Plenoptic Camera Optical Path Folding for Mobile Thickness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current plenoptic cameras are difficult to miniaturize for use in smartphones due to the challenge of designing large focal lengths within the restrictive thickness constraints of mobile devices, limiting their adoption in the consumer electronics market.
Innovation Solution
The use of a prism or mirror to fold the optical path of the lens, allowing for the design of plenoptic cameras with large focal lengths without increasing the thickness of the camera module, achieved through the strategic placement of reflective elements to bend the optical path and reduce the mechanical total track length.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a large focal length is used to improve plenoptic camera performance, then the optical performance is improved, but the camera module thickness increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a reflective element (prism or mirror) to fold the optical path, transforming the linear optical trajectory into a bent path. This allows the optical length to extend in multiple spatial dimensions rather than purely in the thickness direction, effectively decoupling focal length from camera module thickness. The light path is redirected at angles (e.g., 45-degree incidence) to achieve long focal lengths within compact form factors suitable for mobile devices.
2Length of moving object
If the camera module thickness is reduced to fit smartphone constraints, then the device compactness is improved, but the focal length becomes too small for good depth estimation
Solution Approach 1:
By folding the optical path using reflective elements, the patent enables the focal length to be realized in a bent trajectory rather than a straight line. The light travels a longer distance through the optical system while the camera module maintains a thin profile. This dimensional transformation allows simultaneous achievement of small thickness and adequate focal length for depth estimation.
3Length of moving object
If a prism or mirror is added to fold the optical path, then the focal length can be increased without increasing thickness, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The reflective element (prism or mirror) serves multiple functions: it folds the optical path to achieve long focal length, maintains the compact form factor, and can be integrated into existing smartphone camera module architectures. The solution leverages common optical components that can be adapted to plenoptic camera designs, reducing the need for entirely new complex subsystems.
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 approach enables the integration of high-performance plenoptic cameras with large focal lengths into mobile devices, reducing the thickness of the camera module to fit within the stringent size requirements of smartphones while maintaining optical performance.
Implementation Method 1
a first reflective element (preferably a prism or a mirror) configured to reflect the light rays captured by the plenoptic camera before arriving at the image sensor, so as to fold the optical path of the light captured by the camera before impinging the image sensor
Data Source
AI summary
A plenoptic camera for mobile devices is provided, having a main lens, a microlens array, an image sensor, and a first reflective element configured to reflect the light rays captured by the plenoptic camera before arriving at the image sensor, in order to fold the optical path of the light captured by the camera before impinging the image sensor. Additional reflective elements may also be used to further fold the light path inside the camera. The reflective elements can be prisms, mirrors or reflective surfaces of three-sided optical elements having two refractive surfaces that form a lens element of the main lens. By equipping mobile devices with this plenoptic camera, the focal length can be greatly increased while maintaining the thickness of the mobile device under current constraints.