Optical imaging system configurations for handheld devices

• US 20090005112A1
• Filed: 07/30/2007
• Published: 01/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Sorek, Noam, Sade, Sharon
• Application Number:
  US11/882,060
• Publication Number:
  US 20090005112A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/556.200
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0264 for a camera module assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/50 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/55 Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof

Abstract

A mobile communication terminal that comprises a body having a minimum bounding box with a wide dimension that includes an image sensor and an imaging unit. The body comprises an image-capture aperture substantially perpendicular to the wide dimension. The imaging unit is configured for imaging an image captured via said image-capture aperture on said image sensor.

Claims

1. A mobile communication terminal, comprising:

a body having a minimum bounding box with a wide dimension, said body comprising an image-capture aperture substantially perpendicular to said wide dimension;

an image sensor, situated in said body; and

an imaging unit, situated in said body, configured for imaging an image captured via said image-capture aperture on said image sensor.

2. The mobile communication terminal of claim 1, wherein said minimum bounding box having longitudinal, lateral, and vertical axes and a plurality of sides, said body being thinner along said vertical axis than along said lateral and longitudinal axes, at least one of said plurality of sides being situated substantially in a plane parallel to said vertical axis and having said image-capture aperture.

3. The mobile communication terminal of claim 1, wherein said imaging unit comprises at least one wide field of view (WFOV) lens.

4. The mobile communication terminal of claim 1, wherein the dimensions of said imaging unit being at least twice along said wide dimension than in parallel to said image-capture aperture.

5. The mobile communication terminal of claim 1, wherein said image has a width at least twice a height thereof.

6. The mobile communication terminal of claim 1, wherein said image sensor is substantially parallel to said wide dimension.

7. The mobile communication terminal of claim 6, wherein said image sensor and at least a portion of said imaging unit are situated in a common plane being substantially parallel to said wide dimension.

8. The mobile communication terminal of claim 7, wherein said image sensor comprises a processing circuitry configured for processing said image and situated in said common plane.

9. The mobile communication terminal of claim 1, wherein said imaging unit has a linear optic axis, a receiving side of said imaging device being substantially parallel to said image-capture aperture.

10. The mobile communication terminal of claim 1, wherein said imaging unit having a folded optic axis.

11. The mobile communication terminal of claim 1, wherein said image sensor having a receiving side with first and second receiving regions, said imaging unit being configured for imaging said image on said first receiving region, said image depicting a first scene.

12. The mobile communication terminal of claim 11, further comprising an additional imaging unit for imaging an additional image of a second scene on said second receiving region.

13. The mobile communication terminal of claim 11, wherein said first and second scenes depict adjacent scenes.

14. The mobile communication terminal of claim 13, wherein said image sensor is configured for outputting a third image depicting said adjacent scenes.

15. The mobile communication terminal of claim 12, wherein said additional image is captured via said image-capture aperture.

16. The mobile communication terminal of claim 12, wherein said additional image is captured via an additional image-capture aperture being situated in a parallel to said wide dimension.

17. The mobile communication terminal of claim 1, wherein the mobile communication terminal is a member of the following group:

a mobile phone, a dual-mode phone, and a personal digital assistant (PDA).

18. The mobile communication terminal of claim 1, wherein said imaging unit comprising a path-diversion element, said imaging being performed via said path-diversion element.

19. The mobile communication terminal of claim 18, wherein said path-diversion element comprises a member of the following group:

a reflective element, a refractive element, and a diffractive element.

20. The mobile communication terminal of claim 18, said path-diversion element is a micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) mirrors unit.

21. The mobile communication terminal of claim 1, wherein said imaging unit comprises a single block of a transparent material, said imaging being performed by guiding said image from said image-capture aperture to said image sensor in a folded optical axis formed in said single block.

22. The mobile communication terminal of claim 21, wherein said imaging unit comprises a plurality of light incident surfaces facing said single block, said folded optical axis being defined by said light incident surfaces.

23. The mobile communication terminal of claim 22, wherein at least one of said plurality of light incident surfaces is situated in at least one niche in said single block.

24. The mobile communication terminal of claim 1, wherein said imaging unit comprises a mechanical assembly having first and second single blocks of a transparent material, said imaging being performed by guiding said image from said image-capture aperture to said receiving element in a folded optical axis formed in said first and second single blocks.

25. The mobile communication terminal of claim 24, wherein said mechanical assembly is configured to apply an optical effect on said folded optical axis by moving at least one of said first and second single blocks.

26. The mobile communication terminal of claim 25, wherein said optical effect is a member of the following group:

changing the focal length of said folded optical axis and changing the overall magnification of said folded optical axis.

