Multi-camera system using folded optics
First Claim
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1. An optical system comprising:
- a first camera arranged to have a first field of view, the first camera comprising;
a light redirector configured to redirect light;
a first lens assembly comprising a first lens and a first actuator for moving the first lens, the first lens assembly being disposed optically downstream of the light redirector;
a first image sensor configured to receive light representing the first field of view, the first sensor being disposed optically downstream of both the light redirector and the first lens assembly, the first image sensor comprising a first photosensitive face defining a first reference plane;
a second camera arranged to have a second field of view that at least partially overlaps with the first field of view, the second camera comprising;
a second lens assembly comprising a second lens and a second actuator for moving the second lens;
a second image sensor configured to receive light representing the second field of view, the second sensor being disposed optically downstream of the second lens assembly, the second image sensor comprising a second photosensitive face defining a second reference plane, the first reference plane being different from the second reference plane.
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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.
292 Citations
30 Claims
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1. An optical system comprising:
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a first camera arranged to have a first field of view, the first camera comprising; a light redirector configured to redirect light; a first lens assembly comprising a first lens and a first actuator for moving the first lens, the first lens assembly being disposed optically downstream of the light redirector; a first image sensor configured to receive light representing the first field of view, the first sensor being disposed optically downstream of both the light redirector and the first lens assembly, the first image sensor comprising a first photosensitive face defining a first reference plane; a second camera arranged to have a second field of view that at least partially overlaps with the first field of view, the second camera comprising; a second lens assembly comprising a second lens and a second actuator for moving the second lens; a second image sensor configured to receive light representing the second field of view, the second sensor being disposed optically downstream of the second lens assembly, the second image sensor comprising a second photosensitive face defining a second reference plane, the first reference plane being different from the second reference plane. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of imaging comprising:
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with a first camera of an optical system, the first camera arranged to have a first field of view, and the first camera comprising;
(a) a light redirector, (b) a first lens assembly comprising a first lens and a first actuator for moving the first lens, and (c) a first image sensor comprising a first photosensitive face defining a first reference plane;redirecting first light representing the first field of view with the light redirector, flowing the redirected first light through the first lens, and receiving the flowed first light with the first image sensor; with a second camera of the optical system, the second camera arranged to have a second field of view that at least partially overlaps with the first field of view, and the second camera comprising;
(a) a second lens assembly comprising a second lens and a second actuator for moving the second lens and (b) a second image sensor comprising a second photosensitive face defining a second reference plane, the first reference plane being different than the second reference plane;flowing second light representing the second field of view though the second lens, and receiving the flowed second light with the second image sensor. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification