Imaging Apparatus Setting Restoration Controller

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing imaging apparatuses do not allow users to conveniently return customized settings to their original state at a desired timing, limiting user convenience and flexibility.

Innovation Solution

An imaging apparatus with a storage part and controller that stores and manages user-set settings, enabling users to temporarily change and revert settings to a base setting at user-specified timings, such as power off, sleep mode, or mode switching.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the user temporarily changes the customized setting according to preference, then the adaptability of the setting is improved, but the loss of information about the base setting occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesetting adaptabilityVSAvoidbase setting information

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by automatically restoring the base setting at a predetermined timing (such as when the camera is powered on again after power-off). This prevents permanent loss of the base setting information while allowing temporary customization changes during operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback by automatically detecting when the predetermined timing occurs and restoring the base setting accordingly. This feedback mechanism ensures that the base setting information is preserved and restored without user intervention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If the setting is automatically returned to base setting at power-off, then the base setting information is preserved, but the user convenience is reduced due to repeated manual reconfiguration

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebase setting preservationVSAvoiduser convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by pre-configuring the automatic restoration timing based on the predetermined conditions (power-on, mode switching, etc.). This eliminates the need for users to manually reconfigure settings after each power-off or mode change, thereby improving convenience while preserving base settings.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If the setting is restored to base setting at predetermined timing, then the base setting information is preserved, but the device complexity increases due to additional control logic

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebase setting preservationVSAvoidcontrol logic complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The controller performs multiple functions: it manages both the temporary customization changes and the automatic restoration to base settings. By integrating these functions into a single controller, the patent avoids adding separate dedicated hardware components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS10868960B2Imaging apparatus

Publication Date: 2020.12.15 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO LTD

AI summary

An imaging apparatus allows a user to register a setting of a predetermined function. The imaging apparatus includes a storage part configured to store setting information including a base setting which is a content of the setting registered by the user regarding the setting of the predetermined function; and a controller configured to change the setting information in accordance with an instruction by the user, and thereafter, to return a content of the changed setting information to the base setting at a predetermined timing. The controller sets a predetermined timing based on an instruction by the user.