PTZ Camera Control Unit for Constant Acceleration Time

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing pan-tilt zoom cameras experience variations in visual motion during acceleration or deceleration due to changes in the angle of view, leading to an inconsistent visual experience for users.

Innovation Solution

An imaging apparatus with a control unit that adjusts the acceleration or deceleration of the pan-tilt drive unit based on the angle of view, maintaining constant acceleration and deceleration times regardless of the zoom position, ensuring consistent visual motion across different angles of view.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If the pan speed is increased when the angle of view is wide and decreased when the angle of view is narrow, then the visual motion constantness is improved, but the acceleration time varies with the angle of view

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepan-tilt speedVSAvoidacceleration time

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the acceleration and deceleration rates variable rather than fixed. The control unit dynamically adjusts the acceleration/deceleration characteristics based on the current angle of view, allowing the pan-tilt mechanism to maintain constant acceleration time across different zoom positions while adapting the target speed to match the angle of view.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameters of acceleration and deceleration based on the angle of view. Instead of using fixed acceleration rates, the system modifies the acceleration parameter dynamically according to the current zoom level, ensuring that the time to reach target speed remains constant regardless of whether the camera is at wide angle or telephoto.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If the acceleration or deceleration to a target pan speed is fixed regardless of the angle of view, then the control simplicity is improved, but the visual motion during acceleration or deceleration varies with the angle of view

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol simplicityVSAvoidvisual motion consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback by continuously monitoring the angle of view and using this information to adjust the acceleration and deceleration characteristics. The control unit receives feedback about the current zoom position and automatically modifies the motion parameters to maintain consistent visual motion, eliminating the need for manual intervention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS11575839B2Apparatus, method of controlling the apparatus, and program

Publication Date: 2023.02.07 CANON KK

AI summary

An apparatus includes an imaging unit that captures an image, a zoom drive unit that controls an angle of view of the imaging unit, a pan drive unit that rotates the imaging unit in a pan direction, a tilt drive unit that rotates the imaging unit in a tilt direction, and a control unit that controls the pan drive unit and the tilt drive unit. The control unit controls accelerations or decelerations of the pan drive unit and the tilt drive unit based on the angle of view controlled by the zoom drive unit so that an acceleration time or a deceleration time of movement of a video shot by the imaging unit is made constant.