Abstract: An electronic device comprises a camera and a retaining member. The camera includes an objective portion configured to collect light from a subject, a sensor portion reversibly separable from the objective portion, an alignment-sensing system configured to sense a state of alignment between the objective portion and the sensor portion, an actuator configured to move the objective or sensor portion, and a computer configured to control the actuator responsive to output of the alignment-sensing system, so as to bring the objective and sensor portions into alignment. The retaining member is configured to couple the objective portion to the sensor portion when the objective and sensor portions are aligned and when the objective portion is separated from the sensor portion.

Abstract: An electronic device comprises a camera and a retaining member. The camera includes an objective portion configured to collect light from a subject, a sensor portion reversibly separable from the objective portion, and a computer configured to return an indication of alignment of the objective and sensor portions based on output of one or more optical sensor elements of the sensor portion. The retaining member is configured to couple the objective portion to the sensor portion when the objective and sensor portions are aligned and also when the objective portion is separated from the sensor portion.

Abstract: A multi-part electronic device has a mode with at least two overlapped device parts comprising a first camera part mounted on a first device part and a second camera part mounted on a second device part. At least one of the first and second camera parts is resiliently mounted such that contact between the first and second camera parts when the first device part and the second device part are overlapped with each other aligns the first camera part and the second camera part within a selected angular deviation between the camera parts' respective optical axes. A camera part having a body and a flexible mount and a method of reducing tilt error are also described.

Abstract: A device comprising at least two body sections is disclosed. The first body section comprises a movable imaging unit and a magnet rigidly fixed to the imaging unit, and the second body section comprising an optical unit with a magnet rigidly fixed to the optical unit. The body sections are in a movable connection with each other, and the device is operable in at least two modes. In the first mode, the imaging unit and the optical unit are fixed in a set relative position due to magnetic interaction between the magnets. In the second mode, the imaging unit is positioned away from the optical unit.

Abstract: A multi-part electronic device has a mode with at least two overlapped device parts comprising a first camera part mounted on a first device part and a second camera part mounted on a second device part. At least one of the first and second camera parts is resiliently mounted such that contact between the first and second camera parts when the first device part and the second device part are overlapped with each other aligns the first camera part and the second camera part within a selected angular deviation between the camera parts' respective optical axes. A camera part having a body and a flexible mount and a method of reducing tilt error are also described.

Abstract: A multi-part electronic device has a mode with at least two overlapped device parts comprising a first camera part mounted on a first device part and a second camera part mounted on a second device part. At least one of the first and second camera parts is resiliently mounted such that contact between the first and second camera parts when the first device part and the second device part are overlapped with each other aligns the first camera part and the second camera part within a selected angular deviation between the camera parts' respective optical axes. A camera part having a body and a flexible mount and a method of reducing tilt error are also described.

Abstract: Described herein are methods for creating images with depth of field effects from plural image frames each having different tilt and/or focus properties. Exemplary methods comprise capturing plural image frames and adjusting the tilt axis of the camera and/or focus of the camera in between each shot. The plural image frames can then be combined to create desired depth of field effects, such as bokeh effects. One exemplary method comprises capturing a first image frame of a scene with a primary subject in focus, capturing at least a second image frame of the scene at a different tilt axis and with suitable alternative focus, and combining pixels from at least the first and second image frames based on a predetermined heuristic or algorithm to generate a resultant composite image with the desired depth of field effect (such as with a primary subject in focus and the background out of focus).

Abstract: A device comprising at least two body sections is disclosed. The first body section comprises an imaging unit and a magnet movably connected to the imaging unit, and the second body section comprising an optical unit with a magnet fixed to the optical unit. The magnet movably connected to the imaging unit may be sliding along a guiding element. The body sections are also in a movable connection with each other, and the device is operable in at least two modes. In the first mode the imaging unit and the optical unit are fixed in a set relative position due to magnetic interaction between the magnets, and in the imaging unit is positioned away from the optical unit. In the second mode the units are positioned apart from each other.

Abstract: A portable device comprises a first portion and a second portion, the first portion having a first front surface and a first back surface. The first portion comprises an image sensor and a first imaging optical arrangement lying in imaging connection with the image sensor and defining a first field of view with a wide angle of view. The second portion comprises a second imaging optical arrangement. The first and the second portions are movably coupled to allow adjustment of the device to a closed position with the second portion lying against the first back surface, with the second imaging optical arrangement aligned with the first imaging optical arrangement, whereby the first and the second imaging optical arrangements define a second field of view, and to open positions with the second portion lying outside the first field of view.

Abstract: An apparatus including an image sensor configured to capture an image and optics, wherein the image sensor and optics align along an optical axis; optical image stabilization circuitry configured to determine and apply a target optical adjustment to compensate during capture of an image, for movement of the optical axis as a consequence of detected movement of the apparatus; post-capture image stabilization circuitry configured to process the captured image using a residual optical adjustment to obtain a compensated captured image, wherein the residual optical adjustment depends upon a difference between a measured optical adjustment, achieved during capture of the image, and the determined target optical adjustment.

