Camera applications in a handheld device

• US 8,381,985 B2
• Filed: 01/26/2012
• Issued: 02/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Ferren, Bran, Nishihara, Keith H.
• Primary Examiner(s): ST CYR, DANIEL
• Application Number:
  US13/358,766
• Publication Number:
  US 20120118973A1
• Time in Patent Office: 397 Days
• Field of Search: 23546221-46223, 235/462.17
• US Class Current: 235/462.21
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 13/0065 having a beam-folding prism or mirror
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 13/009 having zoom function
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 3/00 Focusing arrangements of general interest for cameras, projectors or printers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/40 by quorum, i.e. whereby two or more security principals are required
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/02 Input arrangements using manually operated switches, e.g. using keyboards or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0236 using selection techniques to select from displayed items
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0237 using prediction or retrieval techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0414 using force sensing means to determine a position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04186 Touch location disambiguation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2207/1011 Aiming
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10811 Focalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3276 using a pictured code, e.g. barcode or QR-code, being read by the M-device
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4012 : Verifying personal identification numbers [PIN]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40145 : Biometric identity checks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 : Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/16 : Human faces, e.g. facial parts, sketches or expressions
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/165 : using facial parts and geometric relationships
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/19 : Sensors therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/20 : Movements or behaviour, e.g. gesture recognition recognition of facial expressions G06V40/16
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/45 : Detection of the body part being alive
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 : using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72448 : with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/52 : including functional features of a camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/239 : using two 2D image sensors having a relative position equal to or related to the interocular distance H04N13/243 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/243 : using three or more 2D image sensors
• 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 23/63 : by using electronic viewfinders
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/67 : Focus control based on electronic image sensor signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/69 : Control of means for changing angle of the field of view, e.g. optical zoom objectives or electronic zooming
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 : for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

A hand held device containing at least one camera can perform various functions. In some embodiments, the device may have a primary lens for focusing on distant objects, and a secondary lens that may be combined with the primary lens for focusing on up-close objects. The secondary lens may be movable in and out of the optical path to permit such a transition.

Claims

1. A camera for processing a bar code image, comprising:

an optical sensor to sense an optical image as a rectangular array of pixels;

a storage element coupled to the optical sensor to store the image as values for the rectangular array of pixels;

a processor coupled to the storage element to analyze the stored image; and

an optical lens system coupled to the optical sensor having a first position and a second position for at least one optical component in the optical lens system, the optical lens system including a primary lens to focus a distant object on the optical sensor, the at least one optical component including a movable auxiliary lens;

wherein the moveable auxiliary lens permits the camera to focus on the distant object when the auxiliary lens is in the first position and permits the camera to focus on a bar code at a close distance when the auxiliary lens is in the second position, the auxiliary lens being in an optical path of the primary lens in the second position and not in the optical path of the primary lens in the first position;

wherein the first position permits the optical lens system to focus on the distant object and the second position permits the optical lens system to focus on the bar code at the close distance from the camera;

wherein the moveable auxiliary lens is physically stable in the first and second positions and physically unstable between the first and second positions.

2. The camera of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary lens moves perpendicular to the optical path of the primary lens when moving between the first position and the second position.

3. The camera of claim 1, wherein the camera provides spring-loaded force to cause the auxiliary lens to move to either the first position or the second position if placed in a position between the first position or the second position.

4. The camera of claim 1, wherein the primary lens and the auxiliary lens are constructed of optically refractive material, and are arranged in the second position such that light traveling through the primary lens and the auxiliary lens will be focused on the optical sensor.

5. A method, comprising:

moving a movable first lens to a first position with respect to a second lens on a camera to permit a long focus distance for the camera; and

moving the movable first lens to a second position with respect to the second lens to permit a short focus distance for the camera;

wherein the moveable first lens is physically unstable in any position other than the first and second positions; and

wherein the moveable first lens is in an optical path of the second lens when in the first position and out of the optical path of the second lens when in the second position.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the first and second positions are manually selected by a user.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein moving the first lens to the second position includes moving the first lens perpendicularly to the optical path of the second lens.