Patent · US Active

Methods and apparatus for capturing images and/or for using captured images

US9563033B2 · kind B2 · utility

21Cited by
39References
22Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJul 9, 2014
Grant dateFeb 7, 2017
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 9, 2034

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04N23/631
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Methods and apparatus relating to image capture of image portions using optical chains with different focal lengths are described. In some embodiments different portions of a scene area of interest captured by different optical chains operating in parallel are combined. The combining in some embodiments is performed using depth information generated from two images captured by two different optical chains which capture at least some common overlapping portions of the scene area of interest. The depth information maybe generated using an image of the entire scene and one or more other images of the scene or portions of the scene area of interest. The use of multiple optical chains in parallel facilitates generation of an image with a higher overall pixel count than would be possible using a single sensor of one of the optical chains and/or with more light capture than would be captured using a single optical chain.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.