Focus Lens Control for Moving Objects
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image capturing apparatuses face challenges in continuously focusing on moving objects at short distances due to complex calculations required for estimating focus lens positions, especially when the object's movement is non-linear and acceleration-based corrections are needed.
Innovation Solution
An image capturing apparatus with a detection unit, storage unit for focus cam data, calculation unit, estimation unit, and determination unit that simplifies the process by detecting in-focus positions, calculating object distances, estimating next in-focus positions, and determining focus lens movement ranges based on stored data, reducing the need for complex calculations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If acceleration-based correction is used to focus on moving objects, then focusing accuracy on moving objects is improved, but calculation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the necessary information (object distance and speed) from the complex acceleration-based correction method. By using the relationship between object distance, speed, and focus lens position stored in focus cam data, the system achieves accurate focusing on moving objects without performing complex acceleration calculations, thus reducing calculation complexity while maintaining focusing accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent pre-calculates and stores the relationship between object distance, speed, and focus lens position in focus cam data before the actual focusing operation. This preliminary preparation allows the system to quickly determine the next in-focus position by simply looking up the pre-stored data rather than performing complex real-time calculations, thereby reducing calculation complexity while maintaining accuracy.
2Measurement precision
If complex calculation is performed to estimate focus lens position, then focusing accuracy on moving objects is improved, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-calculates and stores the relationship between object distance, speed, and focus lens position in focus cam data. During actual operation, the system quickly retrieves the next in-focus position from this pre-stored data based on current object distance and speed, significantly reducing processing time while maintaining focusing accuracy on moving objects.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts only the essential parameters (object distance and speed) needed for focusing calculation, ignoring complex acceleration and higher-order motion parameters. This extraction of necessary information simplifies the calculation process and reduces processing time while still achieving accurate focusing on moving objects.
3Ease of operation
If focus scanning is performed with fixed range, then device operation is simple, but focusing capability at short distances is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the focus scanning range dynamic by determining it based on the estimated next in-focus position and current focus lens position. The determination unit calculates an appropriate scanning range that adapts to the object's distance and movement characteristics, enabling effective focusing at short distances while maintaining simple operation through automated range adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses feedback from the detected in-focus positions and calculated object distances to dynamically adjust the scanning range for the next in-focus position detection. This feedback mechanism allows the system to automatically adapt the scanning range to the current situation, improving focusing capability at short distances without requiring complex manual operation.
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
Enables continuous focusing on moving objects without complex calculations, even at short distances, by using focus cam data to estimate object distances and determine focus lens positions efficiently.
Implementation Method 1
acquire a focus evaluation value that is based on an image contrast
Data Source
AI summary
An image capturing apparatus is provided with: a detection unit configured to detect in-focus positions; a storage unit in which focus cam data is stored that indicates a relationship between an object distance and a focus lens position; a calculation unit configured to calculate object distances at the in-focus positions, based on focus lens positions at the in-focus positions and the focus cam data; an estimation unit configured to estimate an object distance in next in-focus position detection; and a determination unit configured to determine a predetermined range in which the focus lens is moved in the next in-focus position detection, based on an estimated value for the object distance in the next in-focus position detection that was estimated by the estimation unit.