Low Profile Camera and Vision Sensor
First Claim
1. A camera configured for a predetermined environment, comprising:
- an image sensor having a light sensitive portion that is configured to sense light from the predetermined environment;
a substantially opaque mask disposed above the light sensitive portion of the image sensor and having at least one opening through which the light sensitive portion of the image sensor senses the light; and
a substantially transparent material disposed between the substantially opaque mask and the image sensor and through which the light is transmitted to the light sensitive portion of the image sensor, wherein the substantially transparent material has an index of refraction that is greater than an index of refraction of the predetermined environment.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A camera configured for a predetermined environment can be made low profile in the following manner. The camera includes an image sensor that has a light sensitive portion that can sense light from the predetermined environment. A substantially opaque mask is disposed above the light sensitive portion of the image sensor and has at least one opening through which the image sensor senses light. The low profile structure of the camera can be realized with substantially transparent material disposed between the substantially opaque mask and the image sensor that has index of refraction that is greater than an index of refraction of the predetermined environment. Accordingly, light through the opening refracts as it passes through the substantially transparent material to the image sensor.
178 Citations
39 Claims
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1. A camera configured for a predetermined environment, comprising:
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an image sensor having a light sensitive portion that is configured to sense light from the predetermined environment; a substantially opaque mask disposed above the light sensitive portion of the image sensor and having at least one opening through which the light sensitive portion of the image sensor senses the light; and a substantially transparent material disposed between the substantially opaque mask and the image sensor and through which the light is transmitted to the light sensitive portion of the image sensor, wherein the substantially transparent material has an index of refraction that is greater than an index of refraction of the predetermined environment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A camera, comprising:
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an image sensor having a light sensitive portion for sensing light; a substantially opaque mask disposed above the light sensitive portion of the image sensor and having a plurality of openings formed in the mask; a substantially transparent monolithic material disposed between the substantially opaque mask and the image sensor and through which the light is transmitted to the light sensitive portion of the image sensor, and wherein each opening of the plurality of openings is spaced apart from an adjacent opening of the plurality of openings at a distance such that light sensed by the light sensitive portion corresponding to a respective opening does not substantially overlap with light sensed by the light sensitive portion corresponding to the adjacent opening.
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39. A low profile camera, comprising:
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an image sensor having a light sensitive portion that is configured to sense light from a surrounding environment; and a substantially flat optical structure disposed on the image sensor and having at least one aperture through which the light sensitive portion senses light from the surrounding environment with a field of view that is substantially 180 degrees.
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Specification