Front Camera Orientation Sensor Selection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electronic devices with front-facing cameras often struggle to provide a good field-of-view (FOV) in both portrait and landscape orientations, and require manual switching between cameras, leading to latency and user inconvenience.

Innovation Solution

The electronic device employs two or more front-facing image sensors, one positioned for portrait orientation and another for landscape orientation, which are dynamically selected based on the device's orientation using a virtual sensor device to ensure optimal FOV with minimal latency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a single front-facing image sensor is used, then the device structure is simple, but the field-of-view is limited in certain orientations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecamera system structureVSAvoidfield-of-view coverage

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the camera system into multiple image sensors, each optimized for specific orientations (portrait and landscape). This segmentation allows each sensor to specialize in capturing images for its designated orientation, thereby improving overall adaptability without requiring a single complex omnidirectional sensor system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a virtual camera system that unifies multiple physical image sensors into a single logical interface. This virtual camera can function in any orientation by dynamically selecting the appropriate physical sensor, providing universal coverage for both portrait and landscape modes while maintaining a simple user interface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple image sensors are added to support different orientations, then the field-of-view in all orientations is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveorientation supportVSAvoidcamera system structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a virtual camera as an intermediary layer between the user/application and the multiple physical image sensors. This virtual camera manages the complexity of sensor selection and switching, presenting a unified interface that abstracts away the underlying hardware complexity while supporting multiple orientations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system automatically selects the appropriate image sensor based on the device's current orientation without requiring manual intervention. The virtual camera dynamically switches between physical sensors according to orientation changes, providing self-service functionality that maintains optimal field-of-view while hiding the complexity from the user.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Adaptability or versatility

If manual switching between cameras is required, then the system can use multiple sensors, but the user experience deteriorates due to latency and inconvenience

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesensor selection capabilityVSAvoiduser interaction

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The virtual camera system automatically detects the device orientation and selects the appropriate image sensor without requiring user action. This self-service mechanism eliminates manual switching operations, providing seamless transitions between portrait and landscape modes while maintaining optimal field-of-view.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors the device orientation and provides real-time feedback to switch between image sensors accordingly. This feedback loop ensures that the correct sensor is always active based on the current orientation, eliminating latency and improving user experience through automatic adaptation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

4Adaptability or versatility

If the system switches between image sensors, then the field-of-view can be optimized for different orientations, but latency is introduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveorientation-optimized FOVVSAvoidswitching latency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent keeps multiple image sensors in a ready state, pre-configured and pre-positioned for immediate activation. When an orientation change is detected, the system can quickly switch between sensors without significant delay because the sensors are already prepared and waiting, minimizing switching latency while maintaining orientation-optimized field-of-view.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS20250159343A1Methods, system, and apparatus to select among image sensors based on device orientation

Publication Date: 2025.05.15 INTEL PRODUCTS IP LLC

AI summary

Methods, systems, and apparatus are disclosed to select among image sensors based on device orientation. An example electronic device comprising a device orientation sensor, a first image sensor, a second image sensor, and processor circuitry to execute instructions to determine a detected orientation of the electronic device based on data from the device orientation sensor, select one of the first image sensor or the second image sensor based on the detected orientation of the electronic device, the first image sensor associated with a first orientation of the electronic device, the second image sensor associated with a second orientation of the electronic device, and activate the selected one of the first image sensor or the second image sensor to collect image data.