Dual aperture zoom digital camera
DCFirst Claim
1. A zoom digital camera comprising:
- a) a Wide imaging section that includes a fixed focal length Wide lens with a Wide field of view (FOV), a Wide sensor and a Wide image signal processor (ISP), the Wide imaging section operative to provide Wide image data of an object or scene;
b) a Tele imaging section that includes a fixed focal length Tele lens with a Tele FOV that is narrower than the Wide FOV, a Tele sensor and a Tele ISP, the Tele imaging section operative to provide Tele image data of the object or scene; and
c) a camera controller operatively coupled to the Wide and Tele imaging sections, the camera controller configured to combine in still mode at least some of the Wide and Tele image data to provide a fused output image of the object or scene from a particular point of view and to provide without fusion continuous zoom video mode output images of the object or scene, each output image having a respective output resolution;
wherein the video output images are provided with a smooth transition when switching between a lower zoom factor (ZF) value and a higher ZF value or vice versa, wherein at the lower ZF value the output resolution is determined by the Wide sensor, and wherein at the higher ZF value the output resolution is determined by the Tele sensor.
2 Assignments
Litigations
1 Petition
Reexamination
Accused Products
Abstract
A dual-aperture zoom digital camera operable in both still and video modes. The camera includes Wide and Tele imaging sections with respective lens/sensor combinations and image signal processors and a camera controller operatively coupled to the Wide and Tele imaging sections. The Wide and Tele imaging sections provide respective image data. The controller is configured to combine in still mode at least some of the Wide and Tele image data to provide a fused output image from a particular point of view, and to provide without fusion continuous zoom video mode output images, each output image having a given output resolution, wherein the video mode output images are provided with a smooth transition when switching between a lower zoom factor (ZF) value and a higher ZF value or vice versa, and wherein at the lower ZF the output resolution is determined by the Wide sensor while at the higher ZF value the output resolution is determined by the Tele sensor.
244 Citations
22 Claims
-
1. A zoom digital camera comprising:
-
a) a Wide imaging section that includes a fixed focal length Wide lens with a Wide field of view (FOV), a Wide sensor and a Wide image signal processor (ISP), the Wide imaging section operative to provide Wide image data of an object or scene; b) a Tele imaging section that includes a fixed focal length Tele lens with a Tele FOV that is narrower than the Wide FOV, a Tele sensor and a Tele ISP, the Tele imaging section operative to provide Tele image data of the object or scene; and c) a camera controller operatively coupled to the Wide and Tele imaging sections, the camera controller configured to combine in still mode at least some of the Wide and Tele image data to provide a fused output image of the object or scene from a particular point of view and to provide without fusion continuous zoom video mode output images of the object or scene, each output image having a respective output resolution; wherein the video output images are provided with a smooth transition when switching between a lower zoom factor (ZF) value and a higher ZF value or vice versa, wherein at the lower ZF value the output resolution is determined by the Wide sensor, and wherein at the higher ZF value the output resolution is determined by the Tele sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A method for obtaining zoom images of an object or scene in both still and video modes using a digital camera, the method comprising the steps of:
-
a) providing in the digital camera a Wide imaging section having a Wide lens with a Wide field of view (FOV), a Wide sensor and a Wide image signal processor (ISP), a Tele imaging section having a Tele lens with a Tele FOV that is narrower than the Wide FOV, a Tele sensor and a Tele ISP, and a camera controller operatively coupled to the Wide and Tele imaging sections; and b) configuring the camera controller to combine in still mode at least some of the Wide and Tele image data to provide a fused output image of the object or scene from a particular point of view, and to provide without fusion continuous zoom video mode output images of the object or scene, each output image having a respective output resolution, wherein the video mode output images are provided with a smooth transition when switching between a lower zoom factor (ZF) value and a higher ZF value or vice versa, and wherein at the lower ZF value the output resolution is determined by the Wide sensor while at the higher ZF value the output resolution is determined by the Tele sensor. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
-
Specification