Image Stabilization Control Circuit Power Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional image stabilization control circuits in imaging apparatuses consume high power, leading to reduced battery life and shorter operational times, especially when using a CPU with a high-speed clock to quickly process camera-shake correction signals for high-quality image capture.

Innovation Solution

An image stabilization control circuit that includes a vibration detection element, a high-pass filter to remove low-frequency components, a movement amount calculation circuit with a digital filter, and a servo circuit to generate correction signals for optical element positioning, reducing the need for a CPU and lowering power consumption by using a compact circuit configuration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a CPU with high-speed clock is used to process camera-shake correction signals quickly, then image quality is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage qualityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the camera-shake correction function from the main CPU and implements it in a dedicated image stabilization control circuit. This separation allows the CPU to be turned off or operate at lower speed during stabilization, while the dedicated circuit continuously processes correction signals with high precision, thus maintaining image quality while reducing overall power consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the software-based CPU processing with a hardware-based dedicated control circuit that directly processes vibration detection signals and generates correction signals. This hardware implementation provides real-time processing with lower power consumption compared to high-speed CPU operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Use of energy by moving object

If a dedicated image stabilization control circuit is used instead of CPU processing, then power consumption is reduced, but processing speed may be affected

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidprocessing speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces software-based CPU processing with a hardware-based dedicated control circuit featuring vibration detection element, high-pass filter, movement amount calculation circuit, and servo circuit. This hardware implementation provides real-time processing capability with lower power consumption, as the circuit directly converts vibration signals to correction signals without software overhead.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The dedicated control circuit is self-contained and autonomously processes camera-shake correction without requiring CPU intervention. The circuit independently detects vibration, calculates movement amounts, and generates correction signals, enabling continuous operation with minimal power consumption while maintaining processing speed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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 reduces power consumption and extends battery life while maintaining high-quality image capture capabilities, allowing for longer shooting times and increased image storage without the need for a CPU, achieving efficient camera-shake correction.

Implementation Method 1

a vibration detection element 400 that detects vibration occurring in the imaging apparatus

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVibration detection: Accelerometer

Implementation Method 2

a high-pass filter 44 that removes a low-frequency component from an output signal of the vibration detection element 400

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHigh-pass filtering: Filter (electronic)

Implementation Method 3

The digital filter circuit performs filter processing based on a filter coefficient stored in the register

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDigital filtering: Filter (electronic)

Implementation Method 4

The lens driving element 300 moves the lens according to a lens driving signal generated by the image stabilization control circuit 100. For example, the lens driving element 300 is a voice coil motor

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVoice coil motor actuation: Electromagnetic Propulsion

Data Source

PatentUS8451337B2Image stabilization control circuit

Publication Date: 2013.05.28 SEMICON COMPONENTS IND LLC

AI summary

An image stabilization control circuit controls an optical element driving element that moves an optical element provided in an imaging apparatus based on an output signal of a vibration detection element provided in the imaging apparatus. The image stabilization control circuit includes a high-pass filter that removes a low-frequency component from an output signal of the vibration detection element. A movement amount calculation circuit calculates a movement amount of the imaging apparatus based on an output signal of the high-pass filter. A servo circuit generates a correction signal for correcting the position of the optical element based on an output signal of the movement amount calculation circuit and outputs the correction signal to the optical element driving element. The movement amount calculation circuit includes a digital filter circuit and a register. The digital filter circuit performs filter processing based on a filter coefficient stored in the register.