INTERCHANGEABLE LENS STRUCTURES

• US 20200133095A1
• Filed: 10/25/2018
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GoPro, Inc.
• Original Assignee: GoPro, Inc.
• Inventors: Cotoros, Ingrid, Griggs, Ian, Zhao, Peiqian
• Granted Patent: US 10,969,660 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 13/06 Panoramic objectives; So-called "sky lenses" including panoramic objectives having reflecting surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 13/18 with lenses having one or more non-spherical faces, e.g. for reducing geometrical aberration G02B13/002 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0006 with means to keep optical surfaces clean, e.g. by preventing or removing dirt, stains, contamination, condensation G02B1/18 takes precedence; cleaning in general B08B
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/021 for more than one lens
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/026 using retaining rings or springs G02B7/027 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/08 Waterproof bodies or housings
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/14 interchangeably
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 37/04 with cameras or projectors providing touching or overlapping fields of view
• 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

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for replaceable outer lenses for use in water. For example, an image capture device may include a lens barrel in a body of the image capture device; a replaceable lens structure mountable on the body of the image capture device, the replaceable lens structure including a first set of two or more stacked lenses, including a first outer lens, and a first retaining ring configured to fasten the first set of two or more stacked lenses against a first end of the lens barrel in a first arrangement, wherein the first set of two or more stacked lenses is configured to collimate light incident on the first outer lens when the first outer lens is underwater at an interface between the lens barrel and the first replaceable lens structure; and an image sensor mounted within the body at a second end of the lens barrel.

Claims

1. An image capture device comprising:

a lens barrel in a body of the image capture device, the lens barrel including multiple inner lenses;

a first replaceable lens structure mountable on the body of the image capture device, the first replaceable lens structure including a first set of two or more stacked lenses, including a first outer lens, and a first retaining ring configured to fasten the first set of two or more stacked lenses against a first end of the lens barrel in a first arrangement and configured to disconnect the first set of two or more stacked lenses from the body of the image capture device in a second arrangement, wherein the first set of two or more stacked lenses is configured to collimate light incident on the first outer lens when the first outer lens is underwater at an interface between the lens barrel and the first replaceable lens structure;

a second replaceable lens structure mountable on the body of the image capture device, the second replaceable lens structure including a second set of two or more stacked lenses, including a second outer lens, and a second retaining ring configured to fasten the second set of two or more stacked lenses against the first end of the lens barrel in a third arrangement and configured to disconnect the second set of two or more stacked lenses from the body of the image capture device in a fourth arrangement, wherein the second set of two or more stacked lenses is configured to collimate light incident on the first outer lens when the second outer lens is in air at an interface between the lens barrel and the second replaceable lens structure; and

an image sensor mounted within the body at a second end of the lens barrel, and configured to capture images based on light incident on the image sensor through the first set of two or more stacked lenses when the first retaining ring is in the first arrangement, and configured to capture images based on light incident on the image sensor through the second set of two or more stacked lenses when the second retaining ring is in the third arrangement.

2. The image capture device of claim 1, in which the first outer lens has a higher index of refraction than the second outer lens.

3. The image capture device of claim 1, in which the first outer lens has a first radius of curvature that is greater than a corresponding second radius of curvature of the second outer lens.

4. The image capture device of claim 1, in which the first outer lens is hyper-hemispherical.

5. The image capture device of claim 1, in which the first outer lens has a focal length of magnitude less than one meter.

6. The image capture device of claim 1, in which the first outer lens is aspherical.

7. The image capture device of claim 1, in which an outer surface of the first outer lens has multiple radii of curvature.

8. The image capture device of claim 1, in which the first set of two or more stacked lenses collectively have a same optical power as the second set of two or more stacked lenses.

9. An image capture device comprising:

a lens barrel in a body of the image capture device;

a first replaceable lens structure mountable on the body of the image capture device, the first replaceable lens structure including a first set of two or more stacked lenses, including a first outer lens, and a first retaining ring configured to fasten the first set of two or more stacked lenses against a first end of the lens barrel in a first arrangement and configured to disconnect the first set of two or more stacked lenses from the body of the image capture device in a second arrangement, wherein the first set of two or more stacked lenses is configured to collimate light incident on the first outer lens when the first outer lens is underwater at an interface between the lens barrel and the first replaceable lens structure; and

an image sensor mounted within the body at a second end of the lens barrel, and configured to capture images based on light incident on the image sensor through the first set of two or more stacked lenses when the first retaining ring is in the first arrangement.

10. The image capture device of claim 9, in which the first outer lens is hyper-hemispherical.

11. The image capture device of claim 9, in which the first outer lens has a focal length of magnitude less than one meter.

12. The image capture device of claim 9, in which the first outer lens is aspherical.

13. The image capture device of claim 9, in which the lens barrel includes multiple inner lenses, wherein at least one of the multiple inner lenses is curved.

14. The image capture device of claim 9, in which the first retaining ring includes a bayonet mechanism configured to facilitate transition between the first arrangement and the second arrangement.

15. The image capture device of claim 9, in which the first retaining ring includes a threaded mechanism configured to facilitate transition between the first arrangement and the second arrangement.

16. The image capture device of claim 9, in which the first retaining ring includes a snap-ring mechanism configured to facilitate transition between the first arrangement and the second arrangement.

17. The image capture device of claim 9, comprising:

a waterproofing O-ring that is positioned radially around the first outer lens.

18. The image capture device of claim 9, in which the lens barrel is a first lens barrel and the image sensor is a first image sensor, and comprising:

a second lens barrel in the body of the image capture device;

a second replaceable lens structure mountable on the body of the image capture device, the second replaceable lens structure including a second outer lens, and a second retaining ring configured to fasten the second outer lens against a first end of the second lens barrel in a third arrangement and configured to disconnect the second outer lens from the body of the image capture device in a fourth arrangement, wherein the second outer lens is an underwater hyper-hemispherical lens with a focal length of magnitude less than one meter; and

a second image sensor mounted within the body at a second end of the second lens barrel, and configured to capture images based on light incident on the second image sensor through the second outer lens when the second retaining ring is in the third arrangement, wherein the first image sensor and the second image sensor face in opposite directions.

19. An image capture device comprising:

a lens barrel in a body of the image capture device;

a first replaceable lens structure mountable on the body of the image capture device, the first replaceable lens structure including a first outer lens, and a first retaining ring configured to fasten the first outer lens against a first end of the lens barrel in a first arrangement and configured to disconnect the first outer lens from the body of the image capture device in a second arrangement, wherein the first outer lens is an underwater hyper-hemispherical lens with a focal length of magnitude less than one meter; and

an image sensor mounted within the body at a second end of the lens barrel, and configured to capture images based on light incident on the image sensor through the first outer lens when the first retaining ring is in the first arrangement.

20. The image capture device of claim 19, in which the lens barrel is a first lens barrel and the image sensor is a first image sensor, and comprising:

a second lens barrel in the body of the image capture device;

a second replaceable lens structure mountable on the body of the image capture device, the second replaceable lens structure including a second outer lens, and a second retaining ring configured to fasten the second outer lens against a first end of the second lens barrel in a third arrangement and configured to disconnect the second outer lens from the body of the image capture device in a fourth arrangement, wherein the second outer lens is an underwater hyper-hemispherical lens with a focal length of magnitude less than one meter; and

a second image sensor mounted within the body at a second end of the second lens barrel, and configured to capture images based on light incident on the second image sensor through the second outer lens when the second retaining ring is in the third arrangement, wherein the first image sensor and the second image sensor face in opposite directions.