IP Library Granted Patent US 9,229,238
Granted Patent B2
US 9,229,238 · App. 14/295,596 · Granted Jan 5, 2016

Three-chip camera apparatus

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,229,238
App. No.
14/295,596
Granted
Jan 5, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

A three-chip camera apparatus includes: a color separation prism which includes an incident surface perpendicular to an optical axis, a first emission surface parallel to the incident surface, a second emission surface inclined at a first inclination angle with respect to the optical axis, and a third emission surface inclined at a second inclination angle greater than the first inclination angle; a first imaging device which is disposed in parallel to the first emission surface; a second imaging device which is disposed in parallel to the second emission surface; and a third imaging device which is disposed in parallel to the third emission surface.

Claims (14)

1. A three-chip camera apparatus comprising:

a color separation prism that includes an incident surface perpendicular to an optical axis, a first emission surface parallel to the incident surface, a second emission surface positioned between the incident surface and the first emission surface along a direction of the optical axis and inclined at a first inclination angle with respect to the optical axis, and a third emission surface positioned on a side opposite to the second emission surface with the optical axis interposed between the second and third emission surfaces and inclined at a second inclination angle greater than the first inclination angle with respect to the optical axis;

a first imaging device that has a first surface extending in parallel to the first emission surface, a center of a first imaging region of the first imaging device being offset from a center of the first surface so that the center of the first imaging region is positioned between the center of the first surface and a first part of an outer shape of the first surface, the first part being closer to the third emission surface than to the second emission surface;

a second imaging device that has a second surface extending in parallel to the second emission surface, a center of a second imaging region of the second imaging device being offset from a center of the second surface so that the center of the second imaging region is positioned between the center of the second surface and a second part of an outer shape of the second surface, the second part being closer to the first emission surface than to the incident surface; and

a third imaging device that has a third surface extending in parallel to the third emission surface, a center of a third imaging region of the third imaging device being offset from a center of the third surface so that the center of the third imaging region is positioned between the center of the third surface and a third part of an outer shape of the third surface, the third part being closer to the incident surface than to the first emission surface.

2. The three-chip camera apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein each of the first surface, the second surface, third surface, the first imaging region, the second imaging region and the third imaging region has a rectangular shape.

3. A three-chip camera apparatus comprising:

a color separation prism that includes an incident surface perpendicular to an optical axis, a first emission surface parallel to the incident surface, a second emission surface positioned between the incident surface and the first emission surface along a direction of the optical axis and inclined at a first inclination angle with respect to the optical axis, and a third emission surface positioned on a side opposite to the second emission surface with the optical axis interposed between the second and third emission surfaces and inclined at a second inclination angle greater than the first inclination angle with respect to the optical axis;

a first imaging device that has a first surface extending in parallel to the first emission surface, a center of a first imaging region of the first imaging device being offset from a center of the first surface so that the center of the first imaging region is positioned between the center of the first surface and a first part of an outer shape of the first surface, the first part being closer to the second emission surface than to the third emission surface;

a second imaging device that has a second surface extending in parallel to the second emission surface, a center of a second imaging region of the second imaging device being offset from a center of the second surface so that the center of the second imaging region is positioned between the center of the second surface and a second part of an outer shape of the second surface, the second part being closer to the incident surface than to the first emission surface;

a third imaging device that has a third surface extending in parallel to the third emission surface, a center of a third imaging region of the third imaging device being offset from a center of the third surface so that the center of the third imaging region is positioned between the center of the third surface and a third part of an outer shape of the third surface, the third part being closer to the incident surface than to the first emission surface;

an image processor that synthesizes signals from the first imaging device, the second imaging device and the third imaging device; and

an inversion processor that is provided between the third imaging device and the image processor and inverts the signal from the third imaging device vertically and horizontally.

4. The three-chip camera apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein each of the first surface, the second surface, third surface, the first imaging region, the second imaging region and the third imaging region has a rectangular shape.

Assignments (9)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Mar 16, 2023
From: PANASONIC I-PRO SENSING SOLUTIONS CO., LTD.
To: I-PRO CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 063101/0966 →
CHANGE OF ADDRESS Recorded Mar 16, 2023
From: I-PRO CO., LTD.
To: I-PRO CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 063102/0075 →
MERGER Recorded Dec 31, 2020
From: PANASONIC I-PRO SENSING SOLUTIONS CO., LTD.
To: PSP HOLDINGS CO., LTD
Reel/Frame 054883/0201 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Dec 31, 2020
From: PSP HOLDINGS CO., LTD
To: PANASONIC I-PRO SENSING SOLUTIONS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 054883/0234 →
CHANGE OF ADDRESS Recorded Dec 31, 2020
From: PANASONIC I-PRO SENSING SOLUTIONS CO., LTD.
To: PANASONIC I-PRO SENSING SOLUTIONS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 054883/0248 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ERRONEOUSLY FILED APPLICATION NUMBERS 13/384239, 13/498734, 14/116681 AND 14/301144 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 034194 FRAME 0143. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Dec 24, 2020
From: PANASONIC CORPORATION
To: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 056788/0362 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 19, 2019
From: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
To: PANASONIC I-PRO SENSING SOLUTIONS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 051369/0172 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 10, 2014
From: PANASONIC CORPORATION
To: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 034194/0143 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 4, 2014
From: HIGASHIYAMA, SEIJI; SUZUKI, TAKAHISA
To: PANASONIC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 033459/0688 →