Camera Lens Remote Control with Configurable Response Curves
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing remote control devices for moving image cameras lack flexibility and customizability in adjusting lens parameters, particularly in complex shooting situations, and do not easily allow for user-specific or application-specific operating data storage.
Innovation Solution
A remote control device with an evaluation and control unit that determines control signals based on a configurable mathematical functional relationship between position signals and control signals, allowing users to set non-linear or linear mappings through an input device, and optionally uses an identification ring with a memory to store and apply customized assignment rules.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a remote control device uses a fixed assignment rule for mapping control element positions to lens parameters, then the device structure remains simple, but the device lacks flexibility and adaptability for different shooting situations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic adaptability by allowing the assignment rule to be changed based on different identification rings. The system transitions from a static fixed mapping to a dynamic configurable mapping where the control unit can select different assignment rules (linear, non-linear, 1/x dependency) depending on which identification ring is detected, enabling the same hardware to adapt to various shooting scenarios without physical modification
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the mapping parameters between position signals and control signals based on the detected identification ring. Different mathematical functional relationships (linear, non-linear, inverse proportionality) are applied depending on the shooting situation, allowing the system to optimize control characteristics for different lenses and applications without altering the physical structure
2Adaptability or versatility
If the remote control device stores multiple assignment rules internally, then user-specific settings can be saved, but the device complexity and memory requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the storage function from the remote control device and relocates it to external identification rings. Each identification ring contains a memory element with a unique code that identifies the desired assignment rule, transferring the burden of storing multiple configuration sets from the control device to simple external tokens that the user carries separately
Solution Approach 2:
The identification ring acts as an intermediary carrier between the user and the control device. Instead of the control device directly managing multiple stored profiles, the identification ring serves as a mediator that encodes the desired configuration state, simplifying the control device's role to merely reading the code and applying the corresponding mapping rule
3Ease of operation
If the control element uses a linear rotation-to-parameter mapping, then the control is intuitive for some parameters, but it becomes non-intuitive for parameters with non-linear relationships like focus position
Solution Approach 1:
The patent dynamically changes the mathematical relationship parameters between control element rotation and lens parameter adjustment based on the detected identification ring. For focus control, a non-linear or inverse proportionality mapping can be selected to match the optical characteristics, while for aperture or shutter speed, linear mappings may be more appropriate, making the control intuitive for each specific parameter type
Data Source
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AI summary
A remote control device for generating control signals for a lens actuator of a moving image camera comprises a base unit and a control element rotatable relative to the base unit for setting control commands for the lens actuator; a position sensor for detecting the respective rotational position of the control element and generating corresponding position signals; an evaluation and control unit configured to determine control signals for the lens actuator according to an assignment rule, depending on the position signals; and an output device for transmitting the control signals to the moving image camera. The assignment rule corresponds to at least one mathematical function, and the remote control device has an input device via which the mathematical function can be configured by user input.An identification ring for a remote control device has a memory in which a readable code is stored.