US2006054782A1PendingUtilityA1

Apparatus for multiple camera devices and method of operating same

Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Aug 25, 2004Filed: Aug 25, 2005Published: Mar 16, 2006

Est. expiryAug 25, 2024(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority

Inventors:Richard Ian Olsen Darryl L. Sato Borden Moller Olivera Vitomirov Jeffrey A. Brady Ferry Gunawan Remzi Oten Feng-Qing Sun James Gates

H04N 25/531H04N 23/16H04N 23/13H04N 23/57H04N 23/84H04N 23/73H04N 25/134H04N 23/40H04N 25/41H04N 23/54G02B 3/0062H04N 23/69H04N 23/11H04N 25/00H10F 77/407H10F 77/40H10F 39/8053H10F 39/809H10F 39/806H10F 39/804H10F 39/182H10F 39/018H04N 25/76G02B 3/0075H04N 13/254G02B 3/0043G02B 7/04G02B 13/0035G02B 3/0031G03B 13/18H04N 2209/049H04N 13/214G02B 9/12H04N 5/265

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Claims

Abstract

There are many, many inventions described herein. In one aspect, what is disclosed is a digital camera including a plurality of arrays of photo detectors, including a first array of photo detectors to sample an intensity of light of a first wavelength and a second array of photo detectors to sample an intensity of light of a second wavelength. The digital camera further may also include a first lens disposed in an optical path of the first array of photo detectors, wherein the first lens includes a predetermined optical response to the light of the first wavelength, and a second lens disposed in with an optical path of the second array of photo detectors wherein the second lens includes a predetermined optical response to the light of the second wavelength. In addition, the digital camera may include signal processing circuitry, coupled to the first and second arrays of photo detectors, to generate a composite image using (i) data which is representative of the intensity of light sampled by the first array of photo detectors, and (ii) data which is representative of the intensity of light sampled by the second array of photo detectors; wherein the first array of photo detectors, the second array of photo detectors, and the signal processing circuitry are integrated on or in the same semiconductor substrate.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified

1 . A digital camera comprising:
a plurality of arrays of photo detectors, including:
a first array of photo detectors to sample an intensity of light; and
a second array of photo detectors to sample an intensity of light;
signal processing circuitry, coupled to the first and second arrays of photo detectors, to generate a composite image using (i) data which is representative of the intensity of light sampled by the first array of photo detectors, and (ii) data which is representative of the intensity of light sampled by the second array of photo detectors; and wherein the first array of photo detectors, the second array of photo detectors, and the signal processing circuitry are integrated on or in the same semiconductor substrate.

2 . The digital camera of claim 1 wherein:
the first array of photo detectors sample an intensity of light of a first wavelength; and the second array of photo detectors sample an intensity of light of a second wavelength.

3 . The digital camera of claim 2 further including a third array of photo detectors to sample the intensity of light of a third wavelength, and wherein the signal processing circuitry is coupled to the third array of photo detectors and generates a composite image using (i) data which is representative of the intensity of light sampled by the first array of photo detectors, (ii) data which is representative of the intensity of light sampled by the second array of photo detectors, and (ii) data which is representative of the intensity of light sampled by the third array of photo detectors.

4 . The digital camera of claim 3 wherein the first, second and third arrays of photo detectors are relatively arranged in a triangular configuration.

5 . The digital camera of claim 4 wherein the first array of photo detectors, the second array of photo detectors, the third array of photo detectors, and the signal processing circuitry are integrated on the same semiconductor substrate.

6 . The digital camera of claim 5 wherein the first wavelength is associated with a first color, the second wavelength is associated with a second color and the third wavelength is associated with a third color.

7 . The digital camera of claim 3 wherein:
the first array of photo detectors sample the intensity of light of the first wavelength for a first integration time; the second array of photo detectors sample the intensity of light of the second wavelength for a second integration time; and the third array of photo detectors sample the intensity of light of the third wavelength for a third integration time.

8 . The digital camera of claim 3 wherein the first, second and third arrays of photo detectors are relatively arranged in an isosceles, obtuse, acute or a right triangular configuration.

9 . The digital camera of claim 2 wherein the first wavelength is associated with a first color and the second wavelength is associated with a second color.

