Camera device including multiple optical chains and related methods

• US 10,110,794 B2
• Filed: 07/09/2015
• Issued: 10/23/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Blue River Technology Inc. (Deere & Company)
• Original Assignee: Light Labs Inc.
• Inventors: Laroia, Rajiv, Shroff, Sapna A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Daniels, Anthony J
• Application Number:
  US14/795,883
• Publication Number:
  US 20160014314A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,202 Days
• Field of Search: 348272, 348273, 348280
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/201 in the form of arrays
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/208 for use with infrared or ultraviolet radiation, e.g. for separating visible light from infrared and/or ultraviolet radiation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/11 for generating image signals from visible and infrared light wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/45 for generating image signals from two or more image sensors being of different type or operating in different modes, e.g. with a CMOS sensor for moving images in combination with a charge-coupled device [CCD] for still images
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/631 Graphical user interfaces [GUI] specially adapted for controlling image capture or setting capture parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/651 for reducing power consumption by affecting camera operations, e.g. sleep mode, hibernation mode or power off of selective parts of the camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/667 Camera operation mode switching, e.g. between still and video, sport and normal or high- and low-resolution modes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/131 including elements passing infrared wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/134 based on three different wavelength filter elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/135 based on four or more different wavelength filter elements

Abstract

A camera device includes multiple sensors with each sensor including an integrated multi-element filter. Because of the use of different filters in different sensors, a wide variety of filter patterns can be supported in a single camera device without the need for moveable or otherwise changeable filters. While multiple optical chains and sensors are included which sensors are used during a given time period are determined based on the whether a power save mode of operation is active and/or the image capture mode being used. Fewer optical chains are used during power save mode for capturing images corresponding to the image mode in use, e.g., color, IR, or monochrome. While the camera device may include a large number of optical modules, e.g., 4, 10 or more, in some embodiments sensors of optical chains not selected for use during a given time period are intentionally powered down to conserve power.

Claims

1. A camera device, comprising:

a first-type optical chain including a first filter having a first RGB (red, green, blue) filter pattern including more G filter elements than R or B filter elements, said first filter being part of a first sensor of a first type;

a second-type optical chain including a second filter having a second RGB filter pattern including more R filter elements than G filter elements;

a third-type optical chain including a third filter having a third RGB filter pattern including more B filter elements than G filter elements, wherein

the second filter includes more R filter elements than B filter elements or the third filter includes more B filter elements than R filter elements; and

a processor configured to;

determine a first mode of camera device operation to be used during a first period of time from first user input or at least a first sensed condition; and

select a first set of optical chains in said camera device to use to capture one or more images during said first period of time based on the determined first mode of operation.

2. The camera device of claim 1, wherein the first mode of camera device operation is mower save mode of operation, and

wherein the camera device is configured to automatically trigger a change to the power save mode of operation based on battery power falling;

and

wherein the camera device uses fewer optical chains during the power save mode of operation than during a normal mode of operation.

3. The camera device of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine a second mode of camera device operation to be used during a second period of time from second user input or at least a second sensed condition, said sensed second condition being a battery power condition; and

select a second set of optical chains in said camera device to use to capture one or more images during said second period of time based on the determined second mode of operation, said second mode of operation being different from said first mode of operation, second set of optical chains being different from said first set of optical chains.

4. The camera device of claim 3,

wherein said first mode of operation is a power save mode of operation,

wherein said second mode of operation is a normal mode of operation, and

wherein said first set of optical chains includes fewer optical chains than said second set of optical chains.

5. The camera device of claim 1 further comprising:

a fourth-type optical chain, said fourth-type optical chain being a broadband optical chain including a sensor and not including a color filter.

6. The camera device of claim 1 wherein the camera device includes a plurality of first-type optical chains.

7. The camera device of claim 6, wherein the camera device includes a plurality of said second-type optical chains.

8. The camera device of claim 7, wherein the camera device includes an equal number of first- and second-type optical chains.

9. The camera device of claim 7, wherein the camera device includes a plurality of third-type optical chains.

10. The camera device of claim 8, wherein the camera device includes an equal number of first-, second-, and third-type optical chains.

11. The camera device of claim 1, wherein the camera device includes five optical chains positioned along a circle, said five optical chains including two first-type optical chains, two second-type optical chains, and one third-type optical chain.

12. The camera device of claim 11, wherein the camera device further includes a broadband optical chain, which does not include a color filter, said broadband optical chain being positioned in a center portion of said circle.

13. The camera device of claim 12, further comprising:

a second third-type optical chain positioned in the center portion of said circle.

14. The camera device of claim 13, further including:

a fifth-type optical chain including a red filter and not including a green or blue filter;

a sixth-type optical chain including a blue filter and not including a red or green filter; and

a seventh-type optical chain including a green filter and not including a blue or red filter.