Folded camera with continuously adaptive zoom factor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12189272-B2
Application number	US-202418644175-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 24, 2024
Priority date	Dec 1, 2020
Publication date	Jan 7, 2025
Grant date	Jan 7, 2025

Abstract

Folded Tele cameras comprising an optical path folding element (OPFE) for folding a first optical path OP 1 to a second optical path OP 2 , a lens including N=8 lens elements, the lens being divided into three lens groups numbered, in order from an object side of the lens, G 1, G 2 and G 3, and an image sensor, wherein G 1 and G 3 are included in a single G 13 carrier, wherein G 2 is included in a G 2 carrier, wherein both the G 13 carrier and the G 2 carrier include rails for defining the position of G 2 relative to G 13, wherein the Tele camera is configured to change a zoom factor continuously between a minimum zoom factor ZF MIN and a maximum zoom factor ZF MAX by moving the G 2 carrier relative to the G 13 carrier and by moving the G 13 carrier relative to the image sensor, and wherein an effective focal length (EFL) is 7.5 mm<EFL<50 mm. The G 2 carrier may be positioned by a lens transporter within the G 13 carrier at a particular zoom factor to form a lens pair to enable optical investigation and/or transporting of the lens pair.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A camera, comprising:
an optical path folding element (OPFE) for folding a first optical path (OP 1 ) to a second optical path (OP 2 );
a lens including N lens elements and having a lens optical axis, the lens being divided into three lens groups numbered, in order from an object side of the lens, G 1 , G 2 and G 3 ; and
an image sensor,
wherein the camera is a folded Tele camera, wherein the folded Tele camera is configured to change a zoom factor (ZF) continuously between a minimum zoom factor ZF MIN and a maximum zoom factor ZF MAX by moving G 1 and G 3 together along the lens optical axis relative to G 2 , wherein EFL MIN represents a minimal effective focal length (EFL) that corresponds to ZF MIN , wherein the folded Tele camera has an aperture diameter DA and a minimum f number f/#MIN that fulfills f/# MIN =EFL MIN /DA, and wherein f/# MIN is <3.

2. The camera of claim 1 , wherein the folded Tele camera is further configured to change the ZF by moving G 2 relative to the image sensor.

3. The camera of claim 1 , wherein f/# MIN is <2.9.

4. The camera of claim 1 , wherein f/# MIN is <2.75.

5. The camera of claim 1 , wherein f/# MIN is <2.5.

6. The camera of claim 1 , wherein EFL MAX represents a maximal EFL that corresponds to ZF MAX , wherein the folded Tele camera has a maximum f number f/# MAX that fulfills f/# MAX =EFL MAX /DA, and wherein f/# MAX is <5.

7. The camera of claim 6 , wherein f/# MAX <4.75.

8. The camera of claim 1 , wherein 7.5 mm<EFL<50 mm.

9. The camera of claim 1 , wherein G 1 and G 3 are included in a single G 13 carrier, and wherein G 2 is included in a G 2 carrier.

10. The camera of claim 9 , wherein both the G 13 carrier and the G 2 carrier include rails for defining the position of G 2 relative to G 13 .

11. The camera of claim 1 , wherein N=8.

12. The camera of claim 1 , wherein the folded Tele camera is included in a camera module having a module height H M , wherein the lens has a lens aperture height H A , wherein both H M and H A are measured along an axis parallel to OP 1 , and wherein H M <H A +3 mm.

13. The camera of claim 1 , wherein the lens is a cut lens with a cut lens aperture height H A-CUT measured along an axis parallel to OP 1 and with a lens aperture width W A measured along an axis perpendicular to both OP 1 and OP 2 , and wherein W A is larger than H A-CUT by between 5% and 50%.

14. The camera of claim 1 , wherein lens groups G 1 and G 2 have positive lens power and wherein lens group G 3 has negative lens power.

15. The camera of claim 1 , wherein the folded Tele camera is configured to switch the EFL continuously between EFL MIN and a maximal effective focal length EFL MAX that corresponds to ZF MAX , and wherein a ratio EFL MAX /EFL MIN >1.5.

16. The camera of claim 15 , wherein 7.5 mm<EFL MIN <25 mm and wherein 20 mm<EFL MAX <50 mm.

17. The camera of claim 15 , wherein EFL MAX represents a maximal EFL that corresponds to ZF MAX , wherein switching from EFL MIN to EFL MAX or vice versa requires a maximum lens stroke S of G 13 , and wherein a ratio R given by R=(EFL MAX -EFL MIN )/S fulfills R>1.75.

18. The camera of claim 1 , wherein the OPFE is a prism.

19. The camera of claim 1 , wherein the folded Tele camera is included in a mobile device.

20. The camera of claim 19 , wherein the mobile device is a smartphone.

Assignees

• Corephotonics Ltd

Inventors

• Boltanski Rami
• Goldenberg Ephraim
• Rudnick Roy

Classifications

• H04N23/69 Primary

  Control of means for changing angle of the field of view, e.g. optical zoom objectives or electronic zooming · CPC title

• G02B15/143103

  arranged ++- · CPC title

• H04N23/55

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

• H04N23/54

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

• G03B2205/0046

  Movement of one or more optical elements for zooming · CPC title