Auto-focus in low-profile folded optics multi-camera system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An image capture system comprising:
- a plurality of cameras configured to capture a corresponding plurality of portions of a target image scene, a camera of the plurality of cameras comprising;
an image sensor;
a primary light folding surface configured to redirect light representing one portion of the corresponding plurality of portions of the target image scene in a first direction toward the image sensor;
an optical element having an input surface configured to receive the light from the primary light folding surface, a secondary light folding surface configured to redirect the light in a second direction toward the image sensor, and an output surface through which light redirected by the secondary light folding surface propagates in the second direction toward the image sensor;
a lens assembly comprising;
a stationary portion having a first surface connected to the output surface of the optical element and a second surface connected to the image sensor, wherein the stationary portion of the lens assembly comprises a field corrector lens, anda movable portion positioned between the primary light folding surface and the optical element;
an actuator configured to move the movable portion of the lens assembly along the first direction;
at least one guide rail coupled to the actuator and the movable portion of the lens assembly, the at least one guide rail positioned to slidably engage another surface within the camera to constrain motion of the movable portion of the lens assembly away from an optical axis or rotating around the optical axis, the optical axis substantially parallel to the first direction; and
a processor configured to generate a final image of the target image scene based at least partly on the corresponding plurality of portions.
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Abstract
An image capturing system and a method of autofocusing are disclosed such that, for example, when a folded optics configuration is used, a field corrector lens can be placed on the image sensor of the system and a plurality of lenses can be placed perpendicular to the image sensor. The plurality of lenses can be movable relative to the image sensor such that acceptable MTF curve performances can be obtained when the image capturing system is focused at reference distances.
208 Citations
24 Claims
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1. An image capture system comprising:
a plurality of cameras configured to capture a corresponding plurality of portions of a target image scene, a camera of the plurality of cameras comprising; an image sensor; a primary light folding surface configured to redirect light representing one portion of the corresponding plurality of portions of the target image scene in a first direction toward the image sensor; an optical element having an input surface configured to receive the light from the primary light folding surface, a secondary light folding surface configured to redirect the light in a second direction toward the image sensor, and an output surface through which light redirected by the secondary light folding surface propagates in the second direction toward the image sensor; a lens assembly comprising; a stationary portion having a first surface connected to the output surface of the optical element and a second surface connected to the image sensor, wherein the stationary portion of the lens assembly comprises a field corrector lens, and a movable portion positioned between the primary light folding surface and the optical element; an actuator configured to move the movable portion of the lens assembly along the first direction; at least one guide rail coupled to the actuator and the movable portion of the lens assembly, the at least one guide rail positioned to slidably engage another surface within the camera to constrain motion of the movable portion of the lens assembly away from an optical axis or rotating around the optical axis, the optical axis substantially parallel to the first direction; and a processor configured to generate a final image of the target image scene based at least partly on the corresponding plurality of portions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An image capture system comprising:
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a plurality of cameras configured to capture a corresponding plurality of portions of a target image scene, a camera of the plurality of cameras comprising; an image sensor; a primary light folding surface configured to redirect light representing one portion of the corresponding plurality of portions of the target image scene in a first direction toward the image sensor; an optical element having an input surface configured to receive the light from the primary light folding surface, a secondary light folding surface configured to redirect the light in a second direction toward the image sensor, and an output surface through which light redirected by the secondary light folding surface propagates in the second direction toward the image sensor; a lens assembly comprising; a stationary portion having a first surface coupled to the output surface of the optical element and a second surface coupled to the image sensor, and a movable portion positioned between the primary light folding surface and the optical element; an actuator configured to move the movable portion of the lens assembly along the first direction; at least one guide rail coupled to the actuator and the movable portion of the lens assembly, the at least one guide rail positioned to slidably engage another surface within the camera to constrain motion of the movable portion of the lens assembly away from an optical axis or rotating around the optical axis, the optical axis substantially parallel to the first direction; and a processor configured to generate a final image of the target image scene based at least partly on the corresponding plurality of portions, wherein the actuator is configured to move the movable portion of the lens assembly in the first direction within a space formed between an output surface of a prism comprising the primary light folding surface and the input surface of the optical element comprising the secondary light folding surface, and wherein the optical element comprises a refractive prism and further comprises a support block affixed to the refractive prism at the secondary light folding surface, a lower prism surface of the prism and a lower block surface of the support block comprising the another surface within the camera which the at least one guide rail is positioned to slidably engage.
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17. An autofocus device for a folded optic imaging system having an image sensor and a primary light folding surface, the autofocus device comprising:
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an optical element having an input surface configured to receive light from a primary light folding surface, a secondary light folding surface configured to redirect the received light in a second direction toward an image sensor, and an output surface through which light redirected by the secondary light folding surface propagates in the second direction toward the image sensor; a lens assembly comprising; a stationary portion having a first surface connected to the output surface of the optical element and a second surface connected to the image sensor, wherein the stationary portion of the lens assembly comprises a field corrector lens, and a movable portion positioned in an optical path between the image sensor and the primary light folding surface; a motor configured to move the movable portion of the lens assembly along an optical axis in a direction substantially parallel to a plane formed by the image sensor; and at least one guide rail coupled to the motor and the movable portion of the lens assembly, the at least one guide rail positioned to slidably engage another surface within the folded optic imaging system to constrain motion, of the movable portion of the lens assembly, away from the optical axis or from rotating around the optical axis. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. An image capture apparatus comprising:
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means for capturing a plurality of portions of a target image scene comprising a means for sensing; and an optical element having an input surface configured to receive light from a primary light folding surface and an output surface through which light redirected by the optical element propagates towards the means for sensing; the means for capturing further comprising a lens assembly comprising a stationary portion having a first surface connected to the output surface of the optical element and a second surface connected to the means for sensing, wherein the stationary portion of the lens assembly comprises a field corrector lens, and a movable portion positioned between the means for sensing and the primary light folding surface; means for moving the movable portion of the lens assembly; and means for controlling motion of the movable portion of the lens assembly by slidably engaging at least one surface within the image capture apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
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Specification