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05/10/07 - USPTO Class 250 | 137 views | #20070102622 | Prev - Next | About this Page

Apparatus for multiple camera devices and method of operating same

Title: Apparatus for multiple camera devices and method of operating same

Related Patent Categories: Radiant Energy, Photocells; Circuits And Apparatus, Photocell Controlled Circuit, Plural Photosensitive Image Detecting Element Arrays

Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Claims

The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070102622, Apparatus for multiple camera devices and method of operating same.

1. A digital camera comprising: a plurality of arrays of photodetectors, including: a first array of photodetectors to sample an intensity of light; and a second array of photodetectors to sample an intensity of light; signal processing circuitry, coupled to the first and second arrays of photodetectors, to generate a composite image using (i) data which is representative of the intensity of light sampled by the first array of photodetectors, and (ii) data which is representative of the intensity of light sampled by the second array of photodetectors; and wherein the first array of photodetectors includes a first surface area, the second array of photodetectors includes a second surface area, and the first surface area is different from the second surface area.

2. The digital camera of claim 1 wherein: the photodetectors of the first array have a first active surface area; the photodetectors of the second array have a second active surface area; and wherein the first active surface area is different from the second active surface area.

3. The digital camera of claim 1 wherein: the first array of photodetectors includes a first number of photodetectors; the second array of photodetectors includes a second number of photodetectors; and wherein the first number of photodetectors is different from the second number of photodetectors.

4. The digital camera of claim 1 wherein: the first array of photodetectors includes a first number of photodetectors; the second array of photodetectors includes a second number of photodetectors; and wherein the first number of photodetectors is equal to the second number of photodetectors.

5. The digital camera of claim 1 wherein: the first array of photodetectors includes photodetectors of a first size; the second array of photodetectors includes photodetectors of a second size; and wherein the first size is different from the second size.

6. The digital camera of claim 1 wherein the first array of photodetectors and the second array of photodetectors are disposed in the same image plane.

7. The digital camera of claim 1 wherein the first array of photodetectors and the second array of photodetectors are disposed on the same semiconductor substrate.

8. The digital camera of claim 7 wherein the signal processing circuitry is disposed on the semiconductor substrate.

9. The digital camera of claim 7 wherein the signal processing circuitry is integrated on or in the semiconductor substrate.

10. The digital camera of claim 1 wherein the first array of photodetectors and the second array of photodetectors are integrated on or in the same semiconductor substrate.

11. The digital camera of claim 10 wherein the signal processing circuitry is disposed on the semiconductor substrate.

12. The digital camera of claim 10 wherein the signal processing circuitry is integrated on or in the semiconductor substrate.

13. The digital camera of claim 1 further including: a first optics portion associated with the first array of photodetectors, the first optics portion and the first array of photodetectors defining a first camera channel; and a second optics portion associated with the second array of photodetectors, the second optics portion and the second array of photodetectors defining a second camera channel.

14. The digital camera of claim 13 wherein: the first camera channel provides a first resolution; the second camera channel provides a second resolution; and wherein the first resolution is the same as the second resolution.

15. The digital camera of claim 14 wherein: the first array of photodetectors includes a first number of photodetectors; the second array of photodetectors includes a second number of photodetectors; and wherein the first number of photodetectors is equal to the second number of photodetectors.

16. The digital camera of claim 14 wherein: the first array of photodetectors includes photodetectors of a first size; the second array of photodetectors includes photodetectors of a second size; and wherein the first size is different from the second size.

17. The digital camera of claim 16 wherein: the first array of photodetectors includes a first number of photodetectors; the second array of photodetectors includes a second number of photodetectors; and wherein the first number of photodetectors is equal to the second number of photodetectors.

18. The digital camera of claim 13 wherein: the first camera channel provides a first resolution; the second camera channel provides a second resolution; and wherein the first resolution is different from the second resolution.

19. The digital camera of claim 18 wherein: the first array of photodetectors includes a first number of photodetectors; the second array of photodetectors includes a second number of photodetectors; and wherein the first number of photodetectors is different from the second number of photodetectors.

20. The digital camera of claim 13 wherein: the first optics portion produces a first image area; the second optics portion produces a second image area; and wherein the first image area is different than the second image area.

21. The digital camera of claim 20 wherein: the first optics portion produces the first image area at an image plane; and the second optics portion produces the second image area at the image plane.

22. The digital camera of claim 1 wherein: the first array of photodetectors sample an intensity of light of a first band of wavelengths; and the second array of photodetectors sample an intensity of light of a second band of wavelengths.

23. The digital camera of claim 22 further including: means, disposed in an optical path of the first array of photodetectors, for filtering the light of the second band of wavelengths; and means, disposed in an optical path of the second array of photodetectors, for filtering the light of the first band of wavelengths.

24. The digital camera of claim 23 wherein the first band of wavelengths is associated with a first color and the second band of wavelengths is associated with a second color.

