Imaging Device Adaptive Focus Control via Brightness Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional imaging devices face challenges in performing accurate and smooth focus adjustments during video recording, leading to undesirable image quality due to rapid or inappropriate focus changes, especially when the imaging device or subject is moving, or when brightness and white balance adjustments occur.
Innovation Solution
An imaging device equipped with a processor that acquires inter-frame and intra-frame information to determine the behavior of brightness adjustments and focus operations, mimicking human subjective focus adjustment characteristics to optimize focus speed and timing based on subject motion and brightness changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If focus adjustment is performed rapidly to adapt to all situations, then focus accuracy is improved, but image quality deteriorates due to continuous oscillation between blurry and in-focus states
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the focus adjustment behavior adaptive rather than static. The system dynamically changes focus adjustment parameters (speed, timing, magnitude) based on real-time detection of brightness adjustment operations and inter-frame change information. This allows the system to perform rapid focus adjustment when appropriate while suppressing unnecessary adjustments during brightness changes, resolving the contradiction between focus accuracy and image quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses feedback mechanisms by detecting brightness adjustment operations and inter-frame change information, then using this information to control subsequent focus adjustment behavior. The system continuously monitors the imaging state and adjusts focus parameters accordingly, preventing continuous oscillation while maintaining focus accuracy when needed.
2Speed
If focus adjustment is performed quickly, then responsiveness to subject changes is improved, but image quality deteriorates due to undesirable focus behavior during brightness adjustment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by detecting brightness adjustment operations in advance and preemptively suppressing focus adjustment during these periods. By identifying when brightness adjustment is occurring and preventing focus adjustment during this time, the system avoids the harmful interaction between the two adjustments, maintaining both speed and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts focus speed based on the detected imaging state. When brightness adjustment is detected or inter-frame changes indicate unstable conditions, the system reduces or suspends focus adjustment speed. When conditions are stable, the system can perform faster focus adjustment, thus resolving the contradiction between speed and reliability.
3Measurement precision
If focus adjustment is performed to track moving subjects, then subject tracking accuracy is improved, but image quality deteriorates due to continuous focus oscillation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses feedback by continuously monitoring inter-frame change information to detect subject motion and imaging stability. This feedback controls when focus adjustment is performed, allowing accurate subject tracking when subjects are stable while preventing continuous oscillation during unstable conditions or brightness adjustments, thus resolving the contradiction between tracking accuracy and image quality.
Data Source
AI summary
An imaging device includes an imaging unit configured to capture an image of a subject formed by an imaging optical system and to generate a moving-image signal based on the captured image; and a processor comprising hardware, wherein the processor is configured to implement: an inter-frame change information acquisition unit configured to acquire inter-frame change information related to a change between at least two frames of the moving-image signal; an intra-frame information acquisition unit configured to acquire intra-frame information which is information within one frame included in the moving-image signal; and a brightness adjustment determination unit configured to determine behavior of brightness adjustment based on both of the inter-frame change information acquired by the inter-frame change information acquisition unit and the intra-frame information acquired by the intra-frame information acquisition unit.