Managing Multiple Phone Cameras in One Viewfinder

This patent describes a system for electronic devices with multiple cameras, allowing users to smoothly zoom across different lenses or view multiple camera feeds simultaneously within a digital viewfinder.

What it covers

This patent describes how an electronic device with multiple cameras, each potentially having different properties like focal lengths, can manage its user interface. When a single digital viewfinder is shown, the system allows zooming over a range that combines the zoom capabilities of all cameras. The zoom setting determines which camera provides the live view and which one captures the photo or video. The interface also supports showing content from different cameras at the same time. If two digital viewfinders are displayed, a user can zoom, freeze, or pan one viewfinder independently of the other. The device can also save a combined image or video using input from both viewfinders and their corresponding cameras.

What it doesn't cover

• —Does not cover devices that only have a single camera and therefore cannot switch between multiple lenses.
• —Does not cover user interfaces that simply switch between different camera apps or modes without providing a continuous zoom across lenses.
• —Does not cover systems where multiple camera feeds are displayed but cannot be independently controlled for zooming, freezing, or panning.
• —Does not cover traditional optical viewfinders found on some cameras, as it specifically refers to a 'digital viewfinder user interface'.
• —Does not cover a system where the zoom setting does not automatically determine which camera is active for preview and capture.

The clever bit

The innovation lies in intelligently integrating multiple cameras with varying focal lengths into a unified user experience, either by providing a continuous zoom range that spans across different physical lenses or by allowing independent control of multiple camera feeds displayed simultaneously.

Why it matters

Modern smartphones frequently include multiple cameras, such as wide, ultrawide, and telephoto lenses. This patent addresses the challenge of creating a smooth and intuitive user experience when switching between or combining these different camera views. It enables features like seamless zoom transitions and picture-in-picture video recording, which are critical for advanced mobile photography and videography.

Real-world examples

• 1.Apple iPhone Pro models' camera app
• 2.Samsung Galaxy Ultra series' camera app
• 3.Google Pixel Pro phones' camera app
• 4.Huawei P series' camera app
• 5.Most modern smartphone lock screens