25. The digital camera of claim 23 wherein the first array of photodetectors and the second array of photodetectors are disposed on the same semiconductor substrate.

26. The digital camera of claim 23 wherein the first array of photodetectors and the second array of photodetectors are integrated on or in the same semiconductor substrate.

27. The digital camera of claim 22 further including: a first optics portion associated with the first array of photodetectors to filter light of the second band of wavelengths; and a second optics portion associated with the second array of photodetectors to filter light of the first band of wavelengths.

28. The digital camera of claim 27 wherein the first band of wavelengths is associated with a first color and the second band of wavelengths is associated with a second color.

29. The digital camera of claim 27 wherein the first array of photodetectors and the second array of photodetectors are disposed on the same semiconductor substrate.

30. The digital camera of claim 27 wherein the first array of photodetectors and the second array of photodetectors are integrated on or in the same semiconductor substrate.

31. The digital camera of claim 22 wherein: the first array of photodetectors has a higher sensitivity to the light of the first band of wavelengths than to the light of the second band of wavelengths; and the second array of photodetectors has a higher sensitivity to the light of the second band of wavelengths than to the light of the first band of wavelengths.

32. The digital camera of claim 31 wherein the first band of wavelengths is associated with a first color and the second band of wavelengths is associated with a second color.

33. The digital camera of claim 31 wherein the first array of photodetectors and the second array of photodetectors are disposed on the same semiconductor substrate.

34. The digital camera of claim 31 wherein the first array of photodetectors and the second array of photodetectors are integrated on or in the same semiconductor substrate.

35. The digital camera of claim 1 further including: a third array of photodetectors to sample an intensity of light; wherein the signal processing circuitry is coupled to the third array of photodetectors and generates a composite image using (i) data which is representative of the intensity of light sampled by the first array of photodetectors, (ii) data which is representative of the intensity of light sampled by the second array of photodetectors, and (ii) data which is representative of the intensity of light sampled by the third array of photodetectors; and wherein the third array of photo detectors includes a third surface area that is different from the first surface area.

36. The digital camera of claim 35 wherein: the first array of photodetectors sample an intensity of light of a first band of wavelengths; the second array of photodetectors sample an intensity of light of a second band of wavelengths; the third array of photodetectors sample an intensity of light of a third band of wavelengths; and wherein the digital camera further includes: means, disposed in an optical path of the first array of photodetectors, for filtering the light of the second band of wavelengths and the third band of wavelengths; means, disposed in an optical path of the second array of photodetectors, for filtering the light of the first band of wavelengths and the third band of wavelengths; and means, disposed in an optical path of the third array of photodetectors, for filtering the light of the first band of wavelengths and the second band of wavelengths.

37. The digital camera of claim 36 wherein the first band of wavelengths is associated with a first color, the second band of wavelengths is associated with a second color and the third band of wavelengths is associated with a third color.

38. The digital camera of claim 36 wherein the first, second and third arrays of photodetectors are relatively arranged in a triangular configuration.

39. The digital camera of claim 35 wherein: the first array of photodetectors sample an intensity of light of a first band of wavelengths; the second array of photodetectors sample an intensity of light of a second band of wavelengths; the third array of photodetectors sample an intensity of light of a third band of wavelengths; the first array of photodetectors has a higher sensitivity to the light of the first band of wavelengths than to the light of the second band of wavelengths and light of the third band of wavelengths; the second array of photodetectors has a higher sensitivity to the light of the second band of wavelengths than to the light of the first band of wavelengths and light of the third band of wavelengths; and the third array of photodetectors has a higher sensitivity to the light of the third band of wavelengths than to the light of the first band of wavelengths and light of the second band of wavelengths.

40. The digital camera of claim 39 wherein the first band of wavelengths is associated with a first color, the second band of wavelengths is associated with a second color and the third band of wavelengths is associated with a third color.

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

42. The digital camera of claim 39 wherein the first array of photodetectors and the second array of photodetectors are disposed on the same semiconductor substrate.

43. The digital camera of claim 39 wherein the first array of photodetectors and the second array of photodetectors are integrated on or in the same semiconductor substrate.

44. A method for use in a digital camera, the method comprising: providing a first array of photodetectors to sample an intensity of light; providing a second array of photodetectors to sample an intensity of light; generating a composite image using (i) data representative of the intensity of light sampled by the first array of photodetectors, and (ii) data representative of the intensity of light sampled by the second array of photodetectors, and wherein the first array of photodetectors includes a first surface area, the second array of photodetectors includes a second surface area, and the first surface area is different from the second surface area.

45. The digital camera of claim 44 wherein: the photodetectors of the first array have a first active surface area; the photodetectors of the second array have a second active surface area; and wherein the first active surface area is different from the second active surface area.

46. The method of claim 44 wherein: providing a first array of photodetectors includes providing a first array of photodetectors that includes a first number of photodetectors; providing a second array of photodetectors includes providing a second array of photodetectors that includes a second number of photodetectors; and wherein the first number of photodetectors is different from the second number of photodetectors.

