Systems, methods, and media for modular cameras

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10148908-B2
Application number	US-201615548339-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 19, 2016
Priority date	Feb 19, 2015
Publication date	Dec 4, 2018
Grant date	Dec 4, 2018

Abstract

Systems, methods and media for providing modular cameras are provided. In some embodiments, a modular imaging device is provided, comprising: a base module comprising: a user device interface configured to receive signals from a user device; a first magnet; a first plurality of electrical contacts; and one or more circuits that are configured to receive information transmitted to the base module from the user device via the user device interface; and an image sensor module comprising: a second plurality of electrical contacts; a second magnet; a third plurality of electrical contacts; an image sensor; and one or more circuits that are configured to: receive a first control signal; cause the image sensor to capture image data; and transmit the captured image data.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A modular imaging device, comprising:
a base module comprising:
a user device interface disposed on a first side of the base module, the user device interface configured to receive signals from a user device;
a first magnet disposed proximate to a surface of a second side of the base module;
a first plurality of electrical contacts disposed on the second side of the base module; and
one or more circuits that are configured to:
receive information transmitted to the base module from the user device via the user device interface;
transmit one or more control signals based on the information received from the user device to control one or more modules coupled to the base module via at least a first electrical contact of the first plurality of electrical contacts; and
receive image data via at least a second electrical contact of the first plurality of electrical contacts; and
transmit the received image data to the user device via the user device interface; and

an image sensor module comprising:
a second plurality of electrical contacts disposed on a first side of the image sensor module, wherein each electrical contact of the second plurality of electrical contacts is arranged such that it contacts a corresponding electrical contact of the first plurality of electrical contacts when the first side of the image sensor module and the second side of the base module are in contact with one another in a particular orientation;
a second magnet disposed proximate to a surface of the first side of the image sensor module, wherein the second magnet is arranged such that when the first side of the image sensor module is brought into proximity of the second side of the base module in the particular orientation the second magnet is attracted to the first magnet;
a third plurality of electrical contacts disposed on a second side of the image sensor module;
an image sensor; and
one or more circuits that are configured to:
receive a first control signal via at least a first electrical contact of the second plurality of electrical contacts, wherein the first control signal is a signal indicating that the image sensor is to capture image data;
determine that the first control signal is a control signal for the image sensor module and that the first control signal indicates that the image sensor is to capture image data;
in response to the first control signal, cause the image sensor to capture image data;
transmit the captured image data using at least a second electrical contact of the second plurality of electrical contacts that corresponds to the second electrical contact of the first plurality of electrical contacts;
receive a second control signal via at least the first electrical contact of the second plurality of electrical contacts, wherein the second control signal indicates that it is for a module other than the image sensor module; and
transmit the second control signal via at least a first electrical contact of the third plurality of electrical contacts.

2. The modular imaging device of claim 1 , wherein the image sensor module further comprises a third magnet disposed proximate to a surface of the second side of the image sensor module, the modular imaging device further comprising:
a lens module comprising:
a fourth plurality of electrical contacts disposed on a first side of the lens module, wherein each electrical contact of the fourth plurality of electrical contacts is arranged such that it contacts a corresponding contact of the third plurality of electrical contacts when the first side of the lens module and the second side of the image sensor module are in contact with one another in a particular orientation;
a fourth magnet disposed proximate to a surface of the first side of the lens module, wherein the fourth magnet is arranged such that when the first side of the lens module is brought into proximity of the second side of the image sensor module in the particular orientation the fourth magnet is attracted to the third magnet;
a lens;
one or more circuits that are configured to:
transmit information identifying the type of lens included in the lens module using at least a first electrical contact of the fourth plurality of electrical contacts that corresponds to the first electrical contact of the third plurality of electrical contacts; and

wherein the one or more circuits of the sensor module are further configured to:
receive the information identifying the type of lens included in the lens module using at least the first electrical contact of the third plurality of electrical contacts; and
transmit the information identifying the type of lens included in the lens module using at least the first electrical contact of the second plurality of electrical contacts.

3. The modular imaging device of claim 2 , further comprising:
a second lens module that can be used interchangeably with the lens module, the second lens module comprising:
a fifth plurality of electrical contacts disposed on a first side of the second lens module, wherein each electrical contact of the fifth plurality of electrical contacts is arranged such that it contacts a corresponding contact of the third plurality of electrical contacts when the first side of the second lens module and the second side of the image sensor module are in contact with one another in a particular orientation;
a fifth magnet disposed proximate to a surface of the first side of the second lens module, wherein the fifth magnet is arranged such that when the first side of the second lens module is brought into proximity of the second side of the image sensor module in the particular orientation the fifth magnet is attracted to the third magnet;
a second lens;
an actuator;
one or more circuits that are configured to:
receive the second control signal via at least the first electrical contact of the fifth plurality of electrical contacts, wherein the second control signal is a signal indicating that the second lens module is to move the second lens using the actuator;
determine that the second control signal is a control signal for the second lens module and that the second control signal indicates that the actuator is to be driven to move the second lens; and
in response to the second control signal, cause the actuator to be activated based on the second control signal.

4. The modular imaging device of claim 2 , wherein the lens module further comprises a sixth magnet disposed proximate to a surface of a second side of the lens module, the modular imaging device further comprising:
an optical component comprising:
a seventh magnet disposed proximate to a surface of a first side of the optical component, wherein the seventh magnet is arranged such that when the first side of the optical component is brought into proximity of the second side of the lens module in a particular orientation the seventh magnet is attracted to the sixth magnet; and
an optical filter through which light from a scene passes such that when the first side of the optical component is in contact with the second side of the lens module in the particular orientation, the light passing through the optical filter is received by the lens of the lens module.

5. The modular imaging device of claim 1 , further comprising a rotational actuator module comprising:
a sixth plurality of electrical contacts disposed on a first side of the rotational actuator module, wherein each electrical contact of the sixth plurality of electrical contacts is arranged such that it contacts a corresponding contact of the first plurality of electrical contacts when the first side of the rotational actuator module and the second side of the base module are in contact with one another in a particular orientation;
an eighth magnet disposed proxima

Assignees

• Odamaki Makoto
• Nayar Shree K
• Univ Columbia

Inventors

• Odamaki Makoto
• Nayar Shree K

Classifications

• H04N23/54

  Mounting of pick-up tubes, electronic image sensors, deviation or focusing coils · CPC title

• H04N23/60

  Control of cameras or camera modules · CPC title

• G03B17/04 Primary

  collapsible, foldable or extensible, e.g. book type · CPC title

• H04N23/57

  Mechanical or electrical details of cameras or camera modules specially adapted for being embedded in other devices · CPC title

• H04N23/50

  Constructional details · CPC title