Zoom dual-aperture camera with folded lens

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10156706-B2
Application number	US-201715820917-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 22, 2017
Priority date	Aug 10, 2014
Publication date	Dec 18, 2018
Grant date	Dec 18, 2018

Abstract

Zoom digital cameras comprising a Wide sub-camera and a folded fixed Tele sub-camera. The folded Tele sub-camera may be auto-focused by moving either its lens or a reflecting element inserted in an optical path between its lens and a respective image sensor. The folded Tele sub-camera is configured to have a low profile to enable its integration within a portable electronic device.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An auto-focus (AF) mechanism capable of being integrated in a Tele sub-camera configured to provide a Tele image; the Tele sub-camera comprising a Tele lens module and a Tele image sensor and a reflecting element; the Tele lens module having a Tele lens symmetry axis along a second optical path, the Tele lens symmetry axis positioned substantially perpendicular to a first optical path between an object side and the reflecting element;
the reflecting element is inclined to both a Tele lens symmetry axis and the first optical path and operable to provide a folded optical path between the object side and the Tele image sensor;
the auto-focus (AF) mechanism is configured to move the Tele lens along the Tele lens symmetry axis; the AF mechanism having a height substantially not exceeding the height of a Tele lens module.

2. The auto-focus (AF) mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the height of the AF mechanism≤the height of a Tele lens module*1.1.

3. The auto-focus (AF) mechanism of claim 1 wherein the AF mechanism comprises one or more magnets coupled to respective coils, positioned laterally on one or two sides of the Tele lens module, the magnets having a height substantially not exceeding the height of the Tele lens module.

4. The auto-focus (AF) mechanism claim 3 , wherein the coils are configured to be positioned laterally on one or two sides of the Tele lens module.

5. The auto-focus (AF) mechanism of claim 3 , wherein the AF mechanism comprises only one magnet coupled to a respective coil.

6. The auto-focus (AF) mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the height of the Tele lens module does not exceed 6.5 mm.

7. The auto-focus (AF) mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the height of the Tele lens module does not exceed 5.7 mm.

8. A Tele lens module capable of being integrated, together with a Tele image sensor and a reflecting element, in Tele sub-camera; the Tele lens module having a Tele lens symmetry axis along a second optical path, the Tele lens symmetry axis positioned substantially perpendicular to a first optical path between an object side and the reflecting element; the reflecting element is inclined to both a Tele lens symmetry axis and the first optical path and operable to provide a folded optical path between the object side and the Tele image sensor;
wherein the Tele lens module comprises a group of lens elements and wherein the lens elements in the group are designed to have a diameter substantially not exceeding the diameter of an aperture of the Tele sub-camera; and wherein an optical height of the Tele lens module is smaller than (1.25*(1+aperture of the Tele sub-camera)).

9. The Tele lens module of claim 8 , wherein the Tele image sensor has a sensor size S, wherein: ¼″≥S≥⅓″.

10. A Tele lens sub camera comprising a Tele lens module and a Tele image sensor and a reflecting element; the Tele lens module having a Tele lens symmetry axis along a second optical path, the Tele lens symmetry axis positioned substantially perpendicular to a first optical path between an object side and the reflecting element; the reflecting element is inclined to both a Tele lens symmetry axis and the first optical path and operable to provide a folded optical path between the object side and the Tele image sensor;
wherein the Tele lens module comprises a group of lens elements and wherein the lens elements in the group are designed to have a diameter substantially not exceeding the diameter of an aperture of the Tele sub-camera; and
wherein an optical height of the Tele lens module is smaller than (1.25*(1+aperture of the Tele sub-camera)).

11. A digital camera comprising:
a Wide sub-camera and a Tele sub-camera;
the Wide sub-camera comprises a Wide lens module and a Wide image sensor, the Wide lens module having a Wide lens symmetry axis along a first optical path between an object side and the Wide image sensor; the Wide sub-camera configured to provide a Wide image;
the Tele sub-camera comprises a Tele lens module and a Tele image sensor and a first reflecting element; the Tele lens module having a Tele lens symmetry axis along a second optical path, the Tele lens symmetry axis positioned substantially perpendicular to the Wide lens symmetry axis, the Tele sub-camera configured to provide a Tele image;
the first reflecting element having a first reflecting element symmetry axis inclined substantially to both the Wide lens symmetry axis and the Tele lens symmetry axis and operative to provide a folded optical path between the object and the Tele image sensor;
wherein an optical height of the Tele lens module is smaller than (1.25*(1+aperture of the Tele sub-camera)).

12. The digital camera of claim 11 , wherein the Tele lens module comprises a group of lens elements and wherein the lens elements in the group are designed to have a diameter substantially not exceeding the diameter of an aperture of the Tele sub-camera.

13. The digital camera of claim 11 further comprising a third sub-camera; the third sub-camera comprises a third lens module and a third image sensor, the third lens module having a lens symmetry axis that is substantially parallel to the Wide lens symmetry axis between an object side and the third image sensor; the third sub-camera configured to provide a respective image.

Assignees

• Corephotonics Ltd

Inventors

• Shabtay Gal
• Goldenberg Ephraim Robert
• Avivi Gal
• Bachar Gil

Classifications

• H04N23/45

  for generating image signals from two or more image sensors being of different type or operating in different modes, e.g. with a CMOS sensor for moving images in combination with a charge-coupled device [CCD] for still images · CPC title

• H04N23/57

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

• H04N23/55

  Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof · CPC title

• H04N23/67

  Focus control based on electronic image sensor signals · CPC title

• H04N23/90

  Arrangement of cameras or camera modules, e.g. multiple cameras in TV studios or sports stadiums · CPC title