Image Sensor Pixel Group Segmentation for Continuous Live View
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional photographing devices often fail to provide a continuous live view during continuous photographing, especially when using an electrical viewfinder, leading to inconvenience for users as they cannot view the frame of the photographed object in real-time, and even optical viewfinders may not display the frame during low shutter speeds.
Innovation Solution
A photographing apparatus and method that utilize a first pixel group for live view generation and a second pixel group for image capture, allowing continuous display of live view and simultaneous storage of full-size images by processing and combining data from both groups, with the controller managing data output and processing to ensure live view display and image storage in parallel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the image sensor processes photographed images continuously, then the productivity of image capture is improved, but the live view display is interrupted and the user cannot view the frame of the photographed object
Solution Approach 1:
The image sensor is divided into a first pixel group for live view display and a second pixel group for photographed image processing. This segmentation allows both functions to operate simultaneously on different pixel groups, resolving the contradiction between continuous photographing and live view display.
Solution Approach 2:
Data from the first pixel group (live view) and second pixel group (photographed image) are merged/combined in the image processor to generate the final photographed image. This merging allows both live view and full-resolution image capture to coexist and be integrated into a single output.
2Device complexity
If only an electrical viewfinder is used without an optical viewfinder, then the device complexity is reduced, but the user cannot acquire a live view during continuous photographing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the need for an optical viewfinder (mechanical/optical system) with an electrical viewfinder that displays live view images generated from the first pixel group. This substitution maintains the simplified device structure while enabling continuous live view display during photographing through electronic image processing and display.
3Manufacturing precision
If the shutter speed is lower than the frame speed of the live view, then the exposure time is increased for better image quality, but the optical viewfinder cannot display the frame of the object
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the image sensor into first and second pixel groups, where the first pixel group continuously provides live view data at the frame speed regardless of shutter speed settings. This allows the electrical viewfinder to display frames continuously even when the second pixel group is capturing images at lower shutter speeds for better quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The first pixel group acts as an intermediary that provides continuous live view data to the electrical viewfinder, decoupling the live view display rate from the photographing shutter speed. This intermediary enables the viewfinder to show frames at its native frame speed while the main sensor captures images at the required shutter speed for quality.
Data Source
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AI summary
A photographing apparatus and a photographing method thereof. The photographing method of the photographing apparatus determines if an instruction to photograph is input, and if the instruction to photograph is input, displays a live view by using a first data output from a first pixel group included in an image sensor, and combines a second data output from a second pixel group included in the image sensor with the first data and generates a photographed image, and stores the generated photographed image. Accordingly, the user is continuously provided with the live view even after photographing. Specifically, in continuous photographing, since the user is provided with the live view through which he or she can check the moving subject of photography, the user is enabled to compose images as he or she wishes.