Camera Initialization Using Motion Sensor Pre-configuration

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Solution Overview

Problem

The initialization of camera settings in electronic devices, such as mobile devices, often consumes time, leading to missed opportunities to capture images as the camera and application wake up slowly, potentially resulting in blurry images or missed events.

Innovation Solution

An apparatus and method that utilize sensors, including depth, illuminance, and spectral sensors, to detect motion and adjust camera settings prior to initialization, allowing for rapid camera activation and reducing power consumption by pre-configuring autofocus, exposure, and white balance settings.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If the camera is deactivated to reduce power consumption, then power consumption is reduced, but camera initialization time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidcamera initialization time
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by performing camera initialization tasks (autofocus calibration, exposure compensation setup, white balance adjustment) before the user actually needs to capture an image. When motion is detected indicating the user is picking up the device, the system proactively initializes camera settings in advance, so that when the user opens the camera app, the camera is already ready to capture immediately without delay.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Speed

If the camera is initialized quickly, then image capture speed is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecamera activation speedVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the camera initialization process adaptive and conditional rather than static. The system dynamically adjusts whether to perform full camera initialization based on real-time motion detection data. When motion is detected (user picking up device), full initialization is triggered. When no motion is detected (device stationary in pocket), initialization is skipped or reduced, thereby optimizing the balance between activation speed and power consumption based on actual usage conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If camera settings are adjusted during initialization, then image quality is improved, but initialization time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage qualityVSAvoidinitialization time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs quality-enhancing camera settings adjustments (autofocus calibration, exposure compensation, white balance) as preliminary actions before the user needs to capture an image. By detecting motion that indicates the user is picking up the device, the system proactively configures optimal camera settings in advance, ensuring high image quality is ready when the user opens the camera app, eliminating the trade-off between quality and time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3329667B1Sensor-based camera initialization
Publication Date: 2021.07.14 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP3329667B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3329667B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3329667B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An apparatus includes an initializer configured to adjust one or more settings of a camera prior to initialization of the camera. The one or more settings are adjusted based on an indication of motion detected using at least one measurement performed by a sensor device. The apparatus further includes a processing device configured to execute a camera application to initialize the camera after adjustment of the one or more settings.