Multi-camera system using folded optics
AssigneeQUALCOMM Incorporated
InventorsTodor G. Georgiev, Thomas Wesley Osborne, Sergiu Radu Goma
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Described herein are methods and devices that employ a plurality of image sensors to capture a target image of a scene. As described, positioning at least one reflective or refractive surface near the plurality of image sensors enables the sensors to capture together an image of wider field of view and longer focal length than any sensor could capture individually by using the reflective or refractive surface to guide a portion of the image scene to each sensor. The different portions of the scene captured by the sensors may overlap, and may be aligned and cropped to generate the target image.
Claims21
An image capture system for capturing a target image of a scene, the system comprising:
- a plurality of image sensors, each of the plurality of image sensors having one of a plurality of fields of view, each of the plurality of fields of view comprising a substantially different portion of the scene;
- a plurality of lens assemblies, each lens assembly corresponding to one of the plurality of image sensors;
- a primary surface positioned so as to direct light comprising at least a portion of the scene through at least one of the plurality of lens assemblies;
- a plurality of secondary surfaces, wherein each of the secondary surfaces directs at least a portion of the light from one of the plurality of lens assemblies into one of the plurality of image sensors, and wherein each of the plurality of image sensors captures one of a plurality of partial images, each of the plurality of partial images corresponding to one of the plurality of fields of view;
- and
- a processing module configured to assemble the plurality of partial images into the target image.
A method of capturing a target image of a scene, the method comprising:
- providing plurality of image sensors, each of the plurality of image sensors having one of a plurality of fields of view, each of the plurality of fields of view comprising a substantially different portion of the scene;
- providing a plurality of lens assemblies, each lens assembly corresponding to one of the plurality of image sensors;
- directing light comprising at least a portion of the scene toward each of the plurality of lens assemblies using at least one primary surface;
- directing the light from each of the plurality of lens assemblies toward a corresponding one of the plurality of image sensors using a plurality of secondary surfaces;
- capturing a plurality of partial images, wherein each of the plurality of partial images is captured by one of the plurality of image sensors and corresponds to one of the plurality of fields of view;
- and
- assembling the plurality of partial images into the target image.
A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions that when executed by a processor perform a method comprising:
- capturing image data of a plurality of portions of a target image scene using a plurality of image sensors, each of the plurality of image sensors having one of a plurality of substantially different fields of view determined by directing light comprising at least a portion of the scene from at least one primary surface through one of a plurality of lens assemblies and then reflecting said light off of one of a plurality of secondary surfaces, and wherein each of the plurality of portions of the target image corresponds to one of the plurality of fields of view;
- wherein the first field of view and the second field of view are determined at least in part based on at least one surface configured to reflect or refract light comprising the scene toward the first and second image sensors;
- and
- combining the plurality of portions of the target image into the target image.
An image capture system for capturing a target image of a scene, the system comprising:
- means for redirecting light comprising at least a portion of a target image scene;
- means for focusing a plurality of partial images, wherein each of the plurality of partial images corresponds to one of a plurality of fields of view each comprising a substantially different portion of the scene
- means for capturing the plurality of partial images;
- and
- means for combining the plurality of partial images into the target image.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.