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SonyGranted patentCameras & imagingInterest 5/10

Sony patents camera vibration that syncs with photo capture

Sony describes a camera system that vibrates the device body when taking a photo, but not while the sensor is actually capturing the image. The vibration happens during the time the photo is being displayed on the screen, providing physical feedback without interfering with the light-sensitive sensor.

Why it mattersThis feature could make taking photos feel more tactile and responsive, especially for users who rely on physical cues rather than just visual or audio signals.

In the filing’s own words

An imaging device includes an imaging element unit that is exposed to incident light and that outputs a captured image signal, a notification unit, and a control unit that performs control in such a way as to cause the notification unit to perform notification corresponding to still image capture exposure, which is performed by the imaging element unit to generate a still image in response to a still image capture instruction, in a period different from an exposure period of the still image capture exposure.

What exactly they claim (claim 1)

1. An imaging device comprising: an imaging element unit that is exposed to incident light and that outputs a captured image signal; a vibration unit that vibrates a housing; and a control unit that performs control in such a way as to cause the vibration unit to perform notification corresponding to still image capture exposure, which is performed by the imaging element unit to generate a still image in response to a still image capture instruction, in a period different from an exposure period of the still image capture exposure, wherein the control unit performs control such that the vibration unit performs vibration corresponding to the still image capture exposure within a display period of an image based on a captured image signal obtained through the still image capture exposure, and the control unit performs, in a case where there is an instruction to perform continuous shooting of still images as the still image capture instruction, control in such a way as to change timing of the still image capture exposure in a case where a period of one of second and subsequent still image capture exposures in a continuous shooting period overlaps with a display period of an image corresponding to a preceding still image capture exposure.

Facts

Company
Sony (Sony Group Corporation)
Official title
Imaging device, control method, and program with notification corresponding to still image capture
Patent number
US12732707B2
Application number
18850770
Filed
Apr 19, 2023
Granted
Sep 8, 2026
Inventors
2
Claims
18

Classified under

H04N 23/73 Electricity & electronicsH04N 23/635 Electricity & electronicsH04N 23/667 Electricity & electronics

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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.