IMAGING SYSTEMS WITH ARRAY CAMERAS FOR DEPTH SENSING

• US 20120188420A1
• Filed: 05/31/2011
• Published: 07/26/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aptina Imaging Corporation (ON Semiconductor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Aptina Imaging Corporation (ON Semiconductor Corporation)
• Inventors: Black, Robert A., Smith, Scott, Lin, Peng
• Granted Patent: US 8,717,467 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/279
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/239 using two 2D image sensors having a relative position equal to or related to the interocular distance H04N13/243 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/243 using three or more 2D image sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/13 with multiple sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/45 for generating image signals from two or more image sensors being of different type or operating in different modes, e.g. with a CMOS sensor for moving images in combination with a charge-coupled device [CCD] for still images
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/54 Mounting of pick-up tubes, electronic image sensors, deviation or focusing coils

Abstract

Electronic devices may include camera modules. A camera module may be formed from an array of lenses and corresponding image sensors. The array of image sensors may include three color image sensors for color imaging and a fourth image sensor positioned to improve image depth mapping. Providing a camera module with a fourth image sensor may increase the baseline distance between the two most distant image sensors, allowing parallax and depth information to be determined for objects a greater distance from the camera than in a conventional electronic device. The fourth image sensor may be a second green image sensor positioned at a maximal distance from the green color image sensor used for color imaging. The fourth image sensor may also be a clear image sensor, allowing capture of improved image depth information and enhanced image resolution and low-light performance.

Claims

1. A camera module, comprising:

an array of four lenses;

an array of four color filters, wherein a first and a second of the four color filters pass a first color of light, wherein a third of the four color filters passes a second color of light that is different than the first color of light, and wherein a fourth of the four color filters passes a color of light that is different than the first color of light and that is different than the second color of light; and

an array of four images sensors each of which receives image light from a respective one of the four lenses through a respective one of the four color filters.

2. The camera module defined in claim 1 further comprising an image sensor integrated circuit die, wherein the image sensors are each formed as part of the image sensor integrated circuit die.

3. The camera module defined in claim 2 wherein the first and the second of the four color filters are configured to pass green light.

4. The camera module defined in claim 3, wherein the third of the four color filters is configured to pass red light and the fourth of the four color filters is configured to pass blue light.

5. A camera module, comprising:

first, second, third, and fourth lenses; and

an image sensor array having first, second, third, and fourth images sensors, wherein the first, second, third and fourth images sensors are configured to establish a first distance between the first and second image sensors, a second distance between the second and third image sensors, and a third distance between the third and fourth image sensors, wherein the third distance is larger than the first and second distances.

6. The camera module defined in claim 5, wherein the first distance and the second distance are equal.

7. The camera module defined in claim 6, wherein the first, second, third and fourth images sensors are configured to establish a fourth distance between the first and fourth image sensors, and wherein the fourth distance is equal to the sum of the first, second and third distances.

8. The camera module defined in claim 7, further comprising a red color filter, a blue color filter, and a green color filter through which the first, second, and third image sensors receive light.

9. The camera module defined in claim 8, further comprising an additional green color filter through which the fourth image sensor receives light.

10. The camera module defined in claim 8, wherein the fourth image sensor is configured to receive white light.

11. The camera module defined in claim 8, wherein the image sensor array comprises control circuitry formed in a space between the third image sensor and the fourth image sensor.

12. The camera module defined in claim 11, wherein the image sensor array and control circuitry are formed as part of a common image sensor integrated circuit die.

13. An electronic device, comprising:

processing circuitry; and

a camera module coupled to the processing circuitry, wherein the camera module comprises;

first, second, third, and fourth lenses;

first, second, third, and fourth corresponding images sensors, wherein the first, second, third, and fourth image sensors are formed along a straight line; and

first, second, and third color filters through which the first, second, and third image sensors receive light, wherein the first, second, and third color filters include a red color filter, a green color filter, and a blue color filter.

14. The electronic device defined in claim 13, wherein the first, second, third, and fourth image sensors are mounted in the camera module so that there is a first distance between the first and second image sensors, a second distance between the second and third image sensors, a third distance between the third and fourth image sensors, and a baseline distance between the first and fourth image sensors, wherein the baseline distance is equal to a sum of the first, second, and third distances.

15. The camera module defined in claim 14, further comprising an image sensor integrated circuit die, wherein the image sensors are each formed as part of the image sensor integrated circuit die.

16. The camera module defined in claim 15, further comprising a fourth color filter, wherein the first, second, and third distances are equal, wherein the first color filter is the green color filter, and wherein the fourth color filter is a second green color filter.

17. The electronic device defined in claim 15, the camera module further comprising a fourth color filter, wherein the first, second, and third distances are equal and wherein the fourth image sensor is configured to receive white light.

18. The electronic device defined in claim 15, the camera module further comprising a fourth color filter, wherein the first and second distances are equal, wherein the third distance is larger than the second distance, wherein the first color filter is the green color filter, and wherein the fourth color filter is a second green color filter.

19. The electronic device defined in claim 15, the camera module further comprising a fourth color filter, wherein the first and second distances are equal, wherein the third distance is larger than the second distance, and wherein the fourth image sensor is configured to receive white light.

20. The electronic device defined in claim 16, wherein the baseline distance is 4 to 12 mm.