Touch Panel Focus Adjustment for Imaging Apparatus

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current imaging apparatuses, such as digital cameras, lack an efficient method for users to manually adjust focus quickly and accurately, as they require manual operation of a focus ring while viewing a displayed image, which can be cumbersome and imprecise.

Innovation Solution

An imaging apparatus with a touch panel that allows users to specify an area on a displayed image, converting the touch position into a corresponding position on the image sensor, and adjusting focus parameters, enabling precise focus adjustment without physical manipulation of the lens.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If manual focus ring operation is used while viewing displayed image, then focus can be adjusted, but the operation is cumbersome and imprecise

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefocus adjustment precisionVSAvoidfocus adjustment ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical focus ring operation with a touch panel interface. Users touch the display screen at the desired focus area, and the system automatically converts this touch position to the corresponding image sensor coordinates and adjusts focus electronically, eliminating the need for manual mechanical rotation and providing both precision and ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The display screen serves as an intermediary between the user and the focus adjustment mechanism. The touch input on the screen is translated into focus adjustment commands, allowing users to intuitively select focus areas visually rather than through abstract mechanical rotation, thereby improving both precision and ease of use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If enlarged image is displayed to assist focus adjustment, then focus accuracy improves, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefocus adjustment accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The display screen performs multiple functions: it shows the live view image for composition, serves as the touch input interface for selecting focus areas, and displays the enlarged preview for focus verification. By making the display multi-functional, the patent avoids adding separate components for each function, thereby improving focus accuracy without proportionally increasing system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines the focus selection interface and the focus verification display into a single unified touch screen interface. The same display that shows the live view also responds to touch inputs and displays enlarged previews, merging multiple functions into one component and avoiding the complexity of separate mechanical or electronic systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS9001255B2Imaging apparatus, imaging method, and computer-readable storage medium for trimming and enlarging a portion of a subject image based on touch panel inputs

Publication Date: 2015.04.07 OM DIGITAL SOLUTIONS CORP

AI summary

An imaging apparatus includes an imaging unit that generates image data of a subject image obtained via a lens unit, a display unit that displays an image corresponding to the image data generated by the imaging unit, an input unit that receives input for specifying an area of a portion of the image displayed by the display unit, and a display controller that controls a display mode for confirming a specified image corresponding to the area of which input is received by the input unit.