Rotatable Controller and Optical Viewfinder for Digital Camera
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electronic equipment, such as digital cameras, face high power consumption and visibility issues in bright outdoors due to the use of LCDs for HMI, and the cross key design can be cumbersome, especially for film enthusiasts, requiring specific operation sequences for quick setting changes like white balance.
Innovation Solution
A rotatable or pivotable controller with an indicator on the screen allows for easy selection of functions by changing positions, reducing the need for complex menu operations and improving usability while minimizing power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a cross key and LCD are used for HMI, then multiple functions can be selected with few switches, but power consumption becomes high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the LCD screen from the HMI system and replaces it with an optical viewfinder display. This removes the power-consuming component while retaining the ability to display menu items and settings to the user through optical means, directly addressing the high power consumption issue.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the electronic LCD display system with an optical display system using a viewfinder. This substitution eliminates the need for electronic screen illumination and processing, dramatically reducing power consumption while maintaining visual information delivery to the user.
2Ease of operation
If a cross key and LCD are used for HMI, then functions can be selected, but visibility problem occurs in bright outdoors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the LCD screen that suffers from visibility problems in bright outdoor conditions and replaces it with an optical viewfinder system. Optical displays are inherently more visible in bright environments as they do not rely on backlighting that can be overwhelmed by ambient light.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes the electronic LCD display with an optical display mechanism. Optical displays use reflected or transmitted light to show information, making them naturally visible in bright outdoor conditions where electronic backlit displays struggle to maintain contrast and readability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a cross key is used for menu operation, then functions can be selected, but complex operation sequences are required for quick setting changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a rotary control mechanism that dynamically changes the displayed menu items based on rotation direction and speed. This allows users to quickly navigate through settings and change parameters by simply rotating the control, eliminating the need for complex sequential button presses and significantly reducing adjustment time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feature where the menu structure and available settings are pre-organized around the rotary control mechanism. Users can directly access frequently used settings by rotating to predetermined positions, and the system anticipates common adjustment needs by displaying relevant options in advance of the rotation action.
Data Source
AI summary
A digital camera having a color image sensor, an optical system, a rotatable first switch, and a second switch that switches between various modes. The second switch indicates an intermediate point corresponding to the photograph mode, a first point corresponding to the first setting mode, or a second point corresponding to the second setting mode. A first setting unit sets a first processing condition relating to a white balance of an image according to a rotation angle of the first switch in the first setting mode. A second setting unit sets a second processing condition relating to a data size of an image according to a rotation angle of the first switch in the second setting mode. Furthermore, a processing unit processes an output signal of the color image sensor according to a first processing condition and a second processing condition in the photograph mode.