Camera Sound Zoom Directionality Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional imaging apparatuses with interchangeable lenses struggle to provide a consistent sound zoom effect across different focal lengths, leading to user difficulty in sensing the sound zoom due to fixed microphone directionality settings based on focal length ranges.
Innovation Solution
A camera body and interchangeable lens system that includes a receiving section for zoom range information and a sound processor to adjust microphone directionality in conjunction with zoom magnification, allowing for seamless sound zoom functionality regardless of the interchangeable lens type.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the imaging apparatus determines microphone directionality level based on the set focal length of the interchangeable lens, then the sound zoom function can be implemented, but the sound zoom effect becomes difficult to sense when a lens with small focal length range is mounted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter basis for determining microphone directionality from absolute focal length values to relative zoom position within the lens's specific focal length range. The sound processor receives zoom range information (minimum and maximum magnification) from the interchangeable lens and determines directionality level based on the ratio of current zoom magnification to the lens's maximum magnification, rather than using fixed focal length thresholds. This resolves the contradiction by making the sound zoom function adaptable to different lens types while ensuring consistent perceptible effect across all lenses.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the range of changing microphone directionality is determined by the focal length range of the interchangeable lens, then the system adapts to different lenses, but the sound zoom effect becomes inconsistent across different lens types
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the directionality control parameter from focal length-dependent to zoom ratio-dependent. By receiving zoom range information from each interchangeable lens and calculating the zoom ratio (current magnification divided by maximum magnification), the system ensures that the microphone directionality changes consistently across the full zoom range of any lens, regardless of its absolute focal length values. This maintains both lens compatibility and effect consistency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal sound zoom control mechanism that works with any interchangeable lens by normalizing the zoom position based on each lens's specific characteristics. The sound processor universally applies the same control logic (directionality level proportional to normalized zoom position) across all lens types, making the sound zoom function universally effective regardless of the mounted lens's focal length range.
Data Source
AI summary
A camera body to which an interchangeable lens capable of changing zoom magnification is mountable. The camera body includes a sound pickup section that picks up sounds to generate audio data and a sound processor that changes settings relating to directionality of the sound pickup section in conjunction with the zoom magnification of the interchangeable lens. When the interchangeable lens is positioned to provide the minimum magnification of zoom, the sound processor sets the directionality of the sound pickup section to a directionality by which sounds in the widest region can be picked up based on the zoom range information. When the interchangeable lens is positioned to provide the maximum magnification of zoom, the sound processor sets the directionality of the sound pickup section to a directionality by which sounds in the narrowest region can be picked up based on the zoom range information.