Digital Camera Subject Locator for Precise User Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional digital cameras exclude the user from the scene being photographed, and existing solutions for including the user in the image, such as self-timers and dual-lens cameras, do not provide accurate control over the user's position or size within the scene.
Innovation Solution
A method for digital cameras that involves capturing a scene image, superimposing a symbol (subject locator) to represent the user, allowing the user to adjust its size and position, capturing the user's image, and then inserting the user's image into the scene image at the desired location and size, either through preview and panning or by using dual lenses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If self-timer is used to allow user to move to front of camera, then user can appear in the scene, but user has no accurate control over position or size in the scene
Solution Approach 1:
A virtual character (intermediary element) is introduced to represent the user's intended position and size in the scene. This virtual character serves as a mediator between the user's desires and the final composite image, allowing precise control without requiring physical positioning. The virtual character can be independently manipulated in terms of position, size, and orientation before the user is actually inserted into the scene.
Solution Approach 2:
A virtual character that copies or represents the user is created and positioned in the scene beforehand. This virtual copy allows the user to precisely control their appearance position and size in the final image without needing to physically position themselves. The virtual character serves as a template that guides the subsequent insertion of the actual user image.
2Ease of operation
If dual-lens camera is used to capture user and scene simultaneously, then user can be included in the image, but natural integration of user into the scene is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The virtual character representing the user's intended position and size is established in advance before the actual user image is inserted. This preliminary setup allows for proper composition planning, ensuring that when the user is finally inserted into the scene, they will be naturally integrated rather than awkwardly superimposed. The scene can be prepared and the user's position predetermined.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows dynamic adjustment of the virtual character's position, size, and orientation independently of the captured images. This dynamic control enables flexible composition adjustments to achieve natural integration. The virtual character can be moved, scaled, and rotated to match the scene perspective and lighting conditions, creating a more seamless integration.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of making an image in a digital camera comprises capturing a digital image of a scene into which the camera user is to be inserted, and superimposing a symbol (subject locator) onto the scene image representing at least a part of a human subject. The subject locator is scaled to a desired size and moved to a desired position relative to the scene image. Next a digital image of the user is captured, and at least the part of the user image represented by the subject locator is extracted. The part of the user image represented by the subject locator is scaled (before or after extraction) to substantially the same size as the subject locator and inserted into the first image at the position of the subject locator.