Methods and apparatus for implementing a camera device supporting a number of different focal lengths
First Claim
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1. A camera device, comprising:
- a first optical chain having a first focal length, said first optical chain having a first non-circular aperture and including a first mirror for directing light that passes through said first non-circular aperture towards a first sensor, said first sensor being positioned closer to a center portion of said camera device than said first non-circular aperture;
a second optical chain having a second focal length, said second optical chain having a second non-circular aperture, and including a second mirror for directing light that passes through said second non-circular aperture towards a second sensor, said second sensor being positioned closer to the center portion of said camera device than said second non-circular aperture; and
a third optical chain located in the center portion of said camera device, said third optical chain having a first circular aperture and a third sensor, said third optical chain having an optical axis extending in a straight manner from the front of the camera device towards the back of the camera device.
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus for using optical chains, e.g., camera modules, with different lens configurations to support a wide range of focal lengths are described. In some embodiments a camera device includes a plurality of optical chains. In at least some embodiments non-circular outer lenses are used for optical chains with large focal lengths while optical chains of the same camera device which have smaller focal lengths use round outer lenses. Thus an exemplary camera device supports a number of different focal lengths.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A camera device, comprising:
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a first optical chain having a first focal length, said first optical chain having a first non-circular aperture and including a first mirror for directing light that passes through said first non-circular aperture towards a first sensor, said first sensor being positioned closer to a center portion of said camera device than said first non-circular aperture; a second optical chain having a second focal length, said second optical chain having a second non-circular aperture, and including a second mirror for directing light that passes through said second non-circular aperture towards a second sensor, said second sensor being positioned closer to the center portion of said camera device than said second non-circular aperture; and a third optical chain located in the center portion of said camera device, said third optical chain having a first circular aperture and a third sensor, said third optical chain having an optical axis extending in a straight manner from the front of the camera device towards the back of the camera device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A camera device, comprising:
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a first optical chain having a first focal length and a first non-circular lens, said first optical chain including a first sensor and a first light redirection element extending in at least one direction by an amount which is greater than the depth of the camera device; a second optical chain having a second focal length and a second non-circular lens, said second optical chain including a second sensor and a second light redirection element extending in at least one direction by an amount which is greater than the depth of the camera device; a third optical chain having a third focal length; and a processor coupled to said first and second sensors for combining images captured by said first and second sensors to generate a composite image; and wherein said first and second focal lengths are equal to or greater than 70 mm and said third focal length is less than 70 mm. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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15. A non-transitory computer readable medium, said non-transitory computer readable medium comprising computer executable instructions, said non-transitory computer readable medium comprising:
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instructions, which when executed by a processor, control a first optical chain of a camera to capture a first image during a first time period, said first optical chain having a first focal length and a first non-circular aperture and including a first mirror for directing light that passes through said first non-circular aperture towards a first sensor, said first sensor being positioned closer to a center portion of said camera device than said first non-circular aperture; and instructions, which when executed by said processor, control a second optical chain of said camera to capture a second image during said first time period, said second optical chain having a second focal length and a second non-circular aperture, and including a second mirror for directing light that passes through said second non-circular aperture towards a second sensor, said second sensor being positioned closer to the center portion of said camera device than said second non-circular aperture; and instructions, which when executed by said processor, control a third optical chain of said camera to capture a third image, said third optical chain being located in the center portion of said camera and having a first circular aperture and a third sensor, said third optical chain having an optical axis extending in a straight manner from the front of the camera towards the back of the camera.
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16. A method of operating a camera, comprising:
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capturing a first image, using a first optical chain of said camera, during a first time period, said first optical chain having a first focal length and a first non-circular aperture and including a first mirror for directing light that passes through said first non-circular aperture towards a first sensor, said first sensor being positioned closer to a center portion of said camera device than said first non-circular aperture; capturing a second image, using a second optical chain of said camera during said first time period, said second optical chain having a second focal length and a second non-circular aperture, and including a second mirror for directing light that passes through said second non-circular aperture towards a second sensor, said second sensor being positioned closer to the center portion of said camera device than said second non-circular aperture; and capturing a third image, using a third optical chain of said camera located in the center portion of said camera, said third optical chain having a first circular aperture and a third sensor, said third optical chain having an optical axis extending in a straight manner from the front of the camera towards the back of the camera. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification