSAvoidtracking completeness
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The dead zone radius is made dynamic rather than fixed. The system automatically adjusts the dead zone radius based on the relative speed between the camera and subject: when relative speed exceeds a threshold, the dead zone radius is increased to allow tracking to continue, preventing premature stopping. When relative speed is below the threshold, the normal dead zone radius applies to maintain stability. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by adapting the stability-trading parameter to current motion conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If the dead zone radius is increased to prevent premature stopping, then the tracking completeness is improved, but the camera stability deteriorates due to unnecessary imaging direction changes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetracking completenessVSAvoidcamera stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the dead zone radius based on real-time relative speed measurement. Only when relative speed exceeds the threshold does the system expand the dead zone radius, ensuring that stability is maintained during normal operation while tracking completeness is preserved during rapid motion. This conditional dynamic adjustment eliminates unnecessary imaging direction changes while preventing premature tracking termination.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the dead zone radius parameter based on the relative speed condition. By monitoring relative speed and adjusting the dead zone radius parameter accordingly (increasing it when speed > threshold, maintaining normal size when speed ≤ threshold), the system optimizes both tracking completeness and camera stability under different operating conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Speed

If the imaging direction continues to move when the subject is within the dead zone, then the tracking responsiveness is improved, but unnecessary imaging direction changes occur causing image disturbance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetracking responsivenessVSAvoidimage stability
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the dead zone radius parameter based on relative speed. When relative speed exceeds the threshold, the dead zone radius is increased, allowing the imaging direction to continue moving toward the target position without premature stopping, thus improving tracking responsiveness. When relative speed is below the threshold, the normal dead zone radius is maintained to prevent unnecessary imaging direction changes and image disturbance, ensuring image stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4593409A1Control device, control method, and program, for controlling the imaging direction of a camera
Publication Date: 2025.07.30 CANON KK
  • EP4593409A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4593409A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4593409A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A control device includes a control unit configured to execute a process for controlling an imaging direction such that a position of a subject in an image captured by an imaging device is kept at a target position, wherein the control unit does not change the imaging direction if the position of the subject is detected within a dead zone in the image, an acquisition unit configured to acquire a composition setting related to a second target position different from a first target position currently set to the target position, and a calculation unit configured to calculate a distance between the first and second target positions in the captured image, wherein, in a case where the acquisition unit acquires a change in the target position, the control unit changes a dead zone in accordance with the distance between the first target position and the second target position.