IMAGE DIVERSION SYSTEMS & METHODS FOR IMAGE CAPTURE DEVICES

• US 20110109971A1
• Filed: 10/15/2010
• Published: 05/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: iOculi, Inc.
• Original Assignee: iOculi, Inc.
• Inventors: COWLES, JONATHAN D., BEACH, KIRK W., COWLES, AI THI-KHIEM, JOHNSTON, KYLE
• Granted Patent: US 8,498,054 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/618
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 13/001 Miniaturised objectives for electronic devices, e.g. portable telephones, webcams, PDAs, small digital cameras G02B23/243 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 13/0055 employing a special optical element
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 13/0065 having a beam-folding prism or mirror
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 17/008 Systems specially adapted to form image relays or chained systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 17/026 having static image erecting or reversing properties only G02B17/045 takes precedence; optical derotators G02B27/642; optical devices for controlling the direction of light using movable or deformable optical elements G02B26/08
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 17/045 having static image erecting or reversing properties only optical derotators G02B27/642; optical devices for controlling the direction of light using movable or deformable optical elements G02B26/08
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/011 comprising device for correcting geometrical aberrations, distortion
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0123 comprising devices increasing the field of view
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0138 comprising image capture systems, e.g. camera
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0154 with movable elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/017 Head mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/06 the relative position of the fibres being the same at both ends, e.g. for transporting images

Abstract

Disclosed herein are systems that divert images for image capture devices. An image diversion system includes a deviating optical element to provide a first view to an imager of an image capture device and to provide at least a second view to the imager. An image diversion system includes a first deviating optical element and a second deviating optical element optically coupled to the first deviating optical element. The first deviating optical element provides a first view and at least a second view to an imager of an image capture device. An image diversion system includes a first deviating optical element, a second deviating optical element, and at least one corrective lens. The image diversion system is contained within a housing that is attachable to a housing portion of an image capture device.

Claims

1. An image diversion system, comprising a deviating optical element to provide a first view to an imager of an image capture device and to provide at least a second view to the imager.

2. The image diversion system according to claim 1, wherein said deviating optical element is rotatably positionable in a first position to provide said first view and at least a second position to provide said second view.

3. The image diversion system according to claim 2, wherein said deviating optical element is rotatably positionable in multiple positions to provide a corresponding number of views to said imager.

4. The image diversion system of claim 1, wherein said deviating optical element comprises a right-angled prism.

5. The image diversion system of claim 1, comprising:

a first set of corrective lenses optically coupled to said deviating optical element to couple light entering from a first side of said image capture device; and

a second set of corrective lenses optically coupled to said deviating optical element to couple light entering from at least a second side of said image capture device

6. The image diversion system according to claim 1, wherein said deviating optical element comprises a beam splitter to provide a simultaneous view in at least two directions to said imager.

7. An image diversion system, comprising:

a first deviating optical element; and

a second deviating optical element optically coupled to said first deviating optical element, wherein said first deviating optical element provides a first view and at least a second view to an imager of an image capture device.

8. The image diversion system according to claim 7, wherein said first deviating optical element is rotatably positionable in a first position to provide said first view and at least a second position to provide said second view.

9. The image diversion system according to claim 8, wherein said first deviating optical element is rotatably positionable in multiple positions to provide a corresponding number of views to said imager.

10. The image diversion system according to claim 7, wherein the first deviating optical element is rotatably positionable about 90°

relative to the second deviating optical element.

11. The image diversion system according to claim 7, wherein said first deviating optical element comprises a right-angled prism.

12. The image diversion system according to claim 7, comprising a set of corrective lenses optically coupled to said first deviating optical element and to said second deviating optical element to couple light entering from said image capture device.

13. The image diversion system according to claim 7, wherein said first deviating optical element comprises a beam splitter to provide a simultaneous view in at least two directions to said imager.

14. An image diversion system, comprising:

a first deviating optical element;

a second deviating optical element; and

at least one corrective lens;

wherein said image diversion system is contained within a housing that is attachable to a housing portion of an image capture device.

15. The image diversion system according to claim 14, wherein said second deviating optical element is rotatably positionable over a 45°

degree angle.

16. The image diversion system according to claim 14, wherein light from an object enters from a first direction and passes through said at least one corrective lens and light emerging from said at least one corrective lens is reflected by an input surface of said first deviating optical element.

17. The image diversion system according to claim 16, wherein light reflected by said input surface of said first deviating optical element is reflected by said second deviating optical element in a first direction.

18. The image diversion system according to claim 17, comprising at least a second corrective lens, wherein when said second deviating optical element is rotated 45°

, light from an object enters from a second direction, where said second direction is substantially 180°

apart from said first direction and said light passes through the least second corrective lens.

19. The image diversion system of claim 14, wherein said second optical element comprises a right-angled prism.

20. The image diversion system of claim 14, wherein said second optical element comprises a beam splitter to provide a simultaneous view in at least two directions to said imager.