Image Sensor Drive Timing Control for Stable Live View
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image capturing apparatuses face challenges in seamlessly switching between still image shooting and moving image shooting, leading to interruptions in live view display and reduced update frequency, due to differences in image sensor operations and resolution requirements.
Innovation Solution
An image capturing apparatus with a control circuit that adjusts the start timing of the still image drive period to prioritize moving image display during continuous shooting, ensuring stable moving image display by not changing the start timing for single or first shots of still image shooting, and adjusting it for subsequent shots to align with moving image update timing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If still image shooting is performed during moving image shooting using the same image sensor, then still image shooting functionality is achieved, but moving image display is interrupted and update frequency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic switching of image sensor drive periods based on shooting mode. When still image shooting is detected during moving image shooting, the control circuit dynamically adjusts the image sensor's operation timing by setting a still image drive period that overlaps with the moving image drive period, allowing the sensor to prioritize still image capture while maintaining moving image display continuity through buffer management
Solution Approach 2:
The patent prepares image data in advance by capturing still image data during the moving image drive period before the actual still image shooting timing. The buffer stores this pre-captured data, which is then output at the intended still image shooting moment, eliminating display interruptions while achieving user-intended shooting timing
2Reliability
If the start timing of still image drive period is changed to prioritize moving image display, then moving image display stability is improved, but still image shooting timing deviates from user intention
Solution Approach 1:
The control circuit captures still image data in advance during the moving image drive period and stores it in a buffer. This pre-captured data is then output at the user-intended still image shooting timing, allowing the system to maintain both stable moving image display and accurate still image shooting timing without deviation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a buffer as an intermediary between the image sensor and output. The buffer decouples the timing of data capture from data output, allowing the image sensor to operate according to moving image display requirements while delivering still image data at user-intended timing, thus resolving the timing conflict
3Adaptability or versatility
If two types of readout with different resolutions are implemented during moving image shooting, then both still and moving image shooting are supported, but readout control and image processing become complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the readout operations for still images and moving images into a single unified drive period. By setting the still image drive period to overlap with the moving image drive period, the system performs both readouts simultaneously during the same sensor activation, eliminating the need for separate readout control sequences and reducing overall control complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The image sensor is designed to perform multiple functions within a single drive period by configuring different readout regions or modes. The same sensor activation serves both still image capture at high resolution and moving image capture at lower resolution, making the sensor operation universal and reducing the complexity of switching between different sensor configurations
Data Source
AI summary
An image capturing apparatus comprising an image sensor and a control circuit is disclosed. The control circuit changes, if a second drive period that is a drive period of the image sensor for still image shooting overlaps with a first drive period that is a drive period of the image sensor for moving image shooting, a start timing of the second drive period. When performing still image shooting while performing moving image shooting and moving image display: if the still image shooting is single image shooting or a first shot of continuous shooting, the control circuit does not change the start timing of the second drive period. If the still image shooting is a second shot onward of continuous shooting, the control circuit changes the start timing of the second drive period with giving priority to the moving image display.