Electrochromic filtering in a camera
First Claim
1. A lens assembly configured to focus light on a sensor array of an optical device, comprising:
- one or more optical lenses; and
an electrochromic layer positioned between the one or more optical lenses and the sensor array, the electrochromic layer having one or more optical properties that are responsive to voltage applied to the layer, including;
a first optical property related to optical transmissivity having;
a first state corresponding to a Day mode, responsive to a first applied voltage, in which the layer is substantially opaque to a predefined band of IR wavelengths; and
a second state corresponding to a Night mode, responsive to a second applied voltage distinct from the first applied voltage, in which the layer is substantially transparent to the predefined band of IR wavelengths and visible wavelengths;
wherein the optical device is configured to, in the Night mode;
determine whether ambient light incident on the optical device is due to other than an IR light source;
detect an ambient light level;
based on a determination that the ambient light due to other than the IR light source and that the ambient light level exceeds a first lux threshold, initiate a mode change of the optical device to the Day mode; and
based on a determination that the ambient light is due to other than the IR light source and that the ambient light threshold does not exceed the first lux threshold, maintain the optical device in the Night mode.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
This application is directed to a lens assembly configured to focus light on a sensor array of an optical device. The lens assembly comprises one or more optical lenses and an electrochromic layer positioned between the one or more optical lenses and the sensor array. The electrochromic layer has one or more optical properties that are responsive to voltage applied to the layer, including a first optical property related to optical transmissivity. The first optical property includes a first state, responsive to a first applied voltage, in which the layer is substantially opaque to a predefined band of IR wavelengths. The first optical property also includes a second state, responsive to a second applied voltage distinct from the first applied voltage, in which the layer is substantially transparent to the predefined band of IR wavelengths and visible wavelengths.
227 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A lens assembly configured to focus light on a sensor array of an optical device, comprising:
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one or more optical lenses; and an electrochromic layer positioned between the one or more optical lenses and the sensor array, the electrochromic layer having one or more optical properties that are responsive to voltage applied to the layer, including; a first optical property related to optical transmissivity having; a first state corresponding to a Day mode, responsive to a first applied voltage, in which the layer is substantially opaque to a predefined band of IR wavelengths; and a second state corresponding to a Night mode, responsive to a second applied voltage distinct from the first applied voltage, in which the layer is substantially transparent to the predefined band of IR wavelengths and visible wavelengths; wherein the optical device is configured to, in the Night mode; determine whether ambient light incident on the optical device is due to other than an IR light source; detect an ambient light level; based on a determination that the ambient light due to other than the IR light source and that the ambient light level exceeds a first lux threshold, initiate a mode change of the optical device to the Day mode; and based on a determination that the ambient light is due to other than the IR light source and that the ambient light threshold does not exceed the first lux threshold, maintain the optical device in the Night mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An optical device including a plurality of modes of operation, the optical device comprising:
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a controller; a sensor array; and a lens assembly that is configured to focus light on the sensor array, wherein the lens assembly includes one or more optical lenses and an electrochromic layer positioned between the one or more optical lenses and the sensor array, the electrochromic layer having one or more optical properties that are responsive to voltage applied to the layer, including; a first optical property related to optical transmissivity having; a first state corresponding to a Day mode, responsive to a first applied voltage supplied by the controller, in which the layer is substantially opaque to a predefined band of IR wavelengths in ambient light; and a second state corresponding to a Night mode, responsive to a second applied voltage supplied by the controller, in which the layer is substantially transparent to the predefined band of IR wavelengths and visible wavelengths; wherein the plurality of modes includes a third mode; and in accordance with a determination that the optical device is in the third mode, the controller supplies a third voltage that is substantially larger than the first voltage, the third voltage is applied on the electrochromic layer to cause the electrochromic layer to remove a substantial portion of the predefined band of IR wavelengths in ambient light incident on the optical device and reduce the intensity of visible wavelengths in the ambient light to a first visible light intensity, thereby exposing the sensor array to the visible wavelengths of the ambient light having the first visible light intensity. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method performed
at an optical device having a controller, a sensor array, and a lens assembly that is configured to focus light on the sensor array, wherein the optical device includes a plurality of modes of operation, the modes of operation including a Day mode, a Night mode, and a third mode, and wherein the lens assembly includes one or more optical lenses and an electrochromic layer positioned between the one or more optical lenses and the sensor array, the electrochromic layer having one or more optical properties that are responsive to voltage applied to the layer, including a first optical property related to optical transmissivity, the method comprising: -
responsive to an instruction to initiate the Day mode of operation; supplying by the controller a first voltage; and applying the first voltage to the electrochromic layer to cause the electrochromic layer to exhibit a first state of the first optical property, in which the layer is substantially opaque to a predefined band of IR wavelengths in ambient light; responsive to an instruction to initiate the Night mode of operation; supplying by the controller a second voltage; and applying the second voltage to the electrochromic layer to cause the electrochromic layer to exhibit a second state of the first optical property, in which the layer is substantially transparent to the predefined band of IR wavelengths and visible wavelengths; and in accordance with a determination that the optical device is in the third mode; supplying by the controller a third voltage that is substantially larger than the first voltage, the third voltage is applied on the electrochromic layer to cause the electrochromic layer to remove a substantial portion of the predefined band of IR wavelengths in ambient light incident on the optical device and reduce the intensity of visible wavelengths in the ambient light to a first visible light intensity, thereby exposing the sensor array to the visible wavelengths of the ambient light having the first visible light intensity. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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Specification