Corephotonics Ltd.

Other

Technion Research & Development Foundation Limited

Corephontonics Ltd.

Gil Bachar

Ephraim Goldenberg

Gal Shabtay

Itay Yedid

Gal Avivi

Michael Dror

Itay Jerby

Noy Cohen

Roy Rudnick

Yiftah Kowal

Gal Barak

Emil Bronstein

Oded Gigushinski

Nadav Geva

Roy Fridman

Ruthy Katz

Paz Ilan

Itamar Zinger

Yonatan Mandel

Anat Leshem Gat

Anat Leshem

Jamil Nasser

Yehonatan Mandel

Itay Jerbi

Ephrahim Goldenberg

Oleg Shtempluck

Eyal Buks

Eran Briman

Compact folded camera modules having auto-focus (AF) and optical image stabilization (OIS) capabilities and multi-aperture cameras including such modules. In an embodiment, a folded camera module includes an optical path folding element (OPFE) for folding light from a first optical path with a first optical axis to a second optical path with a second optical axis perpendicular to the first optical axis, an image sensor and a lens module carrying a lens with a symmetry axis parallel to the second optical axis. The lens module can be actuated to move in first and second orthogonal directions in a plane perpendicular to the first optical axis, the movement in the first direction being for auto-focus and the movement in the second direction being for OIS. The OPFE can be actuated to tilt for OIS.

Auto focus and optical image stabilization in a compact folded camera

Actuators for rotating an optical-path-folding-element with two, first and second, degrees of freedom in an extended rotation range around two respective rotation axes, folded cameras including such actuators and dual-cameras including a folded camera as above together with an upright camera.

Optical-path folding-element with an extended two degree of freedom rotation range

Folded cameras and dual folded-upright cameras that reduce a mobile electronic device and specifically a smartphone bump footprint and height. In some examples, the bump footprint is reduced by reducing the height of a back focal plane section of the folded camera. In some examples, the bump footprint is reduced by reducing the height of a back focal plane section and a lens subsection of the folded camera.

Compact folded camera structure

Actuators for rotating or tilting an optical element, for example an optical path folding element, comprising a voice coil motor (VCM) and a curved ball-guided mechanism operative to create a rotation or tilt movement of the optical element around a rotation axis upon actuation by the VCM. In some embodiments, an actuator includes two, first and second VCMs, and two curved ball-guided mechanisms operative to create rotation or tilt around respective first and second rotation axes.

Rotational ball-guided voice coil motor

Voice coil motor (VCM) actuators for rotating an optical path folding element (OPFE) over an extended scanning range relative to a scanning/rotation range needed for optical image stabilization (OIS).

Folded camera structure with an extended light- folding-element scanning range

Folded digital camera comprising a lens having a lens optical axis, an image sensor and first and second optical path folding elements (OPFEs), in which the second OPFE is closest to the image sensor, wherein the lens is operative to move in a first direction substantially parallel to the lens optical axis and in a second direction substantially perpendicular to first and second optical paths, wherein the second OPFE is operative to move in the first direction, and wherein the combined motion of the lens and of the second OPFE is operative to provide focus and to compensate for tilts of the camera around the first and second directions.

Folded camera with optical image stabilization

Digital cameras, optical lens modules for such digital cameras and methods for assembling lens elements in such lens modules. In various embodiments, the digital cameras comprise an optical lens module including N≥3 lens elements L, each lens element comprising a respective front surface Sand a respective rear surface S. In various embodiments the first lens element toward the object side, Land its respective front surfaces Shave optical and/or mechanical properties, such as a clear aperture, a clear height and a mechanical height that are larger than respective properties of following lens elements and surfaces. This is done to achieve a camera with large aperture stop, given a lens and/or camera height.

Folded camera lens designs

Multi-cameras and in particular dual-cameras comprising a Wide camera comprising a Wide lens and a Wide image sensor, the Wide lens having a Wide effective focal length EFLand a folded Tele camera comprising a Tele lens with a first optical axis, a Tele image sensor and an OPFE, wherein the Tele lens includes, from an object side to an image side, a first lens element group G, a second lens element group Gand a third lens element group G, wherein at least two of the lens element groups are movable relative to the image sensor along the first optical axis to bring the Tele lens to two zoom states, wherein an effective focal length (EFL) of the Tele lens is changed from EFLin one zoom state to EFLin the other zoom state, wherein EFL>1.5×EFLand wherein EFL>1.5×EFL.

Multi-aperture cameras with at least one two state zoom camera

Systems including dual-aperture zoom digital cameras with scanning optical path folding elements (OPFEs) for automotive or surveillance applications and methods for operating and using same. In some embodiments, a dual-aperture zoom digital camera comprises a Wide camera with a Wide field of view FOV, a Wide sensor and a Wide lens, wherein the Wide camera is operative to output Wide image information, a Tele camera with a Tele field of view FOVsmaller than FOVand with a Tele sensor, a Tele lens with a Tele lens optical axis and a scanning OPFE, and a processing unit operative to detect an object of interest (OOI) from Wide and/or Tele image information and to direct the Tele camera to move FOVto acquire Tele image information on the OOI.

Cameras with scanning optical path folding elements for automotive or surveillance

Folded cameras comprising a movable lens having a lens optical axis and positioned in an optical path between an optical path folding element (OPFE) and an image sensor, wherein the OPFE folds light from a first direction to a second direction, the second direction being substantially along the lens optical axis, and an actuator for controlled lens movement, the actuator including or being attached to a shield partially surrounding the lens, the shield having an opening positioned and dimensioned to enable installation of the lens into the shield from an insertion direction substantially parallel to the first direction. A folded camera disclosed herein may be included together with an upright camera in a dual-camera.

Compact folded camera

Cameras with panoramic scanning range comprising a folded digital camera in which an optical path folding element (OPFE) that folds a first optical path from an object or scene into a second optical path substantially parallel with an optical axis of a lens of the folded camera, the OPFE being rotatable around the lens optical axis, and systems incorporating such cameras.

Camera with panoramic scanning range

Actuators for carrying and actuating a lens having a first optical axis, the lens receiving light folded from a second optical axis substantially perpendicular to the first optical axis, comprising first and second VCM engines coupled to the lens and first and second linear ball-guided rails operative to create movement of the lens in two substantially orthogonal directions upon actuation by respective VCM engines.

Growing community of inventors

Tel Aviv, Israel

Gil Bachar