Partially lit sensor

• US 8,730,372 B2
• Filed: 09/23/2011
• Issued: 05/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Dabov, Teodor
• Primary Examiner(s): Haskins, Twyler
• Assistant Examiner(s): Haliyur, Padma
• Application Number:
  US13/241,562
• Publication Number:
  US 20130076965A1
• Time in Patent Office: 970 Days
• Field of Search: 257/432, 257/433, 257/435, 348/294, 348/340
• US Class Current: 348/340
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0264 for a camera module assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/54 Mounting of pick-up tubes, electronic image sensors, deviation or focusing coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/55 Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/57 Mechanical or electrical details of cameras or camera modules specially adapted for being embedded in other devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49895 Associating parts by use of aligning means [e.g., use of a drift pin or a "fixture"]

Abstract

An image sensing system for an electronic device. The image sensing system includes a lens and an image sensor. The image sensor includes a indirectly lit area of pixels and a directly lit area of pixels. The lens is in optical communication with the directly lit area of pixels.

Claims

1. An image sensing system comprising:

a lens;

an image sensor defining an indirectly lit area and a directly illuminated area on a surface of the image sensor, wherein the lens is in direct optical communication with the directly illuminated area; and

an obstruction positioned between the lens and at least a portion of the image sensor including the indirectly lit area, the obstruction partially preventing optical communication between the lens and the portion of the image sensor by covering a portion of the indirectly lit area,

wherein a portion of ambient light travels from the lens to the indirectly lit area, and

wherein the obstruction is adjacent to and positioned above the portion of the indirectly lit area on the surface of the image sensor.

2. The image sensing system of claim 1, wherein the image sensor further comprises a non-illuminated area.

3. The image sensor system of claim 1, further comprising a camera enclosure supporting the lens at least partially above the image sensor.

4. The image sensor system of claim 3, wherein the camera enclosure further comprises a first sidewall;

a second sidewall;

a first support structure extending from the first sidewall and supporting the lens on a first side; and

a second support structure extending from the second sidewall and supporting the lens on a second side;

wherein the lens is offset from a middle of the image sensor.

5. The image sensor system of claim 4, wherein the second support structure further includes a horizontal portion extending horizontally over the indirectly illuminated area of the image sensor.

6. The image sensor system of claim 1, wherein the obstruction comprises a communication component extending over at least a portion of the indirectly illuminated area.

7. The image sensor system of claim 6, wherein the communication component is one of a flex cable or flip chip.

8. The image sensor system of claim 6, wherein the communication component abuts the image sensor.

9. The image sensor system of claim 1, wherein the lens is substantially centered over the directly illuminated area of the image sensor, but not substantially centered over the entirety of the image sensor.

10. A method for assembling a camera system comprising:

providing an image sensor having a directly illuminated surface area and a second indirectly lit surface area;

operably connecting an enclosure to the image sensor, the enclosure comprising;

a first support structure; and

a second support structure; and

aligning a lens over a first the directly illuminated surface area of the image sensor, so that light transmitted through the lens impacts but not directly, a second the indirectly lit surface area of the image sensor,

wherein an obstruction is positioned between the lens and image sensor, including the indirectly lit area, the obstruction partially preventing optical communication between the lens and the portion of the image sensor by covering a portion of the indirectly lit area, and

wherein the obstruction is adjacent to and positioned above the portion of the indirectly lit area on the surface of the image sensor.

11. The method for assembling a camera system of claim 10, further comprising connecting a communication component to the image sensor, wherein at least a portion of the communication component overlays a portion of the indirectly lit surface area of the image sensor.

12. The method for assembling a camera system of claim 10, further comprising attaching a seal to a bottom surface of the image sensor.

13. The method for assembling a camera system claim 10, wherein at least one pixel positioned in the indirectly lit surface area of the image sensor is an ambient light sensor.

14. An electronic device comprising:

a processor;

a display in communication with the processor;

a camera system in communication with the processor, comprising;

a lens;

an image sensor defining;

a non-illuminated area on a surface of the image sensor;

a partially illuminated area on the surface of the image sensor; and

a directly illuminated area on the surface of the image sensor,

wherein the lens is in optical communication with the directly illuminated area, but is not in optical communication with the non-illuminated area; and

an obstruction positioned between the lens and image sensor, including the partially illuminated area, the obstruction partially preventing optical communication between the lens and the portion of the image sensor by covering a portion of the partially illuminated area, and

wherein the obstruction is adjacent to and positioned above the portion of the partially illuminated area on the surface of the image sensor.

15. The electronic device of claim 14, wherein:

the image sensor further includes an indirectly illuminated area; and

at least a portion of the indirectly illuminated area functions as an ambient light sensor.

16. The electronic device of claim 14, further comprising a flash light source in communication with the processor.

17. The electronic device of claim 14, further comprising a camera enclosure supporting the lens at least partially above the image sensor.

18. The electronic device of claim 17, wherein the camera enclosure further comprises a first sidewall;

a second sidewall;

a first support structure extending at a right angle from the first sidewall and supporting the lens on a first side; and

a second support structure extending at a right angle from the second sidewall and supporting the lens on a second side.

19. The electronic device of claim 18, wherein the second support structure further includes a horizontal portion extending horizontally over at least a portion of indirectly illuminated area of the image sensor.

20. The electronic device of claim 14, further comprising a communication component extending over at least a portion of the indirectly illuminated area.