Abstract: A device may include a light-folded projector that may include an infrared (IR) light emitter and a light folding element. The light folding element may receive IR light emitted from the IR light emitter and fold the IR light one or more times to guide the IR light passing through the light folding element to exit the device to an environment. The device may also include a detector that may detect and/or recognize an object in the environment using the IR light from the light-folded projector, and a front-facing camera to capture images of the environment in front of the device.

Abstract: Recording indicators for devices with cameras that provide protection from tampering so that the recording indicators cannot be easily disabled or masked. Recording indicators that are external to the camera lens and that emit visible light in an encrypted pattern are described. The device may process captured frames to detect the encrypted pattern; if the encrypted pattern cannot be detected, recording is disabled. In addition, modular accessories are described that the user has to attach to the device to enable recording; the presence of the modular attachment indicates to persons in the environment that they may be being recorded.

Abstract: An optical system for a camera may include a lens group having a plurality of lenses, a prism, and an image sensor. The prism may be positioned, optically, between the plurality of lenses and the image sensor along the optical transmitting path of the light. The prism may include at least four surfaces, which may fold the light within the prism at least four times to guide the light from the plurality of lenses passing through the prism to the image sensor. The prism may include multiple prisms joined together using an optical cement. The prism may include one or more aperture masks inside the prism to reduce flare.

Abstract: A device may include a light-folded projector that may include an infrared (IR) light emitter and a light folding element. The light folding element may receive IR light emitted from the IR light emitter and fold the IR light one or more times to guide the IR light passing through the light folding element to exit the device to an environment. The device may also include a detector that may detect and/or recognize an object in the environment using the IR light from the light-folded projector, and a front-facing camera to capture images of the environment in front of the device.

Abstract: An optical component includes a mask defining a light blocking portion and a light transmitting portion of the optical component. The light blocking portion is separated from the light transmitting portion by one or more mask edges, at least one of which is defined by an apodized pattern. The apodized pattern of the mask edge reduces diffraction and thus flare caused by the mask.

Abstract: A lens system provides a zoom function (variable magnification) in a low profile camera (lens system height less than or equal to 6 mm), which may be in a cellular phone. The lens system includes at least three movable lens groups that are movable along a common optical axis. Each of the three movable lens groups is coupled to a corresponding actuator. Responsive to a request to change focal length or magnification, a controller sends a corresponding signal to each of the actuators that move the corresponding lens group by a corresponding distance in a corresponding direction. The various movable lens groups may be moved by different distances and in different directions of movement. An f-number of the lens system is less than f/3.0. Focusing of an image cast onto an image sensor is accomplished by adjusting the position along the optical axis of one of the movable lens groups.

Abstract: An imaging system including a front aperture, two or more refractive lens elements mounted in a lens barrel, and a photosensor. One or more of the components of the imaging system (e.g., the aperture, lenses, lens groups, and/or photosensor) are tilted with respect to each other and/or with respect to a center (or mechanical) axis of the imaging system to compensate for effects including but not limited to keystone distortion, resolution non-uniformity, and gradient blur that result from tilt of an object in the field of view of the camera with respect to the center axis of the camera.

Abstract: A folded optical system that comprises two prisms with refractive power and in which at least one surface of at least one of the prisms is not rotationally symmetric. The materials and surfaces of the prisms in the folded optical system may be selected to provide a low F-number (e.g., <=2.4), full field of view (FOV) of 30 degrees or less. The folded optical system may be implemented in a small package size while still capturing sharp, high-resolution images, making embodiments of a camera including the folded optical system suitable for use in small and/or mobile multipurpose devices.

Abstract: A folded lens system that includes lenses with refractive power and two light folding elements such as prisms. A first lens on a first axis refracts light to a first folding element. The first folding element redirects the light from the first axis onto a second axis on which one or more lenses are arranged. The lenses on the second axis refract the light to a second folding element. The second folding element redirects the light onto a third axis on which a sensor is disposed. The lens system may include a front aperture. The sensor may be moved on the third axis to provide autofocusing, or alternatively the lens system may include one or more optical actuators that provide autofocusing. The lens system may have a low F-number (<=2.8), and may have a 35 mm equivalent focal length in the medium to long telephoto range.

Abstract: A lens system provides a zoom function (variable magnification) in a low profile camera (lens system height less than or equal to 6 mm), which may be in a cellular phone. The lens system includes at least three movable lens groups that are movable along a common optical axis. Each of the three movable lens groups is coupled to a corresponding actuator. Responsive to a request for a change in focal length or magnification, a controller sends a corresponding signal to each of the actuators that move the corresponding lens group by a corresponding distance in a corresponding direction. The various movable lens groups may be moved by different distances and in different directions of movement. An f-number of the lens system is less than f/3.0. Focusing of an image cast onto an image sensor is accomplished by adjusting the position along the optical axis of one of the movable lens groups.

