Virtual Shutter Button for One-Handed Photography

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users face inconvenience when trying to operate electronic devices with large screens for photography or video recording, as pressing a shutter button often blocks the preview picture and requires two hands, leading to a poor user experience.

Innovation Solution

A virtual shutter button is displayed on the electronic device's screen, which can be moved to a convenient position for one-handed operation, allowing users to perform photography or video recording without obstructing the preview image, and can be disabled based on specific conditions or user preferences.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a shutter button is displayed on the photographing preview interface, then the user can perform photographing operation, but the user's hand blocks the preview picture during operation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveone-handed operation capabilityVSAvoidhand blocking preview picture
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The shutter button is extracted from the center of the photographing preview interface and relocated to the edge region. This separation removes the obstruction from the preview picture area while maintaining the photographing function, allowing users to operate with one hand without blocking the view.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The shutter button is moved from the two-dimensional center position to the edge region, utilizing the spatial dimension of the interface layout. This repositioning allows the button to be accessible for one-handed operation while keeping the preview picture area clear.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Ease of operation

If the shutter button is positioned in the center of the screen, then it is easily accessible, but it obstructs the preview picture for large screen devices

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccessibility of shutter buttonVSAvoidpreview picture area
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The shutter button is extracted from the center position and relocated to the edge region. This removes the obstruction from the preview picture area while maintaining accessibility through the edge location, which is still easily reachable for users.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the interface are assigned different qualities: the edge region accommodates the shutter button for accessibility, while the center region maintains a clear preview picture area. This local differentiation optimizes both accessibility and preview quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple shutter buttons are displayed on the interface, then users have more operation options, but the interface complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperation flexibilityVSAvoidinterface complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The shutter button function is segmented into different types (first shutter button for photographing, second shutter button for video recording) displayed at different positions. This segmentation provides multiple operation options while keeping each button simple and the interface organized.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The interface design accommodates multiple shutter buttons with different functions at different positions, allowing a single interface to serve multiple photographing needs (still image, video recording) without requiring separate applications or complex navigation.

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

Data Source

PatentEP4020965B1Photography method and electronic device
Publication Date: 2024.11.06 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP4020965B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4020965B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4020965B1 patent drawingFigure 3(a)

AI summary

This application provides a photographing method and an electronic device. In the photographing method, a virtual shutter button is provided on a photographing preview interface, and a user implements a photographing or video recording function by tapping the virtual shutter button. The virtual shutter button has a same function as a shutter button of a camera application. When the user uses the photographing function of the electronic device, the virtual shutter button may move on the photographing preview interface based on a touch input of the user, thereby improving photographing experience of the user. In addition, the user may complete a photographing operation by touching and tapping the virtual shutter button, and therefore, shake caused by taking a photo by pressing a mechanical button (for example, a volume button) is avoided, and quality of a captured photo is ensured. In this way, different photographing requirements of the user can be met, thereby improving photographing experience of the user.