Patent · US Active

Thin multi-aperture imaging system with auto-focus and methods for using same

US9571731B2 · kind B2 · utility

22Cited by
11References
16Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 24, 2014
Grant dateFeb 14, 2017
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 24, 2034

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04N23/843
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Dual-aperture digital cameras with auto-focus (AF) and related methods for obtaining a focused and, optionally optically stabilized color image of an object or scene. A dual-aperture camera includes a first sub-camera having a first optics bloc and a color image sensor for providing a color image, a second sub-camera having a second optics bloc and a clear image sensor for providing a luminance image, the first and second sub-cameras having substantially the same field of view, an AF mechanism coupled mechanically at least to the first optics bloc, and a camera controller coupled to the AF mechanism and to the two image sensors and configured to control the AF mechanism, to calculate a scaling difference and a sharpness difference between the color and luminance images, the scaling and sharpness differences being due to the AF mechanism, and to process the color and luminance images into a fused color image using the calculated differences.

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