Curved sensor camera with moving optical train

• US 8,957,992 B2
• Filed: 03/21/2011
• Issued: 02/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Douglas Gene Lockie, Gary Edwin Sutton, William Maynard Jr. Barton
• Original Assignee: William Maynard Jr. Barton
• Inventors: Sutton, Gary Edwin, Lockie, Douglas Gene, Barton, William Maynard Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peterson, Christopher K
• Application Number:
  US13/065,477
• Publication Number:
  US 20120242882A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,429 Days
• Field of Search: 348/340, 348/240.2
• US Class Current: 348/240.2
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 2205/00 Adjustment of optical system relative to image or object surface other than for focusing
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/14605 Structural or functional details relating to the position of the pixel elements, e.g. smaller pixel elements in the center of the imager compared to pixel elements at the periphery
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/14607 Geometry of the photosensitive area
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/14618 Containers
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/14623 Optical shielding
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/14625 Optical elements or arrangements associated with the device
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/0002 Not covered by any one of groups H01L24/00, H01L24/00 and H01L2224/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/55 Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/48 Increasing resolution by shifting the sensor relative to the scene
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/702 SSIS architectures characterised by non-identical, non-equidistant or non-planar pixel layout

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for combining a mobile communication device having a camera (150) that includes a curved sensor (160) are disclosed. In one embodiment of the invention, motion is deliberately imparted to a sensor and/or an optical element while multiple exposures are taken to provide an enhanced image.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

an enclosure;

an optical element;

said optical element being mounted on said enclosure;

said optical element for conveying a stream of radiation; and

a sensor;

said sensor including a plurality of sensor segments;

each of said sensor segments being separated by a gap;

said sensor being mounted inside said enclosure;

said sensor being aligned with said optical element;

said sensor having an output for recording an image;

said sensor being deliberately moved during the collection of said stream of radiation to enhance said image;

said sensor is configured to have a relatively lower concentration of pixels generally near an edge of said sensor;

said relatively high concentration of pixels generally near the center of said sensor enables zooming into a telephoto shot using said relatively high concentration of pixels generally near the center of said sensor only, while retaining relatively high image resolution;

said sensor first being used to take a first exposure;

said sensor then being moved;

said sensor remaining the same plane while being moved;

said sensor then being used to take a second exposure;

said first exposure and said second exposure then being combined into a complete image by filling in said gaps between said plurality of segments.

2. An apparatus comprising:

an enclosure;

an optical element;

said optical element being mounted on said enclosure;

said optical element for conveying a stream of radiation; and

a sensor;

said sensor including a plurality of sensor segments;

each of said sensor segments being separated by a gap;

said sensor being mounted inside said enclosure;

said sensor being aligned with said optical element;

said sensor having an output for recording an image;

said sensor being deliberately moved during the collection of said stream of radiation to enhance said image; and

a shade;

said shade being disposed to generally to move to block incoming light;

said shade being retracted so that it does not block incoming light when a wide angle image is sensed;

said shade being extended to block incoming extraneous light from non-image areas when a telephoto image is sensed

said sensor first being used to take a first exposure;

said sensor then being moved;

said sensor remaining the same plane while being moved;

said sensor then being used to take a second exposure;

said first exposure and said second exposure then being combined into a complete image by filling in said gaps between said plurality of segments.