Camera Module With Optical Switches for Single Sensor Multi-Lens Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current mobile terminals with multiple cameras face challenges in reducing space occupation, cost, and achieving consistent imaging quality due to the need for multiple image sensing components and ultra-wide-angle lenses, which often result in varying photo/video quality and distortion issues.
Innovation Solution
A camera module with a plurality of lenses and a single image sensing component, where optical switch components control the imaging regions to overlap and switch between on and off states, allowing for sequential or simultaneous imaging, reducing the need for multiple high-quality image sensing components and minimizing space and cost.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple camera modules are used to achieve diversified capturing effects, then the capturing variety is improved, but the space occupation in the mobile terminal increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple lenses and a single image sensing component into one camera module, allowing multiple capturing effects to be achieved through optical switching rather than using separate camera modules for each effect
Solution Approach 2:
A single camera module is designed to perform multiple functions by incorporating several lenses with different optical characteristics and using optical switch components to selectively activate different lenses based on the desired capturing effect
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple image sensing components are used for different cameras, then the imaging quality for each camera can be optimized, but the cost of the mobile terminal increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple lens systems into a single camera module that shares one high-quality image sensing component, eliminating the need to purchase and install multiple separate image sensing components
Solution Approach 2:
A single image sensing component serves multiple lenses with different optical characteristics, allowing the same sensor to capture images with various focal lengths, apertures, and optical effects through optical switching
3Adaptability or versatility
If ultra-wide-angle lenses are added to increase capturing angle, then the field of view is improved, but the distortion at edges increases and imaging quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses optical switch components to dynamically select different lenses based on the desired field of view and image quality requirements, allowing the system to switch between wide-angle and less distorted views as needed
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes optical parameters by selecting different lenses with varying focal lengths and optical characteristics, enabling the camera to achieve both wide field of view and high image quality by switching between lenses rather than relying on a single ultra-wide-angle lens
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration reduces the total space and cost of camera modules, enhances imaging quality by allowing each lens to use a larger photosensitive area, and improves the angle of view while minimizing distortion, enabling diverse capturing effects without the need for high-cost, high-quality image sensing components across all lenses.
Implementation Method 1
an optical switch component, disposed, between the plurality of lenses and the image sensing component, corresponding to each of the plurality of lenses; wherein the optical switch component is controlled to switch between an on state and an off state
Implementation Method 2
an image sensing component, disposed on an imaging side of the plurality of lenses
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B~1C
Figure 2A~2B
AI summary
A camera module includes: a plurality of lenses; an image sensing component disposed on an imaging side of the plurality of lenses, and an area of a photosensitive region of the image sensing component is greater than an area of actual imaging region of a single lens and less than the sum of the area of actual imaging region of each of the lenses; and a plurality of optical switch components, disposed, between the plurality of lenses and the image sensing component, corresponding to the plurality of lenses, wherein the optical switch component is controlled to switch between an on state and an off state, and neighboring optical switch components corresponding to neighboring lenses whose actual imaging regions overlap each other are not turned on at the same time.