Camera Face Distance Calculation Using Focus Depth Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image taking apparatuses struggle to capture specific moments, such as a couple kissing, due to difficulties in detecting and measuring the proximity of human faces accurately, leading to missed photo opportunities.
Innovation Solution
An image taking apparatus equipped with a face detection device, a face-distance calculating device, and a controlling device that initiates shooting when the distance between detected faces is within a predetermined threshold or at a local minimum, ensuring accurate capture of close facial proximity, while also considering face size and orientation to prevent errors from overlapping faces in depth.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If face detection is performed to capture specific moments like couples kissing, then the ability to capture intimate moments is improved, but the accuracy of determining face proximity is insufficient leading to missed opportunities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from two-dimensional image plane distance measurement to three-dimensional spatial distance calculation by incorporating depth information from focus adjustment amounts and lens position data. This allows accurate determination of actual face-to-face distance even when faces overlap in the 2D image, resolving the measurement precision issue while maintaining the ability to capture intimate moments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual judgment of face proximity with an automated calculation system that uses optical focus data and lens position information. The controlling device automatically determines when faces are within a predetermined distance threshold, eliminating the need for user intervention and ensuring consistent, accurate measurement of face proximity to capture kissing moments reliably.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple faces are detected simultaneously, then the ability to detect group scenes is improved, but the difficulty of measuring accurate distance between overlapping faces increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves the difficulty of measuring distances between overlapping faces by adding the depth dimension through focus adjustment amounts. Instead of relying solely on 2D image coordinates which fail when faces overlap, the system calculates 3D spatial distances using lens position data and focus information, enabling accurate measurement even in crowded group scenes where faces may overlap in the image plane.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces focus adjustment amount and lens position information as intermediary parameters to mediate the distance measurement problem. These intermediary data elements provide indirect but accurate information about the actual spatial separation between faces, allowing the system to calculate true distances without directly measuring overlapping face positions in the 2D image.
3Reliability
If face detection is used to automatically trigger shooting, then the reliability of capturing desired moments is improved, but the complexity of the control system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the existing focus adjustment mechanism serve multiple functions: it continues to provide focus control for image quality while simultaneously providing depth information for face distance calculation. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional dedicated sensors or measurement devices, thereby limiting the increase in system complexity while maintaining high reliability for capturing desired moments.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses its own existing optical parameters (lens position, focus adjustment amount) to determine face proximity and trigger shooting automatically. Rather than requiring external measurement devices or complex additional sensors, the camera's optical system serves its own measurement needs, reducing overall system complexity while ensuring reliable automatic capture of intimate moments.
Data Source
AI summary
An image taking apparatus according to an aspect of the invention comprises: an image pickup device which picks up an object image and outputs the picked-up image data; a face detection device which detects human faces in the image data; a face-distance calculating device which calculates the distance between the faces among a plurality of faces detected by the face detection device; and a controlling device which controls the image pickup device to start shooting, after a shooting instruction is issued, in the case where the distance between the faces calculated by the face-distance calculating device is not greater than a first predetermined threshold value. The image taking apparatus allows shooting the moment the distance between the faces is close enough not be greater than to a predetermined threshold value.