Haptic Focus Control with Depth-Based Directional Guidance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users of imaging systems, such as cameras, face challenges in manually adjusting focus and brightness controls when the image is out of focus, as it is unclear in which direction to adjust, leading to time-consuming iterative adjustments and divided attention, especially in robotic systems where users must multitask.
Innovation Solution
An imaging system with a processor that determines the depth value of a target area and provides intelligent manual adjustment assistance by defining the direction of control element adjustments, such as focus or brightness, using a method that includes determining the desirable adjustment based on depth values and providing haptic feedback to guide the user.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the user manually adjusts the control element without directional guidance, then the user can adjust the control element freely, but the adjustment becomes time-consuming and error-prone
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides feedback to the user by determining the depth value of the target area and using this information to automatically adjust the control element or guide the user's manual adjustment in the correct direction, eliminating the need for iterative trial-and-error adjustments
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary determination of the depth value and calculates the desirable adjustment direction before the user begins manual adjustment, allowing the user to make a single correct adjustment rather than multiple iterative attempts
2Ease of operation
If the user manually adjusts the control element without directional guidance, then the user can adjust the control element freely, but the user's attention is divided and cannot attend to other tasks
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides automatic feedback about the correct adjustment direction based on depth value determination, allowing the user to adjust the control element without divided attention and enabling the user to perform other tasks simultaneously
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs the complex task of determining depth values and calculating adjustment directions automatically, serving itself rather than requiring the user to manually determine the correct adjustment direction, thus freeing the user's attention for other tasks
3Ease of operation
If the user adjusts the control element in the wrong direction initially, then the user can make adjustments, but the user must subsequently change the direction of adjustment
Solution Approach 1:
The system determines the depth value and calculates the correct adjustment direction before the user makes any adjustment, ensuring the user adjusts in the correct direction from the start rather than needing to correct initial errors
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides feedback information about the correct adjustment direction based on the determined depth value, guiding the user to make accurate adjustments without needing to reverse direction to correct errors
Data Source
AI summary
A method for intelligent manual adjustment of a manually rotatable focus control of a camera may comprise determining a depth value of a target area relative to the camera and determining a desirable focus adjustment according to a direction and an amount that a focal point of the camera is to be moved in order to coincide with the depth value of the target area. The method may also comprise assisting an operator of the manually rotatable focus control to the desirable focus adjustment by providing a haptic force on the manually rotatable focus control that decreases as the focal point of the camera moves toward the depth value of the target area and increases as the focal point of the camera moves away from the depth value of the target area.