Image Sensor Cleaning Control for Faster Restarts

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional image capture apparatuses face increased restart time due to sensor cleaning operations when power is turned off or on, particularly during mode switches, affecting usability.

Innovation Solution

An image capture apparatus and method that detect power-off events to determine if they are restart events, skipping sensor cleaning during restart events to reduce restart time and maintain usability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If sensor cleaning is automatically performed when power is turned off, then sensor dust removal is improved, but restart time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesensor dust removalVSAvoidrestart time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the sensor cleaning execution based on the detected power-off event type. When a restart event is detected, the cleaning operation is skipped to reduce restart time. When a normal power-off event is detected, the cleaning operation is executed to remove sensor dust. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by making the cleaning operation conditional rather than fixed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the execution parameter of sensor cleaning based on the power-off event context. The cleaning operation is enabled or disabled depending on whether the event is classified as a restart event or a normal power-off event. This parameter change allows the system to optimize between dust removal effectiveness and restart speed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If sensor cleaning is performed when power is turned on, then sensor dust removal is improved, but operational time is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesensor dust removalVSAvoidoperational time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically determines whether to perform sensor cleaning at power-on based on the previous power-off event type. If the previous event was a restart, cleaning is skipped to preserve operational time. If it was a normal power-off, cleaning is executed to ensure sensor cleanliness. This dynamic decision-making resolves the contradiction between dust removal and operational efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If sensor cleaning is performed during mode switching, then sensor dust removal is improved, but mode switch time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesensor dust removalVSAvoidmode switch speed

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts cleaning execution during mode switching operations. When a mode switch is detected as a restart event, the cleaning operation is omitted to maintain fast mode switching. When the mode change occurs after a normal power-off, cleaning is performed. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between maintaining sensor cleanliness and ensuring rapid mode transitions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS12457397B2Image capture apparatus and control method thereof

Publication Date: 2025.10.28 CANON KK

AI summary

An image capture apparatus capable of performing sensor cleaning for removing an unwanted object on an image capture plane of an image sensor is disclosed. The apparatus detects occurrence of an event accompanied by turning off a power. In a case where setting has been made such that the sensor cleaning is to be automatically performed when the power is turned off, if the event is a restart event, the apparatus performs restart processing without performing the sensor cleaning when the power is turned off, and if the event is not the restart event, the apparatus performs the sensor cleaning when the power is turned off.