Image Stabilization Control for Central Blur and Peripheral Residue

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing image stabilization technologies for wide-angle optical systems struggle to effectively correct image blur at the image central part while minimizing residual blur at the image peripheral part, often requiring large allowable error amounts that compromise central object image clarity.

Innovation Solution

A control apparatus and method that cooperatively control optical image stabilization (OIS) and intelligent image stabilization (IIS) units, adjusting their drive amounts based on focal length and object distance to optimize image shift sensitivity, thereby reducing image blur residue at the image peripheral part.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If image stabilization is performed by shifting the image sensor based on angle shake correction, then image blur at the image central part is corrected, but image blur residue at the image peripheral part increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage stabilization accuracy at central partVSAvoidimage blur residue at peripheral part
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by performing image stabilization processing separately for different regions of the image. The image is divided into a central region and peripheral regions, with different stabilization processing applied to each. The central region uses angle shake-based stabilization, while peripheral regions use a combination of angle shake and translational shake corrections, allowing each region to have optimized stabilization characteristics suited to its specific blur characteristics.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the image into multiple regions (central region and peripheral regions) and applies different stabilization processing to each segment. This segmentation allows the system to address the different blur characteristics in different parts of the image independently, rather than applying a uniform stabilization approach that cannot simultaneously optimize both central and peripheral regions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Manufacturing precision

If a large allowable error amount is set to reduce the difference of image blur residue amount on the entire image plane, then image blur difference across the image is reduced, but image blur at the image central part is allowed up to the allowable error amount

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuniformity of image blur residue across image planeVSAvoidimage stabilization accuracy at central part
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements local quality by setting different allowable error amounts for different image regions. The central region has a stricter allowable error amount to ensure high stabilization accuracy for main objects, while peripheral regions can tolerate larger errors. This region-specific error tolerance allows the system to maintain high quality where it matters most while still providing acceptable stabilization across the entire image.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies partial action by focusing stabilization efforts primarily on the central region where main objects are located, while applying less aggressive stabilization to peripheral regions. This approach prioritizes stabilization quality in the most important area (center) while still providing stabilization elsewhere, rather than attempting uniform stabilization across the entire image plane which would compromise central region quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Adaptability or versatility

If image stabilization is performed using a wide-angle optical system of the central projection scheme, then wider angle of view is achieved, but the difference of image point movement amount between image peripheral part and image central part increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveangle of viewVSAvoidimage point movement uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent addresses the wide-angle distortion issue by applying different stabilization processing to different regions. The central region uses standard angle shake correction, while peripheral regions receive additional translational shake correction to compensate for the increased image point movement difference caused by the wide-angle optical system. This allows the system to maintain wide angle of view while preserving stabilization quality across the entire image.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs dynamic stabilization processing that adapts to the specific characteristics of each image region. The stabilization parameters are dynamically adjusted based on the image height and region, with peripheral regions receiving enhanced correction compared to the central region. This dynamic approach allows the system to effectively handle the varying image point movement characteristics across the wide-angle image plane.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4344238A1Control apparatus, image stabilization apparatus, optical apparatus, control method, and program
Publication Date: 2024.03.27 CANON KK
  • EP4344238A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4344238A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4344238A1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

A control apparatus sets a control ratio in accordance with image shift sensitivities for tilt of an optical system and image shift sensitivities for drive of first and second image stabilization units, the control ratio with which an image blur at an image central part is corrected and an image blur residue amount at an image peripheral part is reduced, in a case where the image shift sensitivities for tilt of the optical system for each image height in first and second image height directions different are different, the image shift sensitivities for drive of the first and second image stabilization units in the first image height direction are different from each other, and the image shift sensitivities for drive of the first and second image stabilization units in the second image height direction are different.