Camera device including multiple optical chains and related methods
View Patent ↗A camera device includes multiple sensors with each sensor including an integrated multi-element filter. Because of the use of different filters in different sensors, a wide variety of filter patterns can be supported in a single camera device without the need for moveable or otherwise changeable filters. While multiple optical chains and sensors are included which sensors are used during a given time period are determined based on the whether a power save mode of operation is active and/or the image capture mode being used. Fewer optical chains are used during power save mode for capturing images corresponding to the image mode in use, e.g., color, IR, or monochrome. While the camera device may include a large number of optical modules, e.g., 4, 10 or more, in some embodiments sensors of optical chains not selected for use during a given time period are intentionally powered down to conserve power.
1. A camera device, comprising:
a first-type optical chain including a first filter having a first RGB (red, green, blue) filter pattern including more G filter elements than R or B filter elements, said first filter being part of a first sensor of a first type;
a second-type optical chain including a second filter having a second RGB filter pattern including more R filter elements than G filter elements;
a third-type optical chain including a third filter having a third RGB filter pattern including more B filter elements than G filter elements, wherein
the second filter includes more R filter elements than B filter elements or the third filter includes more B filter elements than R filter elements; and
a processor configured to:
determine a first mode of camera device operation to be used during a first period of time from first user input or at least a first sensed condition; and
select a first set of optical chains in said camera device to use to capture one or more images during said first period of time based on the determined first mode of operation.
2. The camera device of claim 1 , wherein the first mode of camera device operation is mower save mode of operation, and
wherein the camera device is configured to automatically trigger a change to the power save mode of operation based on battery power falling; and
wherein the camera device uses fewer optical chains during the power save mode of operation than during a normal mode of operation.
3. The camera device of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
determine a second mode of camera device operation to be used during a second period of time from second user input or at least a second sensed condition, said sensed second condition being a battery power condition; and
select a second set of optical chains in said camera device to use to capture one or more images during said second period of time based on the determined second mode of operation, said second mode of operation being different from said first mode of operation, second set of optical chains being different from said first set of optical chains.
4. The camera device of claim 3 ,
wherein said first mode of operation is a power save mode of operation,
wherein said second mode of operation is a normal mode of operation, and
wherein said first set of optical chains includes fewer optical chains than said second set of optical chains.
5. The camera device of claim 1 further comprising:
a fourth-type optical chain, said fourth-type optical chain being a broadband optical chain including a sensor and not including a color filter.
6. The camera device of claim 1 wherein the camera device includes a plurality of first-type optical chains.
7. The camera device of claim 6 , wherein the camera device includes a plurality of said second-type optical chains.
8. The camera device of claim 7 , wherein the camera device includes an equal number of first- and second-type optical chains.
9. The camera device of claim 7 , wherein the camera device includes a plurality of third-type optical chains.
10. The camera device of claim 8 , wherein the camera device includes an equal number of first-, second-, and third-type optical chains.
11. The camera device of claim 1 , wherein the camera device includes five optical chains positioned along a circle, said five optical chains including two first-type optical chains, two second-type optical chains, and one third-type optical chain.
12. The camera device of claim 11 , wherein the camera device further includes a broadband optical chain, which does not include a color filter, said broadband optical chain being positioned in a center portion of said circle.
13. The camera device of claim 12 , further comprising:
a second third-type optical chain positioned in the center portion of said circle.
14. The camera device of claim 13 , further including:
a fifth-type optical chain including a red filter and not including a green or blue filter;
a sixth-type optical chain including a blue filter and not including a red or green filter; and
a seventh-type optical chain including a green filter and not including a blue or red filter.