Imaging Apparatus Live View Brightness Adjustment for Astronomical Photography
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing imaging apparatuses struggle to quickly and easily adjust the angle of view during astronomical photography in dark environments, as the live view image becomes too dark, leading to burdensome repeated photographing and adjustment processes.
Innovation Solution
The imaging apparatus sets a longer exposure time for the live view image during dark photography, allowing for sufficient image quality to confirm the angle of view, and adjusts the driving method and image processing to prioritize angle confirmation over immediate responsiveness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the exposure time is limited to a certain period to maintain immediate responsiveness, then moving objects remain sharp, but the live view image becomes completely dark in extremely dark environments, making angle of view adjustment impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the exposure time adjustable and adaptable to different photographing conditions. The system dynamically changes the exposure time parameter based on whether the environment is dark or not, allowing the live view display to adapt to varying lighting conditions while maintaining appropriate responsiveness for each scenario.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the exposure time parameter from a fixed value to a variable that can be extended under dark environment conditions. By modifying this key parameter based on environmental assessment, the system enables sufficient brightness in the live view image during astronomical photographing while maintaining sharpness for moving objects in normal conditions.
2Illumination intensity
If the exposure time is extended to capture sufficient light in dark environments, then the live view image brightness improves, but moving objects become blurred due to excessive exposure time
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the exposure time based on real-time assessment of photographing conditions. When darkness is detected, the exposure time is extended to capture sufficient light; when movement is detected or lighting is adequate, the exposure time is reduced to maintain sharpness, creating a dynamic balance between brightness and responsiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The exposure time parameter is transformed from a static limit to a flexible variable that can be extended when needed. The system modifies this parameter based on environmental conditions, allowing longer exposure in dark static scenes while maintaining shorter exposure times for moving subjects or well-lit environments.
3Measurement precision
If the user repeatedly photographs still images to check and adjust the angle of view in dark environments, then the angle of view can be confirmed, but the operation becomes highly burdensome and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by extending the exposure time before the user needs to confirm the angle of view. By proactively capturing sufficient light during the live view display phase, the system prepares a visible image that allows immediate angle of view confirmation, eliminating the need for subsequent still image captures and review cycles.
Solution Approach 2:
The live view display serves as an intermediary between the camera sensor and the user's angle of view assessment. By enhancing the brightness of this intermediary display through extended exposure, the system provides sufficient visual information for accurate angle of view confirmation directly in the live view, bypassing the need for repeated still image capture and review.
4Illumination intensity
If the gain is forcedly increased to brighten the live view image in extremely dark environments, then the image brightness improves, but only red noise stands out, degrading image quality
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of applying gain amplification as a last resort, the system performs preliminary action by extending the exposure time to capture sufficient light directly at the sensor level. This approach brightens the image through proper exposure rather than post-capture amplification, avoiding the generation of red noise and maintaining image quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potential harm of extended exposure (which could cause motion blur) into a benefit by assessing the static nature of astronomical subjects. Since astronomical objects are stationary, the extended exposure time captures sufficient light without introducing motion blur, transforming what would be a harmful effect into a beneficial one for image brightness.
Data Source
AI summary
The present technology relates to an imaging apparatus and method, and a program to allow easier and quicker adjustment of an angle of view.The imaging apparatus photographs and displays a live view image, while a user adjusts the angle of view by seeing the live view image to cause the imaging apparatus to photograph an image to be photographed. At this time, an internal information detecting unit detects information about the photographed image as internal detected information, and an external information detecting unit detects conditions or the like of the imaging apparatus as external detected information. A photographing settings changing unit determines whether astronomical photographing is to be performed according to at least the internal detected information or the external detected information, and sets an upper limit value of the shutter speed during photographing the live view image to be larger in the astronomical photographing than the value of the normal photographing. The present technology can be applied to digital still cameras.