Imaging Device Lens Control and Noise Filtering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Imaging devices face challenges in reducing operating noise from components during moving image capture, which can be detrimental when the image is later used as a still image, as the noise contaminates the sound signal and affects sound quality.
Innovation Solution
The imaging device employs a control unit that operates the movable lens faster in moving-image priority mode and uses a narrower-band filter to reduce operating noise, and applies directivity synthesis to enhance sound signal processing, allowing for effective noise reduction in both modes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the movable lens moves faster in moving-image shooting mode, then the productivity of image capture is improved, but the operating noise increases and contaminates the sound signal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the moving image shooting modes into two distinct modes: first mode with faster lens movement for high productivity, and second mode with slower lens movement for lower noise. The control unit selectively switches between these segmented modes based on whether sound quality is prioritized, allowing the system to divide the operating range into different performance characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic switching between two operational states of the movable lens: a first state with higher movement speed for improved productivity, and a second state with lower movement speed for reduced noise. The control unit dynamically adjusts the lens movement speed based on the selected shooting mode, enabling adaptive optimization of both productivity and noise characteristics.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If a narrower-band filter is applied to reduce operating noise, then the sound quality is improved, but the frequency range of captured sound is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamic filtering where the control unit selectively switches between a narrow-band filter (first filter) for noise reduction and a wide-band filter (second filter) for broader frequency capture. The filter selection dynamically adapts to the shooting mode: narrow-band filter is used in first mode when noise reduction is prioritized, while wide-band filter is used in second mode when frequency range is prioritized.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the filter parameters (bandwidth) based on the operating mode. In the first mode, a narrow-band filter with restricted frequency range is applied to eliminate operating noise. In the second mode, a wide-band filter with broader frequency range is applied to capture more sound frequencies. This parameter change allows optimization of sound quality characteristics according to different shooting requirements.
Data Source
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AI summary
An imaging device includes an optical system including a movable lens, an image capture unit configured to capture a subject image through the optical system, a sound-collecting microphone, and a control unit configured to control the optical system and the image capture unit and to receive an sound signal from the microphone. The imaging device has a first mode and a second mode as moving-image shooting modes. The control unit makes the movable lens move faster in the first mode than in the second mode when a moving image is captured. The control unit filters the sound signal with a narrower-band filter in the first mode than in the second mode.