System and method for capturing images

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9335452-B2
Application number	US-201314042550-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 30, 2013
Priority date	Sep 30, 2013
Publication date	May 10, 2016
Grant date	May 10, 2016

Abstract

Systems and methods for capturing images are disclosed. An image capture device includes two or more apertures for directing light to an image sensor device. In some embodiments, each of the apertures admits light from a different direction relative to the image sensor device. Some embodiments include one or more electrically switchable mirror elements configured for directing light from at least one of the one or more apertures to the image sensor. Upon application of a first signal, a first electrically switchable mirror element enters a reflective mode for reflecting light from a first aperture of the one or more apertures to the image sensor device. Upon application of a second signal, the first electrically switchable mirror element enters a transmissive mode for transmitting light from a second aperture of the one or more apertures to the image sensor device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An image capture device, comprising:
two or more apertures for directing light to an image sensor device, wherein
each of the apertures admits light from a different direction relative to the image sensor device; and

one or more electrically switchable mirror elements configured for directing light from at least one of the one or more apertures to the image sensor,
wherein upon application of a signal, a first electrically switchable mirror element enters a semi-reflective mode for reflecting light from a first aperture of the two or more apertures to the image sensor device,
wherein, the light from the first aperture combines with light admitted from a second aperture of the two or more apertures, wherein the light from the second aperture is reflected to the image sensor device;
wherein the image capture device is configured to capture an interlaced image at the image sensor device, wherein the interlaced image includes the light from the first aperture and the light from the second aperture.

2. The image capture device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more electrically switchable mirror elements further comprise a second electrically switchable mirror element.

3. The image capture device of claim 2 , wherein
upon application of another signal, the second electrically switchable mirror element enters a complementary semi-reflective mode for transmitting light from the second aperture of the one or more apertures to the image sensor device.

4. The image capture device of claim 2 , wherein
the first aperture and the second aperture are equidistant from the image sensor device.

5. The image capture device of claim 1 , further comprising:
the image sensor device; and
a moveable lens apparatus capable of moving a lens assembly of the image capture device relative to the image sensor device to compensate for a difference between a distance from the first aperture to the image sensor device and a distance from the second aperture to the image sensor device.

6. The image capture device of claim 1 , wherein
the first aperture admits light from a location opposite the second aperture relative to the image sensor device.

7. The image capture device of claim 1 , wherein
the first aperture is situated at a first distance from the image sensor device;
the second aperture is situated at a second distance from the image sensor device; and
the first distance is less than the second distance.

8. The image capture device of claim 7 , further comprising:
a mirror element for directing light from the second aperture of the one or more apertures to the image sensor device.

9. The image capture device of claim 1 , further comprising:
the image sensor device.

10. A method, comprising:
causing an image capture device having two or more apertures for directing light to an image sensor device to perform, upon application of a signal, placing a first electrically switchable mirror element in a semi-reflective mode for reflecting light from a first aperture of the two or more apertures to the image sensor device;
combining the light from the first aperture with light admitted from a second aperture of the two or more apertures, wherein the light from the second aperture is reflected to the image sensor device; and
capturing an interlaced image at the image sensor device, wherein
each of the apertures admits light from a different direction relative to the image sensor device, wherein the interlaced image includes the light from the first aperture and the light from the second aperture.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising
upon application of another signal, placing a second electrically switchable mirror element in a semi-reflective mode for transmitting light from the second aperture of the one or more apertures to the image sensor device.

12. The method of claim 10 , further comprising, causing movement of a lens assembly of the image capture device relative to the image sensor device to compensate for a difference between a distance from the first aperture to the image sensor device and a distance from the second aperture to the image sensor device.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein
the semi-reflective mode of the second electrically switchable mirror is activated at a time to complement the semi-reflective mode of the first electrically switchable mirror element.

14. A computing device, comprising:
a processor;
a display unit under control of the processor for displaying images captured by an image capture device;
an image capture device having two or more apertures for directing light to an image sensor device, wherein the image capture device is configured to perform:
upon application of a signal, placing a first electrically switchable mirror element in a semi-reflective mode for reflecting light from a first aperture of the two or more apertures to the image sensor device, wherein the light from the first aperture combines with light from a second aperture of the two or more apertures, wherein the light from the second aperture is reflected to the image sensor device; and
capturing an interlaced image at the image sensor device, wherein
each of the apertures admits light from a different direction relative to the image sensor device, wherein
the interlaced image includes the light from the first aperture and the light from the second aperture.

15. The computing device of claim 14 , wherein the image capture device further comprises a second electrically switchable mirror element.

16. The computing device of claim 15 , wherein the image capture device is further configured to perform:
moving a lens assembly of the image capture device relative to the image sensor device to compensate for a difference between a distance from the first aperture to the image sensor device and a distance from the second aperture to the image sensor device.

17. The computing device of claim 15 , wherein:
a semi-reflective mode of the second electrically switchable mirror element is activated at a time to complement the semi-reflective mode of the first electrically switchable mirror element.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Chan Ning Y

Classifications

• H04N23/75

  by influencing optical camera components · CPC title

• H04N23/58 Primary

  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

• H04N23/63

  by using electronic viewfinders · CPC title

• H04N5/238

  Electricity · mapped topic

• G02B5/08 Primary

  Mirrors {(vehicle mirrors involving special optical features B60R1/08)} · CPC title