Imaging system with rotatable reflector
AssigneeGlass Imaging Inc.
InventorZiv Attar
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The following describes the apparatus and associated algorithms related to a new type of imaging system that has several benefits over conventional camera architectures in terms of size, volume, shape, performance, and imaging capabilities. The imaging system includes an image sensor, a reflector, and a controller. The controller rotates the reflector relative to the image sensor to direct light from portions of a view of an external environment towards the image sensor. The controller synchronizes the image sensor with the reflector to capture images of the different portions of the view of the external environment. The controller then combines the images from the image sensor to form an image that includes the view of the external environment.
Claims24
An imaging system comprising:
- an image sensor with a sensor plane aspect ratio that includes a larger edge dimension and a smaller edge dimension, wherein the image sensor has an aspect ratio larger than 17:9;
- a reflector rotatable relative to the image sensor about an axis and configured to direct light from a portion of a view of an external environment towards the image sensor, wherein the axis is substantially parallel to the larger edge dimension of the image sensor;
- a lens module including one or more lenses between the reflector and the image sensor, wherein an aperture of the lens module is asymmetric and includes a larger dimension and a smaller dimension, wherein the larger dimension of the aperture is substantially parallel to the larger edge dimension of the image sensor;
- and a controller coupled to the image sensor and the reflector, the controller configured to:
- rotate the reflector about the axis to direct light from portions of the view of the external environment towards the image sensor;
- synchronize the image sensor with the reflector to capture images of the portions of the view of the external environment;
- and combine the images from the image sensor to form an image that includes the view of the external environment.
An imaging system comprising:
- an image sensor having an aspect ratio of at least 17:9;
- a reflector positioned to direct light from a portion of a view of an external environment towards the image sensor;
- a lens module positioned between the image sensor and reflector, the lens module configured to form an image of the portion of the view on the image sensor, the lens module including at least two asymmetric lens surfaces that cause the lens module to have two different focal lengths;
- and a controller coupled to the image sensor and configured to instruct the image sensor to capture the image of the portion of the view of the external environment, wherein:
- an aperture of the lens module is asymmetric;
- the asymmetric aperture of the lens module includes a larger dimension and a smaller dimension;
- the aspect ratio of the image sensor includes a larger dimension and a smaller dimension;
- and the larger dimension of the aperture is substantially parallel to the larger dimension of the aspect ratio of the image sensor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.