Dual Camera Power Mode Adjustment for Battery Life
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Solution Overview
Problem
Dual-camera devices face power consumption issues due to the need to process images from both sensors simultaneously, which does not scale linearly and can drain power quickly, especially in mobile devices, where there are scenarios where only one sensor's image content is sufficient.
Innovation Solution
Implementing low power modes such as sleep mode, frame drop mode, frame skip mode, and sync-disable mode, where the camera device determines which information is needed from one camera to process or operate the other, allowing for reduced power consumption by skipping frames, dropping frames, or disabling synchronization signals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If both camera sensors operate simultaneously to capture image content, then image quality and field of view coverage are improved, but power consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the operation mode of camera sensors based on real-time conditions. The master sensor operates continuously while slave sensors can be switched between active and low-power modes, allowing the system to adapt power consumption to actual imaging needs while maintaining image quality when required
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes operational parameters of camera sensors by implementing different operation modes (full processing, frame dropping, frame skipping, sync-disable) that modify processing intensity and frequency. This allows the system to reduce power consumption by adjusting processing parameters rather than completely disabling sensors
2Loss of information
If the first camera processes all image content, then detailed image information is available, but processing power and time are excessively consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts only the necessary information from image content processed by the master sensor. Instead of processing all image content from both sensors, the master sensor provides selective information (such as synchronization signals and essential image data) to slave sensors, reducing overall processing requirements while maintaining necessary image quality
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies partial processing by implementing frame dropping and frame skipping modes where not all captured frames are fully processed. This partial action approach reduces processing time and power consumption while still maintaining adequate image information for most imaging scenarios
3Stability of the object's composition
If synchronization signals are continuously provided between cameras, then coordinated image capture is maintained, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic synchronization where the master sensor provides synchronization signals to slave sensors at specific intervals rather than continuously. This periodic action maintains coordinated image capture when needed while reducing power consumption during periods when synchronization is less critical
Data Source
AI summary
Example techniques are described for low power mode operation for multi-camera devices. A camera device includes processing circuitry configured to determine what information from the first camera is needed to process image content captured by the second camera or to operate the second camera, and adjust an operation mode of one of the first camera or camera circuitry coupled to the first camera from a first operation mode to a second operation mode based on the determination. An amount of power consumed by the first camera or the camera circuitry coupled to the first camera in the second operation mode is different than an amount of power consumed by the first camera or the camera circuitry in the first operation mode.