Touch Screen AF Mode Selection via Gesture Control

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current imaging apparatuses require multiple steps and mechanical button operations to select auto focus (AF) and photometry modes, making the process inconvenient for users.

Innovation Solution

An imaging apparatus with a touch screen that allows users to select AF and photometry modes through pre-set touch gestures, where the controller adjusts the lens focus and exposure settings accordingly, simplifying the mode selection process by using a combination of physical and soft buttons.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If conventional mechanical button operations are used to select AF and photometry modes, then reliable mode selection is achieved, but the number of操作步骤 increases and user convenience deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemode selection convenienceVSAvoidtime required for mode selection
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical button operations with touch screen gestures. Users can select AF modes by touching specific areas of the live view display (e.g., center area for center AF, corner areas for corner AF) and select photometry modes by touching corresponding areas (e.g., center for center-weighted, corners for spot metering). This substitution eliminates the need for multiple mechanical button presses and direction key manipulations, directly improving ease of operation and reducing selection time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The touch screen serves as an intermediary between the user and the camera's control system. By displaying interactive icons or responsive areas on the live view that correspond to different AF and photometry modes, the touch screen mediates the selection process, allowing users to choose modes through intuitive touching actions rather than complex button sequences.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If touch screen gestures are implemented for mode selection, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetouch gesture controlVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The touch screen is designed to serve multiple functions: it displays the live view for composition, provides the interface for AF mode selection through touch gestures, and serves as the interface for photometry mode selection. By making the touch screen universal for both viewing and control purposes, the patent avoids adding separate control interfaces, thereby managing device complexity while improving ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the display function and control input function into a single touch screen interface. The live view display and the mode selection controls are combined, allowing users to interact with the camera by touching the display itself. This merging eliminates the need for separate physical control panels for mode selection, managing overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP2728852B1Imaging apparatus and control method
Publication Date: 2019.10.02 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP2728852B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2728852B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2728852B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An imaging apparatus and a control method thereof includes an image unit adapted to perform imaging, a drive unit adapted to move a location of a lens in the imaging unit to adjust a focus, a touch screen adapted to display a live view generated by the imaging unit and receive a touch gesture for the live view, and a controller adapted to set an auto focus mode corresponding to the touch gesture among a plurality of auto focus modes when the touch gesture is input, and to control the drive unit to move the location of the lens so that the focus can be adjusted based on the set auto focus mode.