Imaging Apparatus Vibration Compensation Tilt Focus

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing imaging apparatuses that use image stabilization techniques fail to prevent defocus during tilt imaging when vibrations are applied, as they either shorten exposure time to reduce blurs or do not consider vibration-induced shifts in the imaging view angle.

Innovation Solution

An imaging apparatus with a vibration detection unit, a signal processing unit, and a motor that adjusts the tilt angle and aperture settings to maintain focus by calculating the variation in object distance due to vibration, allowing for in-focus image capture even during vibrations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If exposure time is shortened to suppress blurs of the object image, then blur is reduced, but defocus occurs due to vibration-induced distance variation

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveblurVSAvoidfocus accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by predicting the variation amount of object distance based on vibration amplitude and tilt angle before capturing the image. This prediction allows the system to pre-adjust the focal length or aperture settings to compensate for the expected defocus, ensuring the object remains in focus even during vibration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes operational parameters (focal length or aperture) based on the predicted variation amount of object distance. By dynamically adjusting these parameters in response to vibration conditions, the system maintains focus accuracy without requiring longer exposure times, thus preventing both blur and defocus.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If image stabilization technique is used, then blur is reduced, but defocus occurs due to shift in imaging view angle during tilt imaging

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveblurVSAvoidfocus accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses feedback from vibration detection units to continuously monitor vibration amplitude and imaging apparatus tilt angle. This feedback information is used to predict the variation amount of object distance and adjust the focal length or aperture accordingly, maintaining focus accuracy while allowing image stabilization techniques to reduce blur.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the focal length or aperture based on real-time vibration conditions and tilt angle. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to maintain focus accuracy during tilt imaging even when vibration causes shifts in the imaging view angle, while still benefiting from image stabilization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Area of stationary object

If tilt angle is increased to expand imaging range, then imaging coverage is improved, but defocus magnitude increases due to vibration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimaging coverageVSAvoidfocus accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary prediction of the variation amount of object distance based on the tilt angle and vibration amplitude. This allows the system to pre-adjust the focal length or aperture settings to compensate for the increased defocus magnitude that results from larger tilt angles during vibration, maintaining focus accuracy while expanding imaging coverage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the focal length or aperture parameters in response to the predicted variation amount, which increases with tilt angle. By dynamically adjusting these parameters based on the combination of tilt angle and vibration conditions, the system maintains focus accuracy even when the imaging range is expanded through increased tilt angles.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3606042B1Imaging apparatus, and program
Publication Date: 2021.02.24 CANON KK
  • EP3606042B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3606042B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3606042B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

A control apparatus (300) includes an angle control unit (313) configured to control a tilt angle formed by a plane orthogonal to an optical axis of an imaging optical system (100) and an imaging plane of an image sensor (200), and an aperture control unit (313) configured to control a F-number based on the tilt angle and an output signal of a vibration detection unit (400) configured to detect a vibration.