Photographing Apparatus Gesture Thumbnail Overlay

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing photographic apparatuses require users to switch between photographic and gallery modes, causing inconvenience as they cannot simultaneously view live images and pre-captured images, and mode changes are time-consuming.

Innovation Solution

The apparatus displays a thumbnail menu of pre-captured images alongside the live view image in photographic mode, allowing users to view and manage captured images without leaving the photographic mode, using gestures to interact with the thumbnail menu and perform functions like sharing or deleting images.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the apparatus switches to gallery mode to view pre-captured images, then users can view captured images, but users cannot simultaneously view live images and mode changes are time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconvenience of viewing pre-captured imagesVSAvoidtime spent on mode changes
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the gallery mode functionality into the photographic mode by displaying a thumbnail menu overlaying the live view image. This allows users to access pre-captured images without switching modes, combining the viewing of both live and captured images in a single interface. The thumbnail menu can be dismissed or navigated while remaining in photographic mode, eliminating the need for mode transitions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the apparatus displays thumbnail menu alongside live view image, then users can simultaneously view live and pre-captured images, but the interface complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecapability to simultaneously display live and captured imagesVSAvoidinterface complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The interface is segmented into distinct functional layers: the background live view image and the foreground thumbnail menu overlay. The thumbnail menu occupies a specific region (e.g., bottom portion) of the display, separating the functionality of viewing captured images from the live view. This segmentation allows independent interaction with each layer while maintaining overall interface simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent adds a spatial dimension to the interface by introducing the thumbnail menu as an overlay layer on top of the live view image. This creates a multi-layered display structure where users can access captured images without leaving the photographic mode context. The thumbnail menu can be positioned in various regions or displayed as a popup, adding dimensional depth to the interface without complicating the fundamental photographic functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Productivity

If the apparatus requires mode switching to access gallery functions, then the operational flow is simple, but user convenience is reduced due to repeated mode changes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveefficiency of image accessVSAvoiduser convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The thumbnail menu is prepared and displayed in advance within the photographic mode interface, allowing users to preview and select captured images before actually needing to view them in full. This preliminary display of thumbnail images enables quick access and selection without requiring mode transitions, improving both efficiency and convenience.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3076659B1Photographing apparatus, control method thereof, and non-transitory computer-readable recording medium
Publication Date: 2019.12.04 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP3076659B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP3076659B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP3076659B1 patent drawingFigure 2A

AI summary

A method comprising: displaying a live view image (300) on a screen (164); detecting a first gesture that is performed on the screen when the live view image is displayed; and displaying a thumbnail menu (400) on the screen together with the live view image based on a duration of the first gesture.