Hand Obstruction Detection in Image Capture Devices

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Solution Overview

Problem

Image capture devices often suffer from hand obstructions within their field of view, which can result in unwanted visual content and reduced image quality, as users' hands can block the camera lens during image or video capture.

Innovation Solution

An image capture device equipped with a processor that analyzes the peripheral portion of the visual content to detect the presence of an on-housing hand using color value comparisons and sharpness analysis, generating alarms to alert the user of hand obstructions, thereby preventing hand interference.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the user holds the camera to capture images or videos, then the camera is portable and easy to operate, but the user's hand may block the view of the camera

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveportabilityVSAvoidhand obstruction

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection of hand obstructions by analyzing peripheral portions of visual content before the hand fully blocks the field of view. The alarm is generated in advance to alert the user to adjust their grip, preventing the obstruction from occurring during the actual capture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides real-time feedback to the user by generating an alarm when a hand obstruction is detected in the peripheral area. This feedback loop allows the user to immediately adjust their hand position to eliminate the obstruction and capture clear images or videos.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If the user adjusts grip to avoid hand obstruction, then image quality improves, but the ease of operation decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage qualityVSAvoidoperational convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically detects hand obstructions and alerts the user without requiring manual checking or adjustment. The automated detection and alarm generation allow users to maintain their natural gripping姿势 while the system monitors for obstructions and provides guidance when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Area of stationary object

If the field of view is increased to reduce obstruction impact, then more scene is captured, but hand obstruction in periphery becomes more likely

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefield of viewVSAvoidperipheral hand obstruction

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system divides the visual content into different regions, specifically analyzing the peripheral portions separately from the central field of view. By applying masks to isolate peripheral areas and performing specialized analysis on these segments, the system can detect hand obstructions without compromising the overall wide field of view.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS11308597B1Detection of hand obstruction for image capture device

Publication Date: 2022.04.19 GOPRO INC

AI summary

An image capture device may detect presence of an on-housing hand within a periphery of a field of view of an optical element during capture of visual content through the optical element. The image capture device may generate an alarm to indicate the presence of the on-housing hand within the periphery of the field of view of the optical element.