WO2015079432A1 - Method to improve performance of camera lenses - Google Patents

Method to improve performance of camera lenses Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2015079432A1
WO2015079432A1 PCT/IL2013/050980 IL2013050980W WO2015079432A1 WO 2015079432 A1 WO2015079432 A1 WO 2015079432A1 IL 2013050980 W IL2013050980 W IL 2013050980W WO 2015079432 A1 WO2015079432 A1 WO 2015079432A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
photographic
picture
objectives
lens
cameras
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/IL2013/050980
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Yoav SALOMON
Original Assignee
Salomon Yoav
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Salomon Yoav filed Critical Salomon Yoav
Priority to PCT/IL2013/050980 priority Critical patent/WO2015079432A1/en
Publication of WO2015079432A1 publication Critical patent/WO2015079432A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B7/00—Mountings, adjusting means, or light-tight connections, for optical elements
    • G02B7/02—Mountings, adjusting means, or light-tight connections, for optical elements for lenses
    • G02B7/04—Mountings, adjusting means, or light-tight connections, for optical elements for lenses with mechanism for focusing or varying magnification
    • G02B7/10—Mountings, adjusting means, or light-tight connections, for optical elements for lenses with mechanism for focusing or varying magnification by relative axial movement of several lenses, e.g. of varifocal objective lens
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B13/00—Optical objectives specially designed for the purposes specified below
    • G02B13/06—Panoramic objectives; So-called "sky lenses" including panoramic objectives having reflecting surfaces
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B15/00—Optical objectives with means for varying the magnification
    • G02B15/14—Optical objectives with means for varying the magnification by axial movement of one or more lenses or groups of lenses relative to the image plane for continuously varying the equivalent focal length of the objective
    • G02B15/144—Optical objectives with means for varying the magnification by axial movement of one or more lenses or groups of lenses relative to the image plane for continuously varying the equivalent focal length of the objective having four groups only
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03B—APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR
    • G03B17/00—Details of cameras or camera bodies; Accessories therefor
    • G03B17/02—Bodies
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03B—APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR
    • G03B19/00—Cameras

Definitions

  • This invention relates to digital cameras. More particularly, this invention relates to the structure of the lens of such cameras, to enable better performance together with decreasing the size of the lens, and hence the camera.
  • the performance of cameras is improving continuously.
  • the resolution and zoom capabilities of cameras are improving to degrees that were unimaginable quite a short time ago.
  • the physical size of the cameras is decreasing and makes the use of cameras more comfortable.
  • the physical size of the cameras is determined mainly by the size of the lens, and the better the resolution and zoom capabilities of the lens - the larger the lens is.
  • zoom lenses and particularly power zoom lenses need to extend their length while zooming, thus limiting or even preventing zoom capabilities of cameras installed in flat devices like smartphones or tablet computers.
  • the present invention describes a novel method to decrease the length (depth) of the photographic lens, and thus enabling compact structure of top performance cameras and allowing installation of an extendable power zoom photographic lens within the same flat device that according to prior art can accommodate only a non-extendable lens.
  • Decreasing the physical size of the photographic objective is achieved by replacing a single photographic objective, as is used by prior art cameras, by an array of at least two photographic objectives, when each of the photographic objectives records part of the picture, and software is used to combine the partial pictures recorded by each photographic objective to a single unified picture.
  • Software that can combine several pictures to one unified picture is already available so this invention relates only to the use of an array of photographic objectives in a camera, in a manner in which each photographic objective captures only part of the picture, and the partial images captured by the different photographic objectives are integrated to one unified picture by software.
  • Prior art cameras engage one photographic objective to capture the picture, or 2 photographic objectives that each of them records the same whole picture from slightly different angles, to combine them to a 3D picture.
  • DRAWINGS is a cross section of a photographic objective (Zeiss Tessar, 1902 - drawing under GNU Free Documentation License). is a cross section of a zoom photographic objective (Tokina SZ- X 70-210 mm, 1985 - drawing under GNU Free Documentation License), in 2 formations: The upper cross section shows the photographic objective in a 70 mm focal length formation, while the lower cross section shows the photographic objective in a 210 mm focal length formation.
  • the upper cross section shows the photographic objective in a 70 mm focal length formation, while the lower cross section shows the photographic objective in a 210 mm focal length formation.
  • is a schematic view of the same frame of a picture taken by an array of four lenses, and the four circulars areas captured by each lens. is a schematic view of an array of four photographic objectives with an apparatus that operates the zoom of all the lenses by extending all four photographic objectives together.
  • the present invention describes a novel method to decrease the length (depth) of the photographic objective, and thus enabling compact structure of top performance cameras and allowing installation of an extendable power zoom lens within the same flat device that according to prior art can accommodate only a non-extendable lens.
  • a high optical quality photographic objective is composed of several lenses arranged within a cylindrical frame, as shown in figure 1 .
  • a high optical quality zoom photographic objective is composed of several lenses arranged within a cylindrical frame, in a manner that the distance between some lenses may be changed and thus the focal length of the photographic objective is changed, as shown in figure 2.
  • the photographic objective is extended, as the distance between its rear lens and its front lens increases.
  • the single photographic objective is substituted by an array of plurality of photographic objectives, each of them capturing only part of the picture.
  • each of the photographic objective is smaller than the prior art photographic objective, by length and by diameter.
  • the array of photographic objectives is thus shorter than prior art photographic objective, while the combined diameter of the array is about the same as the prior art photographic objective.
  • An illustrative example of an array of four photographic objectives is shown in figures 4 and 5: Figure 4 shows the four parts of the picture (numbers 3 - 6) and the corresponding four circular areas captured by the different photographic objectives (numbers 7 - 10).
  • each photographic objective in the example will be about half in diameter and in length than prior art photographic objective.
  • Figure 5 shows the array of photographic objectives.
  • the photographic objectives external frames may be connected by mechanical means (not shown in Figure 5) to enable extending (zooming) all of them together.
  • the change of focal length in zoom lenses is made by extending or shortening the lens.
  • Such change in the length of the lens is made usually the frame of the lens, either by rotating a knob mounted on the frame of the lens or by pushing or pulling the frame (manually or by an electric motor). It can be made also by moving of the structure of the lens.
  • the best mode for carrying out the invention is by connecting the external frames of all photographic objectives by mechanical means, and thus a single apparatus is used to change the focal length of all the photographic objectives simultaneously in a coordinated manner.
  • the present invention can be applied by building cameras with an array of plurality of photographic objectives, each with a different sensor unit (CMOS or other type), each single photographic objective captures a part of the picture, and a software that combines the different partial pictures to a unified picture.
  • CMOS complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor
  • each single photographic objective captures a part of the picture
  • a software that combines the different partial pictures to a unified picture.

Abstract

A method of taking pictures by an array of plurality of photographic objectives, according to which each single photographic objective included in same array records only a part of the picture, and the several partial pictures are integrated to a complete picture by means of software.

Description

METHOD TO IMPROVE PERFORMANCE
OF CAMERA LENSES
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to digital cameras. More particularly, this invention relates to the structure of the lens of such cameras, to enable better performance together with decreasing the size of the lens, and hence the camera.
BACKGROUND ART
The performance of cameras is improving continuously. In particular, the resolution and zoom capabilities of cameras are improving to degrees that were unimaginable quite a short time ago. Together with the improved performance the physical size of the cameras is decreasing and makes the use of cameras more comfortable. However, the physical size of the cameras is determined mainly by the size of the lens, and the better the resolution and zoom capabilities of the lens - the larger the lens is. In addition, zoom lenses and particularly power zoom lenses need to extend their length while zooming, thus limiting or even preventing zoom capabilities of cameras installed in flat devices like smartphones or tablet computers.
Thus, prior art cameras installed in flat devices are inherently barred from offering power optical zoom and therefore must remain inferior to other cameras.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
The present invention describes a novel method to decrease the length (depth) of the photographic lens, and thus enabling compact structure of top performance cameras and allowing installation of an extendable power zoom photographic lens within the same flat device that according to prior art can accommodate only a non-extendable lens.
Decreasing the physical size of the photographic objective is achieved by replacing a single photographic objective, as is used by prior art cameras, by an array of at least two photographic objectives, when each of the photographic objectives records part of the picture, and software is used to combine the partial pictures recorded by each photographic objective to a single unified picture. Software that can combine several pictures to one unified picture is already available so this invention relates only to the use of an array of photographic objectives in a camera, in a manner in which each photographic objective captures only part of the picture, and the partial images captured by the different photographic objectives are integrated to one unified picture by software. Prior art cameras engage one photographic objective to capture the picture, or 2 photographic objectives that each of them records the same whole picture from slightly different angles, to combine them to a 3D picture. Other cameras use one photographic objective to capture several different pictures, to combine them to a panoramic picture by software, and other cameras use one photographic objective to capture several pictures of the same scene with different exposures, to combine them by software to a better picture that shows more details both in high lit areas and dark areas. There are no cameras engaging more than one photographic objective, each of the lenses captures only part of the scene, and the partial pictures taken by each of the lenses are integrated to one complete unified picture.
Software that combine different pictures to a single unified picture are already in the market so this invention relates only to the replacement of a single lens by an array of lenses.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS is a cross section of a photographic objective (Zeiss Tessar, 1902 - drawing under GNU Free Documentation License). is a cross section of a zoom photographic objective (Tokina SZ- X 70-210 mm, 1985 - drawing under GNU Free Documentation License), in 2 formations: The upper cross section shows the photographic objective in a 70 mm focal length formation, while the lower cross section shows the photographic objective in a 210 mm focal length formation. is a schematic description of a frame of a picture taken by one lens and of the circular area covered by the lens. is a schematic view of the same frame of a picture taken by an array of four lenses, and the four circulars areas captured by each lens. is a schematic view of an array of four photographic objectives with an apparatus that operates the zoom of all the lenses by extending all four photographic objectives together.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention describes a novel method to decrease the length (depth) of the photographic objective, and thus enabling compact structure of top performance cameras and allowing installation of an extendable power zoom lens within the same flat device that according to prior art can accommodate only a non-extendable lens.
A high optical quality photographic objective is composed of several lenses arranged within a cylindrical frame, as shown in figure 1 .
A high optical quality zoom photographic objective is composed of several lenses arranged within a cylindrical frame, in a manner that the distance between some lenses may be changed and thus the focal length of the photographic objective is changed, as shown in figure 2. In the zooming process the photographic objective is extended, as the distance between its rear lens and its front lens increases.
According to the present invention the single photographic objective is substituted by an array of plurality of photographic objectives, each of them capturing only part of the picture. As a result, each of the photographic objective is smaller than the prior art photographic objective, by length and by diameter. The array of photographic objectives is thus shorter than prior art photographic objective, while the combined diameter of the array is about the same as the prior art photographic objective. An illustrative example of an array of four photographic objectives is shown in figures 4 and 5: Figure 4 shows the four parts of the picture (numbers 3 - 6) and the corresponding four circular areas captured by the different photographic objectives (numbers 7 - 10). Compared to the full frame shown in figure 3 (number 1 ) and the circular area covered by prior art photographic objective (number 2) one can appreciate that each photographic objective in the example will be about half in diameter and in length than prior art photographic objective. Figure 5 shows the array of photographic objectives. The photographic objectives external frames may be connected by mechanical means (not shown in Figure 5) to enable extending (zooming) all of them together.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
The change of focal length in zoom lenses is made by extending or shortening the lens. Such change in the length of the lens is made usually the frame of the lens, either by rotating a knob mounted on the frame of the lens or by pushing or pulling the frame (manually or by an electric motor). It can be made also by moving of the structure of the lens.
The best mode for carrying out the invention is by connecting the external frames of all photographic objectives by mechanical means, and thus a single apparatus is used to change the focal length of all the photographic objectives simultaneously in a coordinated manner. INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
The present invention can be applied by building cameras with an array of plurality of photographic objectives, each with a different sensor unit (CMOS or other type), each single photographic objective captures a part of the picture, and a software that combines the different partial pictures to a unified picture.

Claims

CLAIMS:
WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:
Claim 1 :
A method of taking pictures by an array of plurality of photographic objectives, according to which each single photographic objective included in same array records only a part of the picture, and the several partial pictures are integrated to a complete picture by means of software.
Claim 2:
The method of claim 1 wherein each photographic objective records the part of the picture on a different sensor unit (CMOS or other type).
Claim 3:
The method of claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the external frames of all photographic objectives are connected by mechanical means, and the zooming of all photographic objectives is performed together using the mechanical means that connects them
Claim 4:
The method of claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the structures of all photographic objectives are connected by mechanical means, and the zooming of all photographic objectives is performed together using the mechanical means that connects them.
PCT/IL2013/050980 2013-11-27 2013-11-27 Method to improve performance of camera lenses WO2015079432A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/IL2013/050980 WO2015079432A1 (en) 2013-11-27 2013-11-27 Method to improve performance of camera lenses

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/IL2013/050980 WO2015079432A1 (en) 2013-11-27 2013-11-27 Method to improve performance of camera lenses

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2015079432A1 true WO2015079432A1 (en) 2015-06-04

Family

ID=53198452

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/IL2013/050980 WO2015079432A1 (en) 2013-11-27 2013-11-27 Method to improve performance of camera lenses

Country Status (1)

Country Link
WO (1) WO2015079432A1 (en)

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2012208444A (en) * 2011-03-30 2012-10-25 Fujifilm Corp Lens drive device, stereo lens system, and lens drive method
WO2012146542A1 (en) * 2011-04-24 2012-11-01 Cielo Este S.L A photograph camera or a camcorder with simultaneous pictures clarity which have contents with different distances from the camera
JP2012222744A (en) * 2011-04-13 2012-11-12 Panasonic Corp Stereo image processing device, stereo image processing method, and stereo image processing program
US20130258044A1 (en) * 2012-03-30 2013-10-03 Zetta Research And Development Llc - Forc Series Multi-lens camera
US20130278731A1 (en) * 2012-04-19 2013-10-24 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha 3d-image pickup optical system and 3d-image pickup apparatus

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2012208444A (en) * 2011-03-30 2012-10-25 Fujifilm Corp Lens drive device, stereo lens system, and lens drive method
JP2012222744A (en) * 2011-04-13 2012-11-12 Panasonic Corp Stereo image processing device, stereo image processing method, and stereo image processing program
WO2012146542A1 (en) * 2011-04-24 2012-11-01 Cielo Este S.L A photograph camera or a camcorder with simultaneous pictures clarity which have contents with different distances from the camera
US20130258044A1 (en) * 2012-03-30 2013-10-03 Zetta Research And Development Llc - Forc Series Multi-lens camera
US20130278731A1 (en) * 2012-04-19 2013-10-24 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha 3d-image pickup optical system and 3d-image pickup apparatus

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