Abstract: Compact lens systems that may be used in small form factor cameras. The lens system may include a master lens with two or more lens elements arranged along an optical axis and having refractive power, and an optical actuator located on the object side of the master lens that may provide autofocus (AF) and/or optical image stabilization (OIS) functionality for the camera. An aperture stop for the camera may be included in the optical actuator, for example between a substrate and a flexible optical element of the optical actuator. Including the aperture stop in the optical actuator rather than in the lens stack may allow the optical actuator to be smaller in the X-Y dimensions (perpendicular to the optical (Z) axis) than it would be in a similar camera with the aperture stop located in the lens stack.

Abstract: An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a camera module having an optical axis and a set of one or more lenses centered along the optical axis. The electronic device also includes a display panel including an enhanced light transmission region. The enhanced light transmission region permits a greater amount of light to pass therethrough compared to at least one other region of the display panel. The electronic device further includes a display printed circuit board (PCB). In addition, the electronic device includes an aperture stop positioned between the set of one or more lenses and the display panel. The electronic device includes a transparent cover positioned over the display panel on an opposite side of the display panel from the display PCB. The electronic device also includes a housing configured to retain the camera module, the display panel, the display PCB, and the aperture stop therein.

Abstract: Various embodiments disclosed herein include zoom lens assemblies, as well as cameras and devices that incorporate these zoom lens assemblies. The zoom lens assemblies described herein include three lens groups, the first of which includes a light-folding element such as a prism. The second and third lens groups are moveable relative to the first lens group and relative to each other to change the focal length of the camera.

Abstract: A folded lens system that includes lenses with refractive power and two light folding elements such as prisms. A first lens on a first axis refracts light to a first folding element. The first folding element redirects the light from the first axis onto a second axis on which one or more lenses are arranged. The lenses on the second axis refract the light to a second folding element. The second folding element redirects the light onto a third axis on which a sensor is disposed. The lens system may include a front aperture. The sensor may be moved on the third axis to provide autofocusing, or alternatively the lens system may include one or more optical actuators that provide autofocusing. The lens system may have a low F-number (<=2.8), and may have a 35 mm equivalent focal length in the medium to long telephoto range.

Abstract: An optical system for a camera may include a lens group having a plurality of lenses, a prism, and an image sensor. The prism may be positioned, optically, between the plurality of lenses and the image sensor along the optical transmitting path of the light. The prism may include at least four surfaces, which may fold the light within the prism at least four times to guide the light from the plurality of lenses passing through the prism to the image sensor. The prism may include multiple prisms joined together using an optical cement. The prism may include one or more aperture masks inside the prism to reduce flare.

Abstract: Recording indicators for devices with cameras that provide protection from tampering so that the recording indicators cannot be easily disabled or masked. Recording indicators that are external to the camera lens and that emit visible light in an encrypted pattern are described. The device may process captured frames to detect the encrypted pattern; if the encrypted pattern cannot be detected, recording is disabled. In addition, modular accessories are described that the user has to attach to the device to enable recording; the presence of the modular attachment indicates to persons in the environment that they may be being recorded.

Abstract: An optical system for a camera may include a lens group having a plurality of lenses, a prism, and an image sensor. The prism may be positioned, optically, between the plurality of lenses and the image sensor along the optical transmitting path of the light. The prism may include at least four surfaces, which may fold the light within the prism at least four times to guide the light from the plurality of lenses passing through the prism to the image sensor. The prism may include multiple prisms joined together using an optical cement. The prism may include one or more aperture masks inside the prism to reduce flare.

Abstract: Light-absorbing flange lenses that may be used in the lens stacks of compact lens systems. In a light-absorbing flange lens, the effective area of the lens is composed of a transparent optical material, and at least a portion of the flange of the lens is composed of an optical material that absorbs at least a portion of the light that enters the flange. Using light-absorbing flange lenses may allow the lens barrel to be eliminated from the lens system, thus reducing the X-Y dimensions of the lens system when compared to conventional compact lens systems that include a lens stack enclosed in a lens barrel. In addition, using a light-absorbing material in the flanges of the light-absorbing flange lenses may reduce or eliminate optical aberrations such as lens flare, haze, and ghosting in images.

Abstract: An imaging system including a front aperture, two or more refractive lens elements mounted in a lens barrel, and a photosensor. One or more of the components of the imaging system (e.g., the aperture, lenses, lens groups, and/or photosensor) are tilted with respect to each other and/or with respect to a center (or mechanical) axis of the imaging system to compensate for effects including but not limited to keystone distortion, resolution non-uniformity, and gradient blur that result from tilt of an object in the field of view of the camera with respect to the center axis of the camera.

Abstract: Light-absorbing flange lenses that may be used in the lens stacks of compact lens systems. In a light-absorbing flange lens, the effective area of the lens is composed of a transparent optical material, and at least a portion of the flange of the lens is composed of an optical material that absorbs at least a portion of the light that enters the flange. Using light-absorbing flange lenses may allow the lens barrel to be eliminated from the lens system, thus reducing the X-Y dimensions of the lens system when compared to conventional compact lens systems that include a lens stack enclosed in a lens barrel. In addition, using a light-absorbing material in the flanges of the light-absorbing flange lenses may reduce or eliminate optical aberrations such as lens flare, haze, and ghosting in images.