Imaging Apparatus Controller Automatic Focal Length Estimation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing digital cameras with interchangeable lenses face inconvenience in setting focal length, as users must manually input the focal length each time the camera is activated, especially when the lens lacks communication functionality, leading to inefficiencies in image stabilization operations.

Innovation Solution

The imaging apparatus employs a controller that estimates the focal length using detected shake and image motion data, allowing for automatic image stabilization without user input, and determines whether to execute or stop image stabilization based on correlations between shake and motion amounts, thereby improving convenience and accuracy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual focal length input is required, then image stabilization can be implemented, but user convenience deteriorates due to repeated input requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage stabilization operationVSAvoidfocal length setting

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically estimates focal length using shake detector data and image motion information without requiring user input. The controller performs self-service by calculating the focal length based on the relationship between detected shake amounts and image sensor motion, eliminating the need for manual setting while maintaining accurate image stabilization

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback from the shake detector and image motion analysis to automatically determine focal length. By continuously monitoring the correlation between shake amounts and image sensor displacement, the controller adjusts and refines the estimated focal length to ensure accurate stabilization operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Ease of operation

If focal length is automatically estimated, then user convenience is improved, but measurement precision may deteriorate without direct lens communication

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefocal length settingVSAvoidfocal length accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces direct mechanical/optical measurement (lens communication) with a computational approach using the shake detector and image motion analysis. By substituting the direct measurement system with an estimation system based on physical correlations, the patent achieves both automatic operation and sufficient accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the parameter measurement approach from direct lens data acquisition to indirect calculation based on shake amount and image sensor motion correlation. By utilizing the physical relationship between these parameters and focal length, the system achieves accurate estimation without direct lens communication

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If both in-body and in-lens stabilization are executed simultaneously, then image stabilization performance is improved, but device complexity increases due to coordination requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage stabilization operationVSAvoidstabilization system coordination

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and identifies which stabilization system (in-body or in-lens) should be active by detecting the presence and status of the interchangeable lens. By separating the control logic to determine which system to use, the patent avoids the complexity of simultaneous coordination while ensuring appropriate stabilization is applied

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of attempting to execute both stabilization systems simultaneously, the system inverts the approach by selectively activating only the appropriate system based on lens detection. This inversion simplifies the control architecture by avoiding the need for complex coordination mechanisms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentUS11102412B1Imaging apparatus

Publication Date: 2021.08.24 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO LTD

AI summary

A controller of an imaging apparatus performs, if the controller can not obtain information on a focal length of an interchangeable lens from the interchangeable lens, the controller controls to perform an image stabilization operation using, as the focal length, an estimated focal length calculated based on at least one of a combination of a detected shake amount and an image motion amount in image data, or a combination of the detected shake amount and a motion amount of an image sensor. The controller controls whether to execute or stop the image stabilization operation by a first image stabilizer based on at least one of a correlation between the detected shake amount and the image motion amount, or a correlation between the detected shake amount and the motion amount of the image sensor.