# US 12,007,537 B2 · Zoom dual-aperture camera with folded lens

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 12,007,537 B2
- Document ID: US12007537B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/337,478
- Filed: 2023-06-20
- Published: 2023-11-02
- Granted: 2024-06-11
- Earliest claimed: 2014-08-10
- Assignees: Corephotonics Lid.
- Applicants: Corephotonics Ltd.
- Inventors: Gal Shabtay; Ephraim Goldenberg; Gal Avivi; Gil Bachar
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12007537B2

## CPC

- G02B 13/0065: {having a beam-folding prism or mirror}
- G02B 7/09: adapted for automatic focusing or varying magnification
- G02B 7/102: {controlled by a microcomputer (cameras with interchangeable lenses G03B17/14)}
- G02B 13/009: {having zoom function}
- G02B 13/02: Telephoto objectives, i.e. systems of the type + - in which the distance from the front vertex to the image plane is less than the equivalent focal length
- G02B 13/04: Reversed telephoto objectives
- H04N 23/45: for generating image signals from two or more image sensors being of different type or operating in different modes, e.g. with a CMOS sensor for moving images in combination with a charge-coupled device [CCD] for still images
- H04N 23/54: Mounting of pick-up tubes, electronic image sensors, deviation or focusing coils
- H04N 23/55: Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof
- H04N 23/57: Mechanical or electrical details of cameras or camera modules specially adapted for being embedded in other devices
- H04N 23/67: Focus control based on electronic image sensor signals
- H04N 23/90: Arrangement of cameras or camera modules, e.g. multiple cameras in TV studios or sports stadiums
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION

## Abstract

Zoom digital cameras comprising a Wide sub-camera and a folded fixed Tele sub-camera. The folded Tele sub-camera may be auto-focused by moving either its lens or a reflecting element inserted in an optical path between its lens and a respective image sensor. The folded Tele sub-camera is configured to have a low profile to enable its integration within a portable electronic device.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A mobile device, comprising:
a first camera having a first field-of-view (FOV1) and a first image sensor; and
a second camera having a second field-of-view (FOV2), a plurality of lens elements, a first reflecting element, and a second image sensor,
wherein FOV2<FOV1,
wherein the second camera has a F-number≤3,
wherein the first image sensor is configured to receive a first light from a first direction through a first optical path between an object and the first image sensor, and
wherein the second image sensor is configured to receive a second light from the first direction through a second optical path between the object and the second image sensor,
wherein the first reflecting element is disposed in the second optical path between the plurality of lens elements and the second image sensor, and
wherein the first camera is an auto-focus camera.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the second camera has a F-number≤2.9.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the second camera has a F-number≤2.75.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the second camera has a F-number in the range of 2-3.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the first image sensor lies in a first plane, wherein the second image sensor lies in a second plane, and wherein the first plane and the second plane are parallel.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The mobile device of claim 5, wherein the second camera is an auto-focus camera.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The mobile device of claim 6, wherein the plurality of lens elements comprises at least 3 lens elements.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The mobile device of claim 7, wherein the plurality of lens elements comprises 3 to 5 lens elements.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The mobile device of claim 8, wherein the second camera further comprises a second reflecting element, and wherein the second reflecting element, the first reflecting element, and the second sensor are sequentially disposed in the second optical path.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The mobile device of claim 9, wherein the first reflecting element has a first surface and the second reflecting element has a second surface parallel to the first surface.

### Claim 11 (depends on 7)

The mobile device of claim 7, further comprising a third camera, wherein the third camera comprises a third field-of-view (FOV3) and a third image sensor, wherein FOV3>FOV2, and wherein the third image sensor is configured to receive a third light from the first direction through a third optical path between the object and the third image sensor.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The mobile device of claim 11, wherein the first image sensor lies in a first plane, wherein the second image sensor lies in a second plane, wherein the third image sensor lies in a third plane, and wherein the first plane, the second plane and the third plane are parallel to each other.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The mobile device of claim 12, wherein the first reflecting element is a prism.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The mobile device of claim 13, wherein the second camera provides a zoom effect greater than or equal to 5.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The mobile device of claim 14, wherein the second camera has an effective focal length (EFL) that fulfills 9 mm<EFL≤30 mm.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The mobile device of claim 14, wherein the second camera has an effective focal length (EFL) that fulfills 9 mm<EFL≤25 mm.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the second camera has a second camera height measured along the first direction and a second camera aperture, and wherein the second camera height is smaller than 1.25×(1+second camera aperture).

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the first camera and the second camera form a dual-aperture camera, wherein the dual-aperture camera has a dual-aperture camera length measured along a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction, and wherein the dual-aperture camera length is in the range of 20-50 mm.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The mobile device of claim 18, wherein the dual-aperture camera has a dual-aperture camera width measured along a third direction that is perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction, and wherein the dual-aperture camera width is in the range of 5-12 mm.

### Claim 20 (depends on 1)

The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of lens elements includes a first lens element located on an object-side of the plurality of lens elements, and wherein the first lens element has a positive refractive power.

### Claim 21 (depends on 1)

The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of lens elements includes a first lens element located on an object-side of the plurality of lens elements, wherein the first lens element has a first lens element diameter, and wherein the first lens element diameter is equal to or larger than a lens element diameter of any other lens element of the plurality of lens elements.

### Claim 22 (depends on 1)

The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the second image sensor has a second image sensor size larger than 4.5 mm×3.35 mm.

### Claim 23

A mobile device, comprising:
a first camera comprising a first field-of-view (FOV1) and a first image sensor;
a second camera comprising a second field-of-view (FOV2), a plurality of lens elements, a first reflecting element, and a second image sensor; and
a third camera comprising a third field-of-view (FOV3) and a third image sensor,
wherein FOV2<FOV3<FOV1,
wherein the first image sensor is configured to receive a first light from a first direction through a first optical path between an object and the first image sensor,
wherein the second image sensor is configured to receive a second light from the first direction through a second optical path between the object and the second image sensor,
wherein the first reflecting element is disposed in the second optical path between the plurality of lens elements and the second image sensor and is configured to reflect the second light passing through the plurality of lens elements to the second image sensor,
wherein the third image sensor is configured to receive a third light from the first direction through a third optical path between the object and the third image sensor,
wherein the first camera is disposed adjacent to the second camera, and
wherein the third camera is disposed next to one side of the first and second cameras.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

The mobile device of claim 23, wherein the second camera has an effective focal length in the range of 8-30 mm.

### Claim 25 (depends on 23)

The mobile device of claim 23, wherein the second image sensor has a second image sensor size larger than 4.5 mm×3.35 mm.

### Claim 26 (depends on 23)

The mobile device of claim 23, wherein the second camera has a second camera height measured along the first direction and a second camera aperture, and wherein the second camera height is smaller than 1.25×(1+second camera aperture).

### Claim 27 (depends on 23)

The mobile device of claim 23, wherein the first camera, the second camera and the third camera form a triple-aperture camera, wherein the triple-aperture camera has a triple-aperture camera length measured along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and wherein the triple-aperture camera length is in the range of 10-40 mm.

### Claim 28 (depends on 27)

The mobile device of claim 27, wherein the triple-aperture camera has a triple-aperture camera width measured along a third direction perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction, and wherein the triple-aperture camera width is in the range of 10-25 mm.

### Claim 29 (depends on 23)

The mobile device of claim 23, wherein the first camera, the second camera and the third camera together form a triple-aperture camera, wherein the triple-aperture camera has a triple-aperture camera length measured along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and wherein the triple-aperture camera length is in the range of 25-60 mm.

### Claim 30 (depends on 23)

The mobile device of claim 23, wherein the first image sensor lies in a first plane, the second image sensor lies in a second plane and the third image sensor lies in a third plane, and wherein the first plane, the second plane, and the third plane are parallel to each other.

### Claim 31 (depends on 30)

The mobile device of claim 30, wherein the first camera is an auto-focus camera, and wherein the second camera is an auto-focus camera.

### Claim 32 (depends on 31)

The mobile device of claim 31, wherein the plurality of lens elements comprises at least 3 lens elements.

### Claim 33 (depends on 32)

The mobile device of claim 32, wherein the plurality of lens elements comprises 3 to 5 lens elements.

### Claim 34 (depends on 32)

The mobile device of claim 32, wherein the second camera provides an ×5 or greater zooming effects.

### Claim 35 (depends on 34)

The mobile device of claim 34, wherein the second image sensor has a sensor size S that fulfills ¼″≤S≤⅓″.

### Claim 36 (depends on 32)

The mobile device of claim 32, wherein the second camera has a F-number≤3.

### Claim 37 (depends on 31)

The mobile device of claim 31, wherein the second camera has a F-number<3.

### Claim 38 (depends on 37)

The mobile device of claim 37, wherein second image sensor has a sensor size S that fulfills ¼″≤S≤⅓″.