Focus Lens Control Device for Camera Power Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current photographing devices face inefficiencies in determining the lens position of a focus lens focused on a desired object, particularly when capturing images of objects at varying distances, leading to unnecessary lens movement and increased power consumption.

Innovation Solution

A control device and method that calculates a reference distance between the photographing device and the target object, determining a focused range for the lens position based on this distance, allowing the device to shoot multiple images while adjusting the focus within this range to efficiently determine and maintain the optimal lens position.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the photographing device determines lens position by moving the focus lens across a wide range to ensure focus on the desired object, then the reliability of focus is improved, but the power consumption increases and the determination efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefocus reliabilityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the parameter of focus lens movement range from a wide range (covering the entire focusable distance) to a limited range (around the determined focus distance). By calculating the reference distance and setting the focus lens to move only within a specific range around this distance, the system reduces unnecessary lens movement while ensuring the desired object remains in focus, thereby reducing power consumption while maintaining focus reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If the photographing device moves the focus lens across a wide range to determine optimal focus position, then the accuracy of focus determination is improved, but the time required for focus determination increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefocus determination accuracyVSAvoidfocus determination time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the parameter of focus lens movement range from wide to limited. By calculating the reference distance first and then restricting the focus lens movement to a specific range around this reference distance, the system reduces the time required for focus determination while maintaining accuracy. The focus lens only needs to move within the limited range to find the optimal focus position, rather than scanning the entire possible range.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Use of energy by moving object

If the photographing device limits the focus lens movement range to reduce power consumption, then the power efficiency is improved, but the risk of missing the optimal focus position increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower efficiencyVSAvoidfocus accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by first calculating the reference distance (height of photographing device or distance to target object) before moving the focus lens. This preliminary calculation allows the system to determine the appropriate limited range in advance, ensuring that the focus lens movement is confined to the most relevant area where the desired object is likely to be in focus, thus preventing missed focus opportunities while maintaining power efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of focus lens movement from unrestricted to constrained within a specific range. By setting the focus lens movement range based on the reference distance and desired object characteristics, the system ensures that the limited movement still covers the optimal focus position, thereby maintaining focus accuracy while improving power efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

4Adaptability or versatility

If the photographing device performs extensive focus lens movement to capture images at various focus distances, then the versatility of image capture is improved, but the productivity decreases due to increased processing time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage capture versatilityVSAvoidimage capture efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the parameter of focus lens movement range from extensive to limited. By restricting the focus lens movement to a specific range around the reference distance, the system reduces the number of images that need to be captured and processed, thereby improving productivity. The limited range is sufficient to capture the desired object in focus while minimizing unnecessary image acquisition.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS11265456B2Control device, photographing device, mobile object, control method, and program for image acquisition

Publication Date: 2022.03.01 SZ DJI TECH CO LTD

AI summary

A control device includes a processor and a storage medium storing a program that, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to obtain a reference distance of a photographing device that includes a height of the photographing device or a distance from the photographing device to a target object, determine a range of a focus distance of the photographing device according to the reference distance, and control the photographing device to shoot a plurality of images while changing the focus distance within the range.