Patents by Inventor Yuhong Yao

Yuhong Yao has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11899176
    Abstract: Lens systems are described that may be used in small form factor cameras. An imaging lens system may include a front aperture and five lens elements, and provides a low F-number (<=2.4), wide field of view (>=82 degrees), and short total track length (TTL). Lens system parameters and relationships may be selected at least in part to reduce, compensate, or correct for optical aberrations and lens artifacts and effects across the field of view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Yuhong Yao
  • Patent number: 11899186
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Yuhong Yao, Yoshikazu Shinohara
  • Patent number: 11754821
    Abstract: A folded camera that includes two light folding elements such as prisms and an independent lens system, located between the two prisms, which includes an aperture stop and a lens stack. The lens system may be moved on one or more axes independently of the prisms to provide autofocus and/or optical image stabilization for the camera. The shapes, materials, and arrangements of the refractive lens elements in the lens stack may be selected to capture high resolution, high quality images while providing a sufficiently long back focal length to accommodate the second prism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Yuhong Yao, Miodrag Scepanovic
  • Patent number: 11635597
    Abstract: Compact folded lens systems are described that may be used in small form factor cameras. Lens systems are described that may include three lens elements with refractive power, with a light folding element such as a prism, located between a first lens element on the object side of the lens system and a second lens element, that redirects the light refracted from the first lens element from a first axis onto a second axis on which the other lens elements and a photosensor are arranged. The lens systems may include an aperture stop located behind the front vertex of the lens system, for example at the first lens element, and an optional infrared filter, for example located between the last lens element and a photosensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Yuhong Yao, Yoshikazu Shinohara
  • Publication number: 20230119451
    Abstract: A folded camera that includes two light folding elements such as prisms and an independent lens system, located between the two prisms, which includes an aperture stop and a lens stack. The lens system may be moved on one or more axes independently of the prisms to provide autofocus and/or optical image stabilization for the camera. The shapes, materials, and arrangements of the refractive lens elements in the lens stack may be selected to capture high resolution, high quality images while providing a sufficiently long back focal length to accommodate the second prism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2022
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Yuhong Yao, Miodrag Scepanovic
  • Patent number: 11604337
    Abstract: Compact folded lens systems are described that may be used in small form factor cameras. Lens systems are described that may include five lens elements with refractive power, with a light folding element such as a prism, located between a first lens element on the object side of the lens system and a second lens element, that redirects the light refracted from the first lens element from a first axis onto a second axis on which the other lens elements and a photosensor are arranged. The lens systems may include an aperture stop located behind the front vertex of the lens system, for example at the first lens element, and an optional infrared filter, for example located between the last lens element and a photosensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Yuhong Yao, Yoshikazu Shinohara
  • Patent number: 11536936
    Abstract: A folded camera that includes two light folding elements such as prisms and an independent lens system, located between the two prisms, which includes an aperture stop and a lens stack. The lens system may be moved on one or more axes independently of the prisms to provide autofocus and/or optical image stabilization for the camera. The shapes, materials, and arrangements of the refractive lens elements in the lens stack may be selected to capture high resolution, high quality images while providing a sufficiently long back focal length to accommodate the second prism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Yuhong Yao, Miodrag Scepanovic
  • Patent number: 11347030
    Abstract: Compact lens systems are described that may be used in small form factor cameras. The lens systems may include seven lens elements with refractive power, and may provide low F-numbers with wide field of view while maintaining or improving imaging quality and package size when compared to other compact lens systems. The lens systems may, for example, provide a focal ratio of 1.85 or less, with full field of view of 75 degrees or more. The lens systems may conform to a criterion for compactness TTL/ImageH<1.7, where TTL is the total track length of the lens system, and ImageH is the semi-diagonal image height of the image plane at the photosensor. Lens system parameters and relationships may be selected at least in part to reduce, compensate, or correct for optical aberrations and lens artifacts and effects across the field of view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Yuhong Yao, Yoshikazu Shinohara, Lin-Yao Liao
  • Publication number: 20220091399
    Abstract: Compact folded lens systems are described that may be used in small form factor cameras. Lens systems are described that may include five lens elements with refractive power, with a light folding element such as a prism, located between a first lens element on the object side of the lens system and a second lens element, that redirects the light refracted from the first lens element from a first axis onto a second axis on which the other lens elements and a photosensor are arranged. The lens systems may include an aperture stop located behind the front vertex of the lens system, for example at the first lens element, and an optional infrared filter, for example located between the last lens element and a photosensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2021
    Publication date: March 24, 2022
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Yuhong Yao, Yoshikazu Shinohara