10 . The digital camera of claim 1 wherein:
the first array of photo detectors sample the intensity of light for a first integration time; and the second array of photo detectors sample the intensity of light for a second integration time.

11 . The digital camera of claim 1 wherein:
each photo detector of the first array includes a semiconductor portion at which the intensity of light is sampled; and each photo detector of the second array includes a semiconductor portion at which the intensity of light is sampled and wherein the semiconductor portion of each photo detector of the first array is located at a different depth, relative to a surface of each of the photo detectors, from than semiconductor portion of each photo detector of the second array.

12 . The digital camera of claim 1 wherein the first array of photo detectors and the second array of photo detectors are disposed in the same image plane.

13 . The digital camera of claim 1 further including a first lens disposed in and associated with an optical path of the first array of photo detectors and a second lens disposed in and associated with an optical path of the second array of photo detectors.

14 . The digital camera of claim 13 further including a substantially uniform color filter sheet disposed in the optical path of the first array of photo detectors.

15 . The digital camera of claim 1 further including a first colored lens disposed in and associated with an optical path of the first array of photo detectors.

16 . The digital camera of claim 1 further including a first lens disposed in and associated with an optical path of the first array of photo detectors, wherein:
the first lens passes light of a first wavelength and filters light of a second wavelength; the first array of photo detectors sample an intensity of light of a first wavelength; and the second array of photo detectors sample an intensity of light of a second wavelength.

17 . The digital camera of claim 1 wherein:
the first array of photo detectors sample an intensity of light of a first wavelength and an intensity of light of a second wavelength; the second array of photo detectors sample an intensity of light of a third wavelength; and the first wavelength is associated with a first color, the second wavelength is associated with a second color and the third wavelength is associated with a third color.

18 . The digital camera of claim 17 wherein:
each photo detector of the first array includes a first semiconductor portion at which the intensity of light of the first wavelength is sampled and a second semiconductor portion at which the intensity of light of the second wavelength is sampled; each photo detector of the second array includes a semiconductor portion at which the intensity of light of the third wavelength is sampled; and the first and second semiconductor portions of each photo detector of the first array are located at a different depth, relative to each other and to a surface of each of the photo detectors from the semiconductor portion of each photo detector of the second array.

19 . The digital camera of claim 17 further including a first lens disposed in and associated with an optical path of the first array of photo detectors and a second lens disposed in and associated with an optical path of the second array of photo detectors wherein the first lens passes light of the first and second wavelengths and filters light of the third wavelength.

20 . The digital camera of claim 17 further including an optical filter disposed in and associated with an optical path of the first array of photo detectors wherein the optical filter passes light of the first and second wavelengths and filters light of the third wavelength.

21 . The digital camera of claim 17 wherein:
the first array of photo detectors sample the intensity of light of the first wavelength for a first integration time; the first array of photo detectors sample the intensity of light of the second wavelength for a second integration time; and the second array of photo detectors sample the intensity of light of the third wavelength for a third integration time.

22 . The digital camera of claim 1 wherein the signal processing circuitry generates:
a first image using data which is representative of the intensity of light sampled by the first array of photo detectors, and a second image using data which is representative of the intensity of light sampled by the second array of photo detectors.

23 . The digital camera of claim 22 wherein the signal processing circuitry generates the composite image using the first image and the second image.

24 . The digital camera of claim 1 further including a memory to store (i) data which is representative of the intensity of light sampled by the first array of photo detectors, and (ii) data which is representative of the intensity of light sampled by the second array of photo detectors.

25 . The digital camera of claim 24 wherein the memory, the first array of photo detectors, the second array of photo detectors, and the signal processing circuitry are integrated on or in the same semiconductor substrate.

26 . The digital camera of claim 25 further including timing and control logic that to provide timing and control information to the signal processing circuitry, the first array of photo detectors and/or the second array of photo detectors.

27 . The digital camera of claim 24 further including communication circuitry to output data which is representative of the composite image.

28 . The digital camera of claim 27 wherein the communication circuitry includes at least one of wireless, wired or optical communication circuitry.

29 . The digital camera of claim 24 wherein the communication circuitry, the memory, the first array of photo detectors, the second array of photo detectors, and the signal processing circuitry are integrated on or in the same semiconductor substrate.

