CAMERA USING MULTIPLE LENSES AND IMAGE SENSORS TO PROVIDE IMPROVED FOCUSING CAPABILITY
First Claim
1. An electronic camera for producing an output image of a scene from a captured image signal, said electronic camera comprising:
- a first imaging stage comprising a first image sensor for generating a first sensor output, a first lens for forming a first image of the scene on the first image sensor, and a first lens focus adjuster for adjusting focus of the first lens responsive to a first focus detection signal;
a second imaging stage comprising a second image sensor for generating a second sensor output, a second lens for forming a second image of the scene on the second image sensor, and a second lens focus adjuster for adjusting focus of the second lens responsive to a second focus detection signal; and
a processing stage for either (a) selecting the sensor output from the first imaging stage as the captured image signal and using the sensor output from the second imaging stage to generate the first focus detection signal for the selected imaging stage or (b) selecting the sensor output from the second imaging stage as the captured image signal and using the sensor output from the first imaging stage to generate the second focus detection signal for the selected imaging stage, whereby the focus detection signal is applied to the lens focus adjuster of the selected imaging stage in order to adjust the focus of the image providing the sensor output for the captured image signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electronic camera for producing an output image of a scene from a captured image signal includes: (a) a first imaging stage comprising a first image sensor for generating a first sensor output; a first lens for forming a first image of the scene on the first image sensor; and a first lens focus adjuster for adjusting focus of the first lens responsive to a first focus detection signal; and (b) a second imaging stage comprising a second image sensor for generating a second sensor output; a second lens for forming a second image of the scene on the second image sensor; and a second lens focus adjuster for adjusting focus of the second lens responsive to a second focus detection signal. A processing stage either (a) selects the sensor output from the first imaging stage as the captured image signal and uses the sensor output from the second imaging stage to generate the first focus detection signal for the selected imaging stage, or (b) selects the sensor output from the second imaging stage as the captured image signal and uses the sensor output from the first imaging stage to generate the second focus detection signal for the selected imaging stage.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. An electronic camera for producing an output image of a scene from a captured image signal, said electronic camera comprising:
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a first imaging stage comprising a first image sensor for generating a first sensor output, a first lens for forming a first image of the scene on the first image sensor, and a first lens focus adjuster for adjusting focus of the first lens responsive to a first focus detection signal; a second imaging stage comprising a second image sensor for generating a second sensor output, a second lens for forming a second image of the scene on the second image sensor, and a second lens focus adjuster for adjusting focus of the second lens responsive to a second focus detection signal; and a processing stage for either (a) selecting the sensor output from the first imaging stage as the captured image signal and using the sensor output from the second imaging stage to generate the first focus detection signal for the selected imaging stage or (b) selecting the sensor output from the second imaging stage as the captured image signal and using the sensor output from the first imaging stage to generate the second focus detection signal for the selected imaging stage, whereby the focus detection signal is applied to the lens focus adjuster of the selected imaging stage in order to adjust the focus of the image providing the sensor output for the captured image signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A video camera for producing an output video image of a scene from a captured image signal, said video camera comprising:
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a first imaging stage comprising a first image sensor for generating a first sensor output, a first lens for forming a first image of the scene on the first image sensor, and a first lens focus adjuster for continually readjusting focus of the first lens responsive to a focus change detection signal; a second imaging stage comprising a second image sensor for generating a second sensor output and a second lens for forming a second image of the scene on the second image sensor; and a processing stage for using the sensor output from the first imaging stage as the captured image signal and producing the output video image of the scene, said processing stage using the sensor output from the second imaging stage to detect a change in focus of the video image of the scene and to generate the focus change detection signal for the first imaging stage, whereby the focus change detection signal is applied to the lens focus adjuster of the first imaging stage in order to continually readjust the focus of the first image providing the output for the captured image signal. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A video camera for producing an output video image of a scene from a captured image signal, said video camera comprising:
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a first imaging stage comprising a first image sensor for generating a first sensor output, a first lens for forming a first image of the scene on the first image sensor, and a first lens focus adjuster for continually readjusting focus of the first lens responsive to a focus change detection signal; a second imaging stage comprising a second image sensor for generating a second sensor output and a second lens for forming a second image of the scene on the second image sensor; and a processing stage for using the sensor output from the first imaging stage as the captured image signal and producing the output video image of the scene, said processing stage using the sensor outputs from the first and second imaging stages in a rangefinder configuration to detect a change in focus of the video image of the scene and to generate the focus change detection signal, whereby the focus change detection signal is applied to the lens focus adjuster of the first imaging stage in order to continually readjust the focus of the first image providing the captured image signal. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification