Granted Patent B2

US 12,326,652 · App. 18/626,569 · Granted Jun 10, 2025

Inventors: Noy Cohen (Tel Aviv, IL); Ephraim Goldenberg (Tel Aviv, IL); Michael Scherer (Tel Aviv, IL)

Assignee: Corephotonics Ltd.

G03B17/17G02B13/007H04N23/55

Abstract

Claims (26)

1. A folded camera, comprising:

an optical path folding element;

a lens module with a height H M and comprising a native aperture, the lens module comprising at least one lens element;

an adaptive aperture (AA); and

an AA forming mechanism,

wherein the AA forming mechanism has a height H AA not larger than H M ,

wherein the AA is adjusted so that the folded camera captures the object with a depth-of-field (DOF) deeper than a DOF provided by the native aperture, and

wherein the AA forming mechanism includes a plurality of pairs of blades, and

wherein the folded camera further comprises an actuator for moving the plurality of pairs of blades linearly to form the AA at a given position.

2. The folded camera of claim 1 , wherein the folded camera has an effective focal length greater than 10 mm.

3. The folded camera of claim 1 , wherein the object is located at a distance of less than 25 cm from the folded camera.

4. The folded camera of claim 1 , wherein the object is located at a distance of less than 15 cm from the folded camera.

5. The folded camera of claim 1 , wherein the AA forming mechanism is configured to open the AA to a size not smaller than the native aperture.

6. The folded camera of claim 1 , wherein the AA is round in a closed position.

7. The folded camera of claim 1 , wherein the AA is rectangular in a closed position.

8. The folded camera of claim 1 , wherein the AA is square in a closed position.

9. The folded camera of claim 1 , wherein each pair of the plurality of pairs of blades is operative to form the AA at a different given position.

10. The folded camera of claim 1 , wherein the AA forming mechanism is located between the native aperture and the optical path folding element.

11. The folded camera of claim 1 , wherein the at least one lens in the lens module comprises a cut lens design.

12. The folded camera of claim 1 , wherein the folded camera is focused by the AA forming mechanism configuring a first adjusted AA, and wherein the camera captures an image by the AA forming mechanism configuring a second adjusted AA.

13. The folded camera of claim 1 , wherein the folded camera is operative to provide a portrait imaging mode, and wherein the AA forming mechanism is configured to adjust the AA differently in the portrait imaging mode than in another imaging mode.

14. The folded camera of claim 1 , wherein the folded camera is included in a mobile device.

15. The folded camera of claim 14 , wherein the mobile device includes a sensor for detecting a depth of a scene.

16. The folded camera of claim 14 , wherein the mobile device is a smartphone.

17. The folded camera of claim 14 , wherein the mobile device is a tablet.

18. The folded camera of claim 1 wherein the AA forming mechanism is attached to the lens module.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (5)

References Cited (306)