Image Capture Device Wireless Lighting Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Digital imaging devices lack the ability to sense and control existing lighting devices in the environment, leading to suboptimal image capture and increased battery consumption due to reliance on built-in flash.
Innovation Solution
The integration of a wireless network module in image capture devices allows them to connect with and control nearby lighting devices, adjusting lighting parameters such as brightness and type to optimize image capture, using a key light, fill lights, and potentially turning off unnecessary lights.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the built-in flash is used for image capture, then the image capture can be performed in low light conditions, but the battery consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces ambient lighting devices as intermediaries between the camera and the subject. Instead of using the built-in flash directly, the system communicates with nearby lighting devices through a wireless network to control them as proxies for illumination, thereby preserving battery life while maintaining image quality
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables ambient lighting devices to serve the imaging function independently. The lighting devices detect their own presence and characteristics through the wireless network and automatically adjust their operation to provide optimal illumination for image capture without requiring the camera's flash to activate
2Illumination intensity
If ambient lighting devices are controlled to optimize image capture, then image quality improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the ambient lighting devices multi-functional by enabling them to serve both their original purpose (general illumination) and the imaging function (subject lighting). This eliminates the need for dedicated flash hardware and reduces overall system complexity by reusing existing devices
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where the camera communicates lighting requirements to ambient devices, and the devices report their status and capabilities back to the camera. This automated feedback loop manages the increased system complexity by enabling adaptive coordination without manual intervention
3Measurement precision
If multiple lighting parameters are adjusted, then the lighting precision improves, but the ease of operation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables automated lighting parameter optimization where the camera and ambient lighting devices work together to automatically determine and adjust optimal lighting settings based on the imaging scenario, eliminating the need for manual user adjustment of multiple parameters while maintaining high precision control
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A
Figure 2B
AI summary
Described herein are methods and devices that employ wireless network to control the lighting of a target image scene or subject. As described, connected environments enable control of lighting devices within the environment through the use of a network. Some embodiments of the imaging devices described herein may employ the network to control lighting devices for the purpose of illuminating a target scene or subject. Certain embodiments may employ data regarding camera location, subject location, light bulb location, and the parameters of each light bulb in a room to calculate desired lighting parameters for capturing an image of the subject, and may further be able to wirelessly adjust the light bulb parameters to match the calculated parameters.