Zoom Control Device for Automatic Subject Framing in Self-Timer Capture
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Solution Overview
Problem
In self-timer image capturing, users face difficulties in adjusting the camera's image capturing range to ensure a subject is centered within the frame without manually adjusting the camera's orientation or zoom, leading to potential decreases in image quality due to automatic cropping or enlargement.
Innovation Solution
A digital camera system that combines automatic optical zoom control and electronic cropping to adjust the image capturing range, using a detection unit to identify subjects and adjust parameters for optimal framing without degrading image quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If automatic cropping is used to adjust image capturing range, then the operation is simplified, but image quality decreases due to clipping and enlargement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the zoom control process into two distinct stages: optical zoom control (first zoom control) and electronic zoom control (second zoom control). The optical zoom adjusts the lens focal length to change the image capturing range, while the electronic zoom adjusts the clipping region within the captured image. This segmentation allows each method to be used for its optimal purpose, preventing quality loss from excessive electronic cropping.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic switching between optical zoom and electronic zoom based on real-time conditions. The control unit determines whether to perform optical zoom, electronic zoom, or both in sequence, depending on the detected subject size, image capturing range, and quality requirements. This dynamic approach optimizes the balance between automation and image quality.
2Manufacturing precision
If manual adjustment of camera orientation or zoom is required for self-timer capturing, then image quality can be maintained, but the operation becomes complicated and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements automatic subject detection and automatic determination of optimal clipping regions. The detection unit identifies subjects in the captured image, and the control unit automatically calculates the appropriate clipping region to center subjects or groups of subjects without requiring manual camera adjustment. This self-service approach maintains image quality while eliminating the need for user intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from the detection unit about subject position and size to automatically adjust the clipping region and zoom level. The control unit continuously monitors the captured image quality and subject framing, then makes real-time adjustments to optimize both automation and image quality.
3Ease of operation
If only electronic zoom is used to adjust image capturing range, then the operation is simplified, but image quality decreases due to enlargement of clipped regions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the zoom control process into two distinct stages: optical zoom control (first zoom control) and electronic zoom control (second zoom control). The optical zoom adjusts the lens focal length to change the image capturing range, while the electronic zoom adjusts the clipping region within the captured image. This segmentation allows each method to be used for its optimal purpose, preventing quality loss from excessive electronic cropping.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic switching between optical zoom and electronic zoom based on real-time conditions. The control unit determines whether to perform optical zoom, electronic zoom, or both in sequence, depending on the detected subject size, image capturing range, and quality requirements. This dynamic approach optimizes the balance between automation and image quality.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for recording an image output from a sensor based on an instruction from a user includes a detection unit configured to detect a subject from an image output from the sensor, and a control unit configured to set a parameter based on the detected subject and to perform automatic optical zoom control using the parameter. In a first mode, the detection unit detects a subject from a first image which is acquired after a predetermined condition is satisfied after the instruction, and the control unit performs the automatic optical zoom control using the parameter set based on the subject detected from the first image.