Lens Stack Arrays Including Adaptive Optical Elements
First Claim
1. An array camera module comprising:
- a lens stack array comprising at least two lens stacks, where at least one lens stack comprises an adaptive optical element that can adjust the characteristics of the transmission of light in the optical channel defined by the corresponding lens stack in response to at least one electrical signal;
a sensor comprising a focal plane for each lens stack within the lens stack array, where each focal plane comprises a plurality of rows of pixels that also form a plurality of columns of pixels and each focal plane is contained within a region of the sensor that does not contain pixels from another focal plane; and
circuitry configured to control at least one adaptive optical element;
wherein the lens stack array and the sensor are configured so that each lens stack can form an image on a corresponding focal plane.
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Abstract
Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention incorporate adaptive optical elements into optical channels in a lens stack array. In one embodiment, an array camera module includes a lens stack array, that includes at least two lens stacks, where at least one lens stack includes an adaptive optical element that can adjust the characteristics of the transmission of light in the optical channel defined by the corresponding lens stack in response to at least one electrical signal, a sensor including a focal plane for each lens stack within the lens stack array, and circuitry configured to control at least one adaptive optical element, where the lens stack array and the sensor are configured so that each lens stack can form an image on a corresponding focal plane.
238 Citations
27 Claims
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1. An array camera module comprising:
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a lens stack array comprising at least two lens stacks, where at least one lens stack comprises an adaptive optical element that can adjust the characteristics of the transmission of light in the optical channel defined by the corresponding lens stack in response to at least one electrical signal; a sensor comprising a focal plane for each lens stack within the lens stack array, where each focal plane comprises a plurality of rows of pixels that also form a plurality of columns of pixels and each focal plane is contained within a region of the sensor that does not contain pixels from another focal plane; and circuitry configured to control at least one adaptive optical element; wherein the lens stack array and the sensor are configured so that each lens stack can form an image on a corresponding focal plane. - 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)
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27. An array camera module comprising:
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a lens stack array comprising at least two lens stacks, where each lens stack comprises an adaptive optical element that can adjust the characteristics of the transmission of light in the optical channel defined by the corresponding lens stack in response to an electrical signal and each adaptive optical element includes a liquid crystal layer and a plurality of electrodes that can generate an electric field, the magnitude of which varies as a function of radial and circumferential position with respect to the lens stack, such that the lens stack'"'"'s focal length and central viewing direction can be adjusted; a sensor comprising a focal plane for each lens stack within the lens stack array, where each focal plane comprises a plurality of rows of pixels that also form a plurality of columns of pixels and each focal plane is contained within a region of the sensor that does not contain pixels from another focal plane; and circuitry configured to control at least one adaptive optical element based on at least one electrical signal generated by the sensor; wherein the lens stack array and the sensor are configured so that each lens stack can form an image on a corresponding focal plane.
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Specification