Drone Camera Zoom Control to Prevent Focus Loss and Frame Interference

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Solution Overview

Problem

There is a lack of effective techniques for controlling image capturing apparatuses mounted on moving apparatuses, such as drones, which consider the mutual influence between the two, leading to suboptimal operation.

Innovation Solution

A control device and system that communicate and coordinate between the image capturing apparatus and the drone, using microcomputers to manage lens control, movement, and flight operations, ensuring appropriate control based on lens and drone information to prevent issues like focus loss, propeller inclusion in the frame, and collision avoidance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If an image capturing apparatus is mounted to a moving apparatus without coordinated control, then the apparatus can be operated independently, but mutual interference occurs causing focus loss, propeller inclusion in frame, and collision risks

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational reliabilityVSAvoidmutual interference
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the control functions of the image capturing apparatus and the moving apparatus into a unified control system. The control device integrates lens control information from the image capturing apparatus with flight control information from the moving apparatus, coordinating their operations to prevent mutual interference while maintaining independent operational capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The control device implements feedback mechanisms by continuously monitoring lens control information and flight control information, then adjusting operations based on this feedback. This allows the system to detect potential interference issues and correct them in real-time, preventing focus loss, propeller inclusion, and collisions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Ease of operation

If independent control is used for image capturing apparatus and moving apparatus, then operational simplicity is maintained, but coordinated operation and safety are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational simplicityVSAvoidcoordinated operation
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The control device serves as an intermediary between the image capturing apparatus and the moving apparatus. It receives control information from both systems, processes it centrally, and coordinates their operations. This intermediary approach maintains the simplicity of independent operation while ensuring reliable coordinated control through centralized management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3687159B1Control device, control system, control method, program and recording medium
Publication Date: 2023.05.10 CANON KK
  • EP3687159B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP3687159B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP3687159B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

There is provided a control device that controls a moving apparatus to which an image capturing apparatus including a zoom lens is mounted, the device characterized by comprising: obtaining means for obtaining lens information including information pertaining to a zoom position of the zoom lens; and control means for controlling movement of the moving apparatus based on the lens information.