Camera Subject Tracking for Sharp Panning Blur Images

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for capturing images with a sense of motion using manual camera panning often result in blurred objects and backgrounds due to hand motion or improper technique, making it difficult to achieve a smooth background/foreground blur and large field of view, particularly in sports photography.

Innovation Solution

Methods for automatically generating still images or videos with panning effects using a single or multiple cameras, aligning the selected object to a fixed position on the image sensor through optical and digital means, and adjusting parameters like shift, scale, and rotation to create background and foreground blur.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If manual camera panning is used to track a moving subject, then the subject can be kept in the same position in the frame, but the background and subject both become blurred due to hand motion

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesubject sharpnessVSAvoidbackground blur quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical camera panning with an automated tracking system that uses image processing and motorized lens or sensor movement to follow the subject. This substitution eliminates hand motion instability while maintaining subject positioning, allowing for controlled background blur without compromising subject sharpness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts exposure time and focus parameters based on detected subject motion and camera movement. By changing these parameters adaptively, the system can maintain subject sharpness while creating the desired background blur effect, resolving the contradiction between subject clarity and background blur quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Duration of action of moving object

If long exposure time is used to allow background blur due to camera movement, then motion sense is captured, but the subject becomes blurred due to hand motion

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveexposure timeVSAvoidsubject sharpness
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of moving objectVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The automated tracking system with motorized stabilization replaces manual camera panning, enabling longer exposure times without hand motion blur. The system can maintain subject positioning stability throughout the extended exposure period, allowing the background to blur naturally from controlled camera movement while keeping the subject sharp.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses onboard sensors and image processing to automatically detect and track the subject, then self-adjusts the camera parameters and movement to maintain subject sharpness throughout the exposure. This self-service capability eliminates the need for manual intervention and enables consistent long-exposure panning效果.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If tripods or motion control robots are used to swing the camera, then smooth background blur is achieved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebackground blur qualityVSAvoidcamera support system
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the stabilization and tracking functions from complex external support systems like tripods and motion control robots, integrating them directly into the camera device. This extraction eliminates the need for bulky external equipment while maintaining the ability to produce smooth background blur through controlled camera movement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The camera system is designed with multi-functional capabilities, combining image capture, subject detection, tracking, and stabilized movement control in a single device. This universality eliminates the need for separate tripods or motion control robots, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining background blur quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS12495119B2System and method for creating background blur in camera panning or motion
Publication Date: 2025.12.09 COREPHOTONICS
  • US12495119B2 patent drawing
  • US12495119B2 patent drawing
  • US12495119B2 patent drawing

AI summary

Systems, imaging devices and methods for creating background blur in camera panning or motion. Using an imaging device with an image sensor, a method may comprise selecting an object to be tracked in a scene, recording an image or an image stream, and aligning the selected object optically and/or digitally to a same position on the image sensor while the selected object moves relative to the imaging device or relative to the scene, thereby creating a blurred image background and/or foreground relative to the selected object and a sense of panning or motion.