Scaled Perspective Zoom on Resource-Constrained Devices

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing devices, such as smartphones, lack the resources and hardware necessary to perform a dolly zoom effect, which requires a sophisticated imaging setup with a dolly and zoom lens, making it difficult to achieve on resource-constrained devices.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a scaled perspective zoom effect on resource-constrained devices, such as smartphones, by using a client device to capture a live video feed, detecting a target feature, and maintaining its size while changing the perspective of the background, effectively replicating a dolly zoom effect without the need for a dolly or zoom lens.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a dolly zoom effect is implemented using traditional imaging setup with dolly and zoom lens, then the dolly zoom effect quality is improved, but the device complexity and hardware requirements increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedolly zoom effect qualityVSAvoidimaging setup complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical dolly system and zoom lens system with a computational approach using image processing algorithms. The system captures multiple images at different positions and uses digital image processing to synthesize the dolly zoom effect, eliminating the need for complex mechanical imaging equipment while achieving the same visual effect on resource-constrained devices like smartphones

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a digital copy of the dolly zoom effect through computational methods. Instead of physically moving camera equipment (original method), the system captures images and uses algorithms to replicate the visual appearance of dolly zoom, producing a synthesized effect that mimics the traditional optical approach without requiring the corresponding hardware

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Reliability

If a dolly zoom effect is implemented using sophisticated imaging setup, then the dolly zoom effect quality is improved, but the cost and resource requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedolly zoom effect qualityVSAvoiddevice accessibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces expensive, sophisticated imaging equipment with inexpensive mobile devices like smartphones. The system uses the device's built-in camera and processor, along with software algorithms, to achieve dolly zoom effects that previously required costly professional equipment, making the effect accessible to ordinary consumers

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent substitutes complex mechanical imaging systems with computational image processing. By using algorithms to generate the dolly zoom effect from standard camera captures, the system eliminates the need for expensive zoom lenses and dolly equipment, significantly reducing the barrier to entry for creating professional-quality visual effects

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS20250168488A1Scaled perspective zoom on resource constrained devices

Publication Date: 2025.05.22 SNAP INC

AI summary

A dolly zoom effect can be applied to one or more images captured via a resource-constrained device (e.g., a mobile smartphone) by manipulating the size of a target feature while the background in the one or more images changes due to physical movement of the resource-constrained device. The target feature can be detected using facial recognition or shape detection techniques. The target feature can be resized before the size is manipulated as the background changes (e.g., changes perspective).