Gaze-Controlled Autofocus for Peripheral Image Focusing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing portable imaging devices face challenges in efficiently and flexibly focusing images on multiple areas, particularly outside the image center, due to limitations in autofocus systems that require manual adjustment and are not intuitive or cost-effective.
Innovation Solution
A method and device that utilize a first image recording arrangement to capture user gaze directions, allowing for the selection and processing of multiple focusing areas in a portable device with an autofocus arrangement, enabling the creation of a final image focused within defined areas based on user interest, without the need for auxiliary hardware.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single focusing frame is provided in the center of the viewfinder, then the autofocus system is simple and cost-effective, but the user cannot focus on objects located outside the image center (periphery)
Solution Approach 1:
The focusing frame is made dynamically movable across different positions in the image, transitioning from a fixed center position to an adjustable position that follows the user's gaze direction. This allows the system to adapt to various focusing needs without providing multiple static focusing frames, thus maintaining simplicity while improving versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically determines the focusing area based on the user's gaze direction detected by the image recording arrangement, eliminating the need for manual selection among multiple focusing frames. The single focusing frame serves itself by being dynamically positioned according to user interest, reducing complexity while maintaining adaptability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple focusing frames are provided to enable focusing on different areas, then the user can focus on peripheral objects, but the device complexity increases and the system becomes less intuitive
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates feedback from the user's gaze direction (detected by the image recording arrangement) to automatically control the focusing frame position and autofocus operation. This feedback mechanism eliminates the need for users to manually select among multiple focusing frames, making the operation more intuitive while maintaining the flexibility to focus on any area of interest.
3Speed
If manual focus adjustment is used, then the device structure remains simple, but the speed and accuracy of focusing is insufficient for DSC purposes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical focus adjustment with an automated autofocus system that uses image processing and gaze detection to determine the focusing area and control the lens. This substitution significantly improves focusing speed and accuracy for digital still camera purposes while keeping the overall device structure relatively simple by using software-based control rather than complex mechanical mechanisms.
4Ease of operation
If the focus frame is fixed at the center, then the autofocus system is simple to implement, but the user cannot control where the focus is set based on their gaze direction
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically determines the focusing area based on the user's gaze direction detected by the image recording arrangement, eliminating the need for manual selection among multiple focusing frames. The single focusing frame serves itself by being dynamically positioned according to user interest, reducing complexity while maintaining adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention discloses a method and a portable device for focusing an image in the device (10), which device (10) comprises; a first image recording arrangement (24a) for recording images of an user (50) of the device (10); a second image recording arrangement (24b) comprising an autofocus arrangement for recording images of the environment surrounding the device (10); and a display arrangement (22) for reproducing the recorded images of the environment surrounding the device (10), which method comprises the step of: obtaining a plurality of gazing directions of the user (50) from images recorded by the first image recording arrangement (24a); selecting focusing areas depending on the obtained gazing directions; processing said at least one image of the environment so as to create a final image that is focused within areas defined by the focusing areas.