Dual-Camera Gesture Switching to Prevent Broken Video Framing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users face inconvenience and potential misoperations when switching cameras during video creation on electronic devices with multiple cameras, leading to broken framing in the video.

Innovation Solution

An electronic device detects mid-air gestures using a front-facing camera to switch photographing modes without touching the screen, requiring specific combinations of gestures to avoid misoperations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the user touches the display screen to switch cameras, then the camera switching function is achieved, but the framing picture of the video is easily broken and the operation convenience is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecamera switching convenienceVSAvoidvideo framing integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary gesture recognition system that mediates between the user and the camera switching function. Instead of direct screen touching, the user performs mid-air gestures captured by the front-facing camera, which are then processed to trigger camera switching. This intermediary layer prevents direct contact with the screen while maintaining control functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical touch interaction system with an optical gesture recognition system. The front-facing camera captures mid-air hand gestures, and image processing algorithms identify and interpret these gestures to control camera switching, eliminating the need for physical screen contact.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Productivity

If the system allows single gesture for camera switching, then the operation speed is improved, but the misoperation rate increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecamera switching speedVSAvoidoperation accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a two-stage gesture recognition process where the first gesture triggers a preliminary state (displaying the first identifier), and the second gesture within a preset time window confirms the final action. This preliminary action mechanism allows for quick initiation while providing a confirmation step to prevent misoperations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides visual feedback by displaying the first identifier on the screen after detecting the first gesture, indicating that the system is ready to receive the confirming second gesture. This feedback loop ensures the user knows the system state and reduces the likelihood of accidental activations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Adaptability or versatility

If the system uses front-facing camera for gesture detection, then the mid-air gesture recognition is achieved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegesture control capabilityVSAvoidsystem structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the front-facing camera serve multiple functions: it is used for both self-photography/video and gesture recognition. By reusing the existing front-facing camera hardware for gesture control, the system avoids adding separate sensors or cameras, thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining versatility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP4243400B1Photographing method and electronic device
Publication Date: 2025.11.26 HONOR DEVICE CO LTD
  • EP4243400B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP4243400B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP4243400B1 patent drawingFigure 2A

AI summary

This application provides a photographing method and an electronic device. In the photographing method, a gesture of a user can be detected by using a first camera, so that the user switches a photographing mode of the electronic device by using the gesture, the user does not need to touch a display screen in an entire process, and an operation is convenient. In addition, the electronic device can switch from a front-facing and rear-facing photographing mode to a front-facing photographing mode only after the first camera detects two gestures, so that a misoperation caused because another camera detects a gesture can be avoided, and a misoperation of the user photographed by the first camera can be avoided. The method includes: The electronic device can display a photographing preview interface, where the photographing preview interface includes a first image collected by a first camera and a second image collected by a second camera; if the first camera detects a first gesture, the electronic device displays a first identifier; and if the first camera detects a second gesture within a preset time after the first identifier is displayed, the electronic device continues to display the first image in the photographing preview interface, and stops displaying the second image.