Auto-focus in low-profile folded optics multi-camera system
First Claim
1. An imaging system, comprising:
- at least one camera configured to capture a target image scene, the at least one camera comprisingan image sensor comprising an array of sensor elements;
a primary light folding surface configured to direct a portion of received light in a first direction;
an optical element having a secondary light folding surface, the secondary light folding surface positioned to redirect light received from the primary light folding surface in a second direction;
a lens assembly comprisingat least one stationary lens positioned between the secondary light folding surface and the image sensor, the at least one stationary lens having a first surface mechanically coupled to the optical element and a second surface mechanically coupled to the image sensor, wherein the at least one stationary lens comprises a field corrector lens, andat least one movable lens positioned between the primary light folding surface and the optical element; and
an actuator configured to move the at least one movable lens to focus light propagating through the lens assembly onto the image sensor.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments of imaging systems and methods of autofocusing are disclosed, for example, using a folded optics configuration. One system includes at least one camera configured to capture a target image scene, including an image sensor comprising an array of sensor elements, a primary light folding surface configured to direct a portion of received light in a first direction, and an optical element having a secondary light folding surface directing light in a second direction. The system can also include a lens assembly having at least one stationary lens positioned between the secondary light folding surface and the image sensor, the at least one stationary lens having a first surface mechanically coupled to the optical element and a second surface mechanically coupled to the image sensor, and at least one movable lens positioned between the primary light folding surface and the optical element.
203 Citations
30 Claims
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1. An imaging system, comprising:
at least one camera configured to capture a target image scene, the at least one camera comprising an image sensor comprising an array of sensor elements; a primary light folding surface configured to direct a portion of received light in a first direction; an optical element having a secondary light folding surface, the secondary light folding surface positioned to redirect light received from the primary light folding surface in a second direction; a lens assembly comprising at least one stationary lens positioned between the secondary light folding surface and the image sensor, the at least one stationary lens having a first surface mechanically coupled to the optical element and a second surface mechanically coupled to the image sensor, wherein the at least one stationary lens comprises a field corrector lens, and at least one movable lens positioned between the primary light folding surface and the optical element; and an actuator configured to move the at least one movable lens to focus light propagating through the lens assembly onto the image sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An imaging system, comprising:
at least one camera configured to capture a target image scene, the at least one camera comprising an image sensor comprising an array of sensor elements; a primary light folding surface configured to direct a portion of received light in a first direction; a means for redirecting light configured to redirect light received from the primary light folding surface in a second direction to the image sensor; a lens assembly comprising at least one stationary lens positioned between the means for redirecting light and the image sensor, the at least one stationary lens having a first surface mechanically coupled to the means for redirecting light and a second surface mechanically coupled to the image sensor, wherein the at least one stationary lens comprises a field corrector lens, and at least one movable lens positioned between the primary light folding surface and the means for redirecting light; and means for moving the at least one movable lens to focus light propagating through the lens assembly onto the image sensor. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method, comprising:
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providing at least one camera configured to capture a target image scene, the at least one camera comprising an image sensor comprising an array of sensor elements, a primary light folding surface configured to direct a portion of received light in a first direction, an optical element having a secondary light folding surface, the secondary light folding surface positioned to redirect light received from the primary light folding surface in a second direction, and a lens assembly comprising at least one stationary lens positioned between the secondary light folding surface and the image sensor, the at least one stationary lens having a first surface mechanically coupled to the optical element and a second surface mechanically coupled to the image sensor, wherein the at least one stationary lens comprises a field corrector lens, and at least one movable lens positioned between the primary light folding surface and the optical element, and an actuator configured to move the at least one movable lens to focus light propagating through the lens assembly onto the image sensor; and focusing the at least one camera on the target image scene by moving the at least one movable lens while maintaining the relative positioning of the optical element, the at least one stationary lens and the image sensor. - View Dependent Claims (29)
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30. An imaging system, comprising:
at least one camera configured to capture a target image scene, the at least one camera comprising an image sensor comprising an array of sensor elements, wherein the array of sensor elements have a sensor element pitch, wherein the image sensor has a Nyquist sampling rate determined based at least part on the sensor element pitch; an optical element having a secondary light folding surface, the secondary light folding surface positioned to redirect light received on the secondary light folding surface; and a lens assembly comprising at least one stationary lens positioned between the secondary light folding surface and the image sensor, the at least one stationary lens having a first surface mechanically coupled to the optical element and a second surface mechanically coupled to the image sensor, wherein the at least one stationary lens comprises a field corrector lens, and at least one movable lens positioned such that light received by the secondary light folding surface propagates through the at least one movable lens; and an actuator configured to move the at least one movable lens to focus light propagating through the lens assembly onto the image sensor.
Specification