Zoom by multiple image capture
An image sensor assembly includes a fixed focal length optical lens; a mirror that reflects light from the scene to an optical lens and moves into a plurality of positions; and an image sensor that receives the light after it passes through the optical lens and captures a plurality of images that represents each image captured from each position of the mirror; wherein at least portions of the plurality of images are stitched together to form a composite image with a desired zoom factor.
1. An image sensor assembly comprising:
(a) a fixed focal length optical lens;
(b) a mirror that reflects light from a scene to an optical lens and moves into a plurality of positions; and
(c) an image sensor that receives the light after it passes through the optical lens and captures a plurality of images that represents each image captured from each position of the mirror; wherein at least portions of the plurality of images are stitched together to form a composite image with a desired zoom factor; wherein the image sensor pixels are binned in reverse correspondence to the zoom factor for one or more of the captured images; a binning factor of the binned images is proportional to the number of mirror positions which forms a degree of binning, and exposure time for each individual image is reduced to match the degree of binning for the image.
2. The image sensor assembly as in claim 1 , wherein the plurality of images captured is inversely proportional to the zoom factor.
3. The image sensor assembly as in claim 1 , wherein only the portions of the captured images to be used in the composite image are readout.
4. The image sensor assembly as in claim 1 , wherein the mirror rotates about two axes.
5. The image sensor assembly as in claim 1 , wherein the lens is telephoto.
6. The image sensor assembly as in claim 1 , wherein the mirror includes at least a position having forty five degrees or greater to an optical axis of the lens.
7. The image sensor assembly as in claim 1 , wherein the lens is manufactured by wafer level manufacturing.
8. The image sensor assembly as in claim 1 , further comprising digital zoom which is used for augmenting portions of a zoom range.
9. An image capture device comprising:
an image sensor assembly comprising:
(a) a fixed focal length optical lens;
(b) a mirror that reflects light from a scene to an optical lens and moves into a plurality of positions; and
(c) an image sensor that receives the light after it passes through the optical lens and captures a plurality of images that represents each image captured from each position of the mirror; wherein at least portions of the plurality of images are stitched together to form a composite image with a desired zoom factor; wherein the image sensor pixels are binned in reverse correspondence to the zoom factor for one or more of the captured images; a binning factor of the binned images is proportional to the number of mirror positions which forms a degree of binning, and exposure time for each individual image is reduced to match the degree of binning for the image.
10. The image sensor assembly as in claim 1 , wherein during image capture, readout of non-overlapping portions of individual images are readout.
11. The image capture device as in claim 9 , wherein the plurality of images captured is inversely proportional to the zoom factor.
12. The image capture device as in claim 9 , wherein only the portions of the captured images to be used in the composite image are readout.
13. The image capture device as in claim 9 , wherein the mirror rotates about two axes.
14. The image capture device as in claim 9 , wherein the lens is telephoto.
15. The image capture device as in claim 9 , wherein the mirror includes at least a position having forty five degrees or greater to an optical axis of the lens.
16. The image capture device as in claim 9 , wherein the lens is manufactured by wafer level manufacturing.
17. The image capture device as in claim 9 , further comprising digital zoom which is used for augmenting portions of a zoom range.