Tiltable Tele Macro Camera for Angled Object Focus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mobile devices with telephoto cameras face challenges in capturing macro images due to shallow depth of field, especially when the object is oriented at an angle to the camera's focal plane, leading to partial focus issues, and there is no satisfactory solution for tilting the focal plane in miniature cameras like smartphones.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a tiltable focal plane mechanism in mobile device cameras, allowing the focal plane to be tilted to align with the orientation of the object, using voice coil motors and prism units to rotate the image-side prism for precise focal plane adjustment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a tele camera with large effective focal length is used for macro photography, then magnification is improved, but depth of field becomes very shallow causing parts of the object to be out of focus
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic focal plane tilting mechanism that allows the focal plane to be adjusted during macro photography. By tilting the focal plane to match the orientation of the object, the system maintains acceptable depth of field across the entire object surface while preserving the high magnification capability of the tele camera lens.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the object is oriented at an angle to the camera's focal plane, then capture flexibility is improved, but image focus quality deteriorates due to partial focus issues
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically tilts the focal plane to align with the object's orientation angle. This dynamic adjustment allows the camera to capture objects at various angles while maintaining uniform focus quality across the entire object, resolving the contradiction between capture flexibility and image focus quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the orientation parameter of the focal plane by tilting it to match the object's angle. This parameter adjustment enables the focal plane to adapt to different object orientations, ensuring that all parts of the object remain within the acceptable depth of field range while maintaining high focus quality.
3Manufacturing precision
If tilt-shift lenses are used in standalone cameras to tilt the focal plane, then focus coverage is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a simplified version of the tilt-shift mechanism specifically adapted for mobile device constraints. Rather than using complex mechanical tilt-shift lenses, the system uses a more compact focal plane tilting mechanism that achieves the same focus coverage benefit while being suitable for integration into miniature mobile cameras.
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
Enables capturing macro images with all segments of the object in focus, even when oriented at an angle, by aligning the focal plane with the object's orientation, improving image capture quality in mobile devices.
Implementation Method 1
voice coil motors and prism units to rotate the image-side prism for precise focal plane adjustment
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
Systems comprising a Wide / Ultra-Wide camera, a folded Tele camera comprising an optical path folding element and a Tele lens module, a lens actuator for moving the Tele lens module for focusing to object-lens distances between 3.0cm and 35cm with an object-to-image magnification between 1:5 and 25:1, and an application processor (AP), wherein the AP is configured to analyze image data from the UW camera to define a Tele capture strategy for a sequence of Macro images with a focal plane slightly shifted from one captured Macro image to another and to generate a new Macro image from this sequence, and wherein the focal plane and a depth of field of the new Macro image can be controlled continuously.