Depth-Aware Imaging Focus Control for User-Selected Subjects

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing imaging devices fail to accurately perform focus control in accordance with the user's intended subject, as they rely on automatic determination without considering manual input.

Innovation Solution

The imaging device incorporates a system that integrates manual focus control with autofocus, allowing users to adjust focus position through a focus ring, and uses depth information and user operations to dynamically select and change focus targets based on user intent.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If automatic focus control is used to determine the main subject, then focus control can be performed automatically, but the focus control may not align with the user's intended subject

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomatic focus controlVSAvoidaccuracy of focus target selection
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides feedback to the user by displaying the detected main subject on the screen and allows the user to provide correction input through touch operations. This feedback loop enables the system to adjust its automatic focus control based on user intent, resolving the contradiction between automation and accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces an intermediary step where the user can touch or drag the displayed main subject to indicate the intended focus target. This intermediary interaction mediates between the automatic detection system and the final focus control, ensuring both automation efficiency and user intent accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If manual focus control is used to adjust focus position, then user intent can be reflected, but the operation becomes more complex and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccuracy of focus target selectionVSAvoidfocus control operation
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system displays a visual copy (frame) of the detected main subject on the screen, allowing the user to interact with this visual representation rather than directly controlling complex focus mechanisms. This simplifies the operation while maintaining accuracy, as users can simply touch or drag the displayed frame to indicate their intended focus target.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Measurement precision

If the focus control target is changed frequently to match user intent, then focus accuracy improves, but the system response time and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccuracy of focus target selectionVSAvoidfocus control system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the focus control target based on real-time user input through touch operations. The main subject detection and focus target selection are made dynamic rather than static, allowing the system to adapt to user intent changes without requiring complex pre-programming or multiple fixed modes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4191331B1Imaging device for setting focus position
Publication Date: 2025.08.27 SONY GROUP CORP
  • EP4191331B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4191331B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4191331B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An imaging device according to the present technology includes a user operation detection unit that detects an operation of a user for focus control, a focus position movement detection unit that detects movement of a focus position based on the operation of the user detected by the user operation detection unit, a depth information detection unit that detects depth information in a focus control target area, and a focus control unit that sets a target focus position on the basis of the movement of the focus position and the depth information. Thus, a technology for executing focus control more in accordance with a user's intention is proposed.