Touch Panel Distance Detection for Camera Shake Prevention

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Portable information terminals with electrostatic-capacitance touch panels face challenges in capturing camera-shake-free images due to involuntary shutter release and resulting camera shake, especially when using hovering operations without physical contact.

Innovation Solution

An imaging device configuration that includes a touch panel capable of detecting distance to an indicator, storing images at predetermined intervals when the distance is within a specific range, and displaying or storing images only when the indicator is close enough to the touch panel to prevent camera shake, ensuring camera-shake-free image capture.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If hovering operation is enabled on electrostatic-capacitance touch panel, then shutter can be released without touching panel surface, but it becomes difficult to know shutter position and involuntary shutter release occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshutter release operationVSAvoidshutter release control

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by detecting when the indicator approaches the touch panel and preps the shutter release function. The touch panel detects distance to the indicator and triggers shutter release when the indicator is within a predetermined distance, preparing the capture before actual contact occurs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The touch panel acts as an intermediary between the user's indicator and the shutter release mechanism. It detects the presence and position of the indicator without requiring direct contact, mediating the interaction by translating proximity into shutter control signals.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If mechanical shutter button is depressed, then shutter can be released, but camera shake occurs due to vibration and inclination of casing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshutter release operationVSAvoidcamera shake

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The mechanical shutter button system is replaced with an electrostatic-capacitance touch panel system. The touch panel detects the indicator's proximity and triggers shutter release electronically without requiring mechanical depression, thereby eliminating the vibration and inclination issues associated with mechanical buttons.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The touch panel serves as an intermediary that detects indicator proximity and translates it into shutter release commands, eliminating direct mechanical contact between the user and the shutter mechanism, thus preventing camera shake from mechanical depression.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If touch panel is touched to release shutter, then shutter can be released, but camera shake is caused by touching the touch panel

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshutter release operationVSAvoidcamera shake

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The direct touch mechanical system is replaced with a proximity-based electrostatic-capacitance detection system. The touch panel detects the indicator's presence at a predetermined distance and triggers shutter release without requiring actual contact, substituting mechanical touch with electrical field detection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The touch panel acts as an intermediary that detects indicator proximity through electrical field changes rather than requiring physical contact. This mediation allows shutter release to be triggered by the indicator's presence in the detection zone without the mechanical impact that causes camera shake.

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

Enables camera-shake-free image capture by controlling image storage and display based on the distance between the indicator and the touch panel, improving operational stability and image quality.

Implementation Method 1

a touch panel arranged to overlap with the display portion and capable of detecting a distance to an indicator

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapacitance: Capacitance

Data Source

PatentUS9219862B2Imaging device

Publication Date: 2015.12.22 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORP OF AMERICA

AI summary

An imaging device includes: an imaging portion; a memory capable of storing images imaged by the imaging portion; a display portion; and a touch panel arranged to overlap with the display portion and capable of detecting a distance to an indicator. When the distance is equal to or less than a first distance and more than a second distance less than the first distance, the memory stores the images at predetermined time intervals. Then, when the distance becomes equal to or less than the second distance and equal to or more than 0, the display portion displays the image that is stored in the memory before the distance becomes equal to or less than the second distance and equal to or more than 0.