Electronic Viewfinder Power Management via Eye Proximity Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing imaging apparatus with electronic viewfinders face issues of high power consumption and burn-in/aging degradation due to prolonged display usage, and poor usability from frequent display state changes when the user's eye approaches and separates from the viewfinder.
Innovation Solution
The imaging apparatus employs a system controller with a proximity sensor and timer controller to differentiate eye approaching distances and times between recording and reproducing modes, maintaining the display on for longer when the user's eye is away for short periods during recording, thus reducing power consumption and preventing burn-in/aging degradation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the display is turned off when the user's eye is separated from the EVF, then power consumption is reduced and burn-in/aging degradation is suppressed, but a long period of time is required for energization when the eye is brought into contact with the EVF again resulting in poor usability
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by keeping the display in a low-power standby state rather than fully turning it off, and pre-loads the imaging data so that when the user's eye is detected, the display can be activated immediately without waiting for data processing or full power-up sequences. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining readiness while minimizing power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the display power state based on real-time detection of eye contact. When the user's eye is detected, the display transitions from a low-power state to a full-power state immediately. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to minimize power consumption during non-use while ensuring instant availability when needed, resolving the contradiction between power saving and usability.
2Ease of operation
If the display is kept on during recording mode when the user's eye is briefly away, then usability is maintained and frequent display state changes are reduced, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic action by using continuous eye-contact detection at regular intervals during recording mode. Based on the detection results, the display power state is adjusted periodically - remaining on when eye contact is detected or briefly interrupted, and turning off only when prolonged absence is confirmed. This periodic monitoring allows the system to maintain usability during brief interruptions while managing power consumption during extended periods of non-use.
3Use of energy by moving object
If the display is turned off quickly to save power, then power consumption is reduced, but the display response time increases when the user returns causing poor usability
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by maintaining a standby state with pre-loaded imaging data and pre-configured display parameters. When the user's eye is detected, the display is activated immediately from this prepared state rather than from a fully powered-off state. This preliminary preparation eliminates the delay that would otherwise occur during full power-up sequences, resolving the contradiction between power saving and response time.
Data Source
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AI summary
A display control apparatus includes a viewfinder (103) including an eye contacting portion and internal display means (105), eye approaching detection means (104), mode switching means (102) which selects one of a plurality of operation modes including first and second operation modes, and control means (101) which performs control such that an on state of the internal display means is changed to an off state based on detection, by the eye approaching detection means, of an object moving away from the eye contacting portion to a position at or further than a first distance in the first operation mode, and the on state is changed to the off state based on detection, by the eye approaching detection means, of an object moving away from the eye contacting portion to a position at or further than a second distance, which is larger than the first distance, in the second operation mode.