US 7916180

The current date is April 26, 2026.

Here is a summary of US Patent 7,916,180:

Title: Simultaneous multiple field of view digital cameras

Assignee: Intellectual Ventures II LLC

Inventors:

• Richard Ian Olsen
• Darryl L. Sato
• Feng-Qing Sun
• James Gates

Filing Date: April 19, 2007

Issue Date: March 29, 2011

Abstract: Digital camera systems and methods are described that provide digital cameras configured to simultaneously acquire image data via multiple channels having different fields of view. The digital cameras include multiple channels coupled to a processing component. Each channel includes an optics component and an array of sensors or photo-detectors integrated on a semiconductor substrate. The channels include a first channel having a first field of view (FOV) and a second channel having a second FOV, where the second FOV is different than the first FOV. The processing component is configured to independently control simultaneous data acquisition with each of the channels, and to combine data from at least one channel during a frame to provide a high resolution image.

Plain-language overview of independent claims:

Independent claims define the broadest scope of the invention and can stand alone without referring to other claims. US Patent 7,916,180 has two independent claims: Claim 1 and Claim 21.

• Claim 1 (System Claim): This claim describes a digital camera system. It comprises at least two camera channels, each having its own optics and image sensor. The key features are that these channels are configured to capture different fields of view (FOV) simultaneously or nearly simultaneously. The system also includes a processor connected to these channels. This processor is designed to independently control the image acquisition from each channel and can combine the data from at least one channel during a single frame to produce a high-resolution image.

• Claim 21 (Method Claim): This claim describes a method for simultaneously acquiring multiple fields of view in a digital camera. The method involves configuring a first camera channel with a first optical focal length and a second camera channel with a second optical focal length, where these focal lengths are different. It then specifies capturing an image with the first camera channel, resulting in a first field of view, and simultaneously or nearly simultaneously capturing an image with the second camera channel, resulting in a second field of view that is different from the first.