Methods and apparatus relating to a camera including multiple optical chains

• US 9,374,514 B2
• Filed: 10/16/2014
• Issued: 06/21/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Blue River Technology Inc. (Deere & Company)
• Original Assignee: The LightCo Inc.
• Inventors: Laroia, Rajiv
• Primary Examiner(s): Haskins, Twyler
• Assistant Examiner(s): Garces-Rivera, Angel L
• Application Number:
  US14/516,568
• Publication Number:
  US 20150138423A1
• Time in Patent Office: 614 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 13/0065 having a beam-folding prism or mirror
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 17/008 Systems specially adapted to form image relays or chained systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 17/08 Catadioptric systems used in non-imaging applications G02B19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/04 Prisms
• 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 23/55 Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/67 Focus control based on electronic image sensor signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/6812 based on additional sensors, e.g. acceleration sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/687 by shifting the lens or sensor position
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/843 Demosaicing, e.g. interpolating colour pixel values
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/951 by using two or more images to influence resolution, frame rate or aspect ratio
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/134 based on three different wavelength filter elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/28 Mobile studios

Abstract

Camera methods and apparatus are described where the camera device includes multiple optical chains. In various embodiments two or more of the optical chains include light redirection devices such as mirrors or prisms. Sensors corresponding to multiple different optical chains, but not necessarily all optical chains, are parallel to each other. In some embodiments sensors corresponding to different optical chains are located in the same plane at the front or rear of the camera. However other sensor mounting positions are also possible.

Claims

1. A portable camera apparatus, comprising:

a plurality of at least three optical chain modules, each optical chain module in said plurality including a lens, a plurality of deflection elements, and a sensor, said plurality of deflection elements including at least a first deflection element and a second deflection element, the sensor of each optical chain module being mounted in a sensor plane, the sensor plane of different optical chain modules being parallel to one another, said plurality of optical chain modules including a first optical chain including first and second light redirection elements and a second optical chain including third and fourth light redirection elements, a first optical path extending between said first and second light redirection elements crossing a second optical path extending between said third and fourth light redirection elements.

2. The portable camera apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first optical path crosses the second optical path in a center portion of said portable camera apparatus around which light enters different optical chains.

3. The portable camera apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensors of the different optical chain modules are mounted on a movable board, positioned at the front of the portable camera apparatus, through which light passes to enter the plurality of optical chain modules.

4. The portable camera apparatus of claim 3, wherein said moveable board is a circuit board which serves as an input plane and a sensor plane.

5. The portable camera apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a moveable plate on which sensors of different optical chain modules are mounted;

a two axis positioning module coupled to said movable plate; and

a control module for controlling said two axis position module as a function of camera movement.

6. The portable camera apparatus of claim 5, wherein said control module is an image stabilization module for determine the amount of movement of said movable plate to perform an image stabilization operation to compensate for camera movement.

7. The portable camera apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second deflection elements is a prism.

8. The portable camera apparatus of claim 1, wherein light beams passing though different optical chain modules cross each other when traveling between the first and second deflection elements of their respective optical chain modules.

9. The portable camera apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a cylinder located in a center portion of said portable camera apparatus on which at least one lens is mounted; and

wherein the first optical path and the second optical path extend through said cylinder and cross inside said cylinder.

10. A portable camera apparatus, comprising:

a plurality of at least three optical chain modules, each optical chain module in said plurality including a lens, a plurality of deflection elements, and a sensor, said plurality of deflection elements including at least a first deflection element and a second deflection element, the sensor of each optical chain module being mounted in a sensor plane, the sensor plane of different optical chains being parallel to one another; and

wherein the light passing through a first optical chain module in said plurality of optical chain modules crosses a light path of another optical chain module when the light passing through the first optical chain module travels from the first deflection element to the second deflection element of the first optical chain module.

11. A portable camera apparatus, comprising:

a plurality of optical chain modules, each optical chain module in said plurality including a lens, a plurality of deflection elements, and a sensor, said plurality of deflection elements including at least a first deflection element and a second deflection element, the sensor of each optical chain module being mounted in a sensor plane, the sensor plane of different optical chain modules being parallel to one another;

wherein the light passing through a first optical chain module in said plurality of optical chain modules crosses a light path of another optical chain module when the light passing though the first optical chain module travels from the first deflection element to the second deflection element of the first optical chain module; and

wherein light beams passing though different optical chain modules cross each other when traveling between the first and second deflection elements of their respective optical chain modules.

12. The portable camera apparatus of claim 11, further comprising an additional optical chain module which includes an image deflection element configured to change the direction of optical rays passing along an optical axis of a lens by substantially 90 degrees to direct said optical rays passing along said optical axis onto the sensor of the optical chain in which said deflection element and said lens are located.