Multi-Unit Imaging Control via Unified Circuit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing imaging apparatuses with multiple imaging units lack usability during photography and reproduction, as they do not consider the operational aspects effectively.
Innovation Solution
An imaging apparatus comprising a first and second imaging unit, a display unit, an image signal processing circuit, a control circuit, a manipulation unit, and a mode setting unit, where the imaging units are arranged to perform imaging in the same direction, and the control circuit manages the units to respond to various photographing modes set by the user, allowing for simultaneous control and simple operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple imaging units are used to capture images simultaneously, then imaging functionality and versatility are improved, but device complexity and operational difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The control circuit is designed to universally control multiple imaging units (first imaging unit 3a and second imaging unit 3b) through a single interface, enabling the system to perform various imaging functions (wide-angle imaging, telephoto imaging, depth mapping) without requiring separate control mechanisms for each unit. This multi-functionality approach resolves the contradiction by providing versatile imaging capabilities while maintaining manageable control complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple imaging units into a unified system where the control circuit integrates control of both the first imaging unit 3a and second imaging unit 3b. By merging the control functions and coordinating the operation of multiple imaging units through a single control circuit, the system achieves enhanced imaging versatility while avoiding the operational difficulty that would arise from independent control of each unit.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple imaging units are controlled independently, then imaging flexibility is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The control circuit serves as a universal controller that manages multiple imaging units through standardized control interfaces. This allows the system to maintain imaging flexibility (capturing wide-angle images, telephoto images, and depth information) while presenting a simplified operational interface to the user, resolving the contradiction between flexibility and ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The control circuit acts as an intermediary between the user and multiple imaging units. It translates user input into coordinated control signals for the first imaging unit 3a and second imaging unit 3b, thereby maintaining imaging flexibility while shielding the user from the complexity of controlling multiple units independently, thus improving ease of operation.
3Ease of operation
If a single control circuit manages multiple imaging units, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the control functions for multiple imaging units into a single control circuit. This integration simplifies the user interface and operational procedures while the internal architecture of the control circuit is designed to efficiently manage the complexity of coordinating multiple imaging units, thereby achieving ease of operation without proportionally increasing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The control circuit is designed with multi-functional capabilities to handle various imaging modes (wide-angle, telephoto, depth mapping) through unified control logic. This universal design approach allows a single control circuit to manage multiple imaging units effectively, reducing the need for additional dedicated control circuits and thus limiting the increase in device complexity while maintaining operational simplicity.
Data Source
AI summary
It is an object to improve usability at the time of photographing or reproducing in an imaging apparatus including a plurality of imaging units. In order to achieve the above object, an imaging apparatus including a plurality of imaging units includes a setting unit that sets a plurality of photographing modes which are settable in advance, a unit that controls a plurality of imaging units in accordance with a set photographing mode, and a manipulation unit. Accordingly, it is possible to provide an imaging apparatus with excellent usability capable of controlling a plurality of imaging units independently or simultaneously such that imaging is performed with a simple manipulation when a desired photographing mode is selected by a user.