Corneal Reflection Camera Adjustment for Anticipatory Focus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing camera systems in electronic devices struggle to adjust settings effectively for improving image quality when objects or light sources move into the field of view, as they rely on analyzing the scene within the camera's field of view and cannot account for items outside this view, especially when the user is looking at something outside the camera's field.
Innovation Solution
A method and electronic device that uses a rearward-facing camera to capture and analyze a video stream of a corneal reflection of a user's eye to detect items entering the forward-facing camera's field of view, adjusting camera settings such as image stabilization, autofocus, and exposure based on the detected items and their characteristics, such as speed, type, and brightness, to enhance image quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the camera analyzes the scene within its field of view to adjust settings, then the camera can detect items currently in view, but it cannot account for items moving into the field of view from outside
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the user's cornea as an intermediary optical element to capture a reflection of the forward scene. The rearward-facing camera captures this corneal reflection, which acts as a mediator to provide information about the forward scene that is otherwise invisible to the forward-facing camera. This allows the system to detect items outside the forward-facing camera's field of view by analyzing the reflected scene in the cornea.
2Measurement precision
If eye tracking is used to detect user gaze direction, then the system can identify where the user is looking, but it cannot determine the nature of the item being viewed
Solution Approach 1:
The corneal reflection serves as an intermediary that preserves visual information about the forward scene. Instead of merely detecting gaze direction, the system captures the actual reflection of the scene in the cornea, maintaining information about the items being viewed. This allows the system to identify both where the user is looking and what specific items are in their field of view.
3Device complexity
If the camera waits for items to enter the field of view before adjusting settings, then the analysis is simple, but image quality deteriorates when items suddenly enter the view
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary analysis of the corneal reflection to identify items that are currently outside but will soon enter the forward-facing camera's field of view. By detecting the movement and trajectory of items in the reflected scene, the system can anticipate their entry and pre-adjust camera settings such as focus, exposure, and stabilization before the items actually appear in the main view, thereby maintaining high image quality.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach allows for timely and effective adjustments to camera settings, improving image quality by anticipating and preparing for objects or light sources entering the forward-facing camera's field of view, even when they are outside its initial view, resulting in sharper photographs and videos.
Implementation Method 1
analyzing a video stream containing a reflection of the forward scene in a cornea of an eye of a user
Data Source
AI summary
Operating a camera system that includes a forward-facing camera directed at a forward scene and a rearward-facing camera directed at a rearward scene opposite the forward scene includes analyzing a video stream containing a reflection of the forward scene in a cornea of an eye of a user of the camera system, the video stream captured with the rearward-facing camera. The analyzing includes identifying an item in the reflection moving relative to a field of view of the forward-facing camera and predicted to enter the field of view of the forward-facing camera and identifying a characteristic of the item. A camera setting of the forward-facing camera is adjusted according to the characteristic of the identified item, the adjusted camera setting selected to improve capturing a photograph or video containing the item with the forward-facing camera.