Folded camera with continuously adaptive zoom factor
Folded Tele cameras comprising an optical path folding element (OPFE) for folding a first optical path OP 1 to a second optical path OP 2 , a lens including N=8 lens elements, the lens being divided into three lens groups numbered, in order from an object side of the lens, G 1 , G 2 and G 3 , and an image sensor, wherein G 1 and G 3 are included in a single G 13 carrier, wherein G 2 is included in a G 2 carrier, wherein both the G 13 carrier and the G 2 carrier include rails for defining the position of G 2 relative to G 13 , wherein the Tele camera is configured to change a zoom factor continuously between a minimum zoom factor ZF MIN and a maximum zoom factor ZF MAX by moving the G 2 carrier relative to the G 13 carrier and by moving the G 13 carrier relative to the image sensor, and wherein an effective focal length (EFL) is 7.5 mm<EFL<50 mm. The G 2 carrier may be positioned by a lens transporter within the G 13 carrier at a particular zoom factor to form a lens pair to enable optical investigation and/or transporting of the lens pair.
1. A camera module, comprising:
a folded continuous zoom Tele (FCZT) camera comprising an optical path folding element (OPFE) for folding a first optical path (OP 1 ) to a second optical path (OP 2 ), a lens including N lens elements, the lens being divided into three lens groups numbered, in order from an object side of the lens, G 1 , G 2 and G 3 and having a lens aperture height H A measured along OP 1 , and
an image sensor,
wherein the FCZT camera is configured to change a zoom factor (ZF) continuously between a minimum zoom factor ZF MIN and a maximum zoom factor ZF MAX by moving G 1 and G 3 together relative to G 2 and by moving G 2 relative to the image sensor, wherein the camera module has a camera module height H M measured along OP 1 , and wherein H M <H A +3 mm.
2. The camera module of claim 1 , wherein H M <H A +2.5 mm.
3. The camera module of claim 1 , wherein H M <H A +2.0 mm.
4. The camera module of claim 1 , wherein H M <H A +1.75 mm.
5. The camera module of claim 1 , wherein H M is in the range of 5 mm-12.5 mm.
6. The camera module of claim 1 , wherein H M is in the range of 5 mm-10 mm.
7. The camera module of claim 1 , wherein H M is in the range of 5 mm-9 mm.
8. The camera module of claim 1 , wherein H M is in the range of 5 mm-8 mm.
9. The camera module of claim 1 , wherein H A is in the range of 3 mm-10 mm.
10. The camera module of claim 1 , wherein H A is in the range of 4 mm-8 mm.
11. The camera module of claim 1 , wherein G 1 and G 3 are included in a single G 13 carrier, wherein G 2 is included in a G 2 carrier, wherein G 1 and G 3 are moved together relative to G 2 by moving the G 13 carrier relative to the G 2 carrier.
12. The camera module of claim 11 , wherein both the G 13 carrier and the G 2 carrier include rails for defining the position of G 2 relative to G 13 .
13. The camera module of claim 1 , wherein the FCZT camera has effective focal length (EFL) that fulfills 7.5 mm<EFL<50 mm.
14. The camera module of claim 1 , wherein the lens is a cut lens with a cut lens aperture height H A-CUT measured along an axis parallel to OP 1 and with a lens aperture width W A measured along an axis perpendicular to both OP 1 and OP 2 , and wherein W A is larger than H A-CUT by between 5% and 50%.
15. The camera module of claim 1 , included in a multi-camera together with Wide camera.
16. The camera module of claim 1 , wherein the EFL is switched continuously between a minimal effective focal length EFL MIN corresponding to ZF MIN and a maximal effective focal length EFL MAX corresponding to ZF MAX , and wherein a ratio EFL MAX /EFL MIN >1.5.
17. The camera module of claim 16 , wherein EFL MAX /EFL MIN >1.75.
18. The camera module of claim 1 , wherein the EFL is switched continuously between a minimal effective focal length EFL MIN corresponding to ZF MIN and a maximal effective focal length EFL MAX corresponding to ZF MAX , and wherein EFL MIN is in the range of 7.5 mm-25 mm and wherein EFL MAX is in the range of 20 mm-50 mm.
19. The camera module of claim 1 , wherein the OPFE is a prism.
20. The camera module of claim 19 , wherein the prism is a cut prism with a prism optical height H P-CUT measured along an axis parallel to OP 1 and a prism optical width W P measured along an axis perpendicular to both OP 1 and OP 2 , and wherein W P is larger than H P-CUT by between 5% and 30%.
21. The camera module of claim 1 , included in a smartphone.