Device with split imaging system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10412281-B2
Application number	US-201615175006-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 6, 2016
Priority date	Jun 6, 2016
Publication date	Sep 10, 2019
Grant date	Sep 10, 2019

Abstract

A device comprising at least two body sections is disclosed. The first body section comprises a movable imaging unit and a magnet rigidly fixed to the imaging unit, and the second body section comprising an optical unit with a magnet rigidly fixed to the optical unit. The body sections are in a movable connection with each other, and the device is operable in at least two modes. In the first mode, the imaging unit and the optical unit are fixed in a set relative position due to magnetic interaction between the magnets. In the second mode, the imaging unit is positioned away from the optical unit.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A device comprising:
a first body section comprising:
a first aperture, an imaging unit aligned within the first aperture, and at least one magnetic element rigidly fixed to the imaging unit,
a second body section comprising an optical unit and at least one magnetic element rigidly fixed to the optical unit,
wherein:
the first body section is in a movable connection with the second body section,
the imaging unit is movable within the first aperture, and
the device is operable in at least two modes:
in a first mode the first body section and the second body section are positioned such that the imaging unit and the optical unit are fixed in a set relative position due to magnetic interaction between the at least one magnetic element rigidly fixed to the imaging unit and the at least one magnetic element rigidly fixed to the optical unit, and wherein the at least one magnetic element rigidly fixed to the imaging unit is adapted to be movable through the first aperture towards the second body section, and
in a second mode the first body section and the second body section are positioned such that the imaging unit is positioned away from the optical unit.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the second body section comprises a second aperture aligned to match the first aperture in the first mode, and
the at least one magnetic element rigidly fixed to the imaging unit is adapted to be movable through the first aperture and the second aperture towards the optical unit in the first mode.

3. The device as defined in claim 2 , wherein in the first mode, the at least one magnetic element rigidly fixed to the imaging unit is in physical contact with the at least one magnetic element rigidly fixed to the optical unit.

4. The device as defined in claim 1 , wherein a shape of the at least one magnetic element rigidly fixed to the imaging unit is aligned with a shape of the at least one magnetic element rigidly fixed to the optical unit.

5. The device as defined in claim 1 , wherein the optical unit is movable in at least one dimension within a space.

6. The device as defined in claim 1 , wherein the first body section and the second body section each comprise at least one mechanical shutter, wherein the mechanical shutters are adapted to expose the imaging unit and the optical unit in the first mode, and protect the imaging unit and the optical unit in the second mode.

7. The device as defined in claim 6 , wherein the at least one mechanical shutter of the first body section is adapted to limit a movement of the imaging unit in the second mode.

8. The device as defined in claim 1 , wherein the imaging unit has a first optical axis; the optical unit has a second optical axis; and in the set relative position the first optical axis is aligned with the second optical axis.

9. The device as defined in claim 1 comprising a hinge, wherein the first body section is in a folding movable connection with the second body section; in the first mode the device is folded; and in the second mode the device is unfolded.

10. The device as defined in claim 1 , comprising a slider, wherein the first body section is in a sliding movable connection with the second body section via the slider.

11. The device as defined in claim 1 , wherein
the optical unit comprises at least one additional optical element, and
in the first mode the at least one additional optical element and the imaging unit are operable together as a camera with an optical axis.

12. The device as defined in claim 11 , wherein at least one additional optical element is a passive optical element selected from a group of: an optical filter and an additional lens.

13. The device as defined in claim 11 , wherein
at least one additional optical element is an active optical element selected from a group of: a stabilization element, a focusing element and a deformable lens; and
the optical unit is electrically connected to the imaging unit.

14. The device as defined in claim 1 , comprising a digital alignment element adapted to: monitor the relative position of the imaging unit and the optical unit, and, in the first mode of the device, additionally adjust a position of the imaging unit such that the imaging unit and the optical unit are fixed in the set relative position.

15. The device as defined in claim 1 , further comprising a digital alignment element adapted to activate the first mode.

16. A system, comprising:
a first module comprising a first aperture, an imaging unit aligned within the first aperture, and at least one magnetic element rigidly fixed to the imaging unit,
a second module comprising an optical unit and at least one magnetic element rigidly fixed to the optical unit,
wherein:
the first module is attachable to the second module,
the imaging unit is movable within the first aperture, and
wherein the first module is attached to the second module, the imaging unit and the optical unit are fixed in a set relative position due to magnetic interaction between the at least one magnetic element rigidly fixed to the imaging unit and the at least one magnetic element rigidly fixed to the optical unit, wherein the at least one magnetic element rigidly fixed to the imaging unit is adapted to be movable through the first aperture towards the second module, and
wherein the first module is detached from the second module, the imaging unit is positioned away from the optical unit.

17. The system as defined in claim 16 , wherein the optical unit is movable in at least one dimension within a space in the second module.

18. The system as defined in claim 17 , wherein
the second module comprises a second aperture aligned to match the first aperture and aligned with the optical unit,
wherein the at least one magnetic element rigidly fixed to the imaging unit is adapted to be movable through the first aperture towards the optical unit, and
wherein the at least one magnetic element rigidly fixed to the optical unit is adapted to be movable through the second aperture towards the imaging unit.

19. The system as defined in claim 16 , wherein the second module comprises a second aperture aligned to match the first aperture,
wherein the at least one magnetic element rigidly fixed to the imaging unit is adapted to be movable through the first aperture and the second aperture towards the optical unit, and
wherein the at least one magnetic element rigidly fixed to the imaging unit is in physical contact with the at least one magnetic element rigidly fixed to the optical unit.

20. A method of operating a device comprising a processor, a first body section with a first aperture, an imaging unit aligned within the first aperture, and at least magnet rigidly fixed to the imaging unit, a second body section with an optical unit and at least one magnet rigidly fixed to the optical unit, wherein the imaging unit is movable within the first aperture via the at least magnet rigidly fixed to the imaging unit that is adapted to be movable through the first aperture towards the second body section, and a digital alignment element, the first and second body sections being in a movable connection; the method comprising:
monitoring a relative position of the imaging unit and the optical unit by receiving detections made by the digital alignment element,
activating a first mode of the device upon receipt of a detection from the digital alignment element that the imaging unit and the optical unit are brought together,
prompting the digital alignm

Assignees

• Microsoft Technology Licensing Llc

Inventors

• Konttori Urho
• Eromäki Marko
• Tuulos Eero

Classifications

• H04N23/51

  Housings · CPC title

• H04N23/54 Primary

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

• G03B17/00

  Details of cameras or camera bodies; Accessories therefor (lens hoods or caps G03B11/04) · CPC title

• G02B7/02

  for lenses {(supports for magnifying lenses G02B25/002)} · CPC title

• G02B15/10

  by adding a part, e.g. close-up attachment · CPC title