Thin multi-aperture imaging system with auto-focus and methods for using same
First Claim
1. A dual-aperture digital camera with autofocus (AF) for imaging an object or scene, comprising:
- a) a first sub-camera that includes a first optics bloc and a first, color image sensor with a first number of pixels, the first camera operative to provide a first, color image of the object or scene;
b) a second sub-camera that includes a second optics bloc and a second image sensor having a second number of pixels, the second sub-camera operative to provide a second image of the object or scene;
c) an AF mechanism coupled mechanically at least to the first optics bloc and used to perform an AF action on at least the first optics bloc; and
d) a camera controller coupled to the AF mechanism and to the two image sensors and configured, based on calibration data acquired through a calibration step, to control the AF mechanism, to find corresponding points in the first and second images, to estimate a scale difference between the first and second images, and to process the first and second images into a fused color image using the calculated scale difference.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Dual-aperture digital cameras with auto-focus (AF) and related methods for obtaining a focused and, optionally optically stabilized color image of an object or scene. A dual-aperture camera includes a first sub-camera having a first optics bloc and a color image sensor for providing a color image, a second sub-camera having a second optics bloc and a clear image sensor for providing a luminance image, the first and second sub-cameras having substantially the same field of view, an AF mechanism coupled mechanically at least to the first optics bloc, and a camera controller coupled to the AF mechanism and to the two image sensors and configured to control the AF mechanism, to calculate a scaling difference and a sharpness difference between the color and luminance images, the scaling and sharpness differences being due to the AF mechanism, and to process the color and luminance images into a fused color image using the calculated differences.
-
Citations
19 Claims
-
1. A dual-aperture digital camera with autofocus (AF) for imaging an object or scene, comprising:
-
a) a first sub-camera that includes a first optics bloc and a first, color image sensor with a first number of pixels, the first camera operative to provide a first, color image of the object or scene; b) a second sub-camera that includes a second optics bloc and a second image sensor having a second number of pixels, the second sub-camera operative to provide a second image of the object or scene; c) an AF mechanism coupled mechanically at least to the first optics bloc and used to perform an AF action on at least the first optics bloc; and d) a camera controller coupled to the AF mechanism and to the two image sensors and configured, based on calibration data acquired through a calibration step, to control the AF mechanism, to find corresponding points in the first and second images, to estimate a scale difference between the first and second images, and to process the first and second images into a fused color image using the calculated scale difference. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
-
-
6. A dual-aperture digital camera with autofocus (AF) for imaging an object or scene, comprising:
-
a) a first sub-camera that includes a first optics bloc and a first, color image sensor with a first number of pixels, the first camera operative to provide a first, color image of the object or scene; b) a second sub-camera that includes a second optics bloc and a second image sensor having a second number of pixels, the second sub-camera operative to provide a second image of the object or scene; c) an AF mechanism coupled mechanically at least to the first optics bloc and used to perform an AF action on at least the first optics bloc; and d) a camera controller coupled to the AF mechanism and to the two image sensors and configured, based on calibration data acquired through a calibration step, to control the AF mechanism, to preprocess the first and second images to obtain respective rectified and scale-adjusted first and second images while considering scaling differences caused by the AF action, to register the rectified and scale-adjusted first and second images to obtain respective registered first and second images, and to fuse the registered first and second images into a fused color image. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. A method, comprising:
- in a dual camera;
a) obtaining simultaneously a first, color image of an object or scene with a first sub-camera and a second image of the object or scene with a second sub-camera, wherein the first sub-camera includes a first optics bloc, wherein the second sub-camera includes a second optics bloc and wherein the first and second sub-cameras have substantially the same field of view; b) using an AF mechanism coupled mechanically at least to the first optics bloc to perform an AF action on at least the first optics bloc; c) preprocessing the first image and the second image to obtain respective rectified and scale-adjusted first and second images while considering scaling differences caused by the AF action; d) performing registration between the rectified and scale-adjusted first and second images to obtain registered images; and e) fusing the registered images into a focused fused color image. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
- in a dual camera;
Specification