Dynamic Video Orientation Lock and Aspect Ratio Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current portable electronic devices, such as smartphones, often record videos in suboptimal orientations, requiring post-processing correction due to user-induced rotation, leading to undesirable vertical video orientation and aspect ratios that are not suitable for consumption on standard displays.

Innovation Solution

The system utilizes a mobile device's inertial sensors to continuously monitor orientation, providing real-time feedback to ensure optimal video framing and aspect ratio correction during recording, allowing users to shoot videos in any orientation while maintaining a consistent and display-friendly format, using a processor to manage camera settings and aspect ratio adjustments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the mobile device is used in vertical orientation for recording, then the device is used in its intended orientation, but the video becomes taller than wide which is not optimal for consumption on standard displays

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice orientationVSAvoidvideo aspect ratio
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically changes the aspect ratio based on the detected orientation of the mobile device. When the device is held vertically, the system applies a dynamic aspect ratio transformation to output horizontally-oriented video, whereas when held horizontally, it maintains the standard horizontal aspect ratio. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction between ease of operation and optimal video shape for display consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If the user rotates the mobile device during recording, then the user can change orientation, but the video horizon becomes tilted requiring post-processing correction

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveorientation flexibilityVSAvoidvideo horizon alignment
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system employs feedback from inertial sensors to continuously monitor the orientation of the mobile device during recording. This feedback mechanism detects rotation and tilt, enabling real-time correction of video horizon alignment through aspect ratio transformation. The feedback loop ensures that even when users rotate the device for adaptability, the output video maintains proper horizon alignment without requiring post-processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary correction of the video orientation by applying aspect ratio transformation during the recording process itself, rather than requiring post-processing. By detecting orientation changes in real-time and pre-correcting the video horizon alignment through dynamic aspect ratio adjustment, the system eliminates the need for subsequent correction steps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Manufacturing precision

If real-time orientation monitoring is implemented, then video framing is corrected during recording, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevideo framing accuracyVSAvoidsensor and processing requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system leverages the existing inertial sensors already present in modern mobile devices for multi-purpose functionality. These sensors, originally designed for other functions, are repurposed to monitor orientation for video framing correction. By making use of existing hardware components for multiple purposes, the system achieves real-time video framing accuracy without significantly increasing device complexity.

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

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This solution enables users to capture videos in any orientation without the need for post-processing correction, ensuring optimal playback on various displays by dynamically adjusting the video's aspect ratio and maintaining consistent framing, thus enhancing the usability of embedded photography tools in mobile devices.

Implementation Method 1

a sensor operative to detect a rotational position of the mobile device

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectInertial sensing: Accelerometer

Data Source

PatentEP3149624B1Photo-video-camera with dynamic orientation lock and aspect ratio.
Publication Date: 2020.02.12 INTERDIGITAL CE PATENT HOLDINGS SAS
  • EP3149624B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3149624B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3149624B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method and apparatus for dynamically maintaining a horizontal framing of a video. The system permits the user to freely rotate the device while filming, while visualizing the final output in an overly on the device viewfinder or screen during shooting. The resulting recording is subsequently corrected to maintain a single orientation with a stable horizon. The system and method is operative display an overly over a captured representation of the captured video wherein the overlay indicates a modified image with respect to said orientation.