Abstract: Described herein are methods for creating images with depth of field effects from plural image frames each having different tilt and/or focus properties. Exemplary methods comprise capturing plural image frames and adjusting the tilt axis of the camera and/or focus of the camera in between each shot. The plural image frames can then be combined to create desired depth of field effects, such as bokeh effects. One exemplary method comprises capturing a first image frame of a scene with a primary subject in focus, capturing at least a second image frame of the scene at a different tilt axis and with suitable alternative focus, and combining pixels from at least the first and second image frames based on a predetermined heuristic or algorithm to generate a resultant composite image with the desired depth of field effect (such as with a primary subject in focus and the background out of focus).

Abstract: A multi-part electronic device has a mode with at least two overlapped device parts comprising a first camera part mounted on a first device part and a second camera part mounted on a second device part. At least one of the first and second camera parts is resiliently mounted such that contact between the first and second camera parts when the first device part and the second device part are overlapped with each other aligns the first camera part and the second camera part within a selected angular deviation between the camera parts' respective optical axes. A camera part having a body and a flexible mount and a method of reducing tilt error are also described.

Abstract: An electronic device comprises a camera and a retaining member. The camera includes an objective portion configured to collect light from a subject, a sensor portion reversibly separable from the objective portion, an alignment-sensing system configured to sense a state of alignment between the objective portion and the sensor portion, an actuator configured to move the objective or sensor portion, and a computer configured to control the actuator responsive to output of the alignment-sensing system, so as to bring the objective and sensor portions into alignment. The retaining member is configured to couple the objective portion to the sensor portion when the objective and sensor portions are aligned and when the objective portion is separated from the sensor portion.

Abstract: An electronic device comprises a camera and a retaining member. The camera includes an objective portion configured to collect light from a subject, a sensor portion reversibly separable from the objective portion, and a computer configured to return an indication of alignment of the objective and sensor portions based on output of one or more optical sensor elements of the sensor portion. The retaining member is configured to couple the objective portion to the sensor portion when the objective and sensor portions are aligned and also when the objective portion is separated from the sensor portion.

Abstract: A device comprising at least two body sections is disclosed. The first body section comprises an imaging unit and a magnet movably connected to the imaging unit, and the second body section comprising an optical unit with a magnet fixed to the optical unit. The magnet movably connected to the imaging unit may be sliding along a guiding element. The body sections are also in a movable connection with each other, and the device is operable in at least two modes. In the first mode the imaging unit and the optical unit are fixed in a set relative position due to magnetic interaction between the magnets, and in the imaging unit is positioned away from the optical unit. In the second mode the units are positioned apart from each other.

Abstract: A portable device comprises a first portion and a second portion, the first portion having a first front surface and a first back surface. The first portion comprises an image sensor and a first imaging optical arrangement lying in imaging connection with the image sensor and defining a first field of view with a wide angle of view. The second portion comprises a second imaging optical arrangement. The first and the second portions are movably coupled to allow adjustment of the device to a closed position with the second portion lying against the first back surface, with the second imaging optical arrangement aligned with the first imaging optical arrangement, whereby the first and the second imaging optical arrangements define a second field of view, and to open positions with the second portion lying outside the first field of view.

Abstract: A device comprising at least two body sections is disclosed. The first body section comprises a movable imaging unit and a magnet rigidly fixed to the imaging unit, and the second body section comprising an optical unit with a magnet rigidly fixed to the optical unit. The body sections are in a movable connection with each other, and the device is operable in at least two modes. In the first mode, the imaging unit and the optical unit are fixed in a set relative position due to magnetic interaction between the magnets. In the second mode, the imaging unit is positioned away from the optical unit.

Abstract: An apparatus including a plurality of sensor elements, configured in an arrangement having a repeating pattern of sensor elements, the plurality of sensor elements including first monochromatic sensor elements configured to sense visible light of a first color; second monochromatic sensor elements configured to sense visible light of a second color; and panchromatic sensor elements configured to sense visible light of at least the first color and the second color, wherein the majority of the plurality of sensor elements are panchromatic sensor elements.

Abstract: An apparatus including an image sensor configured to capture an image and optics, wherein the image sensor and optics align along an optical axis; optical image stabilization circuitry configured to determine and apply a target optical adjustment to compensate during capture of an image, for movement of the optical axis as a consequence of detected movement of the apparatus; post-capture image stabilization circuitry configured to process the captured image using a residual optical adjustment to obtain a compensated captured image, wherein the residual optical adjustment depends upon a difference between a measured optical adjustment, achieved during capture of the image, and the determined target optical adjustment.

Abstract: An apparatus including a plurality of sensor elements, configured in an arrangement having a repeating pattern of sensor elements, the plurality of sensor elements including first monochromatic sensor elements configured to sense visible light of a first color; second monochromatic sensor elements configured to sense visible light of a second color; and panchromatic sensor elements configured to sense visible light of at least the first color and the second color, wherein the majority of the plurality of sensor elements are panchromatic sensor elements.