Focus Control Apparatus with Dual Adjustment Units
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-definition camera operations, such as those in cinema and broadcasting, face challenges in accurately adjusting focus distances due to limited screen size and shallower depth fields, leading to difficulties in maintaining focus on wide subjects and matching director intentions, especially when camera and focus operations are mismatched.
Innovation Solution
A focus control apparatus and method that includes a first adjustment unit for adjusting focus distance, a second adjustment unit for fine-tuning the focus distance, and a focus control unit that uses an absolute value of the addition amount adjusted by the second unit, reducing its impact when significant changes occur, along with a display control unit to show the focus adjustment status on a viewfinder, allowing camera operators to easily manage focus adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a high-definition camera with a lens for 35 mm size image sensor is used, then image quality is improved, but depth of field becomes shallower making it difficult to focus on wide subjects
Solution Approach 1:
The focus control is divided into two independent units: a first adjustment unit for coarse focus distance adjustment and a second adjustment unit for fine focus adjustment. This segmentation allows the system to handle both wide subject ranges and precise focus points simultaneously, resolving the contradiction between shallow depth of field and wide subject focus capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a new dimension to focus control by introducing a second adjustment unit that operates independently from the first adjustment unit. This creates a two-dimensional focus adjustment space (coarse + fine) that enables both wide subject coverage and precise focus matching, effectively expanding the focus control capability beyond the limitations of a single adjustment mechanism
2Device complexity
If a single adjustment unit is used for focus control, then device complexity is reduced, but focus adjustment precision is insufficient for high-definition cameras
Solution Approach 1:
The focus control function is segmented into two distinct adjustment units with different precision levels. The first adjustment unit handles coarse focus distance changes, while the second adjustment unit provides fine focus adjustments. This segmentation enables high precision focus control suitable for 4K cameras without requiring an overly complex single-unit design
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically switches between the first adjustment unit for coarse adjustments and the second adjustment unit for fine adjustments based on the current focus state and requirements. This dynamic operation allows the system to achieve high precision focus control while maintaining operational simplicity and avoiding unnecessary complexity
3Ease of operation
If the camera operator manually adjusts focus on a limited screen, then operation simplicity is maintained, but focus accuracy deteriorates due to difficulty in judging focus status
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a display control unit that acts as an intermediary between the focus adjustment mechanism and the camera operator. This unit displays the focus adjustment status on the viewfinder, providing visual feedback that helps the operator accurately judge focus status without complicating the manual adjustment process
Solution Approach 2:
The display control unit provides real-time feedback about the focus adjustment status by showing the focus distance and adjustment state on the viewfinder. This feedback mechanism enables the camera operator to make accurate focus judgments and adjustments while maintaining the simplicity of manual operation, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and focus judgment accuracy
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a focus control apparatus including: a first adjustment unit configured to adjust a focus distance; a second adjustment unit configured to adjust an addition amount of the focus distance adjusted with the first adjustment unit; and a focus control unit configured to control a focus based on the focus distance adjusted with the first adjustment unit and the addition amount adjusted with the second adjustment unit. Also provided are a focus control method, a camera apparatus and a focus control method in the camera apparatus.