Imaging Device Pan-Tilt Mask Tracking During Image Stabilization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing imaging devices with pan-tilt (PT) mechanisms struggle to accurately track and mask target regions during image-shake correction, leading to incomplete masking of sensitive areas due to image stabilization processes.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a system that includes a pan and tilt control unit, shake detection unit, and image processing unit, which calculates and adjusts the mask-drawn position based on pan and tilt angles and correction angles to maintain the imaging direction and correct for image stabilization, ensuring accurate tracking and masking of target regions during PT image stabilization control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If PT image stabilization control is performed to correct image shake, then image stability is improved, but mask-drawn position tracking accuracy deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage stabilityVSAvoidmask-drawn position tracking accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary calculation process that computes the relationship between PT angles and mask-drawn positions. By using the PT angle change amount as an intermediate parameter, the system can accurately track mask positions even during stabilization control, resolving the contradiction between image stability and tracking accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring PT angle changes and using this information to adjust mask-drawn position calculations in real-time. This closed-loop approach ensures that mask tracking remains accurate while the image stabilization function operates, allowing the system to adapt to ongoing stabilization adjustments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Adaptability or versatility

If mask-drawn position is calculated based on PT angle during PT image stabilization, then privacy masking function is enabled, but target region masking accuracy deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprivacy masking functionVSAvoidtarget region masking accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the mask-drawn position calculation adaptive to the current stabilization state. Instead of using fixed PT angle relationships, the system dynamically adjusts calculations based on real-time PT angle changes and stabilization control status, enabling accurate target region masking while maintaining privacy protection functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Stability of the object's composition

If only mask image is moved with respect to captured image during PT image stabilization, then image stabilization is achieved, but correct masking of target region cannot be ensured

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimage stabilizationVSAvoidtarget region masking reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the image processing into two independent but coordinated components: image stabilization processing and mask-drawn position calculation processing. This segmentation allows each function to operate optimally while maintaining their coordination through shared PT angle data, ensuring both image stabilization and reliable target region masking.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3691250B1Imaging device, control method, and recording medium
Publication Date: 2024.12.04 CANON KK
  • EP3691250B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3691250B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP3691250B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

An imaging device includes an imaging means (1001), a shake detection means (1004) that detects shake, a pan driving means (1005) and a tilt driving means (1006) that rotate the imaging means, a pan and tilt control means (1007) that controls the pan driving means and the tilt driving means such that an imaging direction of the imaging means is changed and controls the pan driving means and the tilt driving means such that the shake is corrected in accordance with a detection result of the shake detection means, and an image processing means (1002) that performs image processing on a predetermined region of an image captured by the imaging means. The image processing means determines the predetermined region based on a rotational angle of the imaging means used to change the imaging direction and a rotational angle of the imaging means used to correct the shake.