Distributed multi-aperture camera array

• US 10,594,951 B2
• Filed: 02/07/2018
• Issued: 03/17/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Lamkin, Mark A., Ringgenberg, Kyle Martin, Lamkin, Jordan David
• Primary Examiner(s): Segura, Cynthia
• Application Number:
  US15/890,945
• Publication Number:
  US 20190246044A1
• Time in Patent Office: 769 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/557 from light fields, e.g. from plenoptic cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/50 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/698 for achieving an enlarged field of view, e.g. panoramic image capture
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/90 Arrangement of cameras or camera modules, e.g. multiple cameras in TV studios or sports stadiums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/957 Light-field or plenoptic cameras or camera modules

Abstract

In one embodiment, an electronic camera assembly includes a circuit board and a plurality of sensor facets. Each sensor facet is coupled to a respective one of a plurality of facet locations on one side of the circuit board. Each sensor facet includes a plurality of sensor pixels. Each sensor facet can capture light at a plurality of capture resolutions. Each sensor facet includes a selectable capture resolution from the plurality of capture resolutions. Each sensor facet is individually addressable such that the plurality of sensor facets are configurable to provide heterogeneous capture resolutions. Each particular facet location is configured to transmit signals from a particular sensor facet that is electrically coupled to the particular facet location to a display, thereby displaying light on the display that corresponds to light captured at a particular selected capture resolution by the particular sensor facet.

Claims

1. An electronic camera assembly comprising:

a circuit board;

a plurality of logic facets coupled to one side of the circuit board; and

a plurality of sensor facets, each sensor facet being coupled to a respective one of the plurality of logic facets, each sensor facet comprising a plurality of sensor pixels, each sensor facet capable of capturing light at a plurality of capture resolutions;

wherein;

each sensor facet comprises a selectable capture resolution from the plurality of capture resolutions;

each sensor facet is individually addressable such that the plurality of sensor facets are configurable to provide heterogeneous capture resolutions;

the circuit board comprises a plurality of facet locations; and

each particular facet location is configured to transmit signals from a particular sensor facet that is electrically coupled to the particular facet location to a display, thereby displaying light on the display that corresponds to light captured at a particular selected capture resolution by the particular sensor facet.

2. The electronic camera assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of logic facets and the plurality of sensor facets are in a shape of a polygon comprising a triangle, a quadrilateral, a pentagon, a hexagon, a heptagon, or an octagon.

3. The electronic camera assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of facet locations are arranged into a plurality of facet columns and a plurality of facet rows.

4. The electronic camera assembly of claim 1, wherein the circuit board is a flexible circuit board formed into a spherical or semispherical shape.

5. The electronic camera assembly of claim 1, wherein:

data flows serially through the plurality of sensor facets; and

each of the plurality of sensor facets is assigned a unique identification.

6. The electronic camera assembly of claim 1, wherein:

each sensor facet further comprises a selectable color range from a plurality of color ranges;

each sensor facet further comprises a selectable frame rate from a plurality of frame rates; and

the plurality of sensor facets are configurable to capture heterogeneous frame rates and heterogeneous color ranges.

7. The electronic camera assembly of claim 1, wherein each particular facet location comprises:

a ball grid array configured to couple to one of the plurality of logic facets; and

a plurality of interconnection pads configured to electrically couple the particular facet to one or more adjacent facets.

8. An electronic camera assembly comprising:

a circuit board; and

a plurality of sensor facets, each sensor facet being coupled to a respective one of a plurality of facet locations on one side of the circuit board, each sensor facet comprising a plurality of sensor pixels, each sensor facet capable of capturing light at a plurality of capture resolutions;

wherein;

each sensor facet comprises a selectable capture resolution from the plurality of capture resolutions;

each sensor facet is individually addressable such that the plurality of sensor facets are configurable to provide heterogeneous capture resolutions; and

each particular facet location is configured to transmit signals from a particular sensor facet that is electrically coupled to the particular facet location to a display, thereby displaying light on the display that corresponds to light captured at a particular selected capture resolution by the particular sensor facet.

9. The electronic camera assembly of claim 8, wherein each of the plurality of sensor facets are in a shape of a polygon comprising a triangle, a quadrilateral, a pentagon, a hexagon, a heptagon, or an octagon.

10. The electronic camera assembly of claim 8, wherein the plurality of facet locations are arranged into a plurality of facet columns and a plurality of facet rows.

11. The electronic camera assembly of claim 8, wherein the circuit board is a flexible circuit board formed into a spherical or semispherical shape.

12. The electronic camera assembly of claim 8, wherein data flows serially through the plurality of sensor facets;

and

each of the plurality of sensor facets is assigned a unique identification.

13. The electronic camera assembly of claim 8, wherein:

each sensor facet further comprises a selectable color range from a plurality of color ranges;

each sensor facet further comprises a selectable frame rate from a plurality of frame rates;

the plurality of sensor facets are configurable to capture heterogeneous frame rates and heterogeneous color ranges.

14. The electronic camera assembly of claim 8, wherein each particular facet location comprises:

a ball grid array configured to couple to one of the plurality of sensor facets; and

a plurality of interconnection pads configured to electrically couple the particular facet to one or more adjacent facets.

15. A method of manufacturing an electronic camera assembly, the method comprising:

forming a plurality of facet locations on a flexible circuit board, each facet location corresponding to one of a plurality of sensor facets, the plurality of facet locations arranged into a plurality of facet columns;

cutting the flexible circuit board into a pattern that permits the flexible circuit board to be later formed into a three-dimensional shape, wherein;

when the flexible circuit is flat, at least some of the facet locations are separated from one or more adjacent facet locations by a plurality of gaps; and

when the flexible circuit board is formed into the three-dimensional shape, the plurality of gaps are substantially eliminated;

assembling the electronic camera assembly by coupling a plurality of rigid sensor facets to a first side of the flexible circuit board, each rigid sensor facet being coupled to a respective one of the facet locations; and

forming the assembled electronic camera assembly into the three-dimensional shape.

16. The method of manufacturing the electronic camera assembly of claim 15, wherein the three-dimensional shape comprises a spherical or semispherical shape.

17. The method of manufacturing the electronic camera assembly of claim 15, wherein the plurality of rigid sensor facets are in the shape of a polygon.

18. The method of manufacturing the electronic camera assembly of claim 17, wherein the polygon comprises a triangle, a quadrilateral, a pentagon, a hexagon, a heptagon, or an octagon.

19. The method of manufacturing the electronic camera assembly of claim 17, wherein the plurality of facet locations are arranged into a plurality of facet columns and a plurality of facet rows.

20. The method of manufacturing the electronic camera assembly of claim 17, wherein each particular facet location comprises:

a ball grid array configured to couple to one of the plurality of sensor facets; and

a plurality of interconnection pads configured to electrically couple the particular facet to one or more adjacent facets.