throbber
(12) United States Patent
`US 8,553,106 B2
`(10) Patent N0.:
`Scarff
`
`(45) Date of Patent: Oct. 8, 2013
`
`USOO8553106B2
`
`(54) DUAL LENS DIGITAL ZOOM
`
`(75)
`
`Inventor: Lawrence Scarff, Burlington, MA (US)
`
`(73) Assignee: DigitalOptics Corporation, San Jose,
`CA (US)
`
`( * ) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 461 days.
`
`(21) Appl.No.: 12/435,080
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`(22)
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`Filed:
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`May 4, 2009
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`(65)
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`Prior Publication Data
`
`US 2010/0277619 A1
`
`Nov. 4, 2010
`
`(51)
`
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`
`Int. Cl.
`H04N 5/262
`H04N 9/093
`(52) US. Cl.
`USPC ........................................ 348/240.2; 348/263
`(58) Field of Classification Search
`USPC ............... 348/262, 263, 240.9972402, 218.1
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`6,697,573 B1
`2002/0195548 A1
`2003/0020814 A1
`2006/0001757 A1
`2006/0187338 A1*
`2006/0204034 A1
`2007/0120988 A1*
`2008/0030592 A1
`2008/0218612 A1
`2009/0128644 A1
`2010/0238327 A1
`
`2/2004 Adkins
`12/2002 Dowski, Jr. et a1.
`1/2003 Ono
`1/2006 Sawachi
`..................... 348/375
`8/2006 May et a1.
`9/2006 Steinberg et a1.
`5/2007 Akiyama et a1.
`2/2008 Border et a1.
`9/2008 Border et a1.
`5/2009 Camp, Jr. et a1.
`9/2010 Griffith et a1.
`
`......... 348/240.99
`
`JP
`JP
`JP
`JP
`WO
`WO
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`10-262175 A
`9/1998
`2004-297332 A
`10/2004
`2005-198155 A
`7/2005
`2008-268937 A
`11/2008
`02-08685 A2
`1/2002
`2008-112054 A1
`9/2008
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`Webpage http://imaginat0rium.org/stuff/angle.htrn as seen on Feb. 8,
`2007 via the WayBack Machine ( http://Wayback.archive.0rg), URL:
`http://Web.archive.org/web/20070208160219/http://WWW.
`imaginatorium.org/stuff/angle.htrn.*
`CN Application No. 2010101701119, Office Action dated Dec. 12,
`2011 (English translation).
`
`(Continued)
`
`Primary Examiner 7 Daniel M Pasiewicz
`Assistant Examiner 7 Mark Monk
`
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm iLarry E. Henneman, Jr.;
`Gregory P. Gibson; Henneman & Associates, PLC
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A camera with a pair of lens/sensor combinations, the two
`lenses having different focal lengths, so that the image from
`one ofthe combinations has a field ofview approximately two
`to three times greater than the image from the other combi-
`nation. As a user of the camera requests a given amount of
`zoom, the zoomed image provided will come from the lens/
`sensor combination having the field ofview that is next larger
`than the requested field ofview. Thus, ifthe requested field of
`view is less than the smaller field of view combination, the
`zoomed image will be created from the image captured by
`that combination, using cropping and interpolation if neces-
`sary. Similarly, ifthe requested field ofview is greater than the
`smaller field of view combination, the zoomed image will be
`created from the image captured by the other combination,
`using cropping and interpolation if necessary.
`
`15 Claims, 1 Drawing Sheet
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`APPL—1012 / Page 1 of?
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`US 8,553,106 B2
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`(56)
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`References Cited
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`CN Application No. 2010101701119, Office Action dated Sep. 20,
`2012 (English translation)
`US. Appl. No. 12/727,973, Office Action dated Apr. 4, 2012.
`U~S~ APPL N0~ 12/72759735 Office ACtiOH dated NOV 205 2012
`U.S.App1.No. 12/727,973,Notice ofAllowancedatedMay 10,2013.
`PCT Application No. PCT/US 10/2 80 14, International Search Report
`dated Oct. 27, 2010.
`
`PCT Application No. PCTflJ810/280 14, International Preliminary
`Report on Patentability dated Sep. 20, 2011.
`JP Application No. 2012-501003, Office Action dated Aug. 6, 2013
`(English translation).
`CN Application No. 2010101701119, Notice of Allowance dated
`Jun. 13, 2013 (English translation).
`JP Application No. 2010-81264, Office Action dated Jul. 30, 2013
`(English translation).
