Low Profile Camera and Vision Sensor

Abstract

A camera configured for a predetermined environment can be made low profile in the following manner. The camera includes an image sensor that has a light sensitive portion that can sense light from the predetermined environment. A substantially opaque mask is disposed above the light sensitive portion of the image sensor and has at least one opening through which the image sensor senses light. The low profile structure of the camera can be realized with substantially transparent material disposed between the substantially opaque mask and the image sensor that has index of refraction that is greater than an index of refraction of the predetermined environment. Accordingly, light through the opening refracts as it passes through the substantially transparent material to the image sensor.

1 . A camera configured for a predetermined environment, comprising:
 an image sensor having a light sensitive portion that is configured to sense light from the predetermined environment;   a substantially opaque mask disposed above the light sensitive portion of the image sensor and having at least one opening through which the light sensitive portion of the image sensor senses the light; and   a substantially transparent material disposed between the substantially opaque mask and the image sensor and through which the light is transmitted to the light sensitive portion of the image sensor, wherein the substantially transparent material has an index of refraction that is greater than an index of refraction of the predetermined environment.   
     
     
         2 . The camera according to  claim 1 , wherein the substantially transparent material is disposed on at least the light sensitive portion of the image sensor. 
     
     
         3 . The camera according to  claim 1 , further comprising an opaque enclosure capable of preventing light from entering any side surface of the substantially transparent material. 
     
     
         4 . The camera according to  claim 1 , wherein the substantially transparent material corresponds to a first substantially transparent material, further comprising a second substantially transparent material formed between at least the light sensitive portion of the image sensor and the first substantially transparent material. 
     
     
         5 . The camera according to  claim 4 , wherein the second substantially transparent material is an adhesive. 
     
     
         6 . The camera according to  claim 1 , wherein the substantially transparent material corresponds to a first substantially transparent material, further comprising a second substantially transparent material disposed on a first side of the substantially opaque mask opposite a second side adjacent to the first substantially transparent material. 
     
     
         7 . The camera according to  claim 6 , wherein the second substantially transparent material forms a lens. 
     
     
         8 . The camera according to  claim 7 , wherein the lens is shaped for a field of view that is greater than 180 degrees. 
     
     
         9 . The camera according to  claim 1 , wherein the substantially transparent material forms a monolithic layer of substantially transparent material. 
     
     
         10 . The camera according to  claim 1 , wherein the substantially transparent material comprises a plurality of sub-layers of substantially transparent material. 
     
     
         11 . The camera according to  claim 1 , wherein a surface of the substantially transparent material adjacent the substantially opaque mask is substantially flat. 
     
     
         12 . The camera according to  claim 1 , wherein a surface of the substantially transparent material adjacent the substantially opaque mask has a cross-sectional shape corresponding to at least one arc. 
     
     
         13 . The camera according to  claim 1 , wherein the substantially transparent material has a cross-sectional shape corresponding to a polygon. 
     
     
         14 . The camera according to  claim 1 , wherein a perimeter of the opening has a shape corresponding to a shape of the light sensitive portion of the image sensor. 
     
     
         15 . The camera according to  claim 1 , wherein a perimeter of the opening has a shape comprising at least one curve. 
     
     
         16 . The camera according to  claim 1 , wherein a perimeter of the opening has a polygonal shape. 
     
     
         17 . The camera according to  claim 16 , wherein the polygonal shape has a length and a width wherein the length is substantially greater than the width. 
     
     
         18 . The camera according to  claim 1 , wherein a perimeter of the opening has an elongated shape. 
     
     
         19 . The camera according to  claim 1 , further comprising substantially opaque material disposed on a side surface of the substantially transparent material. 
     
     
         20 . The camera according to  claim 19 , wherein the substantially opaque material is an adhesive for affixing at least the substantially transparent material to the image sensor. 
     
     
         21 . The camera according to  claim 1 , wherein the substantially opaque mask comprises a plurality of openings and each opening is positioned relative to a respective portion of the light sensitive portion that senses light through the corresponding opening. 
     
     
         22 . The camera according to  claim 21 , wherein each opening is spaced apart from an adjacent opening of the plurality of openings such that light sensed for a respective opening does not substantially overlap with light sensed from the adjacent opening. 
     
     
         23 . The camera according to  claim 21 , wherein each opening is spaced apart from an adjacent opening of the plurality of openings by a distance that is greater than a multiple of the pitch of adjacent pixel elements in the light sensitive portion. 
     
     
         24 . The camera according to  claim 21 , wherein each respective light sensitive portion senses light substantially from the corresponding opening of the plurality of openings. 
     
     
         25 . The camera according to  claim 21  wherein the plurality of openings comprise a plurality of shapes or sizes. 
     
     
         26 . The camera according to  claim 21 , wherein a surface of the substantially transparent material adjacent the substantially opaque mask is shaped to form a plurality of lens elements. 
     
     
         27 . The camera according to  claim 26 , wherein each opening of the plurality of openings is positioned on a respective lens element of the plurality of elements. 
     
     
         28 . The camera according to  claim 27 , wherein each opening of the plurality of openings is substantially centered on the respective lens element. 
     
     
         29 . The camera according to  claim 27 , wherein at least one opening of the plurality of openings is positioned off center relative to the respective lens element. 
     
     
         30 . The camera according to  claim 29 , wherein the at least one opening positioned off center is located away from a center region of the substantially transparent material. 
     
     
         31 . The camera according to  claim 29 , wherein the at least one opening positioned off center is located in a peripheral region of the substantially transparent material. 
     
     
         32 . The camera according to  claim 26 , wherein a portion of the substantially opaque mask is disposed on a first portion of each lens element and the plurality of openings expose a second portion of each lens element. 
     
     
         33 . The camera according to  claim 21 , wherein the plurality of openings form a grid pattern. 
     
     
         34 . The camera according to  claim 21 , further comprising a processor configured to acquire a plurality of subimages, wherein each subimage corresponds to an opening of the plurality of openings. 
     
     
         35 . The camera according to  claim 34 , wherein the processor is configured to generate an image based on the plurality of subimages. 
     
     
         36 . The camera according to  claim 35 , wherein the processor is configured to generate a light field image based on the plurality of subimages. 
     
     
         37 . The camera according to  claim 35 , wherein the processor is configured to generate a range information based on the plurality of subimages. 
     
     
         38 . A camera, comprising:
 an image sensor having a light sensitive portion for sensing light;   a substantially opaque mask disposed above the light sensitive portion of the image sensor and having a plurality of openings formed in the mask;   a substantially transparent monolithic material disposed between the substantially opaque mask and the image sensor and through which the light is transmitted to the light sensitive portion of the image sensor, and   wherein each opening of the plurality of openings is spaced apart from an adjacent opening of the plurality of openings at a distance such that light sensed by the light sensitive portion corresponding to a respective opening does not substantially overlap with light sensed by the light sensitive portion corresponding to the adjacent opening.   
     
     
         39 . A low profile camera, comprising:
 an image sensor having a light sensitive portion that is configured to sense light from a surrounding environment; and   a substantially flat optical structure disposed on the image sensor and having at least one aperture through which the light sensitive portion senses light from the surrounding environment with a field of view that is substantially 180 degrees.