Imaging Shutter Switching for Defocus Wane

Solution Overview

Problem

Digital cameras employing electronic shutters experience a defocused image issue at high shutter speeds, leading to a decrease in image quality due to the wane of the defocused image.

Innovation Solution

An imaging apparatus with an operation selecting unit that chooses between mechanical and electronic shutter operations based on shutter speed, F value, and defocus value, selecting mechanical shutter operation when certain threshold conditions are met to prevent image wane.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If electronic shutter operation is used, then shutter speed can be increased, but defocused image wane occurs at high shutter speeds

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshutter speedVSAvoidimage quality

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically switches between electronic shutter operation and mechanical shutter operation based on real-time detection of defocused image characteristics. The operation selecting unit monitors image quality parameters and adjusts the shutter mechanism accordingly, making the system adaptive to different imaging conditions rather than fixed to one mode

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where the operation selecting unit continuously monitors image quality parameters including defocus detection and selects the appropriate shutter operation based on this feedback. This closed-loop control ensures that when defocused image wane is detected, the system automatically switches to mechanical shutter operation to maintain image quality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If mechanical shutter operation is used, then defocused image wane is prevented, but shutter speed is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage qualityVSAvoidshutter speed

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically switches between electronic shutter operation and mechanical shutter operation based on real-time detection of defocused image characteristics. The operation selecting unit monitors image quality parameters and adjusts the shutter mechanism accordingly, making the system adaptive to different imaging conditions rather than fixed to one mode

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the operational parameters by switching between different shutter mechanisms based on detected conditions. When defocus is detected and image quality deteriorates, the system transitions from electronic to mechanical shutter operation, effectively changing the shutter parameter to maintain optimal image quality while allowing high shutter speeds when needed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If electronic shutter operation is used, then image capture speed is improved, but defocused image quality deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage capture speedVSAvoidimage quality

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically switches between electronic shutter operation and mechanical shutter operation based on real-time detection of defocused image characteristics. The operation selecting unit monitors image quality parameters and adjusts the shutter mechanism accordingly, making the system adaptive to different imaging conditions rather than fixed to one mode

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where the operation selecting unit continuously monitors image quality parameters including defocus detection and selects the appropriate shutter operation based on this feedback. This closed-loop control ensures that when defocused image wane is detected, the system automatically switches to mechanical shutter operation to maintain image quality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS9392183B2Imaging apparatus and shutter operation selecting method

Publication Date: 2016.07.12 SONY GROUP CORP

AI summary

An imaging apparatus includes: an imaging device that includes a plurality of pixels; a first curtain that travels to block incidence of light on the imaging device; a second curtain that permits the incidence of light on the imaging device earlier than the traveling of the first curtain; a reset unit that sequentially reset-scans lines of the pixels earlier than the traveling of the first curtain; and an operation selecting unit that selects one of a mechanical shutter operation performed by the traveling of the first curtain and the second curtain and an electronic shutter operation performed by the first curtain and the reset unit depending on a slit width formed by the first curtain and the second curtain or a slit width formed by the first curtain and the reset-scanning of the reset unit.