Optical image stabilization for thin cameras

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016127646-A1
Application number	US-201514848127-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 8, 2015
Priority date	Oct 31, 2014
Publication date	May 5, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Systems and methods for optical image stabilization of thin cameras are disclosed. An image stabilization system for a camera system includes a stabilization platform configured to support a camera system, a camera housing, a fulcrum rotationally and pivotally connecting the stabilization platform to the camera housing, the fulcrum configured such that the stabilization platform can tilt and rotate relative to the camera housing in at least one of the pitch, roll, and yaw directions, at least one gyroscope rigidly connected to the stabilization platform, and at least one actuator coupled to the stabilization platform and configured to cause tilting or rotation of the stabilization platform in at least one of the pitch, roll, and yaw directions.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An image stabilization system for a camera system, comprising:
a stabilization platform configured to support a camera system; a camera housing; a fulcrum rotationally and pivotally connecting the stabilization platform to the camera housing, the fulcrum configured such that the stabilization platform can tilt and rotate relative to the camera housing in at least one of a pitch direction, a roll direction, and a yaw direction; at least one gyroscope rigidly connected to the stabilization platform to move with the stabilization platform; and at least one actuator coupled to the stabilization platform and configured to cause tilting or rotation of the stabilization platform in at least one of the pitch direction, the roll direction, and the yaw direction.

2 . The image stabilization system of claim 1 , further comprising a processor in electronic communication with the at least one gyroscope and the at least one actuator, the processor configured to perform operations comprising:
receiving motion data from the at least one gyroscope; determining, based on analyzing the motion data, that the camera system is experiencing jitter; generating motion instructions for the at least one actuator, the motion instructions configured to compensate for one or both of a frequency and a magnitude of the jitter; and providing the motion instructions to the actuator.

3 . The image stabilization system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one actuator comprises:
a first actuator configured to rotate the stabilization platform in the yaw direction; a second actuator configured to tilt the stabilization platform in the pitch direction; a third actuator configured to tilt the stabilization platform in the roll direction; and wherein the first, second, and third gyroscopes are each positioned in a blind spot relative to each of the camera system.

4 . The image stabilization system of claim 1 , wherein the fulcrum comprises a ball bearing.

5 . The image stabilization system of claim 1 , wherein the fulcrum comprises a fulcrum point, and wherein the fulcrum point is aligned with an optical axis of the camera system.

6 . The image stabilization system of claim 1 , wherein the camera system comprises an array camera.

7 . The image stabilization system of claim 1 , wherein the stabilization platform is configured to rotate in each of the pitch direction, the roll direction, and the yaw direction.

8 . The image stabilization system of claim 1 , wherein the stabilization platform is configured to not substantially obstruct a field of view of the camera system.

9 . The image stabilization system of claim 1 , wherein the stabilization platform comprises a substantially flat plate.

10 . An image stabilization system for an array camera, comprising:
an array camera having a virtual optical axis, the array camera comprising at least two cameras, each of the at least two cameras configured to capture one of a plurality of portions of a target image of a scene; a support structure supporting the array camera; a pivot member rigidly connected to the support structure, the pivot member configured to pivot in a yaw direction, a pitch direction, and a roll direction around a center of the pivot member, the center of the pivot member aligned with the virtual optical axis of the array camera; and an actuator coupled to the support structure, the actuator configured to receive motion instructions and to rotate the support structure in the yaw direction, the pitch direction, and the roll direction around the center of the pivot member in response to the received motion instructions.

11 . The image stabilization system of claim 10 , further comprising:
at least one gyroscope, the at least one gyroscope configured to generate motion data, the motion data indicative of a motion of the at least one gyroscope; and a processor in electronic communication with the at least one gyroscope and the actuator, the processor configured to perform operations comprising
receiving the motion data from the at least one gyroscope,
determining, based on analyzing the motion data, that the array camera is experiencing jitter,
generating the motion instructions for the actuator, the motion instructions configured to compensate for one or both of a frequency and a magnitude of the jitter; and
providing the motion instructions to the actuator.

12 . The image stabilization system of claim 11 , further comprising:
a housing comprising
an internal cavity, the support structure and the array camera disposed within the internal cavity, and
an aperture positioned to allow light representing the target image to pass through the aperture and into the internal cavity of the housing and to reach each of the at least two cameras;
wherein the actuator is further coupled to the housing and further configured to pivot the support structure in the yaw direction, the pitch direction, and the roll direction relative to the housing.

13 . The image stabilization system of claim 10 , wherein the pivot member is a ball bearing.

14 . The image stabilization system of claim 10 , wherein the support structure comprises a substantially flat plate.

15 . The image stabilization system of claim 14 , wherein the pivot member is disposed on a bottom surface of the plate and the array camera is disposed on a top surface of the plate.

16 . The image stabilization system of claim 14 , wherein the at least one gyroscope comprises:
a first gyroscope disposed on a first corner of the plate; a second gyroscope disposed on a second corner of the plate; a third gyroscope disposed on a third corner of the plate; and wherein the first gyroscope, the second gyroscope, and the third gyroscope are each positioned in a blind spot relative to each of the at least two cameras.

17 . The image stabilization system of claim 10 , wherein each of the at least two cameras of the array camera each comprise:
an image sensor; a lens assembly comprising at least one lens, the lens assembly having a center of projection, the lens assembly positioned to focus light on the image sensor; and a mirror positioned to reflect light to the lens assembly, the mirror further positioned on a mirror plane, the mirror plane positioned at the midpoint of and orthogonal to a line segment extending between the center of projection and the virtual center of projection.

18 . The image stabilization system of claim 17 , wherein the array camera further comprises a central reflective element having a plurality of primary light re-directing surfaces configured to split the light into the plurality of portions, the mirror of each of the at least two cameras forming one of the primary light re-directing surfaces.

19 . The image stabilization system of claim 17 , wherein each of the at least two cameras further comprises a secondary light re-directing surface positioned to direct light from the lens assembly onto the image sensor, and wherein the image sensors of each of the at least two cameras are disposed on an upper surface of the plate and positioned substantially parallel with the upper surface of the plate.

20 . The image stabilization system of claim 12 , wherein the at least one gyroscope is disposed on the housing.

21 . A method for image stabilization of a camera system, the method comprising:
receiving motion data at a processor, the motion data generated by at least one gyroscope in electronic communication with the proc

Assignees

• Qualcomm Inc

Inventors

• Osborne Thomas Wesley

Classifications

• G02B27/646

  compensating for small deviations, e.g. due to vibration or shake (movement of one or more optical elements for control of motion blur in cameras, projectors or printers G03B2205/0007; image stabilisation in cameras peculiar to the presence or use of an electronic image sensor H04N23/68) · CPC title

• H04N23/60

  Control of cameras or camera modules · CPC title

• H04N23/6812 Primary

  based on additional sensors, e.g. acceleration sensors · CPC title

• H04N23/698

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

• H04N23/55 Primary

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