Imaging Device Control Signal for Viewfinder Delay Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
In mirror-less SLR digital cameras, there is a significant delay from image capture in the image sensor to displaying on the electronic viewfinder, making it difficult to follow moving subjects and capture intended still images, especially with fast-moving subjects, due to complex circuit configurations required to synchronize horizontal scanning periods.
Innovation Solution
An imaging device with an imaging element, an image signal output unit, and a control signal output unit that indicates whether the image signal is valid or invalid in synchronization with the horizontal synchronization signal, allowing for determination of valid or invalid image signals and adjusting display timing accordingly, thereby simplifying the circuit configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If the horizontal scanning period is adjusted to shorten delay time, then the delay from imaging to displaying is reduced, but the circuit configuration becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the image signal into valid and invalid portions using a control signal. The valid image signal corresponds to the active period where actual image data is present, while the invalid image signal corresponds to periods including front porch, back porch, and synchronization intervals. This segmentation allows the system to process and display only relevant image data without requiring complex circuit adjustments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent generates the control signal in advance based on the horizontal synchronization signal timing. By determining the valid and invalid periods beforehand using the horizontally synchronized control signal, the system can prepare display timing without requiring real-time complex circuit adjustments during the scanning process.
2Reliability
If the horizontal scanning period is extended to adjust timing, then synchronization is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a control signal as an intermediary element that mediates between the horizontal synchronization signal and the image signal processing. This control signal carries timing information that enables synchronization without requiring direct complex circuit modifications in the display driving circuitry. The control signal acts as a simple mediator that translates synchronization requirements into valid/invalid image signal markers.
3Reliability
If complex circuit configuration is used to follow horizontal synchronization signal variation, then display synchronization is achieved, but the circuit becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a simplified copy of the synchronization information by embedding valid/invalid timing data into the control signal based on the horizontal synchronization signal. Instead of requiring the display circuit to directly track and respond to variations in the horizontal synchronization signal, the system creates a simplified representation (control signal) that contains all necessary timing information, enabling synchronization with minimal circuit complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A short delay time from imaging of an imaging element to displaying on a view finder is realized using a simple circuit configuration. In a live view mode, an image processing circuit performs image processing on imaging data from an image sensor, and generates image data of a display image. When processing for one line ends, progress information is output. When the image data of the display image is able to be output in synchronization with a second horizontal synchronization signal, a timing generator causes a data enable signal to be active, and supplies the image data to a data input unit according to this progress information on the other hand, when the image data is unable to be output, the timing generator causes the data enable signal to be inactive and supplies dummy data to the data input unit.