Camera Zoom Control with Continuous Focus for Multi-Subject Capture

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electronic devices with continuous shooting capabilities are limited to a fixed zoom level and focus, making it difficult to capture multiple subjects or objects with varying zoom levels while maintaining focus.

Innovation Solution

An electronic device with a camera and display module that allows users to designate multiple objects, capture images while adjusting zoom levels while maintaining focus on each object, and group and store these images for sequential display.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If continuous shooting is performed with fixed focus and zoom level, then the focusing state is maintained, but the range of photographing is fixed and multiple subjects cannot be captured

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefocusing stateVSAvoidphotographing range
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the zoom level changeable during continuous shooting while maintaining focus on the originally selected subject. The system dynamically adjusts the photographing range through zoom in/zoom out operations, allowing the camera to capture different portions of the scene while keeping the focus point fixed on the initial subject, thus resolving the contradiction between maintaining focus and adapting photographing range

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If zoom level is changed during continuous shooting, then photographing range is adjusted, but focus on original subject may be lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvephotographing rangeVSAvoidfocusing state
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by first selecting a focus subject before initiating continuous shooting. The system records the initial focus point and maintains it throughout the shooting sequence, even as zoom levels change. This preliminary focus selection ensures that subsequent zoom operations do not lose focus on the original subject, resolving the contradiction between adapting range and maintaining focus

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple subjects are photographed with different zoom levels, then versatility is improved, but image organization and retrieval become complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemulti-subject captureVSAvoidimage management
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing continuously captured images into separate groups based on zoom level changes. Each group contains images taken at a specific zoom level, and the system provides distinct thumbnail previews for each group. This segmentation approach organizes the large number of captured images into manageable segments, reducing the complexity of image management while maintaining the ability to capture multiple subjects at different zoom levels

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP2824910B1Electronic device and method of operating the same
Publication Date: 2019.08.07 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP2824910B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2824910B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2824910B1 patent drawingFigure 3(a)~3(c)

AI summary

An electronic device including a first camera configured to capture a first front image; a display module configured to display a preview screen of the first front image obtained by the first camera; and a controller configured to receive a focus input designating an object included in the preview screen is to be focused, receive an input for performing continuous shooting, and control the first camera to capture a plurality of images in different zoom levels while maintaining a focus on the designated object intact based on the received input for performing the continuous shooting.