Switchable imaging apparatus for viewing and capture

1. A switchable imaging apparatus having a transparent viewing mode for viewing a scene and an image capture mode for capturing an image of the scene, comprising:

a transparent plate having a front surface, wherein the scene is viewable through the transparent plate when the imaging apparatus is in the transparent viewing mode;

an optical beam deflector positioned within the transparent plate, wherein the optical beam deflector is configured to switch between a first non-deflecting state and a second deflecting state, such that when the optical beam deflector is in the first non-deflecting state light from the scene is able to pass through the optical beam deflector in an undeflected direction, and when the optical beam deflector is in the second deflecting state light from the scene is able to be deflected from a first optical axis perpendicular to the front surface of the transparent plate onto a second optical axis parallel to the front surface of the transparent plate;

a camera positioned along the second optical axis in a location peripheral to the transparent plate; and

a controller configured to switch the optical beam deflector between the first non-deflecting state and the second deflecting state and to initiate capture of an image by the camera, thereby providing the transparent viewing mode and the image capture mode.

2. The switchable imaging apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to switch the optical beam deflector to the first non-deflecting state to provide the transparent viewing mode.

3. The switchable imaging apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to switch the optical beam deflector to the second deflecting state and to initiate capture of an image by the camera to provide the image capture mode.

4. The switchable imaging apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the optical beam deflector includes at least one liquid crystal plane positioned at an oblique angle relative to the first optical axis, the liquid crystal plane being configured to switch between a first refractive index and a second refractive index, wherein when the liquid crystal plane has the first refractive index light from the scene is transmitted undeflected, and when the liquid crystal plane has the second refractive index light from the scene is deflected by total internal reflection.

5. The switchable imaging apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the camera includes an imaging lens that is positioned along the second optical axis and is configured to focus the imaging light onto an imaging sensor.

6. The switchable imaging apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the imaging sensor includes a one-dimensional array of sensor pixels.

7. The switchable imaging apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the imaging sensor includes a two-dimensional array of sensor pixels.

8. The switchable imaging apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the transparent viewing mode provides a transparent viewfinder for composing an image of the scene.

9. The switchable imaging apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to alternate between the transparent viewing mode and the image capture mode according to a switching frequency to capture a sequence of images.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the transparent viewing mode is used to provide a transparent viewfinder for composing an image of the scene.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising alternating between the transparent viewing mode and the image capture mode according to a switching frequency to capture a sequence of images.

12. A method comprising:

engaging a transparent plate of an imaging apparatus, wherein the transparent plate has a front surface, wherein a scene is viewable through the transparent plate when the imaging apparatus is in a transparent viewing mode and the scene can be captured when in an image capture mode; and

switching between a first non-deflecting state and a second deflecting state, such that when an optical beam deflector positioned within the transparent plate is in the first non- deflecting state, light from the scene passes through the optical beam deflector in an undeflected direction, and when the optical beam deflector is in a second deflecting state, light from the scene is deflected from a first optical axis perpendicular to the front surface of the transparent plate onto a second optical axis parallel to the front surface of the transparent plate.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising switching the optical beam deflector to the first non-deflecting state to provide the transparent viewing mode.

14. The method of claim 12 , further comprising switching the optical beam deflector to the second deflecting state and initiates capture of an image by the camera to provide the image capture mode.

15. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon instructions executable by a processor to cause the processor to perform functions, comprising:

engaging a transparent plate of an imaging apparatus, wherein the transparent plate has a front surface, wherein a scene is viewable through the transparent plate when the imaging apparatus is in a transparent viewing mode and the scene can be captured when in an image capture mode; and

switching between a first non-deflecting state and a second deflecting state, such that when an optical beam deflector positioned within the transparent plate is in the first non-deflecting state, light from the scene passes through the optical beam deflector in an undeflected direction, and when the optical beam deflector is in a second deflecting state, light from the scene is deflected from a first optical axis perpendicular to the front surface of the transparent plate onto a second optical axis parallel to the front surface of the transparent plate.