`US. Appl. No. 12/727,973, Corrected Notice of Allowance dated
`Aug. 5, 2013.
`
`* cited by examiner
`
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`US 8,553,106 B2
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`1
`DUAL LENS DIGITAL ZOOM
`
`BACKGROUND
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`US 8,553,106 B2
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`Digital camera modules are currently being incorporated
`into a variety of host devices. Such host devices include
`cellular telephones, personal data assistants (PDAs), comput-
`ers, and so forth. Consumer demand for digital camera mod-
`ules in host devices continues to grow.
`Host device manufacturers prefer digital camera modules
`to be small, so that they can be incorporated into the host
`device without increasing the overall size of the host device.
`Further, there is an increasing demand for cameras in host
`devices to have higher-performance characteristics. One such
`characteristic that many higher-performance cameras (e.g.,
`standalone digital still cameras) have is the ability to vary the
`focal length of the camera to increase and decrease the mag-
`nification of the image, typically accomplished with a zoom
`lens, now known as optical zooming. Optical zooming is
`typically accomplished by mechanically moving lens ele-
`ments relative to each other, and thus such zoom lens are
`typically more expensive, larger, and less reliable than fixed
`focal length lenses. An alternative approach for approximat-
`ing this zoom effect is achieved with what is known as digital
`zooming. With digital zooming, instead of varying the focal
`length of the lens, a processor in the camera crops the image
`and interpolates between the pixels of the captured image to
`create a “magnified” but lower-resolution image.
`There have been some attempts to use two different lenses
`to approximate the effect of a zoom lens. It has been done in
`the past with film cameras in which the user could select one
`of two different focal lengths to capture an image on film.
`More recently, a variation on this concept with camera mod-
`ules has been disclosed in U.S. Pat. Pub. No. 2008/0030592,
`the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by refer-
`ence, which discusses a camera module with a pair of sensors,
`each having a separate lens through which light is directed to
`the respective sensor. In this publication, the two sensors are
`operated simultaneously to capture an image. The respective
`lenses have different focal lengths, so even though each lens/
`sensor combination is aligned to look in the same direction,
`each will capture an image of the same subject but with two
`different fields of view. The images are then stitched together
`to form a composite image, with the central portion of the
`composite image being formed by the relatively higher-reso-
`lution image taken by the lens/sensor combination with the
`longer focal length and the peripheral portion of the compos-
`ite image being formed by a peripheral portion of the rela-
`tively lower-resolution image taken by the lens/sensor com-
`bination with the shorter focal length. The user selects a
`desired amount of zoom and the composite image is used to
`interpolate values therefrom to provide an image with the
`desired amount of zoom. Unfortunately, the disclosure in this
`publication is largely conceptual and lacks in certain details
`that would be needed to provide optimal performance. U.S.
`Pat. App. No. 61/161,621, the entire contents of which are
`incorporated herein by reference, discloses improvements
`and refinements to this concept.
`The foregoing examples of the related art and limitations
`related therewith are intended to be illustrative and not exclu-
`
`sive. Other limitations of the related art will become apparent
`to those of skill in the art upon a reading of the specification
`and a study of the drawings.
`
`SUMMARY
`
`Disclosed herein is a camera operated by a user that
`includes a first sensor that captures a first image; a first lens
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`that directs light to the first sensor, the first lens having a first
`focal length, wherein the combination of the first sensor and
`first lens has a first field ofview; a second sensor that captures
`a second image; a second lens that directs light to the second
`sensor, the second lens having a second focal length that is
`longer than the first focal length, wherein the combination of
`the second sensor and second lens has a second field of view,
`wherein the first field of view is greater than the second field
`of view; and a zoom control operable by the user to allow the
`user to request a desired field of view to produce a zoomed
`image. The combination of the first sensor and the first lens
`are substantially aligned with the combination of the second
`sensor and the second lens to allow each to be directed toward
`
`the same subject. The zoomed image is the first image if the
`requested field of view is substantially equal to the first field
`ofview, the zoomed image is produced from the first image by
`cropping and interpolating the first image if the requested
`field ofview is less than the first field ofview and greater than
`the second field of view, the zoomed image is the second
`image if the requested field of view is substantially equal to
`the second field of view, and the zoomed image is produced
`from the second image by cropping and interpolating the
`second image if the requested field of view is less than the
`second field of view.
