Interchangeable Lens Photometric Area Switching for Accurate AE
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing imaging systems with compound eye lens units face challenges in accurately performing auto exposure adjustment (AE) when switching between monocular and compound eye lens attachments, particularly in stereoscopic VR imaging, leading to reduced AE accuracy due to differences in image centers and exposure discrepancies between left and right images.
Innovation Solution
An interchangeable lens system with multiple lens units and a communication unit that adjusts exposure settings based on lens orientation and orientation-specific corrections, ensuring proper exposure for monaural stereoscopic image display by selecting the appropriate imaging area for photometry.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the photometric area is set near the center of either the left or right image in a compound eye lens unit, then the AE processing becomes simpler, but the AE accuracy of the reference image is reduced when monaural display is performed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic selection of the photometric area based on the display mode. When stereoscopic display is used, the photometric area is set near the center of either left or right image for processing simplicity. When monaural display is used, the system dynamically switches to set the photometric area in the left-eye image circle to ensure AE accuracy of the reference image. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by adjusting the photometric area location according to the actual display requirements.
2Measurement precision
If the camera body uses the center of the captured image for AE adjustment with a monocular lens, then the AE accuracy is high, but the AE accuracy deteriorates when a compound eye lens unit is attached due to different image centers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different photometric area setting strategies for different lens unit types. For monocular lenses, the photometric area is set at the image center. For compound eye lens units, the system identifies the appropriate image circle (left or right) and sets the photometric area within that specific region. This localized adaptation ensures high AE accuracy for each lens type while maintaining system versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically determines the photometric area location based on the attached lens unit type. When a compound eye lens unit is detected, the communication unit receives information about the lens configuration and adjusts the photometric area setting accordingly. This dynamic reconfiguration allows the system to maintain high AE accuracy across different lens types while preserving adaptability.
3Ease of operation
If the right-eye image is used as the photometric area in a compound eye lens unit, then the processing is simplified, but the AE accuracy of the reference image (left-eye image) is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic switching of the photometric area based on display mode. In stereoscopic display mode, the right-eye image can be used for photometry to simplify processing. However, when monaural display mode is detected, the system dynamically switches the photometric area to the left-eye image circle, ensuring that the reference image has accurate exposure. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction between processing simplicity and reference image AE accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
An interchangeable lens attachable to and detachable from an image pickup apparatus that includes a single image sensor includes a plurality of lens units that include a first lens unit and a second lens unit, and a communication unit configured to transmit to the image pickup apparatus information for setting an imaging area acquired by the first lens unit that is used in monaurally displaying image to a photometric area.