Multi-aperture imaging device, method for producing the same and imaging system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10334172-B2
Application number	US-201815898379-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 16, 2018
Priority date	Aug 19, 2015
Publication date	Jun 25, 2019
Grant date	Jun 25, 2019

Abstract

A multi-aperture imaging device includes an image sensor, a single-line array of juxtaposed optical channels, wherein each optical channel includes optics for projecting a partial area of an object area on an image sensor area of the image sensor and beam deflector for deflecting an optical path of the optical channels. The multi-aperture imaging device includes an actuator unit for generating a relative movement between the image sensor, the single-line array and the beam deflector, wherein the actuator unit is arranged such that the same is arranged at least partly between two planes that are spanned by sides of a cuboid, wherein the sides of the cuboid are oriented parallel to one another as well to a line extension direction of the single-line array and part of the optical path of the optical channels between the image sensor and the beam deflector.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. Multi-aperture imaging device, comprising:
an image sensor;
a single-line array of juxtaposed optical channels, wherein each optical channel comprises optics for projecting a partial area of an object area on an image sensor area of the image sensor, wherein the single-line array comprises a carrier through which the optical channels pass;
beam deflector for deflecting an optical path of the optical channels; and
actuator unit for generating a relative movement between the image sensor, the single-line array and the beam deflector,
wherein the actuator unit is arranged such that the same is arranged at least partly between two planes that are spanned by sides of a cuboid, wherein the sides of the cuboid are oriented parallel to one another as well as to a line extension direction of the single-line array and part of the optical path of the optical channels between the image sensor and the beam deflector and its volume is at a minimum and still comprises the image sensor, the single-line array and the beam deflector; and
wherein the multi-aperture imaging device comprises a thickness direction that is arranged normal to the two planes, wherein the actuator unit comprises a dimension parallel to the thickness direction and a portion of at most 50% of the dimension projects beyond the two planes, starting from an area between the two planes.

2. Multi-aperture imaging device according to claim 1 , wherein the optics of the optical channels are arranged within or adjacent to transparent areas of the carrier and/or at end areas thereof, and/or the carrier is formed in a transparent manner and the optics are arranged on a surface of the carrier, which influence the projection of a respective partial field of view of the total field of view on a respective image sensor area of the image sensor.

3. Multi-aperture imaging device according to claim 1 , wherein the actuator unit comprises a piezoelectric actuator that is coupled to the image sensor or the array.

4. Multi-aperture imaging device according to claim 3 , wherein the piezoelectric actuator is connected to the image sensor or the array via a mechanical deflector, wherein the mechanical deflector is arranged between the planes.

5. Multi-aperture imaging device according to claim 3 , wherein the piezoelectric actuator is a bending converter.

6. Multi-aperture imaging device according to claim 1 , wherein the actuator unit comprises a voice-coil drive that is connected to the image sensor or the array.

7. Multi-aperture imaging device according to claim 1 , wherein the relative movement based on a translational movement between the image sensor and the array allows a change of a focal position of the multi-aperture imaging device.

8. Multi-aperture imaging device according to claim 1 , wherein the relative movement based on a translational movement between the image sensor and the array parallel or antiparallel to a line extension direction of the array and/or a lateral shift of the beam deflector and/or a rotation of the beam deflector around an axis of rotation enables optical image stabilization.

9. Multi-aperture imaging device according to claim 1 , wherein the relative movement based on a lateral shift of the beam deflector and/or a rotation of the beam deflector around an axis of rotation enables switching between viewing directions of the multi-aperture imaging device.

10. Multi-aperture imaging device according to claim 1 , wherein actuators of the actuator unit are arranged completely between the two planes.

11. Multi-aperture imaging device according to claim 1 , wherein the beam deflector is configured to deflect the optical channels at a first position of the beam deflector such that the multi-aperture imaging device comprises a first viewing direction, and wherein in the multi-aperture imaging device at a second position of the beam deflector the optical paths of the optical channels are deflected such that the multi-aperture imaging device comprises a second viewing direction.

12. Multi-aperture imaging device according to claim 1 , wherein the actuator unit for generating the relative movement is arranged on a side of the image sensor facing away from the single-line array.

13. Multi-aperture imaging device according to claim 12 , wherein the actuator unit projects along a thickness direction perpendicular to the line extension direction by at the most 50% of the dimension of the actuator unit along the thickness direction from an area between the two planes beyond a first or second plane of the two planes.

14. Multi-aperture imaging device according to claim 1 , wherein the beam deflector is configured to deflect the optical path of the optical channels at least in a first and a second viewing direction, wherein the actuator unit comprises at least one actuator and wherein the at least one actuator is arranged in a plane of the beam deflector which is arranged perpendicular to the first or second viewing direction.

15. Multi-aperture imaging device according to claim 1 , wherein the relative movement comprises a change of a distance between the image sensor and the single-line array along a beam direction parallel to an optical path through the optical channels between the single-line array and the beam deflector or a change of a distance between the single-line array and the beam deflector along the beam direction.

16. Multi-aperture imaging device according to claim 1 , wherein the relative movement comprises a change of a distance between the image sensor and the single-line array along a beam direction parallel to an optical path through the optical channels between the single-line array and the beam deflector by shifting the single-line array and maintaining a distance between the single-line array and the beam deflector along the beam direction.

17. Multi-aperture imaging device according to claim 1 , wherein the relative movement comprises a translational movement of the image sensor, the single-line array or the beam deflector for optical image stabilization, wherein the translational movement runs parallel to a first image axis or a second image axis of an image captured by the multi-aperture imaging device.

18. Multi-aperture imaging device according to claim 1 , wherein the relative movement comprises a rotational movement of the beam deflector around an axis parallel to the line extension direction of the single-line array or a translational movement of the beam deflector along the axis parallel to the line extension direction, wherein the translational movement can be performed between a first position and a second position between which the beam deflector is translationally movable.

19. Multi-aperture imaging device according to claim 1 , wherein the image sensor or the beam deflector is arranged between a first actuator of the actuator unit and the single-line array, wherein the first actuator is configured to change a distance between the image sensor and the single-line array.

20. Multi-aperture imaging device according to claim 19 , wherein the first actuator is a bending actuator that is configured to move, during actuation, an area of the actuator along a beam direction parallel to an optical path through the optical channels.

21. Multi-aperture imaging device according to claim 20 , wherein the actuator unit comprises a second actuator that is formed as bending actuator, wherein the second actuator is configured to change a distance between the image sensor and the single-line array and to move, du

Assignees

• Fraunhofer Ges Forschung

Inventors

• Wippermann Frank
• Brückner Andreas
• BRäUER ANDREAS
• Oberdörster Alexander

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

• H04N23/58

  Means for changing the camera field of view without moving the camera body, e.g. nutating or panning of optics or image sensors · CPC title

• H04N23/60

  Control of cameras or camera modules · CPC title

• G02B7/08 Primary

  adapted to co-operate with a remote control mechanism · CPC title

• H04N23/687 Primary

  by shifting the lens or sensor position · CPC title