47. The method of claim 44 wherein: providing a first array of photodetectors includes providing a first array of photodetectors that includes a first number of photodetectors; providing a second array of photodetectors includes providing a second array of photodetectors that includes a second number of photodetectors; and wherein the first number of photodetectors is equal to the second number of photodetectors.

48. The method of claim 44 wherein the first array of photodetectors and the second array of photodetectors are disposed on the same semiconductor substrate.

49. The method of claim 44 wherein the first array of photodetectors and the second array of photodetectors are integrated on or in the same semiconductor substrate.

50. The method of claim 44 further comprising: passing light of a first band of wavelengths onto an image plane of the photodetectors of the first array; passing light of a second band of wavelengths onto an image plane of the photodetectors of the second array; filtering light of the second band of wavelengths from an optical path of the first array of photodetectors; and filtering light of the first band of wavelengths from an optical path of the second array of photodetectors.

51. The method of claim 50 wherein the first band of wavelengths is associated with a first color and the second band of wavelengths is associated with a second color.

52. The method of claim 50 wherein the first array of photodetectors and the second array of photodetectors are disposed on the same semiconductor substrate.

53. The method of claim 50 wherein the first array of photodetectors and the second array of photodetectors are integrated on or in the same semiconductor substrate.

54. The method of claim 44 further comprising: providing a third array of photodetectors to sample an intensity of light; wherein generating a composite imaged comprises generating a composite image using (i) data representative of the intensity of light sampled by the first array of photodetectors, (ii) data representative of the intensity of light sampled by the second array of photodetectors, and (iii) data representative of the intensity of light sampled by the third array of photodetectors; and wherein the third array of photodetectors includes a third surface area different from the first surface area.

55. The method of claim 54 further comprising: passing light of a first band of wavelengths onto an image plane of the photodetectors of the first array; passing light of a second band of wavelengths onto an image plane of the photodetectors of the second array; passing light of a third band of wavelengths onto an image plane of the photodetectors of the third array; filtering light of the second band of wavelengths and light of the third band of wavelengths from an optical path of the first array of photodetectors; and filtering light of the first band of wavelengths and light of the third band of wavelengths from an optical path of the second array of photodetectors; and filtering light of the first band of wavelengths and light of the second band of wavelengths from an optical path of the third array of photodetectors.

56. The method of claim 55 wherein the first band of wavelengths is associated with a first color, the second band of wavelengths is associated with a second color and the third band of wavelengths is associated with a third color.

57. A digital camera comprising: a plurality of arrays of photodetectors, including: a first array of photodetectors to sample an intensity of light; and a second array of photodetectors to sample an intensity of light; processor means, coupled to the first and second arrays of photodetectors, for generating a composite image using (i) data representative of the intensity of light sampled by the first array of photodetectors, and (ii) data representative of the intensity of light sampled by the second array of photodetectors; and wherein the first array of photo detectors includes a first surface area, the second array of photo detectors includes a second surface area, and the first surface area is different from the second surface area.

58. The digital camera of claim 57 wherein: the photodetectors of the first array have a first active surface area; the photodetectors of the second array have a second active surface area; and wherein the first active surface area is different from the second active surface area.

59. The digital camera of claim 57 wherein: the first array of photodetectors includes a first number of photodetectors; the second array of photodetectors includes a second number of photodetectors; and wherein the first number of photodetectors is different from the second number of photodetectors.

60. The digital camera of claim 57 wherein: the first array of photodetectors includes a first number of photodetectors; the second array of photodetectors includes a second number of photodetectors; and wherein the first number of photodetectors is equal to the second number of photodetectors.

61. The digital camera of claim 57 wherein: the first array of photodetectors includes photodetectors of a first size; the second array of photodetectors includes photodetectors of a second size; and wherein the first size is different from the second size.

62. The digital camera of claim 57 wherein the first array of photodetectors and the second array of photodetectors are disposed on the same semiconductor substrate.

63. The digital camera of claim 57 wherein the first array of photodetectors and the second array of photodetectors are integrated on or in the same semiconductor substrate.

64. The digital camera of claim 57 wherein: the first array of photodetectors sample an intensity of light of a first band of wavelengths; the second array of photodetectors sample an intensity of light of a second band of wavelengths; and wherein the digital camera further includes: means, disposed in an optical path of the first array of photodetectors, for filtering the light of the second band of wavelengths; and means, disposed in an optical path of the second array of photodetectors, for filtering the light of the first band of wavelengths.

65. The digital camera of claim 57 wherein: the first array of photodetectors sample an intensity of light of a first band of wavelengths; the second array of photodetectors sample an intensity of light of a second band of wavelengths; the first array of photodetectors has a higher sensitivity to the light of the first band of wavelengths than to the light of the second band of wavelengths; and the second array of photodetectors has a higher sensitivity to the light of the second band of wavelengths than to the light of the first band of wavelengths.

Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Claims

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