30 . The digital camera of claim 1 wherein the first array of photo detectors includes a first surface area and the second array of photo detectors includes a second surface area wherein the first surface area is different from the second surface area.

31 . The digital camera of claim 30 wherein the photo detectors of the first array include a first active surface area and the photo detectors of the second array include a second active surface area wherein the first active surface area is different from the second active surface area.

32 . The digital camera of claim 1 wherein the first array of photo detectors includes a first surface area and the second array of photo detectors includes a second surface area wherein the first surface area is substantially the same as the second surface area.

33 . The digital camera of claim 32 wherein the photo detectors of the first array include a first active surface area and the photo detectors of the second array include a second active surface area wherein the first active surface area is different from the second active surface area.

34 . A digital camera comprising:
a plurality of arrays of photo detectors, including:
a first array of photo detectors to sample an intensity of light of a first wavelength; and
a second array of photo detectors to sample an intensity of light of a second wavelength;
a first lens disposed in an optical path of the first array of photo detectors wherein the first lens includes a predetermined optical response to the light of the first wavelength; a second lens disposed in with an optical path of the second array of photo detectors wherein the second lens includes a predetermined optical response to the light of the second wavelength; signal processing circuitry, coupled to the first and second arrays of photo detectors, to generate a composite image using (i) data which is representative of the intensity of light sampled by the first array of photo detectors, and (ii) data which is representative of the intensity of light sampled by the second array of photo detectors; and wherein the first array of photo detectors, the second array of photo detectors, and the signal processing circuitry are integrated on or in the same semiconductor substrate.

35 . The digital camera of claim 34 wherein:
the first lens passes light of the first wavelength onto an image plane of the photo detectors of the first array; and the second lens passes light of the second wavelength onto an image plane of the photo detectors of the second array.

36 . The digital camera of claim 35 wherein:
the first lens filters light of the second wavelength; and the second lens filters light of the first wavelength.

37 . The digital camera of claim 34 further including:
a third array of photo detectors to sample the intensity of light of a third wavelength; a third lens disposed in with an optical path of the third array of photo detectors wherein the third lens includes a predetermined optical response to the light of the third wavelength; and and wherein the signal processing circuitry is coupled to the third array of photo detectors and generates a composite image using (i) data which is representative of the intensity of light sampled by the first array of photo detectors, (ii) data which is representative of the intensity of light sampled by the second array of photo detectors, and (ii) data which is representative of the intensity of light sampled by the third array of photo detectors.

38 . The digital camera of claim 37 wherein:
the first lens filters light of the second and third wavelengths; the second lens filters light of the first and third wavelengths; and the third lens filters light of the first and second wavelengths.

39 . The digital camera of claim 37 wherein the first, second and third arrays of photo detectors are relatively arranged in a triangular configuration.

40 . The digital camera of claim 39 wherein the first array of photo detectors, the second array of photo detectors, the third array of photo detectors, and the signal processing circuitry are integrated on the same semiconductor substrate.

41 . The digital camera of claim 40 wherein the first wavelength is associated with a first color, the second wavelength is associated with a second color and the third wavelength is associated with a third color.

42 . The digital camera of claim 37 wherein:
the first array of photo detectors sample the intensity of light of the first wavelength for a first integration time; the second array of photo detectors sample the intensity of light of the second wavelength for a second integration time; and the third array of photo detectors sample the intensity of light of the third wavelength for a third integration time.

43 . The digital camera of claim 34 wherein the first wavelength is associated with a first color and the second wavelength is associated with a second color.

44 . The digital camera of claim 43 wherein:
the first array of photo detectors sample the intensity of light for a first integration time; and the second array of photo detectors sample the intensity of light for a second integration time.

45 . The digital camera of claim 34 further including a housing, wherein the first and second lenses, first and second arrays of photo detectors, and the signal processing circuitry are attached to the housing, and wherein the first and second lenses are independently positionable relative to the associated array of photo detectors.

46 . The digital camera of claim 34 wherein:
the first array of photo detectors sample an intensity of light of the first wavelength and an intensity of light of a third wavelength; the second array of photo detectors sample an intensity of light of a second wavelength; and the first wavelength is associated with a first color, the second wavelength is associated with a second color and the third wavelength is associated with a third color.

