Dual-Camera Zoom Switching With Smooth FOV Center Transition

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Solution Overview

Problem

Electronic devices experience a field of view (FOV) center jump during zoom processes, leading to poor user experience, and unnecessary power consumption due to enabling all cameras even when zooming is not required.

Innovation Solution

Implement a method that uses an FOV center offset algorithm to gradually transition the FOV center from one camera to another by cropping images captured by the first camera, ensuring smooth transitions and enabling only necessary cameras during zooming.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If all cameras are enabled to provide zoom photographing capability, then zoom photographing requirements are met, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvezoom photographing capabilityVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent dynamically enables or disables cameras based on the current zoom ratio and user operations. The system transitions from a static state where all cameras are always enabled to a dynamic state where camera activation is adjusted in real-time according to zoom requirements, thereby reducing power consumption while maintaining zoom functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the operational state parameter of cameras (enabled/disabled) based on the zoom ratio parameter. When zooming is not required, cameras are disabled; when zooming is required, the appropriate camera is enabled. This parameter-based control resolves the contradiction between providing zoom capability and consuming power.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If camera switching is performed during zoom process, then different zoom ratios are achieved, but FOV center jump occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvezoom ratio rangeVSAvoidFOV center position
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary FOV center offset algorithm that mediates between the first camera and the second camera during switching. This algorithm gradually transitions the FOV center from the first camera's center to the second camera's center, preventing sudden jumps and maintaining visual stability during the zoom process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary calculation of the FOV center offset before actually switching cameras. By pre-computing the gradual transition path for the FOV center, the system prepares the necessary adjustments in advance, ensuring smooth transition when the camera switch occurs and avoiding abrupt center jumps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Speed

If camera switching is performed quickly, then zoom response speed is improved, but FOV center jump and user experience degradation occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvezoom response speedVSAvoiduser experience
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary calculations of the FOV center offset and prepares the transition parameters before executing the camera switch. This advance preparation allows the system to quickly switch cameras while simultaneously applying the pre-computed gradual FOV center transition, thus maintaining both fast response and smooth user experience.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a dynamic FOV center transition that adapts to the camera switching process. Rather than a fixed or abrupt transition, the system dynamically adjusts the FOV center position gradually during the switch, balancing the need for quick response with the requirement for smooth user experience.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4329287B1Photographing method and electronic device
Publication Date: 2025.12.31 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP4329287B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4329287B1 patent drawingFigure 2A
  • EP4329287B1 patent drawingFigure 2B

AI summary

Embodiments of this application provide a photographing method and an electronic device. The electronic device may enable only one camera (namely, a current camera) by default. When detecting a tap-to-zoom operation of a user, the electronic device may enable another camera (namely, a target camera). The electronic device may execute an FOV center offset algorithm based on images captured by the two cameras, so that an FOV center of an image captured by the current camera gradually approaches an FOV center of an image captured by the target camera. This implements smooth FOV center transition, and avoids a FOV center jump. In addition, the another camera is enabled in a tap-to-zoom scenario, so that power consumption of the electronic device is reduced.