Imaging Apparatus Automatic Tracking Speed Control for Pan-Blur Photography

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing imaging apparatuses face challenges in capturing suitable pan-blur shots of moving subjects due to difficulties in matching the camera's tracking speed with the subject's movement speed, leading to blurring issues even when the subject remains on the monitor screen.

Innovation Solution

The apparatus employs a processor-based system that sets a tracking image area, compares it with a scanning area using brightness histograms, and automatically adjusts the camera speed to match the subject's movement, ensuring a suitable pan-blur shot by displaying a speed mark on the monitor screen and triggering automatic shooting when the speed threshold is met.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If the camera tracks the moving photographic subject at the same speed as the subject's movement, then the subject is shot clearly with enhanced background blurring, but it requires high skill to match the tracking speed with the subject's moving speed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage qualityVSAvoidoperational difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The imaging apparatus automatically tracks the photographic subject and adjusts its own movement speed to match the subject's speed without requiring manual control from the user. The system self-regulates the tracking process, making pan-blur shooting accessible to general users while maintaining professional image quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The apparatus continuously monitors the subject's movement speed and adjusts the camera's tracking speed based on real-time feedback. This closed-loop control ensures the camera maintains the correct relative speed to the subject, automatically achieving the desired pan-blur effect without user intervention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If the photographic subject does not disappear from the monitor screen while tracking, then the subject remains visible, but if there is a speed difference between the subject's movement and camera tracking, the subject image moves and becomes blurred

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesubject visibilityVSAvoidimage sharpness
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors both the subject's position and speed, adjusting the camera's tracking parameters in real-time to maintain optimal conditions. This feedback mechanism ensures the subject remains visible while preventing image blur by synchronizing tracking speed with subject movement speed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The imaging apparatus dynamically adjusts its tracking parameters including speed and position based on the subject's movement characteristics. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to maintain both subject visibility and image sharpness across varying motion conditions without requiring manual adjustment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Manufacturing precision

If manual tracking control is used to match camera speed with subject speed, then pan-blur effect is achieved, but it requires high skill and is difficult for general users to perform

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepan-blur effect qualityVSAvoidcontrol complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The imaging apparatus performs automatic tracking and speed matching without requiring user skill or manual control. The system autonomously manages the complex coordination between camera movement and subject movement, eliminating the need for users to understand or control the technical parameters involved in achieving pan-blur effects.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The manual mechanical control process is replaced with an automated electronic control system. Instead of requiring users to manually adjust camera speed and position, the system uses sensors and processors to automatically detect subject movement and regulate camera tracking, substituting mechanical skill with electronic automation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP2569934B1Imaging apparatus, image processing method, and recording medium for recording program thereon
Publication Date: 2018.04.18 RICOH CO LTD
  • EP2569934B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2569934B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP2569934B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

An imaging apparatus includes: a setting processor which sets an image area including a tracking shooting object image in a pan-blur shooting as a tracking object image as a tracking image area, with respect to a specific frame image; a searching processor, by respectively setting a scanning area for a plurality of frame images following the frame image used to set the tracking image area, and respectively moving the scanning area on each corresponding frame image of the frame images, and makes a comparison of a characteristic amount of an image between the tracking image area and the scanning area, which respectively obtains a scanning area where the characteristic amount of the image is similar to the image in the tracking image area as a tracking object existing area including the tracking object image, with respect to the frame images; a measuring processor, by dividing a difference between a coordinate of the tracking object existing area obtained with respect to one frame image of the frame images and that obtained with respect to a next one by a certain time interval, which measures a moving speed of the tracking object image on a monitor screen; and a displaying processor which displays a speed display mark corresponding to the moving speed of the tracking object image on the monitor screen.