47 . The digital camera of claim 46 wherein:
each photo detector of the first array includes a first semiconductor portion at which the intensity of light of the first wavelength is sampled and a second semiconductor portion at which the intensity of light of the third wavelength is sampled; each photo detector of the second array includes a semiconductor portion at which the intensity of light of the second wavelength is sampled; and the first and second semiconductor portions of each photo detector of the first array are located at a different depth, relative to each other and to a surface of each of the photo detectors from the semiconductor portion of each photo detector of the second array.

48 . The digital camera of claim 46 wherein the first lens passes light of the first and third wavelengths and filters light of a second wavelength.

49 . The digital camera of claim 46 further including an optical filter disposed in and associated with an optical path of the first array of photo detectors wherein the optical filter passes light of the first and third wavelengths and filters light of the second wavelength.

50 . The digital camera of claim 46 wherein:
the first array of photo detectors sample the intensity of light of the first wavelength for a first integration time; the second array of photo detectors sample the intensity of light of the third wavelength for a second integration time; and the first array of photo detectors sample the intensity of light of the third wavelength for a third integration time.

51 . The digital camera of claim 34 wherein the signal processing circuitry generates:
a first image using data which is representative of the intensity of light sampled by the first array of photo detectors, and a second image using data which is representative of the intensity of light sampled by the second array of photo detectors.

52 . The digital camera of claim 51 wherein the signal processing circuitry generates the composite image using the first image and the second image.

53 . The digital camera of claim 34 further including a memory to store (i) data which is representative of the intensity of light sampled by the first array of photo detectors, and (ii) data which is representative of the intensity of light sampled by the second array of photo detectors.

54 . The digital camera of claim 53 wherein the memory, the first array of photo detectors, the second array of photo detectors, and the signal processing circuitry are integrated on or in the same semiconductor substrate.

55 . The digital camera of claim 53 further including communication circuitry to output data which is representative of the composite image.

56 . The digital camera of claim 55 wherein the communication circuitry includes at least one of wireless, wired or optical communication circuitry.

57 . The digital camera of claim 53 wherein the communication circuitry, the memory, the first array of photo detectors, the second array of photo detectors, and the signal processing circuitry are integrated on or in the same semiconductor substrate.

58 . The digital camera of claim 34 wherein the signal processing circuitry includes first signal processing circuitry and second signal processing circuitry wherein the first signal processing circuitry is coupled to and associated with the first array of photo detectors and second signal processing circuitry is coupled to and associated with the second array of photo detectors.

59 . The digital camera of claim 34 wherein the signal processing circuitry includes first analog signal logic and second analog signal logic wherein the first analog signal logic is coupled to and associated with the first array of photo detectors and second analog signal logic is coupled to and associated with the second array of photo detectors.

60 . The digital camera of claim 34 wherein the signal processing circuitry includes first black level logic and second black level logic wherein the first black level logic is coupled to and associated with the first array of photo detectors and second black level logic is coupled to and associated with the second array of photo detectors.

61 . The digital camera of claim 34 wherein the signal processing circuitry includes first exposure control circuitry and second exposure control circuitry wherein the first exposure control circuitry is coupled to and associated with the first array of photo detectors and second exposure control circuitry is coupled to and associated with the second array of photo detectors.

62 . The digital camera of claim 34 further including a frame, wherein the first and second arrays of photo detectors, the signal processing circuitry, and the first and second lenses are fixed to the frame.

63 . The digital camera of claim 34 further including timing and control logic that to provide timing and control information to the signal processing circuitry, the first array of photo detectors and/or the second array of photo detectors.

64 . The digital camera of claim 34 wherein the first array of photo detectors includes a first surface area and the second array of photo detectors includes a second surface area wherein the first surface area is different from the second surface area.

65 . The digital camera of claim 64 wherein the photo detectors of the first array include a first active surface area and the photo detectors of the second array include a second active surface area wherein the first active surface area is different from the second active surface area.

66 . The digital camera of claim 34 wherein the first array of photo detectors includes a first surface area and the second array of photo detectors includes a second surface area wherein the first surface area is substantially the same as the second surface area.

67 . The digital camera of claim 66 wherein the photo detectors of the first array include a first active surface area and the photo detectors of the second array include a second active surface area wherein the first active surface area is different from the second active surface area.

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