Dual Camera Self-Portrait Trigger via Rear Lens Obstruction

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Solution Overview

Problem

During self-camera photographing mode, users face difficulties in capturing images due to the long distance between the smartphone and the user's hand, making it hard to touch the camera shutter icon on the screen, especially when the rear camera is hidden by the user's finger.

Innovation Solution

A method and electronic device that activate both the front and rear camera modules, displaying the front camera's image on the screen and automatically capturing it based on information from the rear camera's image, allowing for self-camera photographing without requiring manual touch of the shutter icon.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Length of moving object

If the user stretches arm to reach the camera shutter icon on the screen during self-camera photographing, then the photographing distance increases, but it becomes difficult to touch the camera shutter icon

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvephotographing distanceVSAvoidease of touching shutter icon
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses the rear camera to automatically detect when the user's finger covers it, and triggers the front camera capture without requiring manual interaction. The device serves itself by using the obstruction of the rear camera as the trigger signal for automatic photographing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The rear camera acts as an intermediary sensor that detects the user's capturing gesture. Instead of directly touching the shutter icon, the user's finger serves as an intermediary that blocks the rear camera, which then triggers the automatic capture function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Extent of automation

If the user hides the rear camera with finger to perform self-camera photographing, then the front camera capture is enabled, but manual touching of shutter icon becomes unnecessary

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomatic capture functionVSAvoidmulti-camera coordination
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The rear camera serves dual functions: it acts as a normal photographing device when needed, and simultaneously serves as a gesture detection sensor for triggering automatic front camera capture during self-camera mode, eliminating the need for separate shutter buttons.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the shutter trigger function with the rear camera itself. By combining the rear camera's detection capability with the capture trigger mechanism, the system eliminates the need for a separate shutter icon interaction, simplifying the user interface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3105919B1Photographing method of an electronic device and the electronic device thereof
Publication Date: 2019.07.31 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP3105919B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3105919B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3105919B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A photographing method of an electronic device and the electronic device thereof are provided. The method includes activating a first camera module and a second camera module, displaying an image captured by the activated first camera module on a screen, and capturing an image of the first camera module displayed on the screen based on information of an image captured by the second camera module photographing. An image captured by the activated first camera module is displayed on a screen. An image of the first camera module displayed on the screen is captured based on information of an image captured by the second camera module.