Flash Light Control Using Object Position Data

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing flash technologies provide light of fixed intensity regardless of object distance, leading to overexposure or underexposure and unclear images.

Innovation Solution

A method and device that detect object position data to adjust flash light parameters, such as current and light intensity, to ensure constant light intensity across varying distances, using stored relationships to calculate appropriate currents for different positions and combining lights from multiple flash sources for uniform illumination.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If flash light emits light of fixed intensity regardless of object distance, then the flash device is simple to control, but the image quality deteriorates due to overexposure or underexposure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflash control simplicityVSAvoidimage quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The flash light intensity is made dynamic by adjusting the current based on object distance. The system transitions from fixed intensity to variable intensity controlled by the processor, which calculates appropriate current values based on detected object position data and stored relationships between distance and current requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the electrical parameter (current) supplied to the flash light based on object distance. The processor determines different current values corresponding to different object distances, thereby changing the light intensity parameter to match the required exposure levels for various distances.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Illumination intensity

If flash light intensity is increased for distant objects, then exposure for far objects improves, but close objects become overexposed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight intensity for distant objectsVSAvoidoverexposure of close objects
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies different light intensity levels to different spatial zones (close range vs. far range). By detecting object distance and selecting appropriate current values from stored relationships, the flash provides locally optimized illumination intensity tailored to the specific object distance, preventing both overexposure of close objects and underexposure of distant objects.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The flash intensity dynamically adapts to object distance through processor-controlled current adjustment. The system transitions from static fixed intensity to dynamic variable intensity, where the current supplied to the flash is continuously optimized based on the detected position of the object.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Object-affected harmful factors

If flash light intensity is decreased for close objects, then overexposure is prevented, but distant objects become underexposed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoverexposure preventionVSAvoidlight intensity for distant objects
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements location-specific illumination by matching flash intensity to object distance. The processor selects from multiple stored current-object distance relationships to provide the appropriate light intensity for the detected object position, ensuring close objects receive reduced intensity to prevent overexposure while distant objects receive increased intensity for proper exposure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The flash system dynamically adjusts intensity based on object distance through processor control. The current supplied to the flash is varied according to the detected object position and corresponding stored relationships, enabling the system to prevent overexposure of close objects while maintaining adequate illumination for distant objects.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

4Manufacturing precision

If multiple flash sources are used with different currents, then uniform illumination across distances is achieved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveillumination uniformityVSAvoidflash control system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The processor performs multiple functions: detecting object position data, determining object distance from detected data, selecting appropriate current values from stored relationships, and controlling the flash light. This multi-functional approach achieves uniform illumination across different distances without requiring separate dedicated components for each function.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary preparation by storing multiple current-object distance relationships in advance. These pre-stored relationships enable the processor to quickly determine the appropriate current for any given object distance without complex real-time calculations, thereby achieving uniform illumination while minimizing control system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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 approach prevents overexposure and underexposure, ensuring clear images by dynamically adjusting flash light parameters based on object position, providing constant light intensity and improving photograph clarity.

Implementation Method 1

a flash light to provide a light

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight emission from flash: Light Emitting Diode

Data Source

PatentEP3096184B1Method and device for controlling flash light and terminal
Publication Date: 2018.10.24 XIAOMI INC
  • EP3096184B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2B
  • EP3096184B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3096184B1 patent drawingFigure 5~7

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a method, a device for controlling a flash light and a terminal. The method includes: detecting (101) position data of an object to be photographed; and determining (102) a parameter of the flash light with respect to the object to be photographed based on the position data. Through the embodiments of the present disclosure, depending on different positions of the object to be photographed, different parameters of flash light are provided to the flash light to enable a clear image.