`
`The camera may further include a third sensor that captures
`a third image; a third lens that directs light to the third sensor,
`the third lens having a third focal length that is longer than the
`second focal length, wherein the combination of the third
`sensor and third lens has a third field of view, wherein the
`second field ofview is greater than the third field ofview. The
`combination of the third sensor and the third lens may be
`substantially aligned with the combination of the first sensor
`and the first lens and the combination ofthe second sensor and
`the second lens to allow each to be directed toward the same
`
`subject. The zoomed image may be the first image if the
`requested field of view is substantially equal to the first field
`of view, the zoomed image may be produced from the first
`image by cropping and interpolating the first image if the
`requested field of view is less than the first field of view and
`greater than the second field of view, the zoomed image may
`be the second image if the requested field of view is substan-
`tially equal to the second field ofview, the zoomed image may
`be produced from the second image by cropping and interpo-
`lating the second image if the requested field of view is less
`than the second field ofview and greater than the third field of
`view,
`the zoomed image may be the third image if the
`requested field of view is substantially equal to the third field
`of view, and the zoomed image may be produced from the
`third image by cropping and interpolating the third image if
`the requested field of view is less than the third field of view.
`The first field of view may be approximately twice that of
`the second field of view. The first field of view may be in the
`range of approximately two to three times that of the second
`field of view. The zoom control may be used to request a
`zoomed image in a range, with one end of the range corre-
`sponding approximately to the first field of view and the
`opposite end of the range corresponding approximately to 1A
`to 1/2 of the second field of view.
`Also disclosed is a camera operated by a user that includes
`a sensor that captures an image; a first lens that can direct light
`to the sensor, the first lens having a first focal length, wherein
`the combination of the sensor and first lens has a first field of
`
`view; a second lens that can direct light to the sensor, the
`second lens having a second focal length that is longer than
`the first focal length, wherein the combination of the sensor
`and second lens has a second field of view, wherein the first
`field of view is greater than the second field of view; and a
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`US 8,553,106 B2
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`zoom control operable by the user to allow the user to request
`a desired field of view to produce a zoomed image. The first
`and second lenses can be moved relative to the sensor into one
`
`of two different positions so that the sensor can receive either
`light pas sing through the first lens or light passing through the
`second lens. The combination of the sensor and the first lens
`
`are substantially aligned with the combination of the sensor
`and the second lens to allow either to be directed toward the
`
`same subject. The zoomed image is the image from the first
`sensor if the requested field of view is substantially equal to
`the first field of view, the zoomed image is produced from the
`image from the first sensor by cropping and interpolating the
`image from the first sensor ifthe requested field ofview is less
`than the first field of view and greater than the second field of
`view, the zoomed image is the image from the second sensor
`if the requested field of view is substantially equal to the
`second field of view, and the zoomed image is produced from
`the image from the second sensor by cropping and interpo-
`lating the image from the second sensor if the requested field
`of view is less than the second field of view.
`
`The first field of view may be approximately twice that of
`the second field of view. The first field of view may be in the
`range of approximately two to three times that of the second
`field of view. The zoom control may be used to request a
`zoomed image in a range, with one end of the range corre-
`sponding approximately to the first field of view and the
`opposite end of the range corresponding approximately to 1A
`to 1/2 of the second field of view. The lenses may be moved
`relative to the sensor manually by the user. The lenses may be
`moved relative to the sensor automatically by the camera
`when the field of view requested by the user changes between
`using the image from one of the combinations to the other of
`the combinations.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a camera.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`
`The following description is not intended to limit the inven-
`tion to the form disclosed herein. Consequently, variations
`and modifications commensurate with the following teach-
`ings, and skill and knowledge of the relevant art, are within
`the scope of the present
`invention. The embodiments
`described herein are further intended to explain modes known
`of practicing the invention and to enable others skilled in the
`art to utilize the invention in such, or other embodiments and
`with various modifications required by the particular appli-
`cation(s) or use(s) of the present invention.
`A camera 10 is shown in FIG. 1. The camera 10 may
`include a first lens 12 having a relatively-shorter focal length
`and a first sensor 14 that are located proximate to and sub-
`stantially aligned with a second lens 16 having a relatively-
`longer focal length and a second sensor 18. By having the
`combined first lens and first sensor aligned with the combined
`second lens and second sensor, the sensors can each obtain an
`image of substantially the same subject. Of course, due to the
`different focal lengths of the lenses 12 and 16, the first sensor
`14 will obtain an image of the subject with a relatively-wider
`field of view (FOV) as compared to the relatively-narrower
`FOV of the image obtained by the second sensor 18. In one
`example, the first FOV may be in the range of two to three
`times as large as the second FOV. In another example, the first
`FOV may be approximately twice the second FOV.
