Solid State Shutter Devices and Methods

• US 20110025906A1
• Filed: 07/30/2009
• Published: 02/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: He, Fan, Shurboff, Carl L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,223,217 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/367
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 9/08 Shutters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/71 Circuitry for evaluating the brightness variation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/73 by influencing the exposure time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/75 by influencing optical camera components

Abstract

Disclosed are methods and devices for solid state electronically switched optical shutters of cameras and other devices. The disclosed non-mechanical camera shutter includes an electronically controlled material that provides optical density variation, to transition the shutter from being open to being closed. The layer of electronically controlled material is configured to change from substantially to transparent to substantially opaque, without scattering, by changing the state of the material. The transmittance period is the period of time that the layer changes transmittance from approximately 100% to approximately 0%. Electronic circuitry is in communication with a timing control module that is configured to provide a signal output to a transparent conductive layer proximal to the layer of electronically controlled material to initiate a change in its transmissivity. The described electronically switched optical component would add little or no additional bulk to a small camera.

Claims

1. A method of a digital camera including pixels to receive an image and a camera shutter of at least one layer having a transmittance period, comprising:

applying an opening signal to open the camera shutter;

based on the exposure time, selecting one step as the second step and one step as the third step from the steps of;

applying a starting signal to start the camera shutter to change from open to closed;

resetting the pixels and starting an exposure; and

waiting for the camera shutter to completely close; and

reading out the pixels.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein for a long exposure time, the selecting step provides the steps in the order of:

resetting the pixels and starting an exposure; and

applying a starting signal to start the camera shutter to change from open to close.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein for a short exposure time, the selecting step provides the steps in the order of:

applying a starting signal to start the camera shutter to change from open to closed during the transmittance period; and

resetting the pixels and starting an exposure.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmittance period comprises the transmittance changing from approximately 100% to approximately 0% over the pre-determined period of time.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmittance period comprises the transmittance changing from approximately 0% to approximately 100% over the pre-determined determined period of time.

6. An electronically switched optical component, comprising:

a substrate;

a transparent conductive layer proximal the substrate, the transparent conductive layer configured to receive a signal from a signal source or multiple signal sources;

a layer having a transmittance period proximal to the transparent conductive layer and configured to receive a signal via the conductive layer wherein the transmittance period comprises a capability of the layer to change transmittance from approximately 100% to approximately 0% over a predetermined period of time; and

electronic circuitry in communication with a timing control module configured to provide a signal output to the transparent conductive layer to initiate a change in transmissivity of the layer having a transmittance period

7. A component of claim 6 wherein providing a signal output is based upon timing control parameters of a device in which the electronically switched optical component is incorporated.

8. The component of claim 6, further comprising:

a second transparent conductive layer configured to receive a signal from a signal source or multiple signal sources proximal to the layer having a transmittance period.

9. The component of claim 6, and

a protective film proximal the second conductive layer.

10. The component of claim 6, wherein the substrate has a non-planar top surface.

11. The component of claim 6 wherein the substrate has a non-planar bottom surface.

12. The component of claim 6, wherein the substrate has a top surface and a bottom surface, the further comprising:

a third transparent conductive layer proximal the substrate, the third transparent conductive layer configured to receive a signal from a signal source or multiple signal sources, the third transparent conductive layer proximal the bottom surface of the substrate, whereas a first transparent conductive layer is proximal the top surface of the substrate;

a second layer having a transmittance period proximal to the third conductive layer and configured to receive a signal via the third conductive layer.

13. The component of claim 12, further comprising:

a fourth transparent conductive layer proximal the second layer having a transmittance period, the fourth transparent conductive layer configured to receive a signal from a signal source or multiple signal sources.

14. The component of claim 6 wherein the layer having a transmittance period comprises an electro-chromatic and transparent polymer films.

15. A camera, comprising:

an image sensor with pixels configured for activation and deactivation and to receive an image when activated;

electronic circuitry to provide an activation signal to the pixels based upon the pixel activation timing control input; and

a shutter, wherein the shutter comprises;

a substrate;

a transparent conductive layer proximal the substrate, the transparent conductive layer configured to receive a signal from a signal source; and

a layer having a transmittance period proximal to the transparent conductive layer and configured to receive a signal via the conductive layer wherein the transmittance period comprises a capability of the layer to change transmittance from approximately 100% to approximately 0% over a predetermined period of time; and

electronic circuitry in communication with a timing control module configured to provide signal output to the transparent conductive layers to initiate a change in transmissivity of the layer having a transmittance period based upon pixel activation timing control input.

16. The camera of claim 15 further comprising a light meter wherein the timing control input is based on ambient light readings of the light meter.

17. The camera of claim 15, further comprising:

a second transparent conductive layer proximal to the layer having a transmittance period layer and configured to receive a signal from the electronic circuitry.

18. The camera of claim 15, wherein the substrate has a top surface and a bottom surface, further comprising:

a third transparent conductive layer proximal to the substrate, the third transparent conductive layer configured to receive a signal from a signal source, the third transparent conductive layer proximal the bottom surface of the substrate, whereas a first transparent conductive layer is proximal the top surface of the substrate;

a second layer having a transmittance period proximal to the third transparent conductive layer and configured to receive a signal via the third conductive layer.

19. The camera of claim 15, further comprising:

a fourth transparent conductive layer proximal to the second layer having a transmittance period, the fourth transparent conductive layer configured to receive a signal from a signal source or multiple signal sources.

20. The camera of claim 15 wherein the layer having a transmittance period comprises electro-chromatic films and transparent polymer films.