Methods and apparatus for synchronized image capture using camera modules with different focal lengths
First Claim
1. A method of capturing images corresponding to a scene area of interest, the method comprising:
- controlling a plurality of optical chains to capture pixel values corresponding to a portion of said scene area of interest in a synchronized manner, said plurality of optical chains including a first optical chain having a first focal length and a second optical chain having a second focal length, said second focal length being different from said first focal length, different portions of said scene area of interest being captured at different times, andwherein said controlling includes controlling a first image sensor to scan the scene area at a first rate and controlling a second image sensor to scan the scene area at a second rate, the first rate being a function of the focal length of said first optical chain, the second rate being different from the first rate and being a function of the focal length of said second optical chain.
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus relating to controlling optical chains (OCs) of a camera device to scan a scene area of interest, thereby capturing images of the scene area, in a synchronized manner are described. In various embodiments a synchronized rolling shutter read out of two or more image sensors included in two or more corresponding OCs is implemented controlling the sensors to read out rows of pixel values corresponding to a portion of the scene at the same time, e.g., concurrently. While two or more of the OCs are controlled to read out at the same time, some other OCs in the camera maybe controlled not to read out pixel values while other image sensors are reading out. In various embodiments the read out rate of the two or more sensors corresponding to two or more optical chains is controlled as a function of the focal lengths of the corresponding OCs.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method of capturing images corresponding to a scene area of interest, the method comprising:
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controlling a plurality of optical chains to capture pixel values corresponding to a portion of said scene area of interest in a synchronized manner, said plurality of optical chains including a first optical chain having a first focal length and a second optical chain having a second focal length, said second focal length being different from said first focal length, different portions of said scene area of interest being captured at different times, and wherein said controlling includes controlling a first image sensor to scan the scene area at a first rate and controlling a second image sensor to scan the scene area at a second rate, the first rate being a function of the focal length of said first optical chain, the second rate being different from the first rate and being a function of the focal length of said second optical chain. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A camera device for capturing images corresponding to a scene area of interest, comprising:
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a plurality of optical chains; and a controller configured to control said plurality of optical chains to capture pixel values corresponding to a portion of said scene area of interest in a synchronized manner, said plurality of optical chains including a first optical chain having a first focal length and a second optical chain having a second focal length, said second focal length being different from said first focal length, different portions of said scene area of interest being captured at different times under control of said controller, said controller controlling a first image sensor to scan the scene area at a first rate and controlling a second image sensor to scan the scene area at a second rate, the first rate being a function of the focal length of said first optical chain, the second rate being different from the first rate and being a function of the focal length of said second optical chain. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising computer executable instructions, said non-transitory computer readable medium comprising:
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instructions, which when executed by a processor, control a plurality of optical chains to capture pixel values corresponding to a portion of said scene area of interest in a synchronized manner, said plurality of optical chains including a first optical chain having a first focal length and a second optical chain having a second focal length, said second focal length being different from said first focal length, different portions of said scene area of interest being captured at different times, and wherein said controlling includes controlling a first image sensor to scan the scene area at a first rate and controlling a second image sensor to scan the scene area at a second rate, the first rate being a function of the focal length of said first optical chain, the second rate being different from the first rate and being a function of the focal length of said second optical chain. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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Specification