Dual Camera Frame Rate Synchronization for Parallax Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Dual camera modules in electronic devices often cause user discomfort due to parallax and differences in color and brightness, and they consume high power, especially when both cameras are actively capturing images simultaneously.
Innovation Solution
An electronic apparatus with first and second camera modules, where one operates as a master and the other as a slave, with the slave adjusting its frame rate and power consumption based on the master's settings to minimize parallax and reduce power usage, using a processor to synchronize and control the camera operations, including adjusting frame rates and performing auto-exposure and auto-white balance based on the master's data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If both camera modules operate simultaneously at high frame rates, then image quality and synchronization are improved, but power consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The slave camera module dynamically adjusts its frame rate based on the master camera's frame rate. When the master camera operates at a high frame rate (e.g., 30fps), the slave camera also operates at 30fps to maintain image quality and synchronization. When the master camera reduces its frame rate to save power (e.g., 5fps), the slave camera accordingly reduces to 5fps, thereby significantly reducing overall power consumption while maintaining reliable operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operating parameters (frame rate) of the slave camera module according to the master camera's settings. By adjusting the frame rate parameter dynamically between 30fps and 5fps based on master camera operation, the system achieves both high image quality when needed and low power consumption during normal operation.
2Manufacturing precision
If both camera modules capture images simultaneously, then depth perception and 3D imaging are improved, but parallax and color/brightness differences cause user discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by having the master camera module perform auto-exposure (AE) and auto-white balance (AWB) operations first. The slave camera module then uses the AE and AWB data from the master camera to adjust its own settings before capturing images. This preliminary adjustment ensures that both cameras capture images with consistent exposure and color balance, reducing parallax and color/brightness differences that cause user discomfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The slave camera module receives feedback from the master camera's AE and AWB operations. By using the master camera's exposure and white balance data as feedback to adjust the slave camera's settings, the system achieves synchronized image quality and minimizes parallax effects, thereby improving depth perception while reducing harmful visual discrepancies.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the slave camera operates independently with full functionality, then image capture flexibility is improved, but auto-exposure and auto-white balance operation time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The master camera's AE and AWB data serve as an intermediary that the slave camera uses to determine its own settings. Instead of the slave camera independently performing time-consuming AE and AWB operations, it uses the master camera's pre-computed data as an intermediary reference. This approach maintains the slave camera's adaptability and versatility in capturing images while significantly reducing the time required for auto-exposure and auto-white balance operations.
Data Source
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AI summary
An electronic apparatus and a method thereof are provided. The electronic apparatus includes a first camera including a first angle of view, a second camera including a second angle of view, a display, an input device for obtaining a set ratio, and a processor. If the ratio is within a specified range, the processor sets the first camera to a specified first frame rate, and the second camera to a second frame rate slower than the first frame rate, and displays a first image, which is obtained at the first frame rate using the first camera. If the ratio is within other specified range, the processor sets the second camera to a specified third frame rate, the first camera to a fourth frame rate slower than the third frame rate, and displays a second image, which is obtained at the third frame rate using the second camera.