Eye Direction Detection for Infant Photography
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image taking apparatuses struggle to capture clear pictures of infants as they often move and fail to ensure the subject's eyes are directed towards the camera, unlike adult photography where the subject can maintain eye contact.
Innovation Solution
An image taking apparatus equipped with a face detection device, eye direction judgment device, and imaging control device that detects the subject's face and eye direction, allowing immediate image capture when the eyes are aligned with the camera, and includes features like elapsed time measurement and eye direction guiding devices to assist in maintaining eye contact, such as emitting light or voice cues.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If traditional image taking methods are used, then the device complexity is low, but the image quality deteriorates because the subject's eye direction cannot be ensured
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the detection task into separate functional modules: face detection device for locating the face, eye direction judgment device for determining eye direction, and imaging control device for triggering capture. This segmentation allows each component to specialize in one aspect, improving overall image quality while keeping individual components relatively simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The imaging apparatus integrates multiple functions into a single system: live view imaging, face detection, eye direction analysis, and automated capture triggering. This multi-functionality enables the device to ensure proper eye direction and capture quality without requiring separate specialized equipment for each function.
2Manufacturing precision
If the imaging apparatus waits for the subject to turn eyes toward the camera, then the image quality improves, but the time loss increases due to waiting period
Solution Approach 1:
The face detection and eye direction judgment operations continue continuously during the live view mode, rather than waiting for a specific trigger moment. This continuous monitoring ensures that when the subject's eyes do turn toward the camera, the system is already ready to capture immediately, minimizing time loss while maintaining image quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides real-time feedback by displaying the live view image with detected face and eye direction information. This feedback loop allows the subject to understand what is being detected and may encourage them to maintain eye contact with the camera, reducing the waiting time for proper positioning.
3Ease of operation
If the imaging apparatus uses automatic eye direction detection, then the ease of operation improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-service by automatically detecting face and eye direction, then triggering capture without requiring manual intervention. The user simply needs to hold the device steady and allow the subject to naturally turn their eyes toward the camera, eliminating the need for complex manual controls while maintaining high ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical or manual adjustment mechanisms with automated image processing algorithms. Instead of requiring physical adjustments or manual triggering, the system uses computational methods to detect eye direction and automatically initiate capture, reducing the perceived complexity from the user's perspective while maintaining operational simplicity.
Data Source
AI summary
An aspect of the present invention provides an image taking apparatus comprising an imaging device which takes an image of a subject, an imaging instruction device for inputting an imaging instruction to take the image of the subject, a face detection device which detects a face image of the subject from a live view image taken by the imaging device in response to the imaging instruction from the imaging instruction device, an eye direction judgment device which detects an eye direction of the subject from the face image and judges whether the eye direction of the subject is directed to the imaging device, and an imaging control device which, when it is judged that the eye direction of the subject is directed to the imaging device, immediately causes the imaging device to take an image of the subject.