Master-Slave Camera Exposure Timing Synchronization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image sensing systems with multiple cameras connected through a linking device, such as a wireless LAN, fail to accurately control exposure timing due to neglecting the delay time from trigger signal reception to the start of the exposure operation in slave cameras, leading to improper synchronization and control of exposure timing between master and slave cameras.
Innovation Solution
An image sensing apparatus with a transmission unit for sending exposure start instructions, an acquisition unit for measuring delay time information from instruction reception to exposure start, and a control unit for adjusting exposure-start timing or waiting time based on this information to ensure synchronized exposure across multiple cameras.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If only communication delay time is considered for controlling exposure timing between master and slave cameras, then the control system remains simple, but accurate synchronization of exposure timing cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The slave camera measures its internal delay time (from receiving the instruction signal to actually starting exposure) in advance and reports this value to the master camera. The master camera then uses this pre-acquired information to calculate the appropriate transmission timing of the instruction signal, ensuring accurate exposure synchronization without requiring complex real-time adjustments during the actual shooting operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The slave camera feeds back its measured delay time information to the master camera through the communication unit. This feedback loop enables the master camera to adjust the instruction signal transmission timing based on the actual delay characteristics of each slave camera, achieving precise exposure timing synchronization across all cameras in the system.
2Manufacturing precision
If the master camera transmits the instruction signal immediately without considering slave camera delay characteristics, then the transmission timing control is simple, but exposure timing cannot be strictly controlled across different camera types
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the parameter of instruction signal transmission timing based on the delay time characteristics of each slave camera. Instead of using a fixed transmission timing, the master camera adjusts the transmission timing parameter for each slave camera according to its specific delay measurements, enabling precise exposure synchronization across different camera types and conditions.
3Adaptability or versatility
If delay time information is not acquired from slave cameras, then the communication protocol remains simple, but sophisticated control such as intermediate timing exposure cannot be realized
Solution Approach 1:
Each slave camera independently measures its own delay time characteristics and reports this information to the master camera. This self-service approach allows each camera to provide its specific timing characteristics without requiring complex centralized control or configuration, enabling the system to adapt to different camera types while maintaining relatively simple communication protocols.
Data Source
AI summary
In an image sensing system in which a master camera and a slave camera are communicatably connected, the master camera acquires delay time information of the slave camera, indicative of delay time from the moment of reception of an exposure-start instruction signal to the moment of a start of exposure of the slave camera, and based on the acquired delay time information, controls at least one of the exposure-start timing of the master camera and the transmission timing for transmitting the exposure-start instruction signal to the slave camera.