Digital Camera Wireless Image Transmission via Dynamic Compression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Digital cameras face limitations in transmitting high-quality through-the-lens images via wireless communication, especially when the monitor is detached, due to insufficient data transfer rates, leading to compression artifacts that hinder focusing verification during autofocus operations.
Innovation Solution
The digital camera employs a dual compression mode for image data transmission: a normal mode with predetermined compression for general image transfer and an image-quality priority mode that reduces compression or frame rate, or extracts partial images during autofocus, ensuring high-quality data transfer within the limited wireless band.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If image data is compressed at a predetermined compression ratio for wireless transmission, then data transfer rate is improved, but compression artifacts emerge that prevent accurate focusing verification
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic adjustment of compression ratios based on transmission conditions. The image data processor adjusts the compression ratio dynamically - using lower compression for autofocus operations where verification accuracy is critical, and higher compression for general viewing where data transfer rate is prioritized. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by selecting the appropriate compression level for each specific operational context.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the compression parameter (compression ratio) based on the operational mode. During autofocus operations, the compression ratio is reduced or set to zero to maintain image quality for accurate focusing verification. During normal operations, a predetermined compression ratio is applied to improve data transfer rate. This parameter change strategy directly addresses the technical contradiction by optimizing the compression level for each specific use case.
2Productivity
If lossy compression is applied to image data for wireless transmission, then data transfer rate is improved, but compression artifacts such as blockiness and mosquito noise emerge
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the compression level based on operational requirements. During autofocus operations, the system uses low or zero compression to avoid generating compression artifacts like blockiness and mosquito noise. During normal operations, higher compression is applied to improve data transfer rate. This dynamic behavior allows the system to maintain high image quality when needed while achieving efficient transmission when acceptable.
Solution Approach 2:
The compression ratio parameter is changed based on the operational mode. The image data processor sets the compression ratio to a lower value or zero during autofocus operations to prevent compression artifacts, and increases it during normal operations to improve data transfer rate. This parameter adjustment strategy resolves the contradiction between data transfer rate and artifact generation by selecting the appropriate compression level for each context.
3Ease of operation
If the monitor is detached from the camera body, then portability is improved, but wireless data transmission capability is insufficient for high-quality image transfer
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes transmission parameters (compression ratio, frame rate) based on the connection status. When the monitor is detached and wireless transmission is used, the system adjusts compression parameters to optimize for the available wireless bandwidth. This allows high-quality image transfer despite the limitations of wireless communication, maintaining usability while preserving portability.
Data Source
AI summary
A digital camera is provided that includes a first wireless communication module and image data processor. The first wireless communication module transmits image data to a monitor device via wireless communication. The image data processor processes image data before transmitting it to the monitor device via the wireless communication module. The image data processor has a first mode in which the image data are compressed at a predetermined compression ratio when transmitting a through-the-lens image to the monitor device, and a second mode in which the image data are compressed less than the predetermined compression, including zero compression, while carrying out at least one of reducing a frame rate compared to the first mode or extracting part of an image comprising the image data.