27. The mobile communication terminal of claim 10, wherein said imaging unit comprises a single block of a transparent material, said imaging being performed by guiding said image from said image-capture aperture to said receiving element in a folded optical axis formed in said single block, said single block being configured for imaging a second image of a second scene on said second receiving region.

28. The mobile communication terminal of claim 11, wherein said first and second scenes are on opposite sides of the mobile communication terminal.

29. The mobile communication terminal of claim 18, wherein an acute angle formed between first and second rays sharing a common endpoint on said path-diversion, said first and second rays respectively passing through the centers of said image sensor and said image-capture aperture.

30. The mobile communication terminal of claim 1, wherein said imaging unit comprises a diverted lens, said diverted lens being situated in said image-capture aperture and mounted in an acute angle in relation to a perpendicular to said wide dimension.

31. The mobile communication terminal of claim 1, wherein said wide dimension comprises a screen.

32. The mobile communication terminal of claim 31, wherein said screen is configured to have a viewing angle for watching said image that allows a user of the mobile communication terminal to watch clearly said image during the capturing thereof from a point of view (POV) of more than 30°

degrees from the center of said screen.

33. The mobile communication terminal of claim 31, wherein said screen is an adjustable screen, the viewing angle of said adjustable screen in relation to a plane of side front side being determined by a user of the mobile communication terminal.

34. The mobile communication terminal of claim 1, wherein said body comprises first and second sections and a hinge for foldably coupling said first and second sections, said image sensor and said imaging unit being situated in one of said first and second sections.

35. A handheld device, comprising:

an image sensor having a receiving element facing a first side of said handheld device; and

an imaging unit having an image pick-up element directed toward a second side opposing said first side, said imaging unit being configured for imaging an image taken using said image pick-up element on said image sensor.

36. The handheld device of claim 35, wherein said imaging unit is fixated to a body of said handheld device.

37. The handheld device of claim 35, wherein said image sensor and said image pick-up element are placed in a common plane being parallel to a side of the handheld device.

38. The handheld device of claim 35, wherein said receiving element has first and second receiving regions, said imaging unit being configured for imaging said image on said first receiving region.

39. The handheld device of claim 38, further comprising a second imaging unit for imaging a second image of a second scene on said second receiving region.

40. The handheld device of claim 39, wherein said second image is captured using a second image pick-up element that is substantially perpendicular to said image pick-up element.

41. The handheld device of claim 39, wherein said second image is captured using a second image pick-up element, and wherein said first and second image pick-up elements facing opposing directions.

42. The handheld device of claim 39, wherein said first and second images are simultaneously imaged on said image sensor.

43. The handheld device of claim 35, wherein said imaging unit comprising a path-diversion element, said imaging being performed via said path-diversion element.

44. The handheld device of claim 35, wherein said imaging unit comprises a single block of a transparent material, said imaging being performed by guiding said image from said image pick-up element to said receiving element in a folded optical axis formed in said single block.

45. The handheld device of claim 35, wherein 2, wherein said imaging unit comprises at least one wide field of view (WFOV) lens.

46. A handheld device, comprising:

an image sensor having a receiving element facing a first side of said handheld device; and

an imaging unit having a path-diversion element configured unit for imaging an image of a scene on said receiving element;

wherein an angle formed between first and second rays sharing a common endpoint on said path-diversion element is less than 45°

degrees, said first and second rays respectively passing through said image sensor and the center of said scene.

47. A mobile communication terminal, comprising:

an image sensor having a receiving side; and

a screen configured for displaying an output of said image sensor;

wherein said receiving side and said screen are substantially perpendicular to one another.

48. The mobile communication terminal of claim 47, further comprising a body, said image sensor fixed in parallel to a first side of said body, said screen fixed to a second side of said body, said first and second sides are perpendicular to one another.

49. The mobile communication terminal of claim 47, wherein said screen having a viewing angle for watching said output, said viewing angle allowing a user of the mobile communication terminal to watch clearly said output during the capturing thereof from a point of view (POV) of more than 30°

degrees from the center of said screen.

50. The mobile communication terminal of claim 47, wherein said screen is an adjustable screen, the viewing angle of said adjustable screen in relation to a plane of side front side being determined by a user of the mobile communication terminal.

51. A mobile phone for projecting an image, comprising:

a body having a minimum bounding box with a wide dimension, said body comprising an image projecting aperture substantially perpendicular to said wide dimension;

a projecting unit, situated in said body; and

an imaging unit, situated in said body, for guiding an image projected by said projecting unit via said image-capture aperture.

52. The mobile phone of claim 51, wherein said body having longitudinal, lateral, and vertical axes and a plurality of sides, said body being thinner along said vertical axis than along said lateral and longitudinal axes, at least one of said plurality of sides being situated substantially in a plane parallel to said vertical axis and having said image-capture aperture.