CN113905148A

CN113905148A - Camera module, control method thereof and terminal equipment

Info

Publication number: CN113905148A
Application number: CN202010574494.XA
Authority: CN
Inventors: 陈辉
Original assignee: ZTE Corp
Current assignee: ZTE Corp
Priority date: 2020-06-22
Filing date: 2020-06-22
Publication date: 2022-01-07
Also published as: WO2021258908A1

Abstract

The invention discloses a camera module, comprising: a lens assembly including at least a first lens and a second lens; the prism assembly comprises a first prism device and a second prism device, wherein the first prism device comprises a first light reflecting surface, and the second prism device comprises a second light reflecting surface and a first light transmitting surface; the first lens collects light and transmits the light to the image sensor through a first light path, the second lens collects light and transmits the light to the image sensor through a second light path, the first light path passes through the first light reflecting surface and the second light reflecting surface, and the second light path passes through the first light transmitting surface; and the optical path gating mechanism is used for determining the target lens from the lens assembly according to the shooting mode selected by the user and gating the optical path from the target lens to the image sensor so as to transmit the light collected by the target lens to the image sensor. The camera module comprises a plurality of lenses with different functions through the light path design built by a plurality of optical devices, wherein the number of the image sensors is less than that of the lenses.

Description

Camera module, control method thereof and terminal equipment

Technical Field

The invention relates to the field of cameras, in particular to a camera module, a control method of the camera module and terminal equipment comprising the camera module.

Background

The camera is used as an image input device and is widely applied to the fields of camera shooting, mobile phone video, security monitoring and the like; the quality of camera has very big relation with the camera module, along with the continuous progress of science and technology, the technology of camera module is also constantly improving. The main components of the camera module are: the image sensor comprises a sensor, a lens group, a base, a filter and a Printed Circuit Board (PCB for short), wherein the sensor and the lens are important devices and determine the quality of image formation. Charge Coupled Device (CCD) and Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) sensors are mainly manufactured by japan, korea and usa manufacturers, and sony, samsung and the like are medium-high, which results in a sensor with a high price and a high cost in a camera module.

Along with the demand promotion of user to shooting function and effect, the increase of the camera number in the shooting equipment, the corresponding increase of sensor number also, and the camera pixel is higher and higher, and overall cost also greatly increased. The high pixel sensor is large in size, and a plurality of modules are packaged independently, so that terminal space is occupied more and more.

Disclosure of Invention

The following is a summary of the subject matter described in detail herein. This summary is not intended to limit the scope of the claims.

In one aspect, an embodiment of the present invention provides a camera module, where the camera module includes: a lens assembly including at least a first lens and a second lens; the prism assembly comprises a first prism device and a second prism device, wherein the first prism device comprises a first light reflecting surface, and the second prism device comprises a second light reflecting surface and a first light transmitting surface; the image sensor is used for transmitting light collected by the first lens to the image sensor through a first light path, transmitting light collected by the second lens to the image sensor through a second light path, wherein the first light path passes through the first light reflecting surface and the second light reflecting surface, and the second light path passes through the first light transmitting surface; and the optical path gating mechanism is used for determining a target lens from the lens assembly according to a shooting mode selected by a user and gating the optical path from the target lens to the image sensor so as to transmit the light collected by the target lens to the image sensor.

On the other hand, an embodiment of the present invention provides a method for controlling a camera module, where the camera module includes a lens assembly, a prism assembly, an image sensor, and a light path gating mechanism, where the lens assembly includes at least a first lens and a second lens, the prism assembly includes a first prism device and a second prism device, the first prism device includes a first reflective surface, the second prism device includes a second reflective surface and a first light-transmitting surface, the first lens collects light and transmits the light to the image sensor through a first light path, the second lens collects light and transmits the light to the image sensor through a second light path, the first light path passes through the first reflective surface and the second reflective surface, and the second light path passes through the first light-transmitting surface; the method is applied to the optical path gating mechanism and comprises the following steps: determining a target lens from the lens assembly according to a photographing mode selected by a user; and gating the optical path from the target lens to the image sensor so as to transmit the light collected by the target lens to the image sensor.

In another aspect, an embodiment of the present invention provides an electronic device, including: a memory for storing a program; and the processor is used for executing the program stored in the memory, and when the processor executes the program stored in the memory, the processor is used for executing the control method of the camera module.

In another aspect, an embodiment of the present invention provides a storage medium, which stores computer-executable instructions, where the computer-executable instructions are used to execute the method for controlling the camera module.

