CAMERA METHODS AND APPARATUS USING OPTICAL CHAIN MODULES WHICH ALTER THE DIRECTION OF RECEIVED LIGHT

• US 20180024330A1
• Filed: 06/27/2017
• Published: 01/25/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Blue River Technology Inc. (Deere & Company)
• Original Assignee: Light Labs Inc.
• Inventors: LAROIA, Rajiv
• Granted Patent: US 10,101,566 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 13/0065 having a beam-folding prism or mirror
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 13/16 for use in conjunction with image converters or intensifiers , or for use with projectors, e.g. objectives for projection TV
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 13/22 Telecentric objectives or lens systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 17/008 Systems specially adapted to form image relays or chained systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 17/0896 with variable magnification or multiple imaging planes, including multispectral systems systems with only refractive elements G02B15/14
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/0056 arranged along two different directions in a plane, e.g. honeycomb arrangement of lenses G02B3/0043 takes precedence; miniaturised objectives for electronic devices employing wafer level optics G02B13/0085
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/18 for prisms; for mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/17 with reflectors arranged in beam forming the photographic image, e.g. for reducing dimensions of camera
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/60 Editing figures and text; Combining figures or text
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/55 Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/57 Mechanical or electrical details of cameras or camera modules specially adapted for being embedded in other devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/73 by influencing the exposure time
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/741 by increasing the dynamic range of the image compared to the dynamic range of the electronic image sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/75 by influencing optical camera components
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/265 Mixing

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for capturing or generating images using multiple optical chains operating in parallel are described. Pixel values captured by individual optical chains corresponding to the same scene area are combined to provide an image with at least some of the benefits which would have been provided by capturing an image of the scene using a larger lens than that of the individual lenses of the optical chain modules. By using multiple optical chains in parallel at least some benefits normally obtained from using a large lens can be obtained without the need for a large lens. Furthermore in at least some embodiments, a wide dynamic range can be supported through the use of multiple sensors with the overall supported dynamic range being potentially larger than that of the individual sensors. Some lens and/or optical chain configurations are designed for use in small handheld devices, e.g., cell phones.

Claims

1. A portable camera apparatus, comprising:

a plurality of at least three optical chain modules, each optical chain module in said plurality including a lens, an image deflection element, and a sensor, said image deflection element changing the direction of optical rays passing along an optical axis of said lens by substantially 90 degrees to direct said optical rays passing along said optical axis onto the sensor of the optical chain in which said deflection element and said lens are located.

2. The portable camera apparatus of claim 1, wherein each optical chain module includes multiple lenses.

3. The portable camera apparatus of claim 2, wherein at least one of said multiple lenses in each optical chain is positioned between said image deflection element and said sensor.

4. The portable camera apparatus of claim 1 wherein the image deflection element of at least one optical chain module includes at least one mirror positioned at 45 degree to said optical axis of said lens of said at least one optical chain module.

5. The portable camera apparatus of claim 1 wherein the image deflection element of at least one optical chain module includes at least one prism.

6. The portable camera apparatus of claim 3, wherein the optical axes of lenses said optical chain modules are parallel to each other but at least two mirrors corresponding to different optical chains are not parallel.

7. The portable camera apparatus of claim 6, wherein at least some of said sensors are located on the surface of a cylinder.

8. The portable camera apparatus of claim 6, wherein the light rays of at least two different optical chains cross prior to reaching the sensor to which the rays of said at least two different optical chain modules correspond.