Dual-Camera Image Zoom With Transitional Blending
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current image zoom technologies in wearable computing devices, such as head-mountable displays, face limitations in providing a seamless and efficient zoom experience due to the need for mechanical adjustments or digital interpolation, which can increase computational resources and reduce image detail.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a dual-camera system with one camera capturing a wide field of view and another capturing a narrow field of view, allowing for a transitional composite image stream to be displayed, which blends the borders of the wide-angle view with the center of the narrow-angle view, creating a smooth zoom effect without mechanical changes or significant computational overhead.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If mechanical adjustments are used for zoom, then image detail is maintained, but device complexity and ease of operation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the imaging system into multiple camera modules, each with fixed focal lengths (e.g., wide-angle and telephoto cameras). Instead of using mechanical adjustments on a single camera, the system segments the zoom function across multiple static cameras, eliminating mechanical complexity while maintaining image detail through optical capture at different focal lengths.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical zoom system (moving lenses or focusing mechanisms) with a multi-camera optical system. Each camera has a fixed focal length, and the zoom effect is achieved by switching between or blending images from different cameras, substituting mechanical movement with optical diversity and digital composition.
2Device complexity
If digital interpolation is used for zoom, then device complexity is reduced, but image detail and manufacturing precision deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent captures images at multiple predetermined focal lengths using multiple cameras with fixed lenses before the zoom operation is needed. When zoom is required, the system selects or blends these pre-captured images rather than interpolating, ensuring high image detail is maintained because the data was optically captured at the desired resolution beforehand.
3Measurement precision
If traditional optical zoom is used, then image detail is maintained, but device complexity and ease of operation worsen due to mechanical components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic image blending system where the transition between different focal lengths is achieved through software-controlled mixing of images from multiple cameras. This allows for smooth, continuous zoom effects without mechanical movement, improving ease of operation while maintaining optical quality through the use of multiple fixed-focal-length cameras.
4Device complexity
If digital zoom is used, then device complexity is reduced, but computational resources increase and image detail deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs the computationally intensive image capture and processing at predetermined focal lengths using multiple dedicated cameras before zoom is needed. This preliminary optical capture at full resolution for each focal length reduces the need for heavy computational interpolation during zoom operations, as the system can simply select or blend pre-captured high-quality images.
Data Source
AI summary
A method is provided that includes operating a first camera to capture a first image stream and operating a second camera to capture a second image stream. The method further includes initially using the first image stream to display a first field of view in a live-view interface of a graphic display and, while displaying the first image stream in the live-view interface, receiving an input corresponding to a zoom command. The method further includes, in response to receiving the input: (a) switching from using the first image stream to display the first field of view in the live-view interface to using a combination of the first image stream and the second stream to display a transitional field of view of the environment in the live-view interface and (b) subsequently switching to using the second image stream to display the second field of view in the live-view interface.