Transparent Hybrid Viewfinder for Single-View Optical-Digital Capture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Digital cameras with separate optical and electronic viewfinders suffer from issues such as delayed image capture, eye strain, high power consumption, and bulky design, as well as the need for frequent cleaning due to user interaction with the viewfinders.
Innovation Solution
A hybrid digital camera system with a dual-mode viewfinder that aligns components along a common axis, featuring a transparent imaging sensor and display for real-time optical viewing with digital overlays, automatic switching between modes, and a compact design using graphene-based technology.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a digital camera provides both an optical viewfinder and an electronic viewfinder in separate locations, then the user can choose between real-time optical viewing and digital display, but the device becomes bulky and requires frequent cleaning due to user interaction with multiple viewfinders
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the optical viewfinder and electronic viewfinder into a single hybrid viewfinder location. The transparent imaging sensor allows optical light to pass through to the focusing screen while simultaneously capturing digital images. The electronic display is integrated at the same viewpoint, combining both viewing modes in one physical location rather than requiring separate viewfinders.
Solution Approach 2:
The hybrid viewfinder serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides real-time optical viewing through the transparent sensor and focusing screen, captures digital images through the same optical path, and displays digital information on the integrated electronic display. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate optical and electronic viewfinder components.
2Loss of information
If a digital camera uses a conventional electronic viewfinder, then the user can see digital information and images, but the user loses use of the optical viewfinder during operation and experiences eye strain over prolonged use
Solution Approach 1:
The hybrid viewfinder dynamically switches between transparent mode for optical viewing and opaque mode for digital display based on user needs. The transparent imaging sensor can transition between allowing light through for optical viewing and capturing light for digital imaging. This dynamic adaptability provides continuous viewing comfort while maintaining access to both optical and digital modes.
3Device complexity
If a digital camera aligns optical and digital viewing components along a common axis, then the design becomes compact and eliminates mode switching, but the device requires a transparent imaging sensor technology that allows light to pass through while capturing images
Solution Approach 1:
The transparent imaging sensor utilizes graphene-based technology with adjusted optical parameters to achieve high transparency in the visible spectrum while maintaining image capture capability. The sensor's optical properties are modified to allow most light to pass through to the focusing screen while still detecting sufficient light for digital imaging.
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 real-time optical viewing with digital overlays, quick subject capture, and efficient power usage, providing a compact and user-friendly experience without the need for mode switching or physical cleaning.
Implementation Method 1
The transparent imaging sensor includes graphene, which provides high electron mobility and broadband absorption while maintaining transparency in the visible spectrum
Implementation Method 2
Light from a lens is transmitted through a transparent imaging sensor and a transparent display to a user's eye
Data Source
AI summary
A digital camera and a dual-mode viewfinder are provided. The camera includes aligned components along a common axis for real-time optical viewing, quick subject capture, and digital overlay display without switching modes or viewpoints. Features include a real-time display, an optical viewfinder (OVF) experience, a graphene-based sensor, a compact design, a common axis OVF/digital viewfinder (DVF) design, dual-mode functionality, single viewpoint operation, a transparent display, a real-time overlay, automatic switching, user-triggered image capture, one or more coatings, and battery life optimization. The dual-mode viewfinder includes a transparent imaging sensor and a transparent display, both aligned along a common axis. It can switch between an optical viewfinder mode and a digital viewfinder mode based on a user command or a proximity sensor detecting a distance to a user. The system also includes control circuitry configured to perform these features. Related processes, subprocesses, apparatuses, devices, techniques, and articles are also described.