Dual Camera Watch Image Processing for Wide-Angle Framing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image-capturing devices, such as smartwatches, face challenges in capturing wide-angle images and maintaining a consistent framing of a subject's face during video conferencing due to limited wrist mobility and the need for precise aiming, especially when holding a beverage or at uncomfortable angles.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating two cameras with wide-angle lenses and a processor that combines and processes image data to automatically crop and adjust the image, allowing for a larger field of view and maintaining a consistent framing of the subject's face without requiring precise aiming or steady wrist positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a narrow-angle lens is used to capture images, then the image quality and framing precision are improved, but the field of view is limited and the user must precisely aim the camera
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the imaging function into two parts: a wide-angle camera captures the entire scene with a broad field of view, while a second camera with a narrower angle captures a cropped, higher-quality view of a specific region. This segmentation allows the system to simultaneously achieve both wide coverage and precise framing without requiring the user to manually aim the device.
2Ease of operation
If the user moves their wrist to aim the camera, then the target subject can be captured, but the viewfinder moves into an unobservable position and precise aiming becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a second camera to capture an optical viewfinder image that is then displayed on an electronic display screen. This creates a digital copy of the viewfinder content that can be observed regardless of the physical camera's orientation. Users can see the framed shot on the screen even when the actual camera is positioned at angles where a traditional optical viewfinder would be unobservable.
3Area of moving object
If a wide-angle lens is used to capture a larger scene, then the user can capture more of the environment without precise aiming, but the image quality and framing control are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the imaging task between two cameras: the wide-angle camera captures the complete scene with maximum field of view, while a second camera (or the same camera at a different time) captures a cropped region with higher effective resolution and better framing control. The system processes both images to provide both the wide view and the refined framed shot.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts a specific region of interest from the wide-angle image data. By identifying and isolating a target subject or area within the broader scene captured by the wide-angle lens, the system creates a cropped image that focuses on the important elements while maintaining good framing, effectively separating the framing function from the wide-angle capture function.
4Ease of operation
If the user holds their wrist at a comfortable angle, then ease of operation is improved, but the image appears to be taken from an unwanted angle
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a digital copy of the scene through image processing that allows the desired viewing angle to be simulated. Even though the physical camera is held at a comfortable wrist angle, the image processing system can adjust and transform the captured image to appear as if it were taken from a different, more flattering angle, separating the physical positioning requirement from the desired visual outcome.
Data Source
AI summary
An image-capturing device is disclosed. The image-capturing device may include two cameras, a watch body, and a watch band coupled to the watch body. The two cameras may simultaneously capture images. A processor of the image-capturing device may combine image data of the simultaneously-captured images from the two cameras into resultant image data representing a single continuous image. The images captured by the cameras may be moving images (i.e., video). The processor may identify a tracking target within the captured images and may continuously output target image data representing a target area of the image including the tracking target. Where the tracking target is a face captured from a low angle, the processor may angle-adjust the image so that the output target image data represents the face from a different angle (e.g., a front angle).