IP Library Granted Patent US 7,634,184
Granted Patent B2
US 7,634,184 · App. 11/515,336 · Granted Dec 15, 2009

Digital camera with tiltable image sensor

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,634,184
App. No.
11/515,336
Granted
Dec 15, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

The invention relates to a camera for generating digital images with an image sensor that is configured to convert an image formed by a lens into electronic signals. The digital camera is characterized by that the image sensor is attached to a movement element with a controllable drive, the movement element rendering the image sensor tiltable so that an angle between the axis of the lens and a plane of the image sensor is modifiable.

Claims (23)

1. A camera for generating digital images, comprising: an image sensor configured to convert an image formed by a lens into electronic signals;

a movement element to which the image sensor is attached, the movement element having a controllable drive and rendering the image sensor tiltable so that an angle between the axis of the lens and a plane of the image sensor is modifiable;

an autofocus element configured to determine from a distance measurement of an area a focus value of the lens and a tilt of the image sensor so that the area is sharply focusable onto the image sensor; and

a display configured to display the image in which at least one focusable area is visually marked for a user of the camera, the focusable area being determined as being in focus on the image sensor according to the focus value of the lens as determined by the autofocus element, the tilt of the image sensor as determined by the autofocus element, and distances measured by the autofocus element.

2. Camera according to claim 1 , having a further provision for inputting a target area, wherein the autofocus element from a distance measurement of the target area aims for a tilt of the image sensor that renders the target area sharply focusable on the image sensor.

3. The camera of claim 2 , wherein the autofocus element is further configured to determine the aperture value so that the target area is sharply focusable on the image sensor.

4. The camera of claim 1 with a further control element with which a tilt of the image sensor is controllable by a user, the control element, which includes a button or stick, being moveable to the top, bottom, left, and right and being configured to tilt the image sensor in response to movement of the control element.

5. The camera of claim 4 , wherein an effect of the tilt of the image sensor on the at least one focusable area is displayed to the user.

6. Camera according to claim 1 , further with at least one control area that permits a visual control of the focus by the user displaying the least one control area in an enlargement.

7. A camera for generating digital images, comprising:

an image sensor configured to convert an image formed by a lens into electronic signals;

a movement element to which the image sensor is attached, the movement element having a controllable drive and rendering the image sensor tiltable so that an angle between the axis of the lens and a plane of the image sensor is modifiable;

an autofocus element configured to determine from a distance measurement of an area a focus value of the lens and a tilt of the image sensor so that the area is sharply focusable onto the image sensor; and

at least one control area that permits a visual control of a focus by the user by displaying the at least one control area in an enlargement, wherein a focusable area is visually marked in a display of the image for a user of the camera, the focusable area being determined as focusable on the image sensor according to the focus value of the lens as determined by the autofocus element, the tilt of the image sensor as determined by the autofocus element, and distances measured by the autofocus element.

8. The camera of claim 7 , further comprising a provision for inputting a target area, wherein the autofocus element from a distance measurement of the target area aims for a tilt of the image sensor that renders the target area sharply focusable on the image sensor.

9. The camera of claim 7 , further comprising a control element with which a tilt of the image sensor is controllable by a user, the control element, which includes a button or stick, being moveable to the top, bottom, left, and right and being configured to tilt the image sensor in response to movement of the control element.

10. A camera for generating digital images, comprising:

an image sensor configured to convert an image formed by a lens into electronic signals;

a movement element to which the image sensor is attached, the movement element having a controllable drive and rendering the image sensor tiltable so that an angle between the axis of the lens and a plane of the image sensor is modifiable;

an autofocus element configured to determine from distance measurements of more than one partial area a focus value of the lens and a tilt of the image sensor so that the more than one partial areas are sharply focusable onto the image sensor; and

a control element with which a tilt of the image sensor is controllable by a user, the control element, which includes a button or stick, being moveable to the top, bottom, left, and right and being configured to tilt the image sensor in response to movement of the control element, wherein a focusable area is visually marked in a display of the image for a user of the camera, the focusable area being determined as focusable on the image sensor according to the focus value of the lens determined by the autofocus element, the tilt of the image sensor determined by the autofocus element, and distances measured by the autofocus element.

11. The camera of claim 10 , further comprising a provision for inputting a target area, wherein the autofocus element from a distance measurement of the target area aims for a tilt of the image sensor that renders the target area sharply focusable on the image sensor.

12. The camera of claim 10 , further comprising at least one control area that permits a visual control of the focus by the user by displaying the at least one control area in an enlargement.

Assignments (4)
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 6, 2024
From: RPX CORPORATION; RPX CLEARINGHOUSE LLC
To: BARINGS FINANCE LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 068328/0674 →
RELEASE OF LIEN ON PATENTS Recorded Aug 5, 2024
From: BARINGS FINANCE LLC
To: RPX CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 068328/0278 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 21, 2023
From: RPX CORPORATION
To: BARINGS FINANCE LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 063409/0124 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 19, 2022
From: WOHLER, CHRISTIAN
To: RPX CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 061135/0957 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2005 041 431 · Aug 31, 2005 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20070071429A1 · Mar 29, 2007