Image Rotation Using Gravity Sensor Data

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional digital camera and camcorder systems fail to automatically adjust image orientation upon display, leading to unpleasant viewing experiences when images are taken with a tilted camera or when the image orientation differs from the display device, due to limited pivot function performance.

Innovation Solution

An image processing method and apparatus that captures and stores rotation information using a gravity sensor, allowing automatic rotation of the image data on a display unit to match the original camera orientation, ensuring optimal viewing angles.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a conventional display apparatus displays an image in a fixed position, then the display structure is simple, but the image orientation cannot be adjusted when the camera is tilted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage orientation adaptabilityVSAvoiddisplay system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by obtaining rotation information of the photographing apparatus at the time of image capture and storing it with the image data. This pre-captured rotation information is then used during display to automatically rotate the image to the correct orientation, eliminating the need for manual intervention and enabling adaptability without requiring complex real-time adjustment mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces rotation information as an intermediary element that mediates between the photographing apparatus orientation and the display apparatus. This rotation information, stored in the image data, serves as a bridge that enables the display system to automatically adjust image orientation based on the original camera position, resolving the contradiction between simplicity and adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If the display apparatus is rotated to match image orientation, then image viewing is improved, but the display device structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage viewing convenienceVSAvoiddisplay apparatus structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical approach of physically rotating the display apparatus with a digital/image processing solution. Instead of mechanically adjusting the display device structure, the system uses software-based image rotation based on stored rotation information, achieving ease of operation while maintaining simple display hardware.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Extent of automation

If pivot function is used to analyze image direction, then automatic orientation adjustment is achieved, but errors occur due to limited pivot function performance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomatic orientation adjustmentVSAvoidorientation analysis accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by capturing the rotation information of the photographing apparatus at the moment of image capture. This pre-captured rotation data is stored with the image and used during display, eliminating the need for unreliable pivot function analysis and ensuring high reliability in automatic orientation adjustment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback by using the stored rotation information to automatically adjust the display orientation. The system continuously references the pre-captured rotation data to ensure accurate image presentation, creating a reliable feedback loop that maintains high orientation analysis accuracy without depending on limited pivot function performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables automatic correction of image orientation during display, ensuring images are viewed in their intended orientation, enhancing user experience by maintaining the original camera orientation and adapting to different display orientations.

Implementation Method 1

obtaining a rotation value from the gravity direction by measuring the rotation state of the photographing apparatus, when the object is photographed, with a gravity sensor

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentUS8639102B2Image processing method and apparatus and information storage medium storing image information

Publication Date: 2014.01.28 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

An image processing method and apparatus for automatically rotating an image and a display unit, and an information storage medium storing image information. The apparatus including a photographing unit which generates image data and a rotation sensing unit which generates rotational information of a rotation state of the photographing unit. When an object is photographed, the rotation information of the image is obtained and stored together, and when the image is displayed, the rotation is analyzed and the image and display unit are automatically rotated. When an image including moving picture information is watched, an image always optimized to be horizontal without additional work by a user can be seen.