Single pixel camera
AssigneeGoogle Inc.
InventorsXiaoyu Miao, Babak Amirparviz
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A camera system includes a single pixel photo-sensor disposed in or on a substrate to acquire image data. A micro-lens is adjustably positioned above the single pixel photo-sensor to focus external scene light onto the single pixel photo-sensor. An actuator is coupled to the micro-lens to adjust a position of the micro-lens relative to the single pixel photo-sensor to reposition the micro-lens to focus the external scene light incident from different angles onto the single pixel photo-sensor. Readout circuitry is coupled to readout the image data associated with each of the different angles from the single pixel photo-sensor.
Claims22
A camera system, comprising:
- a single pixel photo-sensor disposed in or on a substrate to acquire image data;
- a micro-lens adjustably positioned above the single pixel photo-sensor to focus external scene light onto the single pixel photo-sensor;
- an actuator coupled to the micro-lens to adjust a position of the micro-lens relative to the single pixel photo-sensor to reposition the micro-lens to focus the external scene light incident from different angles onto the single pixel photo-sensor;
- and
- readout circuitry coupled to the single pixel photo-sensor to readout the image data associated with each of the different angles from the single pixel photo-sensor.
A method of operating a camera system, comprising:
- repositioning a micro-lens through multiple positions disposed over a single pixel photo-sensor via an actuator coupled to the micro-lens;
- and
- acquiring image signals of external scene light with the single pixel photo-sensor, wherein each of the image signals captures an image of the external scene light incident from a different angle selected via a corresponding position of the multiple positions, wherein the image signals acquired from the multiple positions represent an image frame.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.