UAV Camera Focus Scanning for In-Focus Image Capture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing imaging technologies face challenges in capturing in-focus images while moving, particularly with telephoto lenses, due to shallow depth of field and varying subject distances, making it difficult to generate high-detail composite images.
Innovation Solution
An imaging apparatus with a focusing mechanism that periodically scans the focus position and adjusts the movement speed to ensure at least one scanning is completed during movement, allowing for continuous or periodic image capture, and an image composition apparatus that extracts the sharpest frames from recorded images to generate high-detail composite images.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a telephoto lens is used to generate higher detail composite images, then image detail quality is improved, but depth of field becomes shallow making autofocus operation difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by implementing periodic focus position scanning during movement. The focusing mechanism scans through a range of focus positions at regular intervals, ensuring that at least one in-focus image is captured even when subject distance varies during motion. This periodic scanning approach transforms the continuous autofocus problem into discrete sampling points, reliably capturing sharp images with telephoto lenses despite their shallow depth of field.
2Manufacturing precision
If autofocus is operated while moving to capture in-focus images, then image sharpness is improved, but accurate autofocus operation becomes difficult due to movement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-planning and executing periodic focus scanning sequences before and during movement. The system determines the scanning pattern and timing in advance, allowing the focusing mechanism to systematically cover the required focus range. This preliminary structuring of the focusing operation eliminates the need for real-time autofocus adjustments during motion, making the operation straightforward and reliable.
3Manufacturing precision
If the focusing mechanism continuously adjusts focus during movement to maintain in-focus images, then image quality is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent simplifies device complexity by replacing continuous focus adjustment with periodic focus scanning. Instead of continuously monitoring and adjusting focus during movement, the system implements discrete scanning cycles at predetermined intervals. This periodic approach reduces the computational burden and control complexity while still ensuring that in-focus images are captured, as the scanning naturally covers the required focus range over time.
Data Source
AI summary
An imaging apparatus capable of capturing an in-focus image while moving, and an image composition apparatus capable of generating a high detail composite image are provided. A camera 100 is mounted on an unmanned aerial vehicle 10, and imaging is performed while moving. During imaging, a focusing mechanism included in the camera 100 is controlled, and a focus position is periodically scanned. In addition, during imaging, movement of the unmanned aerial vehicle 10 is controlled such that at least one scanning is performed during movement to a position shifted by an imaging range.