`In most cases, each sensor 14 and 18 may perform certain
`basic image processing algorithms such as white balancing,
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`and so forth. The lenses 12 and 16 could be made of any
`acceptable material, including plastic (e. g., injection-molded
`plastic), glass, optical ceramic, diffractive elements, or a
`composite.
`In one example, the lens 16 may be a lens having a focal
`length of 7.2 mm and a field-of—view (FOV) of 32 degrees,
`while the lens 12 may be a lens having a focal length of 3.62
`mm and an FOV of 63 degrees. These lens specifications are
`merely exemplary and any other suitable lens characteristics
`could be acceptable. In addition, one or both of the lenses 12
`and 16 could be variable focal length (zoom) lenses.
`In one example, the two lenses 12 and 16 may have the
`same f-number so that the illuminance of the light received at
`the sensors 14 and 18 is equivalent. With equivalent illumi-
`nance, the sensors can be operated at similar levels of ampli-
`fication and with similar exposure times. In this manner, the
`separate images captured by the separate sensors 14 and 18
`can be of similar levels of brightness and contrast. By having
`similar levels of amplification, the background noise in each
`image will be similar. By having similar exposure times,
`artifacts in each image due to subject motion will be similar.
`By maintaining similarity as to these two characteristics in the
`two images, transitions between the two images will be more
`acceptable to the user. In another example, the lenses 12 and
`16 may be chosen to provide the same depth of field for each
`lens/sensor combination.
`
`In one example, each of the sensors is a Bayer sensor,
`which uses a color filter array over the array of separate
`pixels, as is well known. Such sensors sense green light at
`every other pixel, with the intervening pixels alternating
`between red pixels andblue pixels. The raw sensed signals are
`later provided to a demo saicing algorithm, which interpolates
`between the pixels to obtain a full color signal for each pixel.
`However, the invention is not limited to use with a Bayer
`sensor and will work equally well with sensors having a
`different color filter array, cameras based on time-sequential
`color, cameras using beamsplitters and separate sensors for
`each color channel, and other camera architectures.
`In some cases, the camera 10 may be considered to include
`only the functional portions described above. In other cases,
`these portions (referred to collectively as a camera module
`22) may also be combined with certain downstream compo-
`nents as part of the camera 10. In such case, the camera 10
`may also include an image signal processor (ISP) 24, a dis-
`play 26, and user interface controls 28. Of course, as is well
`known in the camera industry, cameras may also typically
`include several other components that are omitted here for
`simplification. For example, as non-limiting examples, these
`other components may include batteries, power supplies, an
`interface for the application of external power, a USB or other
`interface to a computer and/or printer, a light source for flash
`photography, auto-focus and image stability controls, internal
`memory, one or more ports for receiving an external memory
`card or device (e.g., an SD or xD memory card), and in the
`case of the use of a camera in a mobile phone, a microphone,
`speaker, transmitter/receiver, and an interface for an external
`microphone and speaker (e.g., a Bluetooth headset).
`The user interface controls 28 may include conventional
`controls that are used to operate the camera, including con-
`trols to instruct the camera to capture one or more images, as
`well as to manipulate the images, and many other functions.
`One of the controls allows the user to digitally zoom the
`camera to increase or decrease the field of view (FOV) of the
`camera. The user can zoom the image out to the FOV of the
`image from the first sensor 14 at one end ofthe zooming range
`and to a point that may be somewhere between 1/2 and 1/4 ofthe
`FOV of the image from the second sensor 18 at the other end
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`5
`of the zooming range. The zoomed image may simply be the
`first image ifthe requested field of view is substantially equal
`to the first field of view. The zoomed image is produced from
`the first image by cropping and interpolating the first image if
`the requested field of view is less than the first field of view
`and greater than the second field of view. The zoomed image
`is the second image if the requested field of view is substan-
`tially equal to the second field of view. The zoomed image is
`produced from the second image by cropping and interpolat-
`ing the second image ifthe requested field ofview is less than
`the second field of view.
