Multi-Camera Portrait Imaging for Clear Subject and Strong Bokeh

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electronic devices face challenges in producing a clear display effect with a large aperture background blurring mode, particularly in capturing images where the background is overly cluttered, as it is difficult to achieve an obvious depth of field and effective blurring of the background.

Innovation Solution

The electronic device utilizes multiple cameras to calculate depth of field and adjust zoom ratios, employing binning and remosaic techniques to enhance image clarity and background blurring effects by determining the distance value between the device and the target object, and switching primary and secondary cameras based on distance values to improve the display effect.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a large aperture background blurring mode is used to highlight the subject, then the clarity of the subject is improved, but the depth of field becomes difficult to produce affecting the display effect

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveclarity of subjectVSAvoiddepth of field display effect
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the image processing into multiple stages: capturing images from multiple cameras, calculating depth information, generating depth maps, and applying selective blurring. This segmentation allows the system to maintain subject clarity while producing reliable depth of field effects by processing different regions of the image differently based on calculated depth values.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces depth maps as an intermediary element between the captured images and the final processed image. The depth map serves as a mediator that guides the blurring process, allowing the system to achieve reliable depth of field effects by using the depth information to determine which regions should be blurred and which should remain clear.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If multiple cameras are used to calculate depth of field, then the background blurring effect is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebackground blurring effectVSAvoidcamera configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the multiple cameras serve multiple functions: they capture images for normal photography, capture images for depth calculation, and provide parallax information for 3D effects. This multi-functionality allows the system to achieve reliable background blurring without proportionally increasing device complexity, as the same hardware components perform multiple tasks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the depth calculation process with the normal image processing pipeline. Instead of treating depth calculation as a separate function requiring additional dedicated hardware, the system combines depth map generation with the existing multi-camera imaging system, allowing background blurring to be achieved while minimizing the increase in device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the distance between the electronic device and the target object is small, then close-range photographing is enabled, but the parallax of the two cameras makes it difficult to produce depth of field

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveclose-range photographing capabilityVSAvoiddepth of field display effect
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic adjustment of processing parameters based on the detected distance between the device and the target object. When close-range photographing is detected, the system dynamically adjusts the depth map calculation algorithm and blurring parameters to compensate for the reduced parallax effect, maintaining reliable depth of field display across varying shooting distances.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes processing parameters based on shooting distance: for close-range objects, it adjusts the sensitivity of depth calculation and modifies the blurring intensity and distribution. This parameter adaptation allows the system to maintain effective depth of field effects even when the physical parallax between cameras is insufficient due to small shooting distances.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4195650B1Photographing method and electronic device
Publication Date: 2025.11.05 HONOR DEVICE CO LTD
  • EP4195650B1 patent drawingFigure 1A(a)~1B(b)
  • EP4195650B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3A
  • EP4195650B1 patent drawingFigure 3B

AI summary

Embodiments of this application provide a photographing method and an electronic device, and relate to the field of electronic technologies. The photographing method and the electronic device may provide a captured image with a large aperture background blurring effect, and improve clarity of an object at a focus and a blurring effect of a background part. The method is applied to the electronic device, and the electronic device includes a first camera, a second camera, and a third camera. The method includes: receiving, by the electronic device, a first operation, where the first operation is used for triggering the electronic device to enter a large aperture mode; obtaining, by the electronic device, a distance value between the electronic device and a photographed target object in response to the first operation; enabling, by the electronic device in a case that a distance value does not exceed a first distance value, the first camera and the second camera to acquire the image of the target object; enabling, by the electronic device in a case that the distance value exceeds the first distance value, the first camera and the third camera to acquire the image of the target object; and displaying, by the electronic device, a preview image including the target object, where the preview image is a preview image corresponding to the large aperture mode.