Image Pickup Focus Tracking With Shield-Aware Subject Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing focus control systems struggle with correct focus tracking determination, particularly when obstacles or changes in framing occur, leading to unintended focus movements on objects that are not the intended main subject.
Innovation Solution
A focus control apparatus and method that utilizes a camera system with a lens unit and body, incorporating an object recognition unit to detect a shield area and generate shield information, allowing for improved focus tracking determination by considering both defocus amount and shield information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If focus tracking determination is made based only on detected defocus amount, then focus control is simple, but focus tracking accuracy deteriorates when obstacles or framing changes occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces shield area information as an intermediary factor between the defocus amount detection and focus tracking determination. The object recognition unit detects shield areas (obstacles) and provides this additional information to the focus control unit, which then uses both the defocus amount and shield area information to make accurate focus tracking determinations, preventing focus switching to obstacles while maintaining simplicity
2Productivity
If focus tracking is performed on obstacles with small defocus amounts, then focus control responds to all defocus changes, but unintended focus movement occurs on non-intended objects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating the treatment of different areas in the image. The object recognition unit identifies shield areas (obstacles) versus non-shield areas (intended objects), and the focus control unit applies different focus tracking rules to each region. Shield areas are excluded from focus tracking even if they show defocus changes, while non-shield areas maintain normal focus tracking responsiveness
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus configured to perform focus tracking on an object within a detection area to detect a defocus amount within an imaging angle of view includes a memory storing instructions, and a processor configured to execute the instructions to perform focus tracking determination to determine whether or not the focus tracking is to be performed using information about the defocus amount, and acquire information about a shield against the object from image data generated by imaging. The processor is configured to perform the focus tracking determination using information about the shield acquired in the detection area.