`
`The zooming range may be limited on one end by the FOV
`of the first sensor. Although the camera 10 could be designed
`to allow the user to continue to zoom out to a “FOV” greater
`than that of the first lens/sensor, the image would in fact get
`smaller as the image from the first sensor was merely shrunk
`in size and no extra image information would be brought at
`the margins of the image, because there is no wider FOV
`image data to use. The zooming range may be limited on the
`opposite end by the amount of digital zooming that is deemed
`to be acceptable to users. Due to the image interpolation that
`occurs, it may be desirable to limit the digital zooming to a
`FOV that is somewhere between 1/2 and 1A of the FOV of the
`image from the second sensor 18.
`Alternatively, the camera module 22 could include one or
`more lSPs located thereon. They could be separate from or
`integrated into the sensors. Further, while the lenses 12 and 16
`described herein are fixed focal length, either or both could be
`variable focal length (zoom) lenses.
`Alternatively, the camera 1 0 could be provided with a third
`lens/sensor combination that is aligned with the first two
`lens/sensor combinations. This third lens/sensor combination
`
`may have a field of view that is still smaller than that of the
`second lens/sensor combination. As the camera was zoomed
`
`by the user, the zoomed image would transition between
`being formed from the first image, the second image, and the
`third image in a similar manner to that described above. In
`such case, the zoom range might be from the field of view of
`the first lens/sensor combination to 1/2 to 1A ofthe field ofview
`of the third lens/sensor combination.
`
`As another alternative, there may be only one sensor and
`the two (or more) lenses may be moved relative to the sensor
`to allow an image to be captured from either the combination
`ofthe first lens and the one sensor or from the combination of
`the second lens and the one sensor. This relative movement of
`
`the lenses and sensor could be achieved by the user sliding or
`actuating some type of mechanical member associated there-
`with or it could be achieved by the camera automatically
`moving the lenses relative to the sensor when the requested
`amount of zooming causes the zoomed image to switch from
`coming from one combination to coming from the other com-
`bination. As a further variation to all ofthis, instead ofmoving
`the lenses or sensor, the light path could be redirected by a
`mirror or the like to cause light from a selected lens to
`impinge upon the sensor.
`Any other combination of all the techniques discussed
`herein is also possible. The foregoing description has been
`presented for purposes of illustration and description. Fur-
`thermore, the description is not intended to limit the invention
`to the form disclosed herein. While a number of exemplary
`aspects and embodiments have been discussed above, those
`of skill in the art will recognize certain variations, modifica-
`tions, permutations, additions, and sub-combinations thereof.
`It is therefore intended that the following appended claims
`and claims hereafter introduced are interpreted to include all
`such variations, modifications, permutations, additions, and
`sub-combinations as are within their true spirit and scope.
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`The invention claimed is:
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`1. In a camera operated by a user, a method comprising:
`capturing a first image with a first sensor;
`directing light to the first sensor with a first lens, the first
`lens having a first fixed focal length, wherein the com-
`bination ofthe first sensor and first lens has a first field of
`view;
`capturing a second image with a second sensor;
`directing light to the second sensor with a second lens, the
`second lens having a second fixed focal length that is
`longer than the first fixed focal length, wherein the com-
`bination of the second sensor and second lens has a
`second field of view, wherein the first field of view is
`greater than the second field of view; and
`using a zoom control operable by the user to allow the user
`to request a desired field of view to produce a zoomed
`image;
`wherein the combination ofthe first sensor and the first lens
`
`are aligned with the combination of the second sensor
`and the second lens to allow each to be directed toward
`
`the same subject;
`wherein the zoomed image comprises the first image if the
`requested field of view is equal to the first field of view,
`the zoomed image is produced from the first image by
`cropping and interpolating the first
`image if the
`requested field of view is less than the first field of view
`and greater than the second field of view, the zoomed
`image comprises the second image if the requested field
`of view is equal to the second field of view, and the
`zoomed image is produced from the second image by
`cropping and interpolating the second image if the
`requested field of view is less than the second field of
`view; and
`wherein the depth of field for the combination of the first
`sensor and the first lens is the same as the depth of field
`for the combination of the second sensor and the second
`lens.
`
`2. The method of claim 1, further including:
`capturing a third image with a third sensor; and
`directing light to the third sensor with a third lens, the third
`lens having a third fixed focal length that is longer than
`the second fixed focal length, wherein the combination
`of the third sensor and third lens has a third field ofview,
`wherein the second field of view is greater than the third
`field of view;
`wherein the combination of the third sensor and the third
`
`lens are aligned with the combination of the first sensor
`and the first lens and the combination of the second
`sensor and the second lens to allow each to be directed
`
`toward the same subject;
`wherein the zoomed image comprises the first image if the
`requested field of view is equal to the first field of view,
`the zoomed image is produced from the first image by
`cropping and interpolating the first
`image if the
`requested field of view is less than the first field of view
`and greater than the second field of view, the zoomed
`image comprises the second image if the requested field
`of view is equal to the second field of view, the zoomed
`image is produced from the second image by cropping
`and interpolating the second image if the requested field
`of view is less than the second field of view and greater
`than the third field ofview, the zoomed image comprises
`the third image if the requested field of view is equal to
`the third field ofview, and the zoomed image is produced
`from the third image by cropping and interpolating the
`third image if the requested field of view is less than the
`third field of view.
