Multiple aperture imaging system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A multiple aperture imaging system comprising:
- a plurality of imaging elements each capturing light of a scene;
an optical relay assembly for receiving and coherently summing captured light from each of the imaging elements;
a combiner imaging sensor for receiving the coherently summed captured light from the optical relay assembly;
a plurality of individual imaging sensors, each individual imaging sensor configured to receive captured light outputted from a respective one of the imaging elements;
means for diverting the captured light, that is outputted from each of the imaging elements, toward the optical relay assembly and away from the individual imaging sensors; and
a selector for enabling and disabling the means for diverting the captured light outputted from each of the imaging elements;
wherein (i) when the selector disables the means for diverting the captured light, each individual imaging sensor forms an independent image based on light captured by a respective one of the imaging elements, and (ii) when the selector enables the means for diverting the captured light, the combiner imaging sensor coherently sums the captured light from the optical relay assembly to form an image having a higher resolution than another image formed by any one of the individual imaging sensors.
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Abstract
A multiple aperture imaging system, that includes: a plurality of imaging elements for capturing light; an optical relay assembly for phasing the captured light; a means for diverting the captured light within the multiple aperture imaging system to produce a plurality of images; and an imaging sensor capable of receiving the captured light from each of the plurality of imaging elements.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A multiple aperture imaging system comprising:
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a plurality of imaging elements each capturing light of a scene;
an optical relay assembly for receiving and coherently summing captured light from each of the imaging elements;
a combiner imaging sensor for receiving the coherently summed captured light from the optical relay assembly;
a plurality of individual imaging sensors, each individual imaging sensor configured to receive captured light outputted from a respective one of the imaging elements;
means for diverting the captured light, that is outputted from each of the imaging elements, toward the optical relay assembly and away from the individual imaging sensors; and
a selector for enabling and disabling the means for diverting the captured light outputted from each of the imaging elements;
wherein (i) when the selector disables the means for diverting the captured light, each individual imaging sensor forms an independent image based on light captured by a respective one of the imaging elements, and (ii) when the selector enables the means for diverting the captured light, the combiner imaging sensor coherently sums the captured light from the optical relay assembly to form an image having a higher resolution than another image formed by any one of the individual imaging sensors. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of combining multiple imaging components comprising the steps of:
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a) capturing light of a scene using a plurality of imaging elements;
b) receiving and coherently summing captured light from each of the imaging elements, using an optical relay assembly;
c) combining the coherently summed captured light from the optical relay assembly to form a combined image;
d) directing the captured light from the imaging elements to bypass the optical relay assembly toward a plurality of individual imaging sensors;
e) forming independent images by the individual imaging sensors, when step (d) precedes steps (b) and (c); and
f) forming an enhanced image, when steps (b) and (c) precede step (d). - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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Specification