Focus Control Across Manual and Autofocus Switching to Preserve Targets

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing autofocus systems in digital cameras often fail to maintain focus on the intended object when switching between autofocus and manual focus, leading to the object being excluded from the focusing target, requiring skilled user intervention.

Innovation Solution

A focus control device that switches between autofocus and manual focus based on the presence of an object in focus, adjusting the ranging target area and control mode to ensure the intended object remains in focus.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the focus control is switched from autofocus to manual focus and then back to autofocus, then the user can perform manual focusing operation, but the object may be excluded from the focusing target area

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanual focus operationVSAvoidfocus target accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection of the in-focus position during manual focus operation and stores this information. When switching back to autofocus mode, the system uses this pre-detected in-focus position information to automatically restore the focus target, ensuring the object remains within the focusing target area without requiring the user to re-compose or re-focus.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors the focus state during manual operation and provides feedback by detecting whether the object is in focus. This feedback information is used to automatically adjust the autofocus parameters when switching modes, creating a closed-loop control that maintains focus accuracy while allowing manual operation flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Stability of the object's composition

If the autofocus area is fixed before manual focus operation, then the system maintains consistent focusing target, but the user cannot focus on objects outside the original AF area

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefocus target consistencyVSAvoidfocus target flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the autofocus target area based on the manual focus operation. When the user performs manual focusing on a different object or position, the system detects this change and automatically expands or repositions the autofocus area to include the newly focused object. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to maintain both consistency (by preserving the original focus intent) and flexibility (by accommodating manual adjustments).

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS20250254422A1Focus control device capable of preventing object from being excluded from focusing target, focus controlling method, and storage medium

Publication Date: 2025.08.07 CANON KK

AI summary

A focus control device that is capable of preventing an object intended by a user from being excluded from a focusing target. The focus control device performs focus adjustment by using one of autofocus and manual focus. When focus control is switched from the autofocus to the manual focus, and then switched to the autofocus, whether to perform focus adjustment with settings of the autofocus set before being switched to the manual focus, or with settings of the autofocus to be set after being switched from the manual focus, is controlled according to whether or not there is an object focused by the manual focus.