Electrochromic filtering in a camera
First Claim
1. A method for controlling a camera system, comprising:
- in a camera including a controller, a sensor array comprising a plurality of sensor elements, and a lens assembly that is configured to focus light on the sensor array, wherein the lens assembly includes an electrochromic glass layer disposed in front of the sensor array and having optical transmission properties that are responsive to voltage applied to the electrochromic glass layer, the lens assembly further including a first transmission state in which the electrochromic glass layer is substantially opaque to a predefined band of IR wavelengths and a second transmission state in which the electrochromic glass layer is substantially transparent to the predefined band of IR wavelengths and visible wavelengths, and in accordance with a determination to transition the camera mode to a Day mode;
generating by the controller a first voltage;
applying the first voltage to the electrochromic glass layer to cause the lens assembly to enter the first transmission state, wherein prior to the transition of the camera mode to the Day mode, the lens assembly was in the second transmission state; and
in response to the first voltage, removing by the electrochromic glass layer a substantial portion of the predefined band of IR wavelengths in ambient light incident on the camera and simultaneously passing by the electrochromic glass layer a substantial portion of visible wavelengths in the ambient light, thereby exposing the sensor array to the substantial portion of the visible wavelengths of the ambient light via the lens assembly.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
This application is directed to controlling a camera that includes an electrochromic glass layer. The electrochromic glass layer is disposed in front of a sensor array of the camera and has optical transmission properties that are responsive to voltage applied to the electrochromic glass layer. In accordance with a determination to transition the camera mode to a Day mode, a camera controller generates a first voltage, which is then applied to the electrochromic glass layer to cause the lens assembly to enter a first transmission state. In response to the first voltage, the electrochromic glass layer removes a substantial portion of a predefined band of infrared wavelengths in ambient light incident on the camera, and simultaneously passes by the electrochromic glass layer a substantial portion of visible wavelengths in the ambient light, thereby exposing the sensor array to the substantial portion of the visible wavelengths of the ambient light.
212 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for controlling a camera system, comprising:
in a camera including a controller, a sensor array comprising a plurality of sensor elements, and a lens assembly that is configured to focus light on the sensor array, wherein the lens assembly includes an electrochromic glass layer disposed in front of the sensor array and having optical transmission properties that are responsive to voltage applied to the electrochromic glass layer, the lens assembly further including a first transmission state in which the electrochromic glass layer is substantially opaque to a predefined band of IR wavelengths and a second transmission state in which the electrochromic glass layer is substantially transparent to the predefined band of IR wavelengths and visible wavelengths, and in accordance with a determination to transition the camera mode to a Day mode; generating by the controller a first voltage; applying the first voltage to the electrochromic glass layer to cause the lens assembly to enter the first transmission state, wherein prior to the transition of the camera mode to the Day mode, the lens assembly was in the second transmission state; and in response to the first voltage, removing by the electrochromic glass layer a substantial portion of the predefined band of IR wavelengths in ambient light incident on the camera and simultaneously passing by the electrochromic glass layer a substantial portion of visible wavelengths in the ambient light, thereby exposing the sensor array to the substantial portion of the visible wavelengths of the ambient light via the lens assembly. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A camera, comprising:
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a sensor array including a plurality of sensor elements; a lens assembly that is configured to focus light on the sensor array, wherein the lens assembly includes an electrochromic glass layer disposed in front of the sensor array and having optical transmission properties that are responsive to voltage applied to the electrochromic glass layer, and further includes a first transmission state in which the electrochromic glass layer is substantially opaque to a predefined band of IR wavelengths and a second transmission state in which the electrochromic glass layer is substantially transparent to the predefined band of IR wavelengths and visible wavelengths; and a controller, wherein the controller is configured to in accordance with a determination to transition the camera mode to a Day mode, generate a first voltage that is applied to the electrochromic glass layer to cause the electrochromic lens assembly to enter the first transmission state, wherein; the lens assembly is configured to operate in the second transition state prior to the transition of the camera mode to the Day mode; and the electrochromic glass layer is configured to in response to the first voltage, remove a substantial portion of the predefined band of IR wavelengths in ambient light incident on the camera and simultaneously pass a substantial portion of visible wavelengths in the ambient light, thereby exposing the sensor array to the substantial portion of the visible wavelengths of the ambient light via the lens assembly. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification