Multi-aperture imaging device, imaging system and method for capturing an object area

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10771668-B2
Application number	US-201816035548-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 13, 2018
Priority date	Jan 13, 2016
Publication date	Sep 8, 2020
Grant date	Sep 8, 2020

Abstract

A multi-aperture imaging device includes at least one image sensor and an array of juxtaposed optical channels. Each optical channel includes optics for imaging of projecting at least one partial area of an object area on an image sensor area of the image sensor. A first optics of a first optical channel is configured to project a first partial area of the object area on a first image sensor area and to project a second partial area of the object area on a second image sensor area. A second optics of a second optical channel is configured to project at least a third partial area of the object area on a third image sensor area. The first partial area and the second partial area are disjoint in the object area. The third partial area overlaps incompletely with the first partial area.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. Multi-aperture imaging device comprising:
at least one image sensor; and
an array of juxtaposed optical channels, wherein each optical channel comprises optics for projecting at least one partial area of an object area on an image sensor area of the image sensor;
wherein a first optics of a first optical channel is configured to project a first partial area of the object area on a first image sensor area and a second partial area of the object area on a second image sensor area;
wherein a second optics of a second optical channel is configured to project at least a third partial area of the object area on a third image sensor area; and
wherein the first partial area and the second partial area are disjoint in the object area, and wherein the third partial area overlaps incompletely with the first partial area; wherein the multi-aperture imaging device comprises at least one of:
a configuration in which the third partial area is arranged within the object area between the first partial area and the second partial area;
an at least partly opaque structure for reducing stray light between the first image sensor area and the second image sensor area is arranged between the first image sensor area and the second image sensor area; wherein a cross-section of the at least partly opaque structure tapers parallel to the image sensor in the direction of the array;
first partial area optics that is exclusively allocated to the first partial area and influences the projection of the first partial area on the first image sensor area wherein the multi-aperture imaging device comprises a partial area diaphragm limiting an optical path through the first partial area optics; and
an aperture diaphragm that limits an optical path through the first optics.

2. Multi-aperture imaging device according to claim 1 , wherein the second image sensor area differs from the first image sensor area and is arranged adjacent to the first image sensor area.

3. Multi-aperture imaging device according to claim 1 , wherein the first partial area and the second partial area further comprise an image gap between them.

4. Multi-aperture imaging device according to claim 1 , wherein a total number of the optical channels are configured to fully transfer the total field of view.

5. Multi-aperture imaging device according to claim 1 , wherein the first optics of the first optical channel is configured to project the first partial area and the second partial area through a shared lens.

6. Multi-aperture imaging device according to claim 1 , wherein the third partial area is arranged within the object area between the first partial area and the second partial area.

7. Multi-aperture imaging device according to claim 1 , wherein an area is arranged between the first image sensor area and the second image sensor area,
wherein the first image sensor area is arranged directly adjacent to the second image sensor area, and the third image sensor area is arranged directly adjacent to the first or second image sensor areas.

8. Multi-aperture imaging device according to claim 1 , wherein a design-related gap is arranged between the first image sensor area and the second image sensor area.

9. Multi-aperture imaging device according to claim 1 , wherein the third partial area further overlaps incompletely with the second partial area.

10. Multi-aperture imaging device according to claim 1 , wherein a total amount of image sensors comprises the at least one image sensor and each image sensor comprises one image sensor area per projected partial area of the object area, wherein a total amount of image sensor areas comprises the first, second and third image sensor areas.

11. Multi-aperture imaging device according to claim 1 , wherein an at least partly opaque structure for reducing stray light between the first image sensor area and the second image sensor area is arranged between the first image sensor area and the second image sensor area.

12. Multi-aperture imaging device according to claim 11 , wherein a cross-section of the at least partly opaque structure tapers parallel to the image sensor in the direction of the array.

13. Multi-aperture imaging device according to claim 1 , further comprising first partial area optics that is exclusively allocated to the first partial area and influences the projection of the first partial area on the first image sensor area.

14. Multi-aperture imaging device according to claim 13 , further comprising second partial area optics that is exclusively allocated to the second partial area and influences the projection of the second partial area on the second image sensor area, wherein the first partial area optics and the second partial area optics are structured identically and mirror-symmetrically to a plane comprising the optical axis of the optics shared by the partial area optics and running perpendicular to a line-extension direction of the array.

15. Multi-aperture imaging device according to claim 14 , wherein the first partial area optics and the second partial area optics are mechanically connected to one another.

16. Multi-aperture imaging device according to claim 13 comprising a partial area diaphragm limiting an optical path through the first partial area optics.

17. Multi-aperture imaging device according to claim 1 comprising a transparent substrate arranged between the image sensor and the array and extending across at least two optical channels, wherein optics or partial area optics are arranged on the transparent substrate.

18. Multi-aperture imaging device according to claim 17 , wherein the transparent substrate extends across all optical channels.

19. Multi-aperture imaging device according to claim 1 , wherein the second optics is configured to project a fourth partial area of the object area on a fourth image sensor area;
wherein the third partial area and the fourth partial area are disjoint in the object area.

20. Multi-aperture imaging device according to claim 1 comprising an aperture diaphragm that limits an optical path through the first optics.

21. Multi-aperture imaging device according to claim 1 , wherein the first optics of the first channel or a combination of the first optics and the a partial area optics that is exclusively allocated to the first partial area comprises a negative distortion increasing according to amount from a field angle increasing from ZERO with a first gradient of change of the distortion until a first field angle threshold is reached, wherein a second gradient of change of the distortion with a field angle increasing beyond the field angle threshold is lower than the first gradient of change.

22. Multi-aperture imaging device according to claim 21 , wherein the second gradient of change is at the most 1/3 of the first gradient of change.

23. Multi-aperture imaging device according to claim 21 , wherein the field angle threshold is smaller than or equal to half an angular distance between the first partial area and the second partial area in the object area.

24. Multi-aperture imaging device according to claim 1 , wherein the array for capturing the object area is formed in a single line.

25. Multi-aperture imaging device according to claim 1 , wherein the first optics of the first channel or a combination of the first optics and a first partial area optics that is exclusively allocated to the first partial area comprises mirror symmetry to a pl

Assignees

• Fraunhofer Ges Forschung

Inventors

• Wippermann Frank
• Brueckner Andreas
• Reimann Andreas

Classifications

• H04N23/45 Primary

  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

• H04N23/698 Primary

  for achieving an enlarged field of view, e.g. panoramic image capture · CPC title

• H04N23/67

  Focus control based on electronic image sensor signals · CPC title

• H04N13/239 Primary

  using two two-dimensional [2D] image sensors having a relative position equal to or related to the interocular distance (H04N13/243 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H04N23/55

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