Method, apparatus, and system for remotely controlling an image capture operation of a movable device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10809716-B2
Application number	US-201815883883-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 30, 2018
Priority date	Jul 30, 2015
Publication date	Oct 20, 2020
Grant date	Oct 20, 2020

Abstract

A method for controlling image capture includes receiving, from a movable device, an image of a target imaging area; adjusting, by a first control apparatus and a second control apparatus, one or more imaging parameters for imaging the target imaging area based at least in part on the image to obtain one or more adjusted imaging parameters; and sending, by the first control apparatus and/or the second control apparatus, an instruction carrying the one or more adjusted imaging parameters to the movable device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for controlling image capture comprising:
receiving, from an unmanned vehicle (UAV), an image of a target imaging area;
adjusting one or more first imaging parameters for imaging the target imaging area based at least in part on the image to obtain one or more first adjusted imaging parameters, the one or more first imaging parameters being adjusted by operating a joystick on a first control apparatus;
selecting a target adjustable mode from a plurality of modes, the target adjustable mode being selected by operating the joystick;
adjusting one or more second imaging parameters for imaging the target imaging area based at least in part on the image to obtain one or more second adjusted imaging parameters, the one or more second image parameters being adjusted by operating on an interactive interface of a second control apparatus, wherein the interactive interface includes a gimbal control icon displayed on top of the image of the target imaging area, the gimbal control icon being configured to receive user interaction to control an attitude of a gimbal device configured on the UAV, the gimbal device carrying an imaging device for imaging the targeted area; and
sending, by the first control apparatus and the second control apparatus, an instruction carrying the one or more first adjusted imaging parameters and the one or more second adjusted imaging parameters to the UAV.

2. The method of claim 1 ,
wherein the first control apparatus further comprises one of a dial and a button,
the method further comprising:
selecting the target adjustable mode in response to the dial being turned or the button being pressed.

3. The method of claim 2 ,
further comprising, after selecting the target adjustable mode:
adjusting at least one of an ISO sensitivity value, a shutter value, an aperture value, or an exposure value in response to the dial being turned.

4. The method of claim 2 ,
wherein the target adjustable mode is selected to be a manual focus mode,
the method further comprising, after selecting the manual focus mode:
performing a focusing operation on the image in response to the dial being turned, and/or
performing the focusing operation in response to an operation on a scrollbar or a function menu in the interactive interface of the second control apparatus that corresponds to a focus parameter.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein performing the focusing operation in response to the operation on the scrollbar or the function menu in the interactive interface of the second control apparatus includes:
magnifying an area in the image on which the focusing operation is performed;
determining whether the area is in focus as a result of the focusing operation; and
in response to the area being not in focus:
continuing the focusing operation on the target imaging area according to the dial being turned; and
adjusting a light metering parameter according to an operation on the interactive interface.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising performing at least one of:
enabling at least one of a light metering operation, an automatic focusing operation, or a manual focusing operation in response to an operation on a dial, the joystick, or a button of the first control apparatus;
enabling the light metering operation and/or the automatic focusing operation in response to a touch on the interactive interface of the second control apparatus;
enabling the light metering operation and/or the manual focusing operation in response to a touch on the interactive interface of the second control apparatus;
enabling the automatic focusing operation or an automatic focusing lock operation in response to a touch on the interactive interface of the second control apparatus;
enabling an automatic exposure operation or an automatic exposure lock operation in response to a touch on the interactive interface of the second control apparatus; or
enabling a spot light metering operation or a global light metering operation in response to a touch on the interactive interface of the second control apparatus.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
switching among the plurality of modes in response to at least one of:
a button on the second control apparatus being pressed,
a scrollbar in the interactive interface of the second control apparatus that corresponds to the plurality of modes being touched, or
a function menu in the interactive interface of the second control apparatus that corresponds to the plurality of modes being touched.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
controlling, by the first control apparatus, the UAV to adjust an attitude of the UAV; and
receiving an updated image of the target imaging area from the UAV.

9. The method of claim 8 ,
wherein the instruction is a first instruction,
the method further comprising:
adjusting, by the first control apparatus and/or the second control apparatus, the one or more imaging parameters for imaging the target imaging area based at least in part on the updated image to obtain one or more updated adjusted imaging parameters; and
sending, by the first control apparatus and/or the second control apparatus, a second instruction carrying the one or more updated adjusted imaging parameters to the UAV.

10. The method of claim 8 ,
wherein the instruction is a first instruction,
the method further comprising:
maintaining, by the first control apparatus and/or the second control apparatus, at least one of the one or more imaging parameters for imaging the target imaging area unchanged; and
sending, by the first control apparatus and/or the second control apparatus, a second instruction to the UAV, the second instruction carrying the at least one of the one or more imaging parameters that is unchanged.

11. A system for controlling image capture comprising:
a first control apparatus having a joystick, the first control apparatus configured to:
receive, from an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), an image of a target imaging area, and
adjust one or more first imaging parameters for imaging the target imaging area based at least in part on the image to obtain one or more first adjusted imaging parameters, the one or more first imaging parameters being adjusted by operating the joystick of the first control apparatus;
select a target adjustable mode from a plurality of modes, the target adjustable mode being selected by operating the joystick of the first control apparatus; and

a second control apparatus having an interactive interface, the second control apparatus configured to:
receive, from the UAV, the image of the target imaging area,
adjust one or more second imaging parameters for imaging the target imaging area based at least in part on the image to obtain one or more second adjusted imaging parameters, wherein the interactive interface includes a gimbal control icon displayed on top of the image of the target imaging area, the gimbal control icon being configured to receive user interaction to control an attitude of a gimbal device configured on the UAV, the gimbal device carrying an imaging device for imaging the targeted area, and
send an instruction carrying the one or more first adjusted imaging parameters and the one or more second adjusted imaging parameters to the UAV.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein:
the first control apparatus further comprises at least one of a dial and a button, and
the first control apparatus is further configured to select the target adjustable mode in response to the dial being turned or the button being pressed.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein:
the first control apparatu

Assignees

• Sz Dji Technology Co Ltd

Inventors

• Zhong Heli
• Yang Bingzhen
• Yu Lifu
• Zhang Zhiyuan

Classifications

• H04N23/631

  Graphical user interfaces [GUI] specially adapted for controlling image capture or setting capture parameters · CPC title

• H04N23/68

  for stable pick-up of the scene, e.g. compensating for camera body vibrations · CPC title

• H04N23/67

  Focus control based on electronic image sensor signals · CPC title

• H04N23/667

  Camera operation mode switching, e.g. between still and video, sport and normal or high- and low-resolution modes · CPC title

• B64U10/00

  Type of UAV · CPC title