Variable AF Frame Touch Control for Camera Operability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image capture apparatuses with touch panels face difficulties in efficiently moving and adjusting AF frames of variable sizes, leading to reduced operability, especially when the AF frame size is small, as users struggle to make precise adjustments due to the limited touch-move distance required for significant frame movement.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a control unit that detects touch operations on a touch panel and adjusts the moving distance of a designated area within a viewfinder-based display unit, allowing a larger moving distance for the same touch position movement when the designated area is larger than a predefined size, thereby enhancing operability by increasing the sensitivity of touch-move operations based on AF frame size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the AF frame size is made variable to adapt to different subjects, then the adaptability is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates when the frame is small because users cannot finely adjust the AF position
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the touch sensitivity dynamically adjustable based on the AF frame size. When the AF frame is small, the touch sensitivity is increased so that small touch movements result in proportionally larger frame movements, enabling fine adjustments. When the AF frame is large, the touch sensitivity is decreased to prevent excessive movement. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between adaptability and ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of touch sensitivity based on the AF frame size. The control unit adjusts the touch sensitivity parameter according to the current frame size, allowing the system to adapt its response characteristics. This parameter change enables the system to maintain ease of operation across different frame sizes while preserving size adaptability.
2Ease of operation
If the touch sensitivity is increased to allow fine adjustment of small AF frames, then the ease of operation is improved, but the risk of excessive frame movement with small touch gestures increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the touch sensitivity parameter based on the AF frame size. When the frame is small, higher sensitivity is applied to enable fine adjustments. When the frame is large, lower sensitivity is applied to prevent excessive movement. This conditional parameter adjustment resolves the contradiction between ease of operation and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by having different touch sensitivity levels for different frame sizes. Instead of using a uniform sensitivity setting, the system applies locally optimized sensitivity values appropriate to each frame size context, ensuring both fine adjustability for small frames and controlled movement for large frames.
3Device complexity
If a fixed touch sensitivity is used for all AF frame sizes, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ease of operation deteriorates for both small and large frame scenarios
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by implementing variable touch sensitivity that automatically adjusts based on AF frame size. The control unit monitors the current frame size and dynamically changes the sensitivity parameter, providing optimized operation for each scenario without requiring manual configuration or complex user intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies universality by creating a single touch control system that serves multiple functions: it provides fine adjustment capability for small frames and controlled movement for large frames. The control unit universally applies the appropriate sensitivity level based on frame size, making the same interface adaptable to different operational contexts.
Data Source
AI summary
An image capture apparatus controls the image capture apparatus, in a case where a subject image can be viewed via a viewfinder, so that a moving distance of a predetermined item, which indicates a designated area on a display unit within the viewfinder that can be viewed via the viewfinder, moves for a first moving distance of a touch position on a touch panel is larger when the designated area has a second size larger than a first size, than when the designated area has the first size. It is possible to increase operability for a user in the case of moving an item, whose size is variable, by moving the touch position.