Self-Timer Notification Light Control for Dark Scene Photography

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing shooting techniques in dark places, such as capturing a starry sky, face challenges in providing timely notifications to users without unnecessary light emission, especially when camera shake prevention is required, and existing methods are inadequate for scenarios like nature photography where LED light may be obstructive.

Innovation Solution

An image capturing apparatus with a light emitting unit that provides notifications during self-timer operations, controlled by a mode setting unit to minimize light emission when necessary, and an object detection unit to adjust notifications based on the presence of a specific object, ensuring appropriate notification without interfering with the shooting process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If LED light emission is used to notify the start of self-timer shooting, then the user is clearly notified of the shooting timing, but unnecessary light emission occurs in dark place photography such as starry sky or firefly shooting

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshooting timing notificationVSAvoidlight emission interference

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The notification light emission is made dynamic by detecting the shooting mode and automatically adjusting the light emission behavior. In portrait mode, the light emits to notify the subject; in nature photography mode, the light emission is suppressed to avoid interfering with the natural scene, thus adapting the notification mechanism to different operational contexts

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the parameter of light emission based on the detected shooting mode. By identifying whether the mode is portrait or nature photography, the system modifies the light emission parameter (on/off state) accordingly, allowing notification functionality to be enabled or disabled based on the specific photography scenario

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If self-timer shooting is used to prevent camera shake, then image quality is improved, but it becomes difficult to notify the object of the shooting timing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecamera shake preventionVSAvoidshooting timing notification to object

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The notification function is applied locally based on the detected object type. When a person is detected in portrait mode, the light emission unit activates to notify the person of the shooting timing. When nature photography mode is detected, the notification function is selectively suppressed, thus applying the notification quality differently based on the local shooting scenario

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Object-affected harmful factors

If LED light emission is suppressed in nature photography mode, then light emission interference is avoided, but the user cannot confirm the shooting timing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelight emission interferenceVSAvoidshooting timing notification to user

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system introduces an intermediary mechanism using the image capturing apparatus's display unit to convey shooting timing information. Instead of relying solely on light emission to the subject, the display shows notification information to the user, serving as an intermediary communication channel that works independently of the light emission suppression in nature photography mode

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution effectively avoids unnecessary light emission and provides timely notifications to users during self-timer operations in dark environments, enhancing the ability to capture images like starry skies without disturbing the scene or causing camera shake.

Implementation Method 1

a light emitting unit configured to provide, by light emission, a notification of an operation status of a self-timer when performing self-timer shooting

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight emission: Light Emitting Diode

Data Source

PatentUS10506173B2Image capturing apparatus and control method thereof

Publication Date: 2019.12.10 CANON KK

AI summary

An image capturing apparatus comprises a light emitting unit which provides, by light emission, a notification of an operation status of a self-timer when performing self-timer shooting; a mode setting unit which sets one of a plurality of operation modes; and a control unit which controls the light emitting unit to provide the notification of the operation status of the self-timer in self-timer shooting if the mode setting unit has set a first operation mode, and controls the light emitting unit not to provide the notification of the operation status of the self-timer in self timer shooting if the mode setting unit has set a second operation mode.