Time-Lapse Image Generation With Adaptive Exposure And Sampling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic devices face challenges in generating high-quality time-lapse images efficiently, as they often require balancing exposure times and sampling rates to capture and playback speeds, which can result in noise and incomplete representation of motion, especially in low-light conditions.
Innovation Solution
An electronic device with a processor-controlled camera system that sets a maximum exposure time, determines the number of source frames per second, and generates time-lapse images by including all or selected source frames at varying speeds, allowing for auto focusing and preview display, thereby optimizing capture and playback speeds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If the camera captures source frames at a high sampling rate to represent motion accurately, then the completeness of motion representation is improved, but the storage space requirement and processing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential motion information from continuous video frames by capturing source frames at optimized intervals. Instead of storing all frames, it selectively captures key frames that represent motion states, then reconstructs the time-lapse sequence by playing these extracted frames at a different speed, thereby reducing storage while preserving motion completeness
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically adjusts the sampling rate and exposure time based on motion characteristics and lighting conditions. The system varies the capture speed of source frames relative to playback speed, allowing adaptive optimization between motion representation fidelity and storage efficiency depending on the specific recording scenario
2Illumination intensity
If the camera uses a long exposure time to improve brightness in low-light conditions, then the illumination quality is improved, but the capture speed decreases and motion representation becomes less complete
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the exposure time parameter dynamically based on lighting conditions and motion characteristics. In low-light conditions, it increases exposure time to improve brightness, while in brighter conditions or when capturing fast motion, it reduces exposure time to maintain capture speed. The system also adjusts the ratio between capture speed and playback speed to compensate for variations in exposure time
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adapts exposure time and sampling rate based on real-time conditions. When motion is detected or lighting changes, the camera adjusts its parameters to maintain both adequate brightness and sufficient motion representation, optimizing the balance between these conflicting requirements
3Manufacturing precision
If the camera captures all source frames without sampling to maintain high quality, then the image quality is improved, but the processing time and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by capturing and processing only a subset of frames (source frames) at optimized intervals rather than processing every frame. This selective sampling maintains sufficient image quality for time-lapse purposes while dramatically reducing processing time and energy consumption compared to processing all frames at full resolution
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
This approach enables the generation of seamless, high-performance time-lapse images with improved brightness and reduced noise, even in low-light conditions, by varying exposure times and sampling rates to match capture and playback speeds.
Implementation Method 1
receive light reflected from an external object, during an exposure time determined according to a specified exposure value, using the camera, generate source frames based on the received light
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device includes a display; a camera; a memory; and a processor operatively connected to the display, the camera, and the memory where the memory stores instructions which, when executed, enable the processor to determine a number of at least one source frame per unit second based on a specified maximum exposure time, receive light reflected from an external object by using the camera, for an exposure time determined according to a specified exposure value, generate source frames based on the received light, and generate a time-lapse image including at least one target frame indicating movement of the external object based on source frames, and the instructions cause the processor to generate the source frames at a speed different from a speed at which the time-lapse image including the at least one target frame is played.