Wide field of view array camera for hemispheric and spherical imaging
First Claim
1. An image capture system for capturing wide field-of-view images, comprising:
- a first imaging system, comprising;
a first aperture;
a first center camera positioned to receive light through the first aperture, the first center camera having an optical axis that extends through the aperture;
a first plurality of periphery cameras arranged around the first center camera and pointed towards a portion of the optical axis of the first center camera; and
a first plurality of extendible reflectors configured to move from a first position to a second position, the first imaging system having a first FOV with the first plurality of extendible reflectors in the first position and having a second FOV with the first plurality of extendible reflectors in the second position, the second FOV being larger than the first FOV, the second position being closer to the optical axis of the first center camera, the first plurality of periphery cameras and the first plurality of extendible reflectors arranged relative to each other such that that at least a portion of light reflected from one of the first plurality of extendible reflectors enters a corresponding one of the first plurality of periphery cameras when the first plurality of extendible reflectors are in the second position.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Aspects relate to methods and systems for producing ultra-wide field of view images. In some embodiments, an image capture system for capturing wide field-of-view images comprises an aperture, a central camera positioned to receive light through the aperture, the center camera having an optical axis, a plurality of periphery cameras disposed beside the central camera and pointed towards a portion of the optical axis of the center camera, the plurality of cameras arranged around the center camera, and a plurality of extendible reflectors. The reflectors are configured to move from a first position to a second position and have a mirrored first surface that faces away from the optical axis of the center camera and a second black surface that faces towards the optical axis of the center camera, the plurality of periphery cameras arranged around the center camera.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. An image capture system for capturing wide field-of-view images, comprising:
a first imaging system, comprising; a first aperture; a first center camera positioned to receive light through the first aperture, the first center camera having an optical axis that extends through the aperture; a first plurality of periphery cameras arranged around the first center camera and pointed towards a portion of the optical axis of the first center camera; and a first plurality of extendible reflectors configured to move from a first position to a second position, the first imaging system having a first FOV with the first plurality of extendible reflectors in the first position and having a second FOV with the first plurality of extendible reflectors in the second position, the second FOV being larger than the first FOV, the second position being closer to the optical axis of the first center camera, the first plurality of periphery cameras and the first plurality of extendible reflectors arranged relative to each other such that that at least a portion of light reflected from one of the first plurality of extendible reflectors enters a corresponding one of the first plurality of periphery cameras when the first plurality of extendible reflectors are in the second position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for capturing using a single array camera a standard field-of-view image or a wide field-of-view image, comprising:
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controlling the positioning of a plurality of extendible reflectors positioned around a center camera, a plurality of periphery cameras also positioned around the center camera and each associated with one of the plurality of extendible reflectors, the center camera having an optical axis and the plurality of periphery cameras pointed toward a portion of the optical axis; determining whether to capture the standard field-of-view image or the wide field-of-view image, the wide field-of-view image covering a greater field than the standard field-of-view image; in response to determining to capture the standard field-of-view image; positioning the plurality of extendible reflectors in a first position, and capturing the standard field-of-view image using the center camera; and in response to determining to capture the wide field-of-view image; positioning the plurality of extendible reflectors in a second position such that at least a portion of light reflected from one of the plurality of extendible reflectors enters an associated one of the plurality of periphery cameras, capturing a central portion of the wide field-of-view image using the center camera, and capturing a plurality of periphery portions of the wide field-of-view image using the plurality of periphery cameras. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed, cause one or more processors to perform operations comprising, for controlling the positioning of a plurality of extendible reflectors positioned around a center camera and each associated with one of a plurality of periphery cameras also positioned around the center camera:
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determining whether to capture a standard field-of-view image or a wide field-of-view image, the wide field-of-view image covering a greater field than the standard field-of-view image; in response to determining to capture the standard field-of-view image; generating first instructions to position the plurality of extendible reflectors in a first position, and receiving first image data comprising the standard field-of-view image from the center camera; and in response to determining to capture the wide field-of-view image; generating second instructions to position the plurality of extendible reflectors in a second position such that at least a portion of light reflected from one of the plurality of extendible reflectors enters an associated one of the plurality of periphery cameras, and receiving second image data comprising a central portion of the wide field-of-view image from the center camera and a plurality of periphery portions of the wide field-of-view image from the plurality of periphery cameras. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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25. An apparatus for capturing a standard field-of-view image or a wide field-of-view image, the apparatus comprising:
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housing means having at least an upper surface and a lower surface spaced apart from the upper surface; image sensing means positioned between the upper surface and the lower surface; light focusing means positioned below a first aperture in the upper surface of the housing means and above a central sensing area of the image sensing means; a plurality of additional light focusing means positioned around the first light focusing means and below a corresponding plurality of additional apertures in the upper surface of the housing means and above a plurality of additional sensing areas of the image sensing means; and a plurality of light reflecting means positioned around the first aperture above the first lens assembly, each of the plurality of light reflecting means associated with one of the plurality of additional light focusing means. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification