Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090050946 | CAMERA MODULE, ARRAY BASED THEREON, AND METHOD FOR THE PRODUCTION THEREOF - The invention relates to the development of economical camera modules having objectives contained therein with a minimal constructional length and excellent optical properties. It is made possible as a result that camera modules of this type can be used in mobile telephones or minicomputers, such as PDAs (personal digital assistant). | 02-26-2009 |
20090322856 | IMAGE RECORDING SYSTEM PROVIDING A PANORAMIC VIEW - The invention relates to an image detection system for a panoramic view comprising linearly disposed optical channels with a microlens and a detector which is situated in the focal plane thereof. The camera unit is thereby mounted on a rotating or rotating-oscillating rotational shaft, as a result of which a panoramic view of the image detection system is made possible. Image detection systems of this type are used in medical technology, on vehicles, for inspection of hole-like recesses and also for 360° image detection in rooms. | 12-31-2009 |
20090323206 | IMAGING MODULE WITH SYMMETRICAL LENS SYSTEM AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE - An imaging module and method of fabrication. The method comprises forming a first lens wafer with a plurality of outer negative lenses and forming a second lens wafer with a plurality of inner negative lenses The method further comprises bonding the first lens wafer and second lens wafer to create a bonded stack; forming a plurality of inner positive lenses on the second lens wafer and bonding a spacer wafer to the second lens wafer; and forming a plurality of outer positive lenses on the first lens wafer. | 12-31-2009 |
20100002312 | Over-molded glass lenses and method of forming the same - Accurate lens substrates on a waferscale are obtained by forming a polymer material on a lens surface formed on a lens wafer. The substrate may also be thinned by the glass lens surface forming process at the portion of the lens. The polymer material may have the same or different optical properties (refractive index and dispersion) as the lens wafer. | 01-07-2010 |
20100002313 | METHOD AND APPARATUS PROVIDING SINGLET WAFER LENS SYSTEM WITH FIELD FLATTENER - Methods and apparatus to correct a curved Petzval focusing surface to a plane using a convex lens, a concave lens, and a space arranged between the curved side of the convex lens and the curved side of the concave lens. The method and apparatus may also include a Fresnel lens arranged between the concave lens and a pixel array. | 01-07-2010 |
20100002314 | Lens system with symmetrical optics - A lens system comprising an inner lens structure and an outer lens structure. The inner lens structure comprises an inner positive lens, a first transparent substrate and an inner negative lens. The outer lens structure comprises an outer positive lens, a second transparent substrate and an outer negative lens. | 01-07-2010 |
20100123209 | Apparatus and Method of Manufacture for Movable Lens on Transparent Substrate - A lens stack having a movable lens attached to a MEMS structure and method of fabricating the same. The method comprises attaching at least one MEMS structure to a transparent substrate. The method further comprises forming a movable lens in contact with the at least one MEMS structure. | 05-20-2010 |
20100123260 | STAMP WITH MASK PATTERN FOR DISCRETE LENS REPLICATION - A method and stamp for forming lenses on a wafer. The stamp includes a mask arranged on a substrate and aligned with a plurality of lens-shaped cavities. The lens-shaped cavities are used to imprint a plurality of lenses into a curable material. The lenses are cured through the mask using radiation. The lenses are separated from the stamp and the uncured material is removed. | 05-20-2010 |
20100177235 | IMAGING DEVICE HAVING MICROLENS ARRAY ADHERED TO WAFER-LEVEL LENS - Methods and apparatuses having imaging structures that include a focusing lens structure, a pixel array, and a transparent material arranged between the focusing lens and the pixel array. A color filter array may be located between the transparent material and the pixels of the pixel array. | 07-15-2010 |
20100177408 | METHOD OF FORMING LENS ARRAYS AND TRANSFERRING SUCH ONTO MOVABLE-MEMS STRUCTURES - Micro-electrical-mechanical (MEMS) wafers in which a lens is formed on a micro-electrical-mechanical structure. The micro-electrical-mechanical wafers can comprise a substrate, MEMS structures, and a lens array. A method of forming a micro-electrical-mechanical wafer comprises providing a substrate, forming a micro-electrical-mechanical structure on the substrate, forming a carrier, forming a lens array on the carrier, and transferring the lens array from the carrier onto the micro-electrical-mechanical structure. The lens array is placed above the micro-electrical-mechanical structure. | 07-15-2010 |
20100177411 | WAFER LEVEL LENS REPLICATION ON MICRO-ELECTRICAL-MECHANICAL SYSTEMS - Movable lens structures in which a lens is formed on a micro-electrical-mechanical system and methods of making the same. A method of forming the lens includes forming a micro-electrical-mechanical system on a substrate, arranging a first mold inside the micro-electrical-mechanical system, and forming a lens on the micro-electrical-mechanical system using the first mold. | 07-15-2010 |
20100244165 | METHOD AND APPARATUS PROVIDING COMBINED SPACER AND OPTICAL LENS ELEMENT - A method and apparatus used for forming a lens and spacer combination, and imager module employing the spacer and lens combination. The apparatus includes a mold having a base, spacer section, and mold feature. The method includes using the mold with a blank to create a spacer that includes an integral lens. The spacer and lens combination and imager modules can be formed on a wafer level. | 09-30-2010 |
20100253832 | LENS SHIELDING STRUCTURES FOR DIGITAL IMAGE SENSORS - Camera modules are provided using wafer level optics structures. Wafers of optical stack components such as spacers, lenses, filters, and aperture layers may be combined to form optical stacks for camera modules. Each optical stack may be formed from pieces of the lens and spacer wafers. The optical stacks may be mounted above digital image sensors to form compact camera modules for devices such as cellular telephones and digital cameras. To reduce lens flare, a lens hood structure may be mounted above the outermost lens in the optical stack structure. The lens hood structure may be formed from a layer of opaque plastic having an inner surface and an outer surface. The layer of plastic may be provided as part of a camera module housing or as a separate structure. A noncircular lens hood aperture may be formed in the outer surface of the lens hood layer. A corresponding inner aperture may be formed in the inner surface of the lens hood layer adjacent to the optical stack structure. The noncircular exterior surface aperture of the lens hood may have a barrel shape, a rectangular shape, an oval shape, a pincushion shape, or other suitable shapes that help reduce flare for digital image sensors with rectangular active areas. | 10-07-2010 |
20100271714 | ACHROMATIC LENS STRUCTURE, METHOD OF FABRICATION, AND IMAGING DEVICES AND SYSTEMS USING THE SAME - Lens structures, imaging devices, and methods of making the same that include a lens and a transparent material having different dispersions and used to correct chromatic and spherical aberrations. The transparent material may be a curable polymer used to join the lens to other elements of the lens structure. | 10-28-2010 |
20100277627 | Image Sensor - Image sensor having a large number of image sensor units in an essentially array-like arrangement, the light-sensitive surfaces of the image sensor units being node points at a spacing relative to each other and these, together with the horizontal and vertical connection lines which connect the node points, spanning a two-dimensional network, and the array-like arrangement having a central region and an edge region, the central region and the edge region being connected to each other along at least connection line, characterised in that the spacing respectively of two adjacent node points of the array-like arrangement is different along the at least one connection line in the central region and in the edge region. Furthermore, a camera system with an image sensor according to the invention and an additionally disposed lens system is disclosed. | 11-04-2010 |
20110025899 | ARRAY OF MICROLENSES WITH INTEGRATED ILLUMINATION - The invention relates to a microlens array with integrated illumination, an imaging system with such a microlens array, an image detection device and also a method for producing the microlens array. | 02-03-2011 |
20110080487 | CAPTURING AND PROCESSING OF IMAGES USING MONOLITHIC CAMERA ARRAY WITH HETEROGENEOUS IMAGERS - Systems and methods for implementing array cameras configured to perform super-resolution processing to generate higher resolution super-resolved images using a plurality of captured images and lens stack arrays that can be utilized in array cameras are disclosed. An imaging device in accordance with one embodiment of the invention includes at least one imager array, and each imager in the array comprises a plurality of light sensing elements and a lens stack including at least one lens surface, where the lens stack is configured to form an image on the light sensing elements, control circuitry configured to capture images formed on the light sensing elements of each of the imagers, and a super-resolution processing module configured to generate at least one higher resolution super-resolved image using a plurality of the captured images. | 04-07-2011 |
20110122308 | CAPTURING AND PROCESSING OF IMAGES USING MONOLITHIC CAMERA ARRAY WITH HETEROGENEOUS IMAGERS - Systems and methods for implementing array cameras configured to perform super-resolution processing to generate higher resolution super-resolved images using a plurality of captured images and lens stack arrays that can be utilized in array cameras are disclosed. Lens stack arrays in accordance with many embodiments of the invention include lens elements formed on substrates separated by spacers, where the lens elements, substrates and spacers are configured to form a plurality of optical channels, at least one aperture located within each optical channel, at least one spectral filter located within each optical channel, where each spectral filter is configured to pass a specific spectral band of light, and light blocking materials located within the lens stack array to optically isolate the optical channels. | 05-26-2011 |
20110134040 | OPTICAL NAVIGATION DEVICE - A device for optical navigation, containing an image sensor which has a large number of image sensor units which are disposed in an array-like manner with respectively at least one light-sensitive surface and at least one lens which is disposed between an object to be imaged and the image sensor. A microlens array is present, at least one microlens being assigned to one image sensor unit. | 06-09-2011 |
20110241234 | FABRICATION PROCESS FOR MASTERING IMAGING LENS ARRAYS - A process and method for fabricating a master lens array for use in the manufacture of duplicate lens arrays is provided. The fabrication methods provided herein are capable of maximizing the quality of the master lens array in an efficient and cost effective manner, thereby reducing the propagation of errors in the lenses formed using the master lens array. | 10-06-2011 |
20120026093 | OPTICAL NAVIGATION DEVICE AND USE THEREOF - The invention relates to an optical navigation device based on production on wafer scale, in which both the illumination path and the imaging lens system are integrated on a common carrier structure. The optical navigation devices according to the invention are used for controlling a cursor on an image output device or in the field of finger navigation. | 02-02-2012 |
20120081801 | LENS AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING SAME - In a method for manufacturing a lens, a substrate is provided which includes recess in a first surface thereof. A lens structure having a first desired lens surface and a second desired lens surface is formed in the substrate's recess. | 04-05-2012 |
20120175796 | Method and Apparatus for Producing a Structure, Molding Tool - A method of producing a structure from curable material by molding includes arranging a molding tool above a surface, so that in a region between the molding tool and the surface, the curable material adjoins the surface and a molding face of the molding tool which faces the surface, and so that additional curable material may continue to flow into the region. The method further includes irradiating the curable material in the region in a locally varying manner, so that the curable material cures at different speeds in a laterally varying manner and that shrinkages occurring during curing of the curable material are compensated for by the additional curable material. The method further includes applying a constant pressure to the additional curable material. Moreover, a second method and an apparatus for producing a structure from curable material by molding and a molding tool for an optical component are described. | 07-12-2012 |
20120198677 | FABRICATION PROCESS FOR MASTERING IMAGING LENS ARRAYS - A process and method for fabricating a master lens array for use in the manufacture of duplicate lens arrays is provided. The fabrication methods provided herein are capable of maximizing the quality of the master lens array in an efficient and cost effective manner, thereby reducing the propagation of errors in the lenses formed using the master lens array. | 08-09-2012 |
20130003184 | OPTICAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR USE WITH AN ARRAY CAMERA - A variety of optical arrangements and methods of modifying or enhancing the optical characteristics and functionality of these optical arrangements are provided. The optical arrangements being specifically designed to operate with camera arrays that incorporate an imaging device that is formed of a plurality of imagers that each include a plurality of pixels. The plurality of imagers include a first imager having a first imaging characteristics and a second imager having a second imaging characteristics. The images generated by the plurality of imagers are processed to obtain an enhanced image compared to images captured by the imagers. | 01-03-2013 |
20130057748 | Device for Optical Imaging - A device for optically imaging at least part of an object onto an area of a digital image sensor includes an optical channel, which includes a first imaging lens arranged on a first substrate, a second imaging lens arranged on a second substrate, and a field lens arranged on a third substrate. The first and second imaging lenses are identical and arranged such that a first surface of the first imaging lens is a light entry surface of the optical channel and that a first surface of the second imaging lens is a light exit surface of the optical channel. The field lens is arranged between the first imaging lens and the second imaging lens such that an axis running perpendicularly to the lateral extension of the optical channel and through a lateral center of the field lens forms a symmetry axis of the optical channel. | 03-07-2013 |
20130088637 | Lens Stack Arrays Including Adaptive Optical Elements - Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention incorporate adaptive optical elements into optical channels in a lens stack array. In one embodiment, an array camera module includes a lens stack array, that includes at least two lens stacks, where at least one lens stack includes an adaptive optical element that can adjust the characteristics of the transmission of light in the optical channel defined by the corresponding lens stack in response to at least one electrical signal, a sensor including a focal plane for each lens stack within the lens stack array, and circuitry configured to control at least one adaptive optical element, where the lens stack array and the sensor are configured so that each lens stack can form an image on a corresponding focal plane. | 04-11-2013 |
20130237002 | METHOD AND APPARATUS PROVIDING COMBINED SPACER AND OPTICAL LENS ELEMENT - A method and apparatus used for forming a lens and spacer combination, and imager module employing the spacer and lens combination. The apparatus includes a mold having a base, spacer section, and mold feature. The method includes using the mold with a blank to create a spacer that includes an integral lens. The spacer and lens combination and imager modules can be formed on a wafer level. | 09-12-2013 |
20130250432 | METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING A STRUCTURE, OPTICAL COMPONENT, OPTICAL LAYER STACK - In a method for manufacturing a structure of curable material, a first structure from a first curable material is molded and cured on a substrate, and a second structure of a second curable material is molded and cured on a first surface of the first structure facing away from the substrate, so that at the first surface of the first structure a boundary surface forms between the first and second structures so that the first structure is not covered by the second structure in a passage area. A solvent is introduced into the passage area to dissolve the first curable material of the first structure so that a cavity forms between the second structure and the first surface of the substrate. After curing, the first curable material is soluble and the second curable material is insoluble for the solvent. An optical component and an optical layer stack are made of curable material. | 09-26-2013 |
20130265459 | OPTICAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR USE WITH AN ARRAY CAMERA - A variety of optical arrangements and methods of modifying or enhancing the optical characteristics and functionality of these optical arrangements are provided. The optical arrangements being specifically designed to operate with camera arrays that incorporate an imaging device that is formed of a plurality of imagers that each include a plurality of pixels. The plurality of imagers include a first imager having a first imaging characteristics and a second imager having a second imaging characteristics. The images generated by the plurality of imagers are processed to obtain an enhanced image compared to images captured by the imagers. In many optical arrangements the MTF characteristics of the optics allow for contrast at spatial frequencies that are at least as great as the desired resolution of the high resolution images synthesized by the array camera, and significantly greater than the Nyquist frequency of the pixel pitch of the pixels on the focal plane, which in some cases may be 1.5, 2 or 3 times the Nyquist frequency. | 10-10-2013 |
20130308197 | Capturing and Processing of Images Using Monolithic Camera Array with Heterogeneous Imagers - Systems and methods for implementing array cameras configured to perform super-resolution processing to generate higher resolution super-resolved images using a plurality of captured images and lens stack arrays that can be utilized in array cameras are disclosed. Lens stack arrays in accordance with many embodiments of the invention include lens elements formed on substrates separated by spacers, where the lens elements, substrates and spacers are configured to form a plurality of optical channels, at least one aperture located within each optical channel, at least one spectral filter located within each optical channel, where each spectral filter is configured to pass a specific spectral band of light, and light blocking materials located within the lens stack array to optically isolate the optical channels. | 11-21-2013 |
20140002674 | Systems and Methods for Manufacturing Camera Modules Using Active Alignment of Lens Stack Arrays and Sensors | 01-02-2014 |
20140002675 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DETECTING DEFECTIVE CAMERA ARRAYS AND OPTIC ARRAYS | 01-02-2014 |
20140240528 | Thin Form Factor Computational Array Cameras and Modular Array Cameras - Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention implement one-dimensional array cameras, as well as modular array cameras using sub-array modules. In one embodiment, a 1×N array camera module includes: a 1×N arrangement of focal planes, where N is greater than or equal to 2, each focal plane includes a plurality of rows of pixels that also form a plurality of columns of pixels, and each focal plane not including pixels from another focal plane; and a 1×N arrangement of lens stacks, the arrangement of lens stacks being disposed relative to the arrangement of focal planes so as to form a 1×N arrangement of cameras, each configured to independently capture an image of a scene, where each lens stack has a field of view that is shifted with respect to that of each other lens stack so that each shift includes a sub-pixel shifted view of the scene. | 08-28-2014 |
20140240529 | THIN FORM FACTOR COMPUTATIONAL ARRAY CAMERAS AND MODULAR ARRAY CAMERAS - Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention implement modular array cameras using sub-array modules. In one embodiment, an X×Y sub-array module includes: an X×Y arrangement of focal planes, where X and Y are each greater than or equal to 1; and an X×Y arrangement of lens stacks, the X×Y arrangement of lens stacks being disposed relative to the X×Y arrangement of focal planes so as to form an X×Y arrangement of cameras, where each lens stack has a field of view that is shifted with respect to the field-of-views of each other lens stack so that each shift includes a sub-pixel shifted view of the scene; and image data output circuitry that is configured to output image data from the X×Y sub-array module that can be aggregated with image data from other sub-array modules so that an image of the scene can be constructed. | 08-28-2014 |
20140253451 | OPTICAL NAVIGATION DEVICE - A device for optical navigation, containing an image sensor which has a large number of image sensor units which are disposed in an array-like manner with respectively at least one light-sensitive surface and at least one lens which is disposed between an object to be imaged and the image sensor. A microlens array is present, at least one microlens being assigned to one image sensor unit. At least one pin diaphragm array is assigned to the image sensor array and is disposed between the image sensor array and the at least one microlens array. | 09-11-2014 |
20140267286 | Systems and Methods for Providing an Array Projector - Embodiments of systems and methods for providing an array projector are disclosed. The array projector includes an array of projection components and an image processing system. Each of the projection components projects a lower resolution image onto a common surface area and the overlapping lower resolution image combine to form a higher resolution image. The image processor provides lower resolution image data to each of the projection components in the array. The lower resolution image data is generated using the image processor by applying super resolution algorithms lower resolution image data received by the image processor. | 09-18-2014 |
20140347509 | Capturing and Processing of Images Including Occlusions Captured by Arrays of Luma and Chroma Cameras - Systems and methods for implementing array cameras configured to perform super-resolution processing to generate higher resolution super-resolved images using a plurality of captured images and lens stack arrays that can be utilized in array cameras are disclosed. An imaging device in accordance with one embodiment of the invention includes at least one imager array, and each imager in the array comprises a plurality of light sensing elements and a lens stack including at least one lens surface, where the lens stack is configured to form an image on the light sensing elements, control circuitry configured to capture images formed on the light sensing elements of each of the imagers, and a super-resolution processing module configured to generate at least one higher resolution super-resolved image using a plurality of the captured images. | 11-27-2014 |
20140347748 | Optical Arrangements for Use with an Array Camera - A variety of optical arrangements and methods of modifying or enhancing the optical characteristics and functionality of these optical arrangements are provided. The optical arrangements being specifically designed to operate with camera arrays that incorporate an imaging device that is formed of a plurality of imagers that each include a plurality of pixels. The plurality of imagers include a first imager having a first imaging characteristics and a second imager having a second imaging characteristics. The images generated by the plurality of imagers are processed to obtain an enhanced image compared to images captured by the imagers. | 11-27-2014 |
20140354773 | Systems and Methods for Normalizing Image Data Captured by Camera Arrays - Systems and methods for implementing array cameras configured to perform super-resolution processing to generate higher resolution super-resolved images using a plurality of captured images and lens stack arrays that can be utilized in array cameras are disclosed. An imaging device in accordance with one embodiment of the invention includes at least one imager array, and each imager in the array comprises a plurality of light sensing elements and a lens stack including at least one lens surface, where the lens stack is configured to form an image on the light sensing elements, control circuitry configured to capture images formed on the light sensing elements of each of the imagers, and a super-resolution processing module configured to generate at least one higher resolution super-resolved image using a plurality of the captured images. | 12-04-2014 |
20140354843 | Camera Arrays Incorporating 3 x 3 Imager Configurations - Systems and methods for implementing array cameras configured to perform super-resolution processing to generate higher resolution super-resolved images using a plurality of captured images and lens stack arrays that can be utilized in array cameras are disclosed. An imaging device in accordance with one embodiment of the invention includes at least one imager array, and each imager in the array comprises a plurality of light sensing elements and a lens stack including at least one lens surface, where the lens stack is configured to form an image on the light sensing elements, control circuitry configured to capture images formed on the light sensing elements of each of the imagers, and a super-resolution processing module configured to generate at least one higher resolution super-resolved image using a plurality of the captured images. | 12-04-2014 |
20140354853 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SYNTHESIZING HIGHER RESOLUTION IMAGES USING A SET OF IMAGES CONTAINING A BASELINE IMAGE - Systems and methods for implementing array cameras configured to perform super-resolution processing to generate higher resolution super-resolved images using a plurality of captured images and lens stack arrays that can be utilized in array cameras are disclosed. An imaging device in accordance with one embodiment of the invention includes at least one imager array, and each imager in the array comprises a plurality of light sensing elements and a lens stack including at least one lens surface, where the lens stack is configured to form an image on the light sensing elements, control circuitry configured to capture images formed on the light sensing elements of each of the imagers, and a super-resolution processing module configured to generate at least one higher resolution super-resolved image using a plurality of the captured images. | 12-04-2014 |
20140354854 | Capturing and Processing of Images Including Occlusions Captured by Camera Arrays - Systems and methods for implementing array cameras configured to perform super-resolution processing to generate higher resolution super-resolved images using a plurality of captured images and lens stack arrays that can be utilized in array cameras are disclosed. An imaging device in accordance with one embodiment of the invention includes at least one imager array, and each imager in the array comprises a plurality of light sensing elements and a lens stack including at least one lens surface, where the lens stack is configured to form an image on the light sensing elements, control circuitry configured to capture images formed on the light sensing elements of each of the imagers, and a super-resolution processing module configured to generate at least one higher resolution super-resolved image using a plurality of the captured images. | 12-04-2014 |
20140355870 | Systems and Methods for Generating Depth Maps Using A Set of Images Containing A Baseline Image - Systems and methods for implementing array cameras configured to perform super-resolution processing to generate higher resolution super-resolved images using a plurality of captured images and lens stack arrays that can be utilized in array cameras are disclosed. An imaging device in accordance with one embodiment of the invention includes at least one imager array, and each imager in the array comprises a plurality of light sensing elements and a lens stack including at least one lens surface, where the lens stack is configured to form an image on the light sensing elements, control circuitry configured to capture images formed on the light sensing elements of each of the imagers, and a super-resolution processing module configured to generate at least one higher resolution super-resolved image using a plurality of the captured images. | 12-04-2014 |