Dynamic Image Capture Adaptation for Camera Responsiveness

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users often attempt to take multiple images in rapid succession, exceeding the camera's capability to capture images, leading to a perceived decrease in responsiveness due to the need to drop capture requests and the time required for image fusion, especially in low-light conditions with small image sensors.

Innovation Solution

A dynamic adaptation of image capturing techniques based on shutter activation frequency, switching between a first and second capturing technique to accommodate rapid capture requests, where the second technique reduces the duration of image capture by modifying the image capture sequence, such as omitting longer exposure images or adjusting exposure times, to maintain responsiveness.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If multiple images are captured and fused to improve image quality, then signal-to-noise ratio is improved, but the time required to capture images increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal-to-noise ratioVSAvoidimage capture time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic adaptation of image capturing techniques based on shutter activation frequency. The system switches between a first capturing technique (capturing multiple images for fusion) and a second capturing technique (capturing single images) depending on whether the shutter activation frequency exceeds a threshold. This dynamic approach allows the system to optimize between image quality and capture speed in real-time based on user behavior patterns.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Measurement precision

If the camera captures multiple images in sequence, then image quality is improved, but the responsiveness to rapid capture requests decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage qualityVSAvoidresponsiveness to capture requests
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the capturing technique parameter based on shutter activation frequency. When the frequency exceeds a threshold, the system switches from a technique that captures multiple images (first capturing technique) to a technique that captures single images more quickly (second capturing technique). This parameter change allows the system to maintain responsiveness to rapid capture requests while still providing high-quality images when users capture at normal rates.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Measurement precision

If the camera uses a first capturing technique with multiple image sequences, then image quality is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage qualityVSAvoidimage capture sequence complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic switching between two distinct capturing techniques based on shutter activation frequency. The first capturing technique uses multiple image sequences for high quality, while the second capturing technique uses single image capture for speed. The system dynamically selects which technique to apply, simplifying the overall system architecture by having two well-defined modes rather than a continuously variable complex system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3926945B1Image fusion of images captured using capture settings dependent on time between image capture requests
Publication Date: 2024.11.06 APPLE INC
  • EP3926945B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3926945B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3926945B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

This disclosure pertains to techniques for dynamically adapting image capturing techniques, e.g., based on shutter activation frequency, to improve camera responsiveness. One such technique is a method, comprising: receiving a first capture request 112; in response to receiving the first capture request 112, using a first capturing technique to capture a first set of images based on an image capture sequence 132, the image capture sequence 132 comprising one or more images 116, 118, 120; generating a first image based on the captured first set of images; receiving a second capture request 124 within a first time window 122 from the first capture request 112, wherein a duration of the first time window 122 is based, at least in part, on a length of time needed to capture the one or more images of the image capture sequence 132 using the first capturing technique; in response to the received second capture request 124, using a second capturing technique to capture a second set of images, wherein the second capturing technique is different from the first capturing technique; and generating a second image based on the captured second set of images.