The invention relates to a camera module, which comprises: a lens assembly including at least a first lens and a second lens; the prism assembly comprises a first prism device and a second prism device, wherein the first prism device comprises a first light reflecting surface, and the second prism device comprises a second light reflecting surface and a first light transmitting surface; the image sensor is used for transmitting light collected by the first lens to the image sensor through a first light path, transmitting light collected by the second lens to the image sensor through a second light path, wherein the first light path passes through the first light reflecting surface and the second light reflecting surface, and the second light path passes through the first light transmitting surface; and the optical path gating mechanism is used for determining a target lens from the lens assembly according to a shooting mode selected by a user and gating the optical path from the target lens to the image sensor so as to transmit the light collected by the target lens to the image sensor. The scheme of the embodiment of the invention finally realizes that the image sensors complete data recording such as photographing, video recording and the like, wherein the number of the image sensors is less than that of the lenses, thereby realizing the photographing function of multiple cameras, ensuring a high-image-quality photosensitive device and saving comprehensive space and material cost to the maximum extent.

Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.

Drawings

The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the example serve to explain the principles of the invention and not to limit the invention.

Fig. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of a camera module according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 2 is a schematic structural diagram of a camera module according to another embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 3 is a schematic structural diagram of a camera module according to another embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 4 is a schematic structural diagram of a camera module according to another embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 5 is a schematic structural diagram of a camera module according to another embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 6 is a schematic structural diagram of a camera module according to another embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 7 is a schematic structural diagram of a camera module according to another embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 8 is a schematic structural diagram of a camera module according to another embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 9 is a schematic structural diagram of a camera module according to another embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 10 is a schematic flowchart of a control method of a camera module according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 11 is a schematic flowchart of a control method of a camera module according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a schematic flowchart of a control method of a camera module according to another embodiment of the present invention

Fig. 13 is a block diagram of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description

In order to make the objects, technical solutions and advantages of the present invention more apparent, the present invention is described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the invention and are not intended to limit the invention.

It should be understood that in the description of the embodiments of the present invention, a plurality (or a plurality) means two or more, more than, less than, more than, etc. are understood as excluding the number, and more than, less than, etc. are understood as including the number. If the description of "first", "second", etc. is used for the purpose of distinguishing technical features, it is not intended to indicate or imply relative importance or to implicitly indicate the number of indicated technical features or to implicitly indicate the precedence of the indicated technical features.

In the prior art, a single camera module is configured in such a manner that each image sensor corresponds to one lens. Regardless of the front lens, the main shooting lens or the telephoto lens, the front lens, the main shooting lens or the telephoto lens respectively correspond to one image sensor, and according to different shooting requirements, the sensitivity and the imaging effect of the sensor corresponding to each lens may be different, but it is difficult to avoid that different sensors account for a larger cost in the camera module.

Along with the increase of the number of cameras in the terminal, the number of camera modules also needs to be increased by the same number, the comprehensive cost is increased, and the occupied comprehensive structural space is increased accordingly. If under the condition that does not influence the effect of shooing, a plurality of camera lenses sharing sensor can realize the greatly reduced of equipment cost of shooing, also can reduce the comprehensive space that the camera module occupy simultaneously.

Based on this, according to a first aspect of the embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a camera module, including: the camera module includes: a lens assembly including at least a first lens and a second lens; the prism assembly comprises a first prism device and a second prism device, wherein the first prism device comprises a first light reflecting surface, and the second prism device comprises a second light reflecting surface and a first light transmitting surface; the image sensor is used for transmitting light collected by the first lens to the image sensor through a first light path, transmitting light collected by the second lens to the image sensor through a second light path, wherein the first light path passes through the first light reflecting surface and the second light reflecting surface, and the second light path passes through the first light transmitting surface; and the optical path gating mechanism is used for determining a target lens from the lens assembly according to a shooting mode selected by a user and gating the optical path from the target lens to the image sensor so as to transmit the light collected by the target lens to the image sensor.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic structural diagram of a camera module according to an embodiment of the present invention. The camera module comprises a first lens 1, a second lens 2 and a first prism device 101, wherein the first prism device comprises a first reflecting surface; a second prism device 102 comprising a second light reflecting surface and a first light transmitting surface; the light rays collected by the first lens 1 are reflected to the second reflecting surface through the first reflecting surface and are reflected to the image sensor 4 through the second reflecting surface; the light collected by the second lens 2 is transmitted to the image sensor 4 through the first light-transmitting surface.

In the present embodiment, the photographing function of the plurality of cameras is realized in a single mode by integrating a plurality of prisms, such as a half-mirror prism and a reflection prism. As described in the following detailed embodiment, the single-mode type of the camera module may be implemented, as shown in fig. 2, in which a second prism device 102 is disposed between the second lens 2 and the image sensor 4, and light entering the second lens 2 is incident on a light-transmitting surface of the second prism device 102 and is guided to the image sensor 4 through the second prism device 102; and, the light beam entering the first lens 1 changes the direction of the light path by the first prism device 101 and is reflected to enter the reflective surface of the second prism device 102, and then is reflected by the reflective surface of the second prism device 102 to reach the photosensitive image sensor 4.

In this embodiment, a plurality of lenses simultaneously enter with light, and when a target lens with a certain function is used for taking a picture, a module control method is also very important in order to avoid interference of incident light of other non-target lenses in the module on an image, therefore, the invention further comprises a light path gating mechanism for switching the working state of the lenses to a state of allowing the light penetrating through the lenses to reach an image sensor, so that different lenses cannot interfere with each other in different working states. The optical path gating mechanism is used for determining a target lens from the lens assembly according to a shooting mode selected by a user and gating an optical path from the target lens to the image sensor so as to transmit light collected by the target lens to the image sensor.

As shown in fig. 1, in an embodiment of the present invention, the optical path gating mechanism includes: and the

mechanical shutter devices

531 and 532 correspond to the lenses of the lens assembly one by one and are respectively arranged in the light ray outgoing direction of each lens.

The mechanical shutter device is arranged at the rear side of each lens, when a certain lens is used for shooting, the mechanical shutter corresponding to the target lens is driven to open through the system, and meanwhile, the mechanical shutters corresponding to other non-target lenses are in a closed state, so that the lens from which light enters is determined; therefore, interference of other non-target lens incident light in the module on the image is avoided.

In another embodiment of the present invention, as shown in fig. 2, the lens assembly further comprises at least one third prism device comprising a third light reflecting surface and a second light transmitting surface; the lens assembly further comprises at least one third lens corresponding to the third prism device, light collected by the third lens is transmitted to the image sensor through a third light path, and the third light path passes through a third light reflecting surface and the second light reflecting surface; the first light path passes through the first light reflecting surface, the second light transmitting surface and the second light reflecting surface. According to different requirements, if more lenses are needed in some scenes, a design method of adding a third prism device 103 having a light reflecting surface and a light transmitting surface may be adopted to add more lenses, where the third prism device 103 is disposed between the first prism device 101 and the second prism device 102, and is used for reflecting the light reflected by the at least one third lens 3 to the light reflecting surface of the second prism device 102 and further reflecting the light to the image sensor 4, and for transmitting the light reflected by the first prism device 101, in this way, more lenses with different functions may be added. For example, as shown in fig. 2, a second prism device 102 is disposed between a second lens 2 (e.g., a rear telephoto lens) and the image sensor 4, and light transmitted through the second lens 2 is incident on a light-transmitting surface of the second prism device 102 and is guided onto the image sensor through the second prism device 102; the light entering the first lens 1 (for example, a rear main camera lens) is changed in optical path direction by the first prism device 101, reflected to enter the third prism device 103 and reach the reflective surface of the second prism device 102, and then reflected by the reflective surface of the first prism device 101 and reach the photosensitive image sensor 4; the light entering the third lens 3 (e.g., the second rear telephoto lens) is reflected by the reflective surface of the third prism device 103 to enter the reflective surface of the second prism device 102, and is then reflected by the reflective surface of the second prism device 102 to reach the photosensitive image sensor 4; similarly, if there is a need for more rear cameras, the same design method can be used to add more third prism devices 103 and add, for example, other telephoto lenses.

In the embodiment of the integrated camera module, the plurality of lenses simultaneously enter with light, and when a target lens with a certain function is used for taking a picture, in order to avoid interference of incident light of other non-target lenses in the module on an image, the module control method is also very important, therefore, the integrated camera module further comprises a light path gating mechanism which is used for determining the target lens from the lens assembly according to a shooting mode selected by a user and gating the target lens to a light path of the image sensor so as to transmit the light collected by the target lens to the image sensor. For example, as shown in fig. 2, in an embodiment of the present invention, the optical path gating mechanism includes: the

mechanical shutter devices

531, 532 and 531 correspond to the lenses of the lens assembly one by one and are respectively arranged in the light ray outgoing direction of each lens.

The above embodiment describes different situations of the rear camera, and according to different situations, if there is a need of the front camera, we only need to adjust the direction of the first prism device 101. As shown in fig. 3, a second prism device 102 is disposed between a second lens 2 (e.g., a rear telephoto lens) and the image sensor 4, and light transmitted through the second lens 2 is incident on a light-transmitting surface of the second prism device 102 and is guided onto the image sensor through the second prism device 102; the light entering the first lens 1 (for example, a rear main camera lens) is changed in optical path direction by the first prism device 101, reflected, passes through the third prism device 103, enters the reflective surface of the second prism device 102, and is reflected by the reflective surface of the second prism device 102 to the photosensitive image sensor 4; if there is a need for a front camera, we need only adjust the direction of the first prism device 101 to a direction rotated by 90 degrees based on the original direction, for example, and set the corresponding front lens to correspond to the first prism device 101. At this time, the light entering the first lens 1 (for example, the front lens at this time) is reflected by the light reflecting surface of the first prism device 101, passes through the third prism device 103, and is incident on the light reflecting surface of the second prism device 102, and is then reflected by the light reflecting surface of the second prism device 102 to reach the photosensitive image sensor 4, so that the design requirement for increasing the front lens is fulfilled.

The above is merely an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and the technical solution of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment and the case in which the front view is one camera and the back view is two cameras in fig. 3. In other embodiments, a plurality of third prism devices 103 and the first prism device 101 are combined to realize a plurality of camera combinations in different directions, only 1 third prism device 103 needs to be added for 1 more cameras, and such a design can be integrated in one module, thereby realizing a camera module with a plurality of lenses.

Illustratively, as shown in fig. 4, the number of rear cameras may be N, and only N third prism devices 103 need to be added correspondingly; similarly, the number of front cameras may also be N, and only the third prism device 103 needs to be added and the direction of the added third prism device 103 is adjusted, so that the corresponding front camera corresponding to the added adjusted third prism device 103 may be added. And setting a corresponding optical path gating mechanism according to the corresponding design, wherein the optical path gating mechanism is used for determining a target lens from the lens assembly according to a shooting mode selected by a user and gating the target lens to an optical path of the image sensor so as to transmit light collected by the target lens to the image sensor.

In the scheme of the above embodiment, the photographing function of the multiple cameras is realized by a single-mode formula integrating multiple prisms (a semi-transparent and semi-reflective prism, a reflective prism, and the like), and the multiple cameras may include a front camera, a rear main camera, a rear wide angle, a rear telephoto, a rear macro, and the like; in the scheme, each optical device is fixed, and mechanical rotation or transmission is not needed, so that the whole module has high reliability; in addition, the proposal can increase the lens integrating more functions along with the increase of the product demand, thereby meeting the demand of product upgrading and updating.

In another embodiment of the present invention, comprises: a planar reflecting device 101 including a first reflecting surface; the adjusting mechanism 202 is configured to adjust an angle of the first light reflecting surface, so that the first light reflecting surface reflects the light collected by the first lens 1 or the second lens 2 to the image sensor 4.

In another embodiment of the present invention, comprises: the plane reflecting device comprises a first reflecting surface; the adjusting mechanism adjusts the angle of the plane reflection device in an electromagnetic adsorption mode so that the first reflection surface reflects the light collected by the first lens or the second lens to the image sensor.

Specifically, the method comprises the following steps: the plane reflection device 101, one side of the plane reflection device 101 is a plane reflector; and an adjusting mechanism 202, which may be an electromagnetic absorption plate, for absorbing the plane reflection device, and adjusting the inclination direction and the inclination angle of the plane reflection device by adjusting the absorption capability of the left and right sides of the electromagnetic absorption plate to the plane reflection device, so as to reflect the light transmitted through the lens and incident on the plane mirror of the plane reflection device onto the image sensor. In this embodiment, the photographing function of the plurality of cameras is realized in a single module by integrating the plane reflection device 101 of electromagnetically controlled tilt angles. The multiple cameras may include a front camera, a rear main camera, a rear wide angle, a rear tele, a rear macro, etc. The design scheme can further optimize the whole product structure.

In this embodiment, the multiple-camera photographing function is realized by integrating a single module of the planar reflection device 101, and the multiple cameras include a front view and a rear view (rear main view, rear wide angle, rear telephoto, rear macro, and the like). As shown in fig. 5, 1 photosensitive image sensor 4 and a plane reflection device 101 are placed between a front lens 5 and a rear lens 6, the plane reflection device 101 can rotate, if a front camera is currently used for taking a picture, after the plane reflection device is rotated clockwise, light entering the front lens 5 is reflected by the plane reflection device 101 and is adjusted and guided onto the image sensor to complete imaging.

When the rear camera needs to be used for taking a picture, as shown in fig. 6 below, as with the above principle, 1 photosensitive image sensor and a plane reflection device 101 are arranged between the front lens and the rear lens, the plane reflection device 101 can rotate, if the rear camera is currently used for taking a picture, if the front camera needs to be switched to be used for taking a picture, after the plane reflection device 101 rotates anticlockwise, light entering the rear lens 6 is reflected by the plane reflection device and is adjusted and guided onto the image sensor to complete imaging.

The rotation of the planar reflecting means 101 in fig. 5 and 6 can be driven by magnetic force; the adjusting mechanism 202 adsorbs the plane reflection device 101, and the adsorption capacity of the left and right sides of the adjusting mechanism 202 on the plane reflection device 101 can be adjusted by controlling and adjusting the magnetic force of the left and right sides of the adjusting mechanism 202 on the plane reflection device 101, so that the inclination direction and the inclination angle of the plane reflection device 101 can be adjusted, and the purpose of changing the light transmission direction is achieved.

It should be understood that the adjusting mechanism in the above embodiments may be implemented in other manners, for example, by setting the adjusting mechanism as another driving element such as a motor, so as to adjust the tilting direction and the tilting angle of the plane reflection device, and further reflect the light, which is incident on the plane mirror of the plane reflection device through the lens, onto the image sensor.

In the embodiment of the integrated camera module, the plurality of lenses simultaneously have light entering, and when a target lens with a certain function is used for taking a picture, the module control method is also very important in order to avoid interference of incident light of other non-target lenses in the module on images, therefore, the integrated camera module further comprises a light path gating mechanism for switching the working state of the lenses to a state allowing the light penetrating through the lenses to reach the image sensor, so that different lenses cannot interfere with each other in different working states. In one embodiment of the present invention, the optical path gating mechanism includes N mechanical shutter devices, the N mechanical shutter devices correspond to the N lenses one to one, and the mechanical shutter devices are disposed at the rear side of the lenses.

As shown in fig. 7, the

mechanical shutters

531, 532, 533 are respectively corresponding mechanical shutters arranged behind the

lenses

521, 522, 523, when the user selects to use the lens 521 to take a picture or record a video, the system issues an instruction to drive and control the mechanical shutter 531 to open, at this time, the light passing through the lens 521 enters the integrated camera module, and is transmitted through the half-mirror 501 to reach the photosensitive image sensor 500 to receive light information. Meanwhile, the

mechanical shutters

532 and 533 corresponding to the non-target lenses are in a closed state, and light entering the

non-target lenses

522 and 523 cannot enter the integrated module, namely the light entering the

non-target lenses

522 and 523 cannot cause light interference inside the module.

When the user selects to switch to another lens for taking a picture, as shown in fig. 8, the system issues an instruction to drive and control the mechanical shutter 533 to open, at this time, the light passing through the lens 523 enters the integrated module, is reflected by the reflection prism 511, enters and transmits through the transmission surface of the half-transmitting and half-reflecting prism 502 to reach the reflection surface of the half-transmitting and half-reflecting prism 501, and the light path is converted by 90 degrees to reach the photosensitive image sensor 500 to receive the light information. Meanwhile, the

mechanical shutters

531 and 532 are in a closed state, and light rays entering the

lenses

521 and 522 cannot enter the integrated module, namely the light rays entering the

lenses

521 and 522 cannot cause light ray interference inside the module. The above embodiments are merely exemplary to illustrate the case of switching to use of one lens, and these examples should not be considered as limitations of the present invention, and the present invention may be configured to use a plurality of lenses at the same time according to the needs of a certain situation.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the optical path gating mechanism further includes: the fixed angle polaroids correspond to the lenses of the lens assembly one by one and are respectively arranged in the light emergent direction of each lens; the angle-adjustable polaroid is arranged in the light receiving direction of the image sensor.

And the optical path gating mechanism comprises an angle-adjustable polaroid arranged on the front side of the image sensor. In this embodiment, a polarizer is disposed behind each lens, which only allows the fixed single-phase light waves to transmit, whereas the other-phase light waves are totally reflected. By using the principle of the polaroid, different phases of transmission light rays are set for different lenses. Before light passing through the fixed-angle polaroid on the rear side of the lens is conducted to enter the photosensitive image sensor, the light needs to pass through the electric control adjustable-angle polaroid arranged on the front side of the image sensor, and according to the specific requirements of the photographing lens, the system controller automatically adjusts the phase of the adjustable-angle polaroid to be consistent with the phase of the corresponding lens polaroid, so that the aim of selecting target lens light to be injected is fulfilled.

Specifically, as shown in fig. 9, the fixed

angle polarizers

631, 632, 633 are polarizers with different phase angles disposed behind the

lenses

521, 522, 523, respectively, and the adjustable angle polarizer 630 is an adjustable angle polarizer in front of the photosensitive image sensor; when the user selects to use the lens 531 for photographing or recording, the system issues an instruction to drive and control so as to automatically adjust the phase angle of the adjustable-angle polarizer 630 to be the same as the phase angle of the fixed-angle polarizer 631; at this time, the light passing through the lens 521 enters the integrated module, passes through the fixed angle polarizer 631, becomes a fixed phase light, and reaches the adjustable polarizer 630 through the transflective prism; because the adjustable angle polarizer 630 and the fixed angle polarizer 631 have the same phase angle, the light information can pass through normally and reach the image sensor 500, where the received light information is recorded and converted to be stored as a picture or video. Meanwhile, after passing through the fixed

angle polarizers

632 and 633, the light beams passing through the

lenses

522 and 523 respectively continue to propagate through the fixed

angle polarizers

632 and 633 in respective independent phase angle polarized light, and finally reach the adjustable angle polarizer 630 after passing through the optical path conversion of the integrated module, but the phase angle of the adjustable angle polarizer 630 is not consistent with the phase angle of the fixed

angle polarizers

632 and 633, so that the two light beams passing through the fixed

angle polarizers

632 and 633 cannot be transmitted through the adjustable angle polarizer 630, and the image sensor 500 cannot receive the information of the two light beams. Therefore, the shot picture or the recorded video is not interfered by the light information passing through the non-target lens. Similarly, when the user selects to use another lens to take a picture or record a video, the system issues an instruction to drive and control the phase angle of the adjustable-angle polarizer 630 to be adjusted to be the same as the phase angle of the polarizer corresponding to the selected target lens, so that the light information of the other lens can be filtered, and only the image information of the selected target lens is recorded.

The device and the method provided by the invention can realize the photographing function of single-module multi-camera, reduce the number of photosensitive image sensors with higher cost and integrate and optimize the whole space; in addition, a method for selectively controlling the lens is provided, when photographing or video recording is started, light can only enter and be conducted from the target lens to form an image on the photosensitive image sensor, and light of other lenses cannot enter through a light path to interfere with the image formation.

According to a second aspect of the embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a terminal device, which includes the camera module according to any one of the above embodiments. The terminal equipment can be mobile phones, tablet computers, unmanned planes, monitoring equipment and other terminal equipment.

According to a third aspect of the embodiments of the present invention, a method for controlling a camera module is provided, where the camera module includes a lens assembly, a prism assembly, an image sensor, and a light path gating mechanism, the lens assembly includes at least a first lens and a second lens, the prism assembly includes a first prism device and a second prism device, the first prism device includes a first light reflecting surface, the second prism device includes a second light reflecting surface and a first light transmitting surface, the first lens collects light and transmits the light to the image sensor through a first light path, the second lens collects light and transmits the light to the image sensor through a second light path, the first light path passes through the first light reflecting surface and the second light reflecting surface, and the second light path passes through the first light transmitting surface; the method is applied to the optical path gating mechanism and comprises the following steps: determining a target lens from the lens assembly according to a photographing mode selected by a user; and gating the optical path from the target lens to the image sensor so as to transmit the light collected by the target lens to the image sensor.

Fig. 10 shows a control method for a camera module according to an embodiment of the present invention, where the method includes the following steps S100 to S200:

and S100, determining a target lens from the lens assembly according to the shooting mode selected by the user.

For example, the user may select a photographing mode of the wide-angle lens, and determine that the target lens to be used is the wide-angle lens according to the photographing mode selected by the client.

And S200, gating a light path from the target lens to the image sensor to transmit the light collected by the target lens to the image sensor.

Illustratively, the system correspondingly adjusts and controls the optical path gating mechanism according to the photographing mode, so that only the light of the target lens can reach the image sensor, and thus the light of other non-target lenses cannot interfere with the light of the target lens, and the imaging of the image sensor cannot be interfered in the subsequent steps. The user presses the shooting button, and the light rays entering the target lens pass through the light path device of the embodiment of the invention.

Illustratively, the optical path device in the embodiment of the reflecting prism with the light reflecting surface and the half-reflecting prism with the light reflecting surface and the light transmitting surface of the invention is used. The light rays passing through the light path device are conducted to enter the photosensitive image sensor for imaging, so that photographing or video recording is realized. Thereby realizing that a specific target lens is selected for photographing.

Illustratively, the adjusting mechanism of the invention is used for adjusting the angle of the plane reflection device in an electromagnetic absorption manner, so that the first light reflection surface reflects the light collected by the first lens or the second lens to the image sensor, thereby realizing the purpose of selecting a specific target lens (the first lens or the second lens) for photographing.

As shown in fig. 11, specifically, the gating of the optical path from the target lens to the image sensor in step S200 to transmit the light collected by the target lens to the image sensor may be implemented by the following step S210: s210, adjusting the mechanical shutter corresponding to the target lens to be in an opening state, and adjusting the mechanical shutter corresponding to the non-target lens to be in a closing state.

Illustratively, the optical path gating mechanism includes: the mechanical shutter devices correspond to the lenses of the lens assembly one by one and are respectively arranged in the light ray outgoing direction of each lens; the sending of the gating signal corresponding to the target lens to the optical path gating mechanism so that the optical path gating mechanism transmits the light collected by the target lens to the image sensor includes: and sending a gating signal to a mechanical shutter corresponding to the target lens to open the mechanical shutter corresponding to the target lens. The optical path device in the embodiment of the reflecting prism with the reflecting surface and the semi-transparent semi-reflecting prism with the reflecting surface and the light transmitting surface of the invention is used. So that light that has passed through the objective lens and through its corresponding open shutter is directed onto the image sensor, which light is used for imaging in the next step.

As shown in fig. 12, specifically, the gating of the optical path from the target lens to the image sensor in step S200 to transmit the light collected by the target lens to the image sensor may be implemented by the following step S220:

s220, adjusting the phase angle of the angle-adjustable polarizer to be the same as that of the fixed angle polarizer corresponding to the target lens.

Illustratively, the optical path gating mechanism includes: the fixed angle polaroids correspond to the lenses of the lens assembly one by one and are respectively arranged in the light emergent direction of each lens; the angle-adjustable polaroid is arranged in the light receiving direction of the image sensor; and sending a gating signal corresponding to the target lens to the optical path gating mechanism so that the optical path gating mechanism transmits the light collected by the target lens to the image sensor. The optical path device in the embodiment of the reflecting prism with the reflecting surface and the semi-transparent semi-reflecting prism with the reflecting surface and the light transmitting surface of the invention is used. Meanwhile, the optical path gating mechanism comprises a fixed angle polaroid arranged on the rear side of the lens, the fixed angle polaroids correspond to the lens in a one-to-one mode, and the optical path gating mechanism comprises an adjustable angle polaroid arranged on the front side of the image sensor. According to the specific requirements of the photographing lens, the system controller automatically adjusts the phase of the angle-adjustable polaroid to be consistent with the phase of the corresponding lens polaroid, so that the aim of selecting the target lens light to be emitted into the image sensor is fulfilled.

Fig. 13 shows an electronic device 40 provided by an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in fig. 13, the electronic device 40 includes, but is not limited to:

a memory 42 for storing programs;

and a processor 41 for executing the program stored in the memory 42, wherein when the processor 41 executes the program stored in the memory 42, the processor 41 is configured to execute the control method of the camera module.

The processor 41 and the memory 42 may be connected by a bus or other means.

The memory 42, which is a non-transitory computer readable storage medium, may be used to store non-transitory software programs and non-transitory computer executable programs, such as the terminal selection method described in the embodiments of the present invention. The processor 41 implements the above-described terminal selection method by running a non-transitory software program and instructions stored in the memory 42.

The memory 42 may include a storage program area and a storage data area, wherein the storage program area may store an operating system, an application program required for at least one function; the storage data area may store data for performing the terminal selection method described above. Further, the memory 42 may include high speed random access memory, and may also include non-transitory memory, such as at least one magnetic disk storage device, flash memory device, or other non-transitory solid state storage device. In some embodiments, the memory 42 may optionally include memory located remotely from the processor 41, and these remote memories may be connected to the processor 41 via a network. Examples of such networks include, but are not limited to, the internet, intranets, local area networks, mobile communication networks, and combinations thereof.

Non-transitory software programs and instructions necessary to implement the above-described terminal selection method are stored in the memory 42 and, when executed by the one or more processors 41, perform the above-described terminal selection method, e.g., performing the method steps S100 to S200 described in fig. 10, the method steps S100, S210 described in fig. 11, the method steps S100, S220 described in fig. 12.

The embodiment of the invention also provides a storage medium which stores computer executable instructions, and the computer executable instructions are used for executing the control method of the camera module.

In an embodiment, the storage medium stores computer-executable instructions, which are executed by one or more control processors 41, for example, by one processor 41 in the electronic device 40, and may cause the one or more processors 41 to perform the cloud computing service method, for example, the method steps S100 to S200 described in fig. 10, the method steps S100 and S210 described in fig. 11, and the method steps S100 and S220 described in fig. 12.

The above described embodiments are merely illustrative, wherein elements illustrated as separate components may or may not be physically separate, may be located in one place, or may be distributed over a plurality of network elements. Some or all of the modules may be selected according to actual needs to achieve the purpose of the solution of the present embodiment.

One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that all or some of the steps, systems, and methods disclosed above may be implemented as software, firmware, hardware, and suitable combinations thereof. Some or all of the physical components may be implemented as software executed by a processor, such as a central processing unit, digital signal processor, or microprocessor, or as hardware, or as an integrated circuit, such as an application specific integrated circuit. Such software may be distributed on computer readable media, which may include computer storage media (or non-transitory media) and communication media (or transitory media). The term computer storage media includes volatile and nonvolatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information such as computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data, as is well known to those of ordinary skill in the art. Computer storage media includes, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, Digital Versatile Disks (DVD) or other optical disk storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to store the desired information and which can accessed by a computer. In addition, communication media typically embodies computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data in a modulated data signal such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism and includes any information delivery media as known to those skilled in the art.

Embodiments of this invention are described herein, including the preferred embodiments known to the inventors for carrying out the invention. Variations of those described embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventors intend for the embodiments of the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the scope of the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.

Claims

1. The utility model provides a camera module which characterized in that includes:

a lens assembly including at least a first lens and a second lens;

the prism assembly comprises a first prism device and a second prism device, wherein the first prism device comprises a first light reflecting surface, and the second prism device comprises a second light reflecting surface and a first light transmitting surface;

the image sensor is used for transmitting light collected by the first lens to the image sensor through a first light path, transmitting light collected by the second lens to the image sensor through a second light path, wherein the first light path passes through the first light reflecting surface and the second light reflecting surface, and the second light path passes through the first light transmitting surface;

and the optical path gating mechanism is used for determining a target lens from the lens assembly according to a shooting mode selected by a user and gating the optical path from the target lens to the image sensor so as to transmit the light collected by the target lens to the image sensor.

2. The camera module of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one third prism arrangement comprising a third light reflecting surface and a second light transmitting surface;

the lens assembly further comprises at least one third lens corresponding to the third prism device, light collected by the third lens is transmitted to the image sensor through a third light path, and the third light path passes through a third light reflecting surface and the second light reflecting surface;

the first light path passes through the first light reflecting surface, the second light transmitting surface and the second light reflecting surface.

3. The camera module of claim 1, wherein the optical path gating mechanism comprises:

the mechanical shutter devices correspond to the lenses of the lens assembly one to one and are respectively arranged in the light emergent direction of each lens.

4. The camera module of claim 1, wherein the optical path gating mechanism comprises:

the fixed angle polaroids correspond to the lenses of the lens assembly one by one and are respectively arranged in the light emergent direction of each lens;

the angle-adjustable polaroid is arranged in the light receiving direction of the image sensor.

5. A terminal, characterized in that it comprises a camera module according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. A control method of a camera module comprises a lens assembly, a prism assembly, an image sensor and a light path gating mechanism, wherein the lens assembly at least comprises a first lens and a second lens, the prism assembly comprises a first prism device and a second prism device, the first prism device comprises a first reflecting surface, the second prism device comprises a second reflecting surface and a first light transmitting surface, light collected by the first lens is transmitted to the image sensor through a first light path, light collected by the second lens is transmitted to the image sensor through a second light path, the first light path passes through the first reflecting surface and the second reflecting surface, and the second light path passes through the first light transmitting surface;

the method is applied to the optical path gating mechanism and comprises the following steps:

determining a target lens from the lens assembly according to a photographing mode selected by a user;

and gating the optical path from the target lens to the image sensor so as to transmit the light collected by the target lens to the image sensor.

7. The method for controlling a camera module according to claim 6, wherein the optical path gating mechanism comprises: the mechanical shutter devices correspond to the lenses of the lens assembly one by one and are respectively arranged in the light ray outgoing direction of each lens;

the gating the optical path from the target lens to the image sensor to transmit the light collected by the target lens to the image sensor includes:

adjusting the mechanical shutter corresponding to the target lens to an open state, and adjusting the mechanical shutter corresponding to the non-target lens to a closed state.

8. The method for controlling a camera module according to claim 6, wherein the light guiding mechanism comprises:

the angle-adjustable polaroid is arranged in the light receiving direction of the image sensor;

and adjusting the phase angle of the angle-adjustable polaroid to be the same as the phase angle of the fixed-angle polaroid corresponding to the target lens.

9. An electronic device, comprising:

a memory for storing a program;

a processor for executing the memory-stored program, the processor being configured to perform, when the processor executes the memory-stored program:

the method of any one of claims 6 to 8.

10. A storage medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions for performing:

the method of any one of claims 6 to 8.