Multi-Lens Camera Switching With Intermediate Frame Transitions

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing camera systems in electronic devices face constraints such as camera switching delays and non-seamless transitions, which degrade user experience, particularly when switching between multiple lenses.

Innovation Solution

An electronic device generates intermediate frames using pre-calculated spatial, photometric, and color alignment data to smoothly transition between lenses, utilizing a transition table with parameters like switching delay, scale factors, and color profiles to enhance user experience.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If camera systems are kept turned on simultaneously to enable fast switching, then switching speed is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecamera switching speedVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-loads and buffers preview frames from multiple camera systems before switching is needed. The frame generation engine generates and stores intermediate frames in advance, so when a lens switch event occurs, the display can immediately show the pre-generated frame without waiting for the new camera to start up and capture images.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If multi-frame fusion is used to combine information from both cameras during transition, then transition completeness is improved, but user experience deteriorates due to visible transitions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransition completenessVSAvoiduser experience
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of fusing actual captured frames from both cameras, the system creates synthetic intermediate frames by digitally transforming the preview frame using pre-calculated alignment data. This copying approach generates visually seamless transitions without the complexity and visible artifacts of multi-frame fusion algorithms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Ease of operation

If seamless transitions are implemented through intermediate frames, then user experience is improved, but computational complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser experienceVSAvoidcomputational complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-calculates and stores alignment data including spatial transformation parameters, photometric correction factors, and color adjustment values during device manufacturing or initial setup. This preliminary computation eliminates the need for complex real-time image processing during lens transitions, as the frame generation engine only needs to apply these pre-determined parameters to generate intermediate frames.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4387257B1Method and electronic device for switching between first lens and second lens
Publication Date: 2026.01.14 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP4387257B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4387257B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4387257B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

Provided is a method of an electronic device, comprising: displaying, by the electronic device, a first frame captured by a first camera showing a first field of view (FOV) of the first camera, wherein the electronic device includes the first camera with the first FOV, a second camera with a second FOV greater than the first FOV, and a third camera with a third FOV greater than the first FOV and less than the second FOV; detecting, by the electronic device, a first event that causes the electronic device to transition from displaying the first frame to displaying a second frame showing the second FOV of the second camera; generating, by the electronic device and based on the detecting the first event, a first number of intermediate frames, and based on the detecting the first event, displaying, by the electronic device, the second frame from the second camera, wherein the first number of intermediate frames is displayed after the displaying of the first frame and before the displaying of the second frame, wherein a second number of intermediate frames are generated upon detecting a second event, the second event causing the electronic device to transition from displaying a third frame captured by the second camera to displaying a fourth frame captured by the first camera, and wherein the first number is different from the second number.