Multi-camera system using folded optics
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An image capture system for capturing an image of a target scene, the system comprising:
- a first lens positioned to focus light received from the target scene; and
a plurality of cameras positioned to capture image data representing a plurality of portions of the target scene,wherein each of the plurality of cameras comprisesa first optical axis, wherein the first lens is positioned along the first optical axis,a primary surface positioned so as to receive light comprising one of the plurality of portions of the target scene propagating along the first optical axis and direct the received light along a second optical axis, wherein the first lens is positioned between the primary surface and the target scene,a lens assembly comprising at least a second lens, the lens assembly positioned to receive and refract the light propagating along the second optical axis, andan image sensor positioned to receive the light from the lens assembly, the sensor configured to capture a portion of the image data representing the one of the plurality of portions.
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Abstract
Described herein are methods and devices that employ a plurality of image sensors to capture a target image of a scene. As described, positioning at least one reflective or refractive surface near the plurality of image sensors enables the sensors to capture together an image of wider field of view and longer focal length than any sensor could capture individually by using the reflective or refractive surface to guide a portion of the image scene to each sensor. The different portions of the scene captured by the sensors may overlap, and may be aligned and cropped to generate the target image.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. An image capture system for capturing an image of a target scene, the system comprising:
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a first lens positioned to focus light received from the target scene; and a plurality of cameras positioned to capture image data representing a plurality of portions of the target scene, wherein each of the plurality of cameras comprises a first optical axis, wherein the first lens is positioned along the first optical axis, a primary surface positioned so as to receive light comprising one of the plurality of portions of the target scene propagating along the first optical axis and direct the received light along a second optical axis, wherein the first lens is positioned between the primary surface and the target scene, a lens assembly comprising at least a second lens, the lens assembly positioned to receive and refract the light propagating along the second optical axis, and an image sensor positioned to receive the light from the lens assembly, the sensor configured to capture a portion of the image data representing the one of the plurality of portions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A camera comprising:
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a plurality of sensors for generating image data of a target scene from light received on a surface of each image sensor; and a folded lens system comprising a plurality of optical elements arranged along a plurality of light paths, each light path associated with a sensor of the plurality of sensors, each of the plurality of light paths having a first and second optical axes, the plurality of optical elements including, in each of the plurality of light paths, a first lens positioned along the first optical axis, the first lens operable to focus light received along the first optical axis from the target scene, a light path folding element positioned to receive the light from the first lens propagating along the first optical axis and to redirect the received light along the second optical axis, and a lens assembly comprising at least a second lens, the lens assembly positioned to receive and refract the light propagating along the second optical axis and focus the light directed toward the image sensor, wherein the plurality of sensors are positioned to capture image data representing a plurality of portions of the target scene, wherein in each of the plurality of light paths, the first lens is positioned between the light path folding element and the target scene. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method, comprising:
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receiving light through a first lens from a target scene; propagating a portion of the light along a first optical axis of each of a plurality of cameras, the plurality of cameras positioned to capture image data representing a plurality of portions of the target scene; for each of the plurality of cameras, receiving the light, propagating along the first optical axis, on a primary surface of the camera, the light received on the primary surface light comprising one of the plurality of portions of the target scene, wherein the first lens is positioned between the primary surface and the target scene; directing the light received on the primary surface along a second optical axis to a lens assembly comprising at least a second lens; refracting and propagating the light received at the lens assembly to an image sensor positioned to receive the light from the lens assembly, the sensor configured to capture a portion of the image data representing the one of the plurality of portions. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification