MULTIPLE LENSES SYSTEM AND PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE EMPLOYING THE SAME

• US 20170244896A1
• Filed: 02/13/2017
• Published: 08/24/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chiun Mai Communication Systems, Inc. (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Chiun Mai Communication Systems, Inc. (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: CHIEN, HOW-WEN, LIU, PO-YEN
• Granted Patent: US 10,306,143 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/08 for measuring distance only indirect measurement G01S17/46; active triangulation systems G01S17/48
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/88 Lidar systems specially adapted for specific applications
• 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 7/40 using time delay of the reflected waves, e.g. of ultrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 13/20 Rangefinders coupled with focusing arrangements, e.g. adjustment of rangefinder automatically focusing camera
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/12 with means for supporting objectives, supplementary lenses, filters, masks, or turrets
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 3/10 Power-operated focusing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/25 using two or more image sensors with different characteristics other than in their location or field of view, e.g. having different resolutions or colour pickup characteristics; using image signals from one sensor to control the characteristics of another sensor
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/289 Switching between monoscopic and stereoscopic modes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/55 Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/667 Camera operation mode switching, e.g. between still and video, sport and normal or high- and low-resolution modes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/67 Focus control based on electronic image sensor signals

Abstract

A multiple lenses system includes a lens module, a processing unit, a switching unit, and a focus module. The lens module includes a plurality of lenses. The switching unit is electrically connected to the plurality of lenses and the processing unit. The focus module includes a laser emitter and a laser receiver. The laser emitter emits laser beam towards an object under control of the processing unit. The laser receiver receives the laser beam reflected by the object. The processing unit obtains a focus distance between the object and the focus module according to a time difference from emitting the laser beam to receiving the laser beam, and controls the switching unit to switch and to select at least one of the plurality of lenses according to the focus distance.

Claims

1. A multiple lenses system comprising:

a lens module, the lens module comprising a plurality of lenses;

a processing unit;

a switching unit, the switching unit electrically connected to the plurality of lenses and the processing unit;

a focus module, the focus module comprising a laser emitter and a laser receiver, the laser emitter electrically connected to the processing unit and configured to emit laser beam towards an object under control of the processing unit, the laser receiver electrically connected to the processing unit and configured to receive the laser beam reflected by the object;

wherein the processing unit obtains a focus distance between the object and the focus module according to a time difference from emitting the laser beam to receiving the laser beam, and controls the switching unit to select at least one of the plurality of lenses according to the focus distance.

2. The multiple lenses system of claim 1, further comprising an image sensing unit, wherein the at least one selected lens of the lens module capture images with the image sensing unit.

3. The multiple lenses system of claim 1, wherein the processing unit sets a plurality of capturing modes and selects one of the plurality of capturing modes as a present capturing mode, the processing unit controls the switching unit to select the at least one lens of the plurality of lenses according to the present capturing mode and the focus distance.

4. The multiple lenses system of claim 3, wherein the plurality of capturing modes at least comprises a normal mode, a 3D mode, a high dynamic range (HDR) mode, a low light image quality mode, and a high resolution mode, wherein different capturing modes are corresponding to different lens or lenses.

5. The multiple lenses system of claim 1, wherein the switching unit comprises at least one switch, the processing unit comprises at least one data port;

wherein a number of the at least one data port is equal to a number of the at least one switch, a movable contact of each of the at least one switch is electrically connected to one of the at least one data port, a stationary contact of each of the at least one switch is electrically connected to one of the least one selected lens.

6. The multiple lenses system of claim 5, wherein the processing unit further comprises at least one control terminal, wherein a number of the at least one control terminal is equal to the number of the at least one switch, each of the at least one control terminal is electrically connected to one of the at least one switch and outputs a controlling signal for switching the at least one switch.

7. The multiple lenses system of claim 5, wherein the at least one data port is a high-speed data port.

8. The multiple lenses system of claim 2, further comprising a light sensing unit, wherein the light sensing unit is configured to sense a light intensity around the multiple lenses system, the processing unit is electrically connected to the light sensing unit and is configured to determine whether to activate the focus module according to the light intensity detected by the light sensing unit.

9. The multiple lenses system of claim 8, wherein when the light intensity detected by the light sensing unit is less than a predetermined value, the processing unit activates the focus module to obtain the focus distance;

wherein when the light intensity detected by the light sensing unit is greater than the predetermined value, the processing unit obtains the focus distance through another method.

10. The multiple lenses system of claim 9, wherein the another method at least comprises:

the processing unit estimates the focus distance based on a resolution of the object'"'"'s edge in an image captured by the image sensing unit;

or wherein the processing unit obtains the focus distance by a phase detection auto focus (PDAF) technology of the lens of the lens module.

11. A portable electronic device comprising a multiple lenses system, the multiple lenses system comprising:

a lens module, the lens module comprising a plurality of lenses;

a processing unit;

a switching unit, the switching unit electrically connected to the plurality of lenses and the processing unit;

a focus module, the focus module comprising a laser emitter and a laser receiver, the laser emitter electrically connected to the processing unit and configured to emit laser beam towards an object under control of the processing unit, the laser receiver electrically connected to the processing unit and configured to receive the laser beam reflected by the object;

wherein the processing unit obtains a focus distance between the object and the focus module according to a time difference from emitting the laser beam to receiving the laser beam, and controls the switching unit to select at least one of the plurality of lenses according to the focus distance.

12. The portable electronic device of claim 11, wherein the multiple lenses system further comprises an image sensing unit, the at least one selected lens of the lens module capture images with the image sensing unit.

13. The portable electronic device of claim 11, wherein the processing unit sets a plurality of capturing modes and selects one of the plurality of capturing modes as a present capturing mode, the processing unit controls the switching unit to select the at least one lens of the plurality of lenses according to the present capturing mode and the focus distance.

14. The portable electronic device of claim 13, wherein the plurality of capturing modes at least comprises a normal mode, a 3D mode, a high dynamic range (HDR) mode, a low light image quality mode, and a high resolution mode, wherein different capturing modes are corresponding to different lens or lenses.

15. The portable electronic device of claim 11, wherein the switching unit comprises at least one switch, the processing unit comprises at least one data port;

wherein a number of the at least one data port is equal to a number of the at least one switch, a movable contact of each of the at least one switch is electrically connected to one of the at least one data port, a stationary contact of each of the at least one switch is electrically connected to one of the at least one selected lens.

16. The portable electronic device of claim 15, wherein the processing unit further comprises at least one control terminal, wherein a number of the at least one control terminal is equal to the number of the at least one switch, each of the at least one control terminal is electrically connected to one of the at least one switch and outputs a controlling signal for switching the at least one switch.

17. The portable electronic device of claim 15, wherein the at least one data port is a high-speed data port.

18. The portable electronic device of claim 12, wherein the multiple lenses system further comprises a light sensing unit, the light sensing unit is configured to sense a light intensity around the multiple lenses system, the processing unit is electrically connected to the light sensing unit and is configured to determine whether to activate the focus module according to the light intensity detected by the light sensing unit.

19. The portable electronic device of claim 18, wherein when the light intensity detected by the light sensing unit is less than a predetermined value, the processing unit activates the focus module to obtain the focus distance;

wherein when the light intensity detected by the light sensing unit is greater than the predetermined value, the processing unit obtains the focus distance through another method.

20. The portable electronic device of claim 19, wherein the another method at least comprises:

the processing unit estimates the focus distance based on a resolution of the object'"'"'s edge in an image captured by the image sensing unit;

or wherein the processing unit obtains the focus distance by a phase detection auto focus (PDAF) technology of the lens of the lens module.