`
`APPL—1012 / Page 6 of7
`
`APPL-1012 / Page 6 of 7
`
`

`

`US 8,553,106 B2
`
`7
`3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first field of view is
`twice that of the second field of view.
`4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first field of view is
`in the range of two to three times that of the second field of
`view.
`5. The method of claim 1, wherein the zoom control can be
`used to request the zoomed image in a range, with one end of
`the range corresponding to the first field of view and the
`opposite end of the range corresponding to 1/4 to 1/2 of the
`second field of view.
`6. In a camera operated by a user, a method comprising:
`capturing a first and second image with a first and second
`sensor, respectively;
`directing light to the first and second sensors with a first and
`second fixed focal length lens, respectively, wherein the
`combination of the first sensor and first lens has a first
`field of view and the combination of the second sensor
`and second lens has a second field of view, wherein the
`second fixed focal length is longer than the first fixed
`focal length and the first field of view is greater than the
`second field of view; and
`using a zoom control that is operable by the user to allow
`the user to request a desired field of view to produce a
`zoomed image;
`wherein the combination ofthe first sensor and the first lens
`
`are aligned with the combination of the second sensor
`and the second lens to allow each to be directed toward
`
`the same object;
`wherein the zoomed image is produced from the first image
`or the second image based on the size of the requested
`field of view relative to the size of the second field of
`view; and
`wherein the depth of field for the combination of the first
`sensor and the first lens is the same as the depth of field
`for the combination of the second sensor and the second
`lens.
`
`5
`
`10
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`7. The method of claim 6, wherein the zoomed image is
`produced without any physical movement of the first lens
`relative to the first sensor or of the second lens relative to the
`second sensor.
`
`8. The method of claim 6, wherein if the requested field of 40
`view is larger than the second field ofview, the zoomed image
`is produced from the first image.
`9. The method of claim 8, wherein if the requested field of
`view is equal to or smaller than the second field of view, the
`zoomed image is produced from the second image.
`
`8
`10. The method of claim 6, wherein ifthe requested field of
`view is equal to or smaller than the second field of view, the
`zoomed image is produced from the second image.
`11. In a camera operated by a user, a method comprising:
`capturing a first and second image with a first and a second
`sensor, respectively;
`directing light to the first and second sensors with a first and
`a second lens, respectively, wherein the combination of
`the first sensor and first lens has a first field of view and
`the combination of the second sensor and second lens
`
`has a second field ofview, wherein the focal length ofthe
`second lens is longer than the focal length ofthe first lens
`and the first field of view is greater than the second field
`of view; and
`using a zoom control that is operable by the user to allow
`the user to request a desired field of view to produce a
`zoomed image;
`wherein the combination ofthe first sensor and the first lens
`
`are aligned with the combination of the second sensor
`and the second lens to allow each to be directed toward
`
`the same object;
`wherein the zoomed image is produced from the first image
`or the second image based on the size of the requested
`field of view relative to the size of the second field of
`view;
`wherein the zoomed image is produced without any physi-
`cal movement of the first lens relative to the first sensor
`or of the second lens relative to the second sensor; and
`wherein the depth of field for the combination of the first
`sensor and the first lens is the same as the depth of field
`for the combination of the second sensor and the second
`lens.
`12. The method of claim 11, wherein each of the first and
`the second lens have a fixed focal length.
`13. The method of claim 11, wherein if the requested field
`of view is larger than the second field of view, the zoomed
`image is produced from the first image.
`14. The method of claim 13, wherein if the requested field
`ofview is equal to or smaller than the second field ofview, the
`zoomed image is produced from the second image.
`15. The method of claim 11, wherein if the requested field
`ofview is equal to or smaller than the second field ofview, the
`zoomed image is produced from the second image.
`*
`*
`*
`*
`*
`
`APPL—1012 / Page 7 of7
`
`APPL-1012 / Page 7 of 7
`
`

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