Motorola Corporation

Motorola Mobility LLC

Google Technology Holdings LLC

Dongxue Wang

Kevin W Johnson

Zili Li

Fan He

Zhiming Zhuang

George Thomas Valliath

Chien-Hui Wen

Sen Yang

Michael W Frenzer

Geroge T Valliath

An auto-focus camera () can include a lens (), a sensor () for detecting an image from the lens, a first liquid crystal layer () between the lens and the sensor, and a second liquid crystal layer () between the lens and the sensor and further orthogonally aligned to the first liquid crystal layer. The auto-focus camera can further include an integrated circuit programmed to drive the first liquid crystal layer and the second liquid crystal layer. The auto-focus camera can include a controller () programmed to control two orthogonally aligned liquid crystal layers. The liquid crystal layers can serve as an optical anti-alias filter using birefringence properties of the liquid crystal layers. The first liquid crystal layer and the second liquid crystal layer can be orthogonally aligned to achieve polarization insensitive operation of the auto-focus camera.

Method and apparatus for auto-focus using liquid crystal adaptive optics

An electronic optical zoom system () includes a first lens assembly () and a second lens assembly (). The first lens assembly () and the second lens assembly () may be adjacently disposed or concentrically disposed. The first lens assembly () and second lens assembly (), in one embodiment, have different magnification configurations. An image sensor () captures electronic images of a subject (). Optical zoom capability is achieved by an alterable electronic optical device (), such as a switchable mirror (). The alterable electronic optical device () selectively redirects received light between a first optical path () from a reflective surface () to a second optical path () from the alterable electronic optical device () depending upon the state of the alterable electronic optical device (). The electronic optical zoom system () thereby provides optical zoom capabilities in a compact package without the need for physically moving lens assemblies.

Compact stationary lens optical zoom image capture system

An image capture system is configured to automatically focus upon an object () electronically, without moving mechanical parts. In one embodiment, a focal length alteration device (), examples of which include an electronically switchable mirror () or an interference layer (), is disposed between a lens assembly () and a reflective surface (). The focal length alteration device () is configured to alter the distance light travels from the lens assembly () to the image sensor (). In another embodiment, a light redirection device (), such as a phase shifting mirror (), is configured to alter phases of various polarizations of light. An image processing circuit () then resolves images into a single, focused, composite image ().

Image capture device with electronic focus

A camera-movement compensation device includes a first liquid-crystal cell with a pair of parallel transparent plates and a first voltage source coupled to the first liquid-crystal cell and able to apply and alter a first voltage gradient across the plates of the first liquid-crystal cell. The device also includes a second liquid-crystal cell having a pair of parallel transparent plates and disposed so that each of the plates of the second liquid-crystal cell is parallel to the plates of the first liquid-crystal cell and in light communication with at least one wave of light passing through the plates of the first liquid-crystal cell, a second voltage source coupled to the second liquid-crystal cell and able to apply and alter a second voltage gradient across the surfaces of the second liquid-crystal cell, and a movement detector coupled to the voltage sources to alter the slope of the voltage gradients in proportion to a movement.

Device and method for reducing optical blurring

Disclosed are a light guide () and an electronic device including a light guide for coupling ambient light to a light sensor. The light guide () that is a structure of light-transmitting material having an elongate shape including a first end () for receiving ambient light and a second end () for collecting ambient light to transmit to a light sensor. The first end () of the light guide has a concave shape and the second end () of the light guide also has a concave shape. An electronic device may support the light guide and a light sensor. The concave shape of the second end of the light sensor may disperse light toward the light sensor, rather than tightly focusing the light toward the light sensor. Accordingly, the light sensor may have a sensing area that forms a detection plane so that the detection plane is positioned adjacent to the second end.

Light guide having an elongate shape with dual concave shaped end and electronic device using light guide

The present invention provides a compact color illumination device () for emitting collimated light. The illumination device comprises a reflector cup (), a blazed diffraction grating () formed on the inner surface of the reflector cup, and a plurality of light emitting sources () positioned linearly in a focal plane of the reflector cup. Each light emitting source emits a different color of light that is incident on the blazed diffraction grating. The light emitted by the light emitting sources is reflected by the blazed diffraction grating, wherein the reflected light is collimated.

Compact color illumination device

Miniature camera lenses () include in order an object side () to the image side () a first double concave lens (), a lens group including first convergent meniscus lens (), a first double convex lens (), a second convergent meniscus lens (), a second double concave lens (), a second double convex lens (), and a divergent meniscus lens (). The lenses () feature a field of view of about fifty six degrees, low distortion, a relatively long back focal distance, and a relatively low F-number.

Miniature digital camera lens

A full color display and photocell device () includes a fast response liquid crystal display () that has a rate of at least 75 monochrome frames per second, a transparent panel light () behind the fast response LCD that can emit a monochromatic light beam having a selected one of three colors, and a photovoltaic cell () behind the transparent panel light that converts light energy emanating from the transparent panel light into electrical energy. The full color display and photocell device () may also include a controller () that synchronizes information coupled to the fast response LCD and controls the transparent panel light to emit a sequence of monochromatic light beams of three colors.

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Palatine, IL, United States of America

Dongxue Wang