Imaging Device Autofocus and Tracking Control Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing imaging devices face challenges in providing intuitive and separate operability for autofocus and tracking functions, making it difficult to accurately recognize and track subjects that are not in focus, and often result in missing imaging opportunities.

Innovation Solution

An imaging device with a distinct autofocus control unit and tracking processing unit, allowing for separate operations using different operators, with clear display states indicating autofocus or tracking modes, enabling users to easily switch between focusing and tracking.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If autofocus and tracking are combined in a single operation mode, then the device can track focused subjects effectively, but it becomes difficult to use tracking and autofocus separately and reduces operational flexibility

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetracking accuracyVSAvoidoperational flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The imaging device divides the control functions into separate operators: a first operator (e.g., shutter button half-press) for autofocus control and a second operator (e.g., dedicated tracking button) for tracking control. This segmentation allows users to independently control autofocus and tracking functions, enabling flexible operation modes including autofocus-only, tracking-only, and combined autofocus+tracking operations, thereby resolving the contradiction between reliable tracking and operational flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Loss of time

If tracking is activated before autofocus is complete, then the device can start tracking earlier, but it cannot accurately recognize and track subjects that are not in focus

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetracking start delayVSAvoidsubject recognition accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary autofocus action before activating tracking. When the first operator is operated, the autofocus control unit completes focus adjustment on the target subject first. Only after successful autofocus does the system enable tracking processing when the second operator is activated. This preliminary focusing ensures that tracking begins with an already-focused subject, eliminating recognition errors while minimizing delay through efficient sequential processing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If separate operators are used for autofocus and tracking, then operational flexibility is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol flexibilityVSAvoidcontrol structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The imaging device implements a universal control architecture where the autofocus control unit and tracking processing unit can operate independently or in combination through different operator inputs. The same autofocus control unit serves both autofocus-only mode (first operator) and combined autofocus+tracking mode (first and second operators). This multi-functionality approach provides operational flexibility while avoiding the need for entirely separate control systems, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS20250016443A1Imaging device, imaging control device, and imaging method

Publication Date: 2025.01.09 SONY GROUP CORP

AI summary

An imaging device includes an autofocus control unit that performs autofocus control in response to detection of a first operation using a first operator, and a tracking processing unit that performs tracking processing for a subject to be focused in response to detection of a second operation using a second operator different from the first operator in a state where autofocus control is performed in response to the first operation.