Imaging Control Device with Variable Transmittance Regions
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing imaging apparatuses face challenges in quickly performing light measurement while maintaining live view image quality, particularly during automatic exposure adjustments, leading to potential subject loss due to delayed live view updates or blackouts.
Innovation Solution
An imaging control device and method that utilize a transmittance control unit to adjust the transmittance of multiple regions in an optical element, allowing for simultaneous light measurement and live view image processing, enabling faster and more accurate brightness measurement and improved live view image quality by generating image data from captured image signals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If light measurement is performed by acquiring multiple captured image signals of different brightness, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The imaging apparatus divides the imaging element into multiple regions with different transmittance values (first region with higher transmittance, second region with lower transmittance). By segmenting the imaging element into regions with different light transmission properties, the system can simultaneously capture multiple brightness levels in a single shot, achieving both high measurement precision and fast measurement speed without requiring multiple sequential captures.
2Measurement precision
If captured image signals are used for light measurement only, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of information increases
Solution Approach 1:
The captured image signal serves dual purposes: it is used for light measurement to determine exposure settings, and simultaneously used to generate and display the live view image. By making the captured image signal multi-functional, the system eliminates the need for separate imaging operations, thereby preventing information loss and ensuring continuous live view display while maintaining accurate brightness measurement.
3Adaptability or versatility
If exposure adjustment is performed during live view display, then adaptability is improved, but reliability worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs light measurement and exposure calculation using the same captured image signal that is displayed as the live view image. The imaging element, control unit, and processing system work together in a self-service manner where the primary imaging operation serves both display and measurement functions simultaneously. This eliminates the need for separate measurement shots that would cause blackouts or delays, maintaining both adaptability for exposure adjustment and reliability for continuous live view display.
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
This approach enhances the speed of light measurement operations and improves live view image quality by allowing immediate updates and reducing the risk of subject loss, ensuring a more accurate and timely representation of the subject's brightness.
Implementation Method 1
a captured image signal group obtained by causing the imaging element to perform imaging
Data Source
AI summary
An imaging control device includes: a transmittance control unit that controls transmittance of each of a plurality of regions in an optical element for controlling a quantity of light incident on an imaging element to a different value; an imaging control unit that causes the imaging element to perform imaging for light measurement in a state where the transmittance of each of the plurality of regions is controlled to the different value; a light measurement processing unit that measures brightness of a subject based on a captured image signal obtained from the imaging element by the imaging for light measurement; an image processing unit that generates image data for display from the captured image signal obtained by the imaging for light measurement; and an output unit that outputs the image data for display to a display unit displaying an image.