Handheld Camera Gyroscopic Movement Discrimination
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Handheld devices like digital cameras face challenges in distinguishing between voluntary and involuntary movements, which affects image stabilization and processing.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating at least one angular rate-sensing gyroscopic sensor and an electronic circuit that analyzes the number of zero crossings and average amplitude of the sensor signal to differentiate between voluntary and involuntary movements, using two sensors with transverse axes to enhance discrimination accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If only a single gyroscopic sensor is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the measurement precision and discrimination accuracy between voluntary and involuntary movement deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The movement discrimination function is segmented into multiple independent measurement channels by using two gyroscopic sensors with transverse axes. Each sensor measures movement along a different axis, and the electronic circuit processes each channel separately before combining the results, thereby improving overall discrimination accuracy while maintaining manageable device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from single-axis measurement to multi-axis measurement by incorporating a second gyroscopic sensor with a transverse axis. This dimensional expansion allows the electronic circuit to analyze movement patterns in multiple directions simultaneously, significantly enhancing the ability to distinguish between voluntary and involuntary movements
2Ease of operation
If movement discrimination is not implemented, then the device operation is simpler, but image stabilization quality deteriorates due to inability to distinguish hand jitter from voluntary movement
Solution Approach 1:
The electronic circuit continuously monitors gyroscopic sensor output signals and provides real-time feedback about detected movement types. Based on this feedback, the system automatically adjusts its response - applying stabilization corrections for involuntary hand jitter while allowing voluntary movements to pass through unchanged, thereby maintaining high image stabilization quality without complex user intervention
Solution Approach 2:
The movement discrimination system operates autonomously without requiring user input or configuration. The electronic circuit automatically analyzes sensor signals, identifies movement types based on signal characteristics, and applies appropriate stabilization processing, making the complex image stabilization function transparent and simple to use
3Measurement precision
If the electronic circuit processes both sensor signals to discriminate movement, then the measurement precision improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The electronic circuit is designed with multi-functionality to handle multiple sensor signals simultaneously. The same processing logic and algorithms are applied to both gyroscopic sensor channels, allowing the circuit to maintain high measurement precision through combined analysis while avoiding the need for separate dedicated processing paths that would increase complexity
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach allows for accurate discrimination between sensor noise, hand jitter, and voluntary movement, enabling effective image stabilization and processing, with high accuracy and minimal false alarms or misclassifications.
Implementation Method 1
a handheld article having at least one angular rate-sensing gyroscopic sensor
Data Source
AI summary
A digital camera 10 has a pair of angular rate-sensing gyroscopic sensors 130 with mutually perpendicular axes and an electronic circuit 120 responsive to the sensor output signals to discriminate between voluntary and involuntary movements of the article as a function of the number of zero crossings per unit time of the signal and the average of the absolute amplitude of the signal.