Image Stabilizer Using Gyroscope and Sensor Data Filtering

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Solution Overview

Problem

Portable electronic devices with cameras face challenges in capturing sharp images due to manual vibration, especially when equipped with high magnification and high-resolution cameras, as vibration affects image quality by introducing both rotational and translational motion.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a gyroscope to generate motion data and an image stabilizer that performs filtering operations on this data to compensate for the motion of the device, allowing for the generation of a stabilized image by distinguishing between rotational and translational motion components and applying appropriate filtering to each.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If high magnification and high resolution cameras are equipped in portable electronic devices, then image quality and detail capture are improved, but image sharpness deteriorates due to manual vibration

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage sharpnessVSAvoidmanual vibration

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical image stabilization systems with a computational approach using gyroscopic sensor data and image processing algorithms. The gyroscope detects rotational motion, and software algorithms compensate for both rotational and translational vibrations through coordinate transformation and image rendering, eliminating the need for complex mechanical stabilization components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a gyroscope as an intermediary sensing device that detects device motion. This intermediary provides motion data that is then processed to generate compensation information, serving as a bridge between the physical vibration and the digital image processing system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If image stabilization is implemented using traditional methods, then rotational motion compensation is improved, but translational motion compensation is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverotational motion compensationVSAvoidtranslational motion compensation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the vibration compensation task into two distinct components: rotational motion compensation using gyroscope data, and translational motion compensation using image sensor data. Each component is processed separately with appropriate filtering and transformation, then combined to achieve comprehensive stabilization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extends traditional 2D image stabilization to 3D spatial compensation by incorporating both rotational (angular) and translational (linear) motion dimensions. The system processes motion data across multiple spatial dimensions and applies corresponding transformations to compensate for movement in all directions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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

The solution effectively compensates for device motion during image capture, enhancing image sharpness by selectively addressing rotational and translational vibrations, thereby improving image quality in handheld camera scenarios.

Implementation Method 1

a gyroscope configured to generate rotation motion data of the electronic device

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGyroscope: Gyroscope

Implementation Method 2

an image sensor configured to receive light transmitted through a lens and to generate image data

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhotoelectric Effect: Photoelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentUS11218636B2Image stabilization for electronic devices such as cameras

Publication Date: 2022.01.04 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

An electronic device includes an image sensor configured to receive light that is incident on the electronic device through a lens and generate image data, a gyroscope configured to generate rotation motion data of the electronic device, and an image stabilizer configured to generate translation motion data of the electronic device based on the image data received from the image sensor and to generate a stabilized image by compensating for a motion of the electronic device while capturing the image, such as vibration of a handheld device. The stabilized image is generated based on filtered translation motion data obtained by performing a first filtering operation on the translation motion data and filtered rotation motion data obtained by performing a second filtering operation on the rotation motion data received from the gyroscope.