Shifted lens camera for mobile computing devices
First Claim
1. An apparatus comprising:
- a housing of a computing device having a first side and a second side;
a kickstand that is deployable to stand the apparatus on a surface such that the apparatus stands at a first angle in relation to the surface; and
a camera assembly that includes a sensor and a lens stack comprising multiple lenses, the camera assembly mounted within the housing of the computing device such that;
the sensor is attached to the first side of the housing; and
the lens stack is attached to the second side of the housing in a shifted position relative the sensor such that in the shifted position;
a first axis that extends through a center of each lens of the lens stack is parallel to a second axis that extends perpendicularly from a face of the sensor;
a shift distance between the first axis and the second axis in the shifted position is based on the first angle; and
a field of view (FOV) formed by the camera assembly is substantially parallel to the surface when the kickstand is deployed.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Techniques of shifting the lens stack from an image capture sensor within a smart device and/or mobile device are disclosed. The shifting of the center of the lens stack from the center of the sensor allows the Field of View (FOV) of such a camera assembly to have an angle from the normal and/or perpendicular direction from the surface of the device. Such an angle allows the FOV to be substantially horizontal and/or parallel to a surface when the device is held (e.g. by a kickstand) at a similar angle from the vertical direction. When the front of the lens stack is substantially at a front surface of the device and the sensor is attached to a back surface of the device, then the Total Track Length (TTL) is substantially the depth of the device.
215 Citations
23 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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a housing of a computing device having a first side and a second side; a kickstand that is deployable to stand the apparatus on a surface such that the apparatus stands at a first angle in relation to the surface; and a camera assembly that includes a sensor and a lens stack comprising multiple lenses, the camera assembly mounted within the housing of the computing device such that; the sensor is attached to the first side of the housing; and the lens stack is attached to the second side of the housing in a shifted position relative the sensor such that in the shifted position; a first axis that extends through a center of each lens of the lens stack is parallel to a second axis that extends perpendicularly from a face of the sensor; a shift distance between the first axis and the second axis in the shifted position is based on the first angle; and a field of view (FOV) formed by the camera assembly is substantially parallel to the surface when the kickstand is deployed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 21)
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10. An apparatus comprising:
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a housing of a computing device having a first side and a second side that is opposite the first side and includes an aperture; a kickstand that is configurable to be deployed in multiple preset positions to stand the apparatus on a substantially horizontal surface, at least one of the positions enabling the apparatus to stand at a first angle in relation to the substantially horizontal surface; and a camera assembly that includes a sensor and a lens stack, the camera assembly mounted within the housing of the computing device such that; the sensor is attached to the first side of the housing; and the lens stack is attached to the second side of the housing that includes the aperture, and is attached in a shifted position relative the sensor such that in the shifted position; a first axis that extends through a center of lenses of the lens stack is parallel to a second axis that extends perpendicularly from a face of the sensor; a shift distance corresponding to the shifted position is between the first axis and the second axis and is proportional to the first angle; and a plane of sharpest focus formed by the camera assembly is directed outwardly from the apparatus to have an optical axis that is substantially horizontal when the kickstand is deployed. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 22)
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16. An apparatus comprising:
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a housing of a computing device having a first side and a second side; a kickstand that is coupled to the housing of the computing device and is configured to be deployed in multiple preset positions to stand the apparatus on a surface, at least one of the positions enabling the apparatus to stand at a first angle in relation to the surface; and a camera assembly that includes a sensor and a lens stack, the camera assembly mounted within the housing of the computing device such that; the sensor is disposed on the first side of the housing; and the lens stack is disposed on the second side of the housing in a shifted position relative the sensor such that in the shifted position; a first axis that extends through a center of lenses of the lens stack is parallel to a second axis that extends from a face of the sensor; a shift distance between the first axis and the second axis, used to mount the lens stack in the shifted position relative the sensor, is proportional to the first angle; and a field of view (FOV) formed by the camera assembly is parallel to the surface when the kickstand is deployed. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 23)
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Specification