Curved sensor camera with moving optical train

• US 20120242882A1
• Filed: 03/21/2011
• Published: 09/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Douglas Gene Lockie, Gary Edwin Sutton, William Maynard Jr. Barton
• Original Assignee: Douglas Gene Lockie, Gary Edwin Sutton, William Maynard Jr. Barton
• Inventors: Sutton, Gary Edwin, Lockie, Douglas Gene, Barton, William Maynard Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 8,957,992 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/340
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2205/00 Adjustment of optical system relative to image or object surface other than for focusing
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/14605 Structural or functional details relating to the position of the pixel elements, e.g. smaller pixel elements in the center of the imager compared to pixel elements at the periphery
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/14607 Geometry of the photosensitive area
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/14618 Containers
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/14623 Optical shielding
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/14625 Optical elements or arrangements associated with the device
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/0002 Not covered by any one of groups H01L24/00, H01L24/00 and H01L2224/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/55 Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/48 Increasing resolution by shifting the sensor relative to the scene
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/702 SSIS architectures characterised by non-identical, non-equidistant or non-planar pixel layout

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for combining a mobile communication device having a camera (150) that includes a curved sensor (160) are disclosed. In one embodiment of the invention, motion is deliberately imparted to a sensor and/or an optical element while multiple exposures are taken to provide an enhanced image.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

an enclosure;

an optical element;

said optical element being mounted on said enclosure;

said optical element for conveying a stream of radiation; and

a sensor;

said sensor being mounted inside said enclosure;

said sensor being aligned with said optical element;

said sensor having an output for recording an image;

said optical element being deliberately moved during the collection of said stream of radiation to enhance said image.

2. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, in which:

said sensor is curved; and

said curved sensor including a plurality of planar facets.

3. An apparatus as recited in claim 2, in which:

said curved sensor generally includes a plurality of segments.

4. An apparatus as recited in claim 3, in which:

said plurality of segments are disposed to approximate a curved surface.

5. An apparatus as recited in claim 2, in which:

said curved sensor has a two dimensional profile which is not completely colinear with a straight line.

6. An apparatus as recited in claim 2, in which:

said curved sensor is fabricated from ultra-thin silicon.

7. An apparatus as recited in claim 6, in which said ultra-thin silicon ranges from 50 to 250 microns in one dimension.

8. An apparatus as recited in claim 2, in which:

said curved sensor is fabricated from polysilicon.

9. An apparatus as recited in claim 2, in which:

said curved sensor includes a plurality of radial segments.

10. An apparatus as recited in claim 2, in which:

said curved sensor is formed as a plurality of polygons.

11. An apparatus as recited in claim 2, in which:

said plurality of pixels are arranged on said curved sensor in varying density.

12. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, in which:

said sensor is configured to have a relatively higher concentration of pixels generally near the center of said sensor.

13. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, in which:

said sensor is configured to have a relatively lower concentration of pixels generally near an edge of said sensor.

14. An apparatus as recited in claim 13, in which:

said relatively high concentration of pixels generally near the center of said sensor enables zooming into a telephoto shot using said relatively high concentration of pixels generally near the center of said sensor only, while retaining relatively high image resolution.

15. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, further including:

a shade;

said shade being disposed to generally to move to block incoming light;

said shade being retracted so that it does not block incoming light when a wide angle image is sensed;

said shade being extended to block incoming extraneous light from non-image areas when a telephoto image is sensed.

16. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, in which:

said camera enclosure being sealed;

said camera enclosure being injected with an inert gas during assembly.

17. An apparatus as recited in claim 16, in which said inert gas selected from the group consisting of Argon, Krypton or Xenon.

18. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, in which:

said sensor is connected to a spiral-shaped electrical connector.

19. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, in which:

said sensor is connected to an accordion-shaped electrical connector.

20. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, in which:

said sensor is connected to a generally radially extending electrical connector.

21. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a transmitter;

said transmitter being connected to said sensor; and

a receiver;

said receiver being connected to a signal processor.

22. An apparatus as recited in claim 3, in which:

said plurality of segments forms a gap between each of said plurality of segments; and

said gap is used as a pathway for an electrical connector.

23. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a mobile communication means for providing communication capabilities;

said mobile communication means being located inside said enclosure.

24. An apparatus comprising:

an enclosure;

an optical element;

said optical element being mounted on said enclosure;

said optical element for conveying a stream of radiation; and

a sensor;

said sensor being mounted inside said enclosure;

said sensor being aligned with said optical element;

said sensor having an output for recording an image;

said sensor being deliberately moved during the collection of said stream of radiation to enhance said image.

25. An apparatus as recited in claim 24, in which:

said sensor is curved; and

said curved sensor including a plurality of planar facets.

26. An apparatus as recited in claim 25, in which:

said curved sensor generally includes a plurality of segments.

27. An apparatus as recited in claim 26, in which:

said plurality of segments are disposed to approximate a curved surface.

28. An apparatus as recited in claim 25, in which:

said curved sensor has a two dimensional profile which is not completely colinear with a straight line.

29. An apparatus as recited in claim 25, in which:

said curved sensor is fabricated from ultra-thin silicon.

30. An apparatus as recited in claim 29, in which said ultra-thin silicon ranges from 50 to 250 microns in one dimension.

31. An apparatus as recited in claim 25, in which:

said curved sensor is fabricated from polysilicon.

32. An apparatus as recited in claim 25, in which:

said curved sensor includes a plurality of radial segments.

33. An apparatus as recited in claim 25, in which:

said curved sensor is formed as a plurality of polygons.

34. An apparatus as recited in claim 25, in which:

said plurality of pixels are arranged on said curved sensor in varying density.

35. An apparatus as recited in claim 24, in which:

said sensor is configured to have a relatively higher concentration of pixels generally near the center of said sensor.

36. An apparatus as recited in claim 24, in which:

said sensor is configured to have a relatively lower concentration of pixels generally near an edge of said sensor.

37. An apparatus as recited in claim 36, in which:

said relatively high concentration of pixels generally near the center of said sensor enables zooming into a telephoto shot using said relatively high concentration of pixels generally near the center of said sensor only, while retaining relatively high image resolution.

38. An apparatus as recited in claim 24, further including:

a shade;

said shade being disposed to generally to move to block incoming light;

said shade being retracted so that it does not block incoming light when a wide angle image is sensed;

said shade being extended to block incoming extraneous light from non-image areas when a telephoto image is sensed.

39. An apparatus as recited in claim 24, in which:

said camera enclosure being sealed;

said camera enclosure being injected with an inert gas during assembly.

40. An apparatus as recited in claim 39, in which said inert gas is selected from the group consisting of Argon, Krypton or Xenon.

41. An apparatus as recited in claim 24, in which:

said sensor is connected to a spiral-shaped electrical connector.

42. An apparatus as recited in claim 24, in which:

said sensor is connected to an accordion-shaped electrical connector.

43. An apparatus as recited in claim 24, in which:

said sensor is connected to a generally radially extending electrical connector.

44. An apparatus as recited in claim 24, further comprising:

a transmitter;

said transmitter being connected to said sensor; and

a receiver;

said receiver being connected to a signal processor.

45. An apparatus as recited in claim 26, in which:

said plurality of segments forms a gap between each of said plurality of segments; and

said gap is used as a pathway for an electrical connector.

46. An apparatus as recited in claim 24, further comprising:

a mobile communication means for providing communication capabilities;

said mobile communication means being located inside said enclosure.