Patent classifications
G02B17/008
Methods and apparatus for implementing and/or using a camera device
Methods and apparatus for implementing a camera having a depth which is less than the maximum length of the outer lens of at least one optical chain of the camera are described. In some embodiments a light redirection device, e.g., a mirror, is used to allow a relatively long optical chain with a relatively large non-circular outer lens. In some embodiments the light redirection device has a depth, e.g., front of camera to back of camera dimension, which is less than the maximum length of the aperture of the outer lens in the aperture's direction of maximum extent. Multiple optical chains with non-circular outer lenses arranged in different directions may and in some embodiments are used to capture images with the captured images being combined to generate a composite image.
All-Reflective Solar Coronagraph Sensor and Thermal Control Subsystem
An all-reflective coronagraph optical system for continuously imaging a wide field of view. The optical system can comprise a fore-optics assembly comprising a plurality of mirrors that reflect light rays, about a wide field of view centered around the Sun, to an aft-optics assembly that reflects the light rays to an image sensor. A fold mirror, having an aperture, is optically supported between the fore-optics assembly and the aft-optics assembly. The aperture defines an angular subtense (e.g., 1.0 degree) sized larger than the angular subtense of the Sun. The aperture facilitates passage of a direct solar image and a solar thermal load. A thermal control subsystem comprises a shroud radiatively coupled to each fore-optics mirror and the fold mirror. A cold radiator is thermally coupled to each shroud. Heaters adjacent fore optics mirrors and the fold mirror control temperature to provide a steady state optical system to minimize wavefront error.
Methods and apparatus for controlling sensors to capture images in a synchronized manner
Methods and apparatus relating to capturing images of a scene area in a synchronized manner using a plurality of optical chains are described. In various embodiments image sensors corresponding to the plurality of optical chains of a camera are operated in rolling shutter mode to read out rows of pixel values corresponding to a current scan position when the image sensors have a row of pixel values corresponding to the current scan position. In some embodiments a scene area of interest is captured by initiating a scan and thus image capture of the scene area by one or more optical chains which are operated in a coordinated manner. In some embodiments a controller controls the plurality of image sensors to perform a read out of pixel values in a synchronized manner, e.g., with rows of pixel values being read out sequentially in accordance with operation of a rolling shutter implementation.
Device and method for controlling positioning of multiple adjustable mirror elements in a multi-mirror arrangement
An external facility is used to control positioning of multiple displaceable mirror elements of a multi-mirror arrangement. The external facility is to a multi-mirror arrangement via a data channel having a bandwidth of at least 1 kHz per controlled degree of freedom of displacement.
Methods and apparatus for synchronized image capture using camera modules with different focal lengths
Methods and apparatus relating to controlling optical chains (OCs) of a camera device to scan a scene area of interest, thereby capturing images of the scene area, in a synchronized manner are described. In various embodiments a synchronized rolling shutter read out of two or more image sensors included in two or more corresponding OCs is implemented controlling the sensors to read out rows of pixel values corresponding to a portion of the scene at the same time, e.g., concurrently. While two or more of the OCs are controlled to read out at the same time, some other OCs in the camera maybe controlled not to read out pixel values while other image sensors are reading out. In various embodiments the read out rate of the two or more sensors corresponding to two or more optical chains is controlled as a function of the focal lengths of the corresponding OCs.
Occlusion-capable augmented reality display using cloaking optics
Embodiments herein describe AR systems that provide occluded AR content to a user while maintaining the perspective of the user. In one embodiment, the AR system includes an optical cloak that contains a mask display device and an AR display device and one or more focusing elements for focusing light captured from the user's environment. As the light enters the optical cloak, the mask display device occludes a portion of the user's view to generate a black silhouette. The AR system then combines AR content displayed by the AR display device with the image of the environment such that the location of the AR content overlaps with the location of the black silhouette. Furthermore, the spacing and characteristics of the focusing elements is set to maintain the perspective of the user as the light passes through the optical cloak.
PROJECTION OPTICAL SYSTEM AND PROJECTION IMAGE DISPLAY DEVICE
A projection optical system includes a first lens unit adapted to make a enlargement-side imaging surface and an intermediate image conjugate with each other, a second lens unit adapted to make the intermediate image and a reduction-side imaging surface conjugate with each other. The first lens unit has positive power, and the second lens unit has negative power. Defining a focal distance of the first lens unit as fU1, a focal distance of the second lens unit as fU2, a total lens length of the first lens unit as LLU1, and a total lens length of the second lens unit as LLU2, the following expression (1) and expression (2) are satisfied.
0.3<fU1/fU2<0.005 (1)
0.5<LLU1/LLU2<0.9 (2)
Optical imaging devices and methods
The present invention relates to optical imaging devices and methods for reading optical codes. The image device comprises a sensor, a lens, a plurality of illumination devices, and a plurality of reflective surfaces. The sensor is configured to sense with a predetermined number of lines of pixels, where the predetermined lines of pixels are arranged in a predetermined position. The lens has an imaging path along an optical axis. The plurality of illumination devices are configured to transmit an illumination pattern along the optical axis, and the plurality of reflective surfaces are configured to fold the optical axis.
System for Laser Material Processing and Method for Adjusting the Size and Position of a Laser Focus
The invention relates to a laser material processing system comprising a collimation optic (K) having a total collimation focal length (fK), consisting of: a beam supply (Z) for divergent beams (D); a first and second optical device (Ll, L2) having a positive or negative focal length (fl, f2), wherein the divergent beams (D) first pass through the first optical device (Ll) and subsequently pass through the second optical device (L2), and leave the second optical device (L2) in a collimated state; a third optical device (0) arranged downstream of the collimation optic (K) and having a positive focal length (fO) that focuses the beams (P) leaving the collimation optic (K) in a collimated state to a focus (F); a first and second adjusting element (Al, A2) for independently moving the first or the second optical device (LI, L2) away from one another along a beam propagation direction (R), wherein a total beam path (gs) between the beam supply (Z) and an image-side focal plane (B) of the third optical device (0) is smaller that twice the sum of the positive focal length (fO) of the third optical device (0) and the total collimation focal length (fK).
Cloaking Devices
According to one or more embodiments described herein, a cloaking device may comprise a first mirror, a second mirror, a third mirror, and a fourth mirror. The cloaking device may further comprise a first lens, a second lens, a third lens, and a fourth lens. Each of the first lens, the second lens, the third lens, and the fourth lens may be achromatic cylindrical lenses, or each of the first lens, the second lens, the third lens, and the fourth lens may be acylindrical lenses.