Methods and apparatus relating to a camera including multiple optical chains
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A camera device, comprising:
- a plurality of at least three optical chains, each optical chain in said plurality of at least three optical chains 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 in said plurality of at least three optical chains being mounted in a sensor plane, the sensor planes of different optical chains in said plurality of at least three optical chains being parallel to one another or the sensor planes of different optical chains in said plurality of at least three optical chains being the same sensor plane, andwherein light passing through a first optical chain in said plurality of at least three optical chains crosses a light path of another optical chain in said plurality of at least three optical chains when the light passing though the first optical chain travels from the first deflector element to the second deflector element of the first optical chain.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
173 Citations
19 Claims
-
1. A camera device, comprising:
-
a plurality of at least three optical chains, each optical chain in said plurality of at least three optical chains 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 in said plurality of at least three optical chains being mounted in a sensor plane, the sensor planes of different optical chains in said plurality of at least three optical chains being parallel to one another or the sensor planes of different optical chains in said plurality of at least three optical chains being the same sensor plane, and wherein light passing through a first optical chain in said plurality of at least three optical chains crosses a light path of another optical chain in said plurality of at least three optical chains when the light passing though the first optical chain travels from the first deflector element to the second deflector element of the first optical chain. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A camera device, comprising:
-
a plurality of optical chains, each optical chain in said plurality of optical chains 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 in said plurality of optical chains being mounted in a sensor plane, the sensor planes of different optical chains in said plurality of optical chains being parallel to one another or the sensor planes of different optical chains in said plurality of optical chains being the same sensor plane; and wherein the light passing through a first optical chain in said plurality of optical chains crosses a light path of another optical chain in said plurality of optical chains when the light passing though the first optical chain travels from the first deflector element to the second deflector element of the first optical chain. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
-
-
13. A camera apparatus, comprising:
-
a mounting plate; a plurality of optical chains, each optical chain in said plurality of optical chains including an aperture in a face of the camera apparatus, 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 in said plurality of optical chains being mounted on said mounting plate, and wherein light passing through a first optical chain in said plurality of optical chains crosses a light path of another optical chain in said plurality of optical chains when the light passing though the first optical chain travels from the first deflector element to the second deflector element of the first optical chain. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
Specification