  • Publication number: 20220050277
    Abstract: Compact folded lens systems are described that may be used in small form factor cameras. Lens systems are described that may include three lens elements with refractive power, with a light folding element such as a prism, located between a first lens element on the object side of the lens system and a second lens element, that redirects the light refracted from the first lens element from a first axis onto a second axis on which the other lens elements and a photosensor are arranged. The lens systems may include an aperture stop located behind the front vertex of the lens system, for example at the first lens element, and an optional infrared filter, for example located between the last lens element and a photosensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2021
    Publication date: February 17, 2022
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Yuhong Yao, Yoshikazu Shinohara
  • Patent number: 11194133
    Abstract: Compact folded lens systems are described that may be used in small form factor cameras. Lens systems are described that may include five lens elements with refractive power, with a light folding element such as a prism, located between a first lens element on the object side of the lens system and a second lens element, that redirects the light refracted from the first lens element from a first axis onto a second axis on which the other lens elements and a photosensor are arranged. The lens systems may include an aperture stop located behind the front vertex of the lens system, for example at the first lens element, and an optional infrared filter, for example located between the last lens element and a photosensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Yuhong Yao, Yoshikazu Shinohara
  • Publication number: 20210349295
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2019
    Publication date: November 11, 2021
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Yuhong Yao, Miodrag Scepanovic, Yoshikazu Shinohara
  • Patent number: 11163141
    Abstract: Compact folded lens systems are described that may be used in small form factor cameras. Lens systems are described that may include three lens elements with refractive power, with a light folding element such as a prism, located between a first lens element on the object side of the lens system and a second lens element, that redirects the light refracted from the first lens element from a first axis onto a second axis on which the other lens elements and a photosensor are arranged. The lens systems may include an aperture stop located behind the front vertex of the lens system, for example at the first lens element, and an optional infrared filter, for example located between the last lens element and a photosensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Yuhong Yao, Yoshikazu Shinohara
  • Publication number: 20210333529
    Abstract: A folded camera that includes two light folding elements such as prisms and an independent lens system, located between the two prisms, which includes an aperture stop and a lens stack. The lens system may be moved on one or more axes independently of the prisms to provide autofocus and/or optical image stabilization for the camera. The shapes, materials, and arrangements of the refractive lens elements in the lens stack may be selected to capture high resolution, high quality images while providing a sufficiently long back focal length to accommodate the second prism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2021
    Publication date: October 28, 2021
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Yuhong Yao, Miodrag Scepanovic
  • Publication number: 20210294074
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2021
    Publication date: September 23, 2021
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Yuhong Yao, Yoshikazu Shinohara
  • Patent number: 11061213
    Abstract: A folded camera that includes two light folding elements such as prisms and an independent lens system, located between the two prisms, which includes an aperture stop and a lens stack. The lens system may be moved on one or more axes independently of the prisms to provide autofocus and/or optical image stabilization for the camera. The shapes, materials, and arrangements of the refractive lens elements in the lens stack may be selected to capture high resolution, high quality images while providing a sufficiently long back focal length to accommodate the second prism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Yuhong Yao, Miodrag Scepanovic
  • Patent number: 11029496
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Yuhong Yao, Yoshikazu Shinohara
  • Publication number: 20210165194
    Abstract: Lens systems are described that may be used in small form factor cameras. An imaging lens system may include a front aperture and five lens elements, and provides a low F-number (<32 2.4), wide field of view (>=82 degrees), and short total track length (TTL). Lens system parameters and relationships may be selected at least in part to reduce, compensate, or correct for optical aberrations and lens artifacts and effects across the field of view.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2021
    Publication date: June 3, 2021
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Yuhong Yao
  • Patent number: 10921558
    Abstract: Lens systems are described that may be used in small form factor cameras. An imaging lens system may include a front aperture and five lens elements, and provides a low F-number (<=2.4), wide field of view (>=82 degrees), and short total track length (TTL). Lens system parameters and relationships may be selected at least in part to reduce, compensate, or correct for optical aberrations and lens artifacts and effects across the field of view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Yuhong Yao
  • Publication number: 20210033824
    Abstract: A camera includes a photosensor configured to capture light projected onto a surface of the photosensor and a lens system configured to refract light from an object field located in front of the camera to form an image of a scene at an image plane at or near the surface of the photosensor. The lens system comprises a plurality of refractive lens elements arranged along an optical axis of the camera. The lens system is configured to have a field-of-view (FOV) within a range of 110° to 140°, and the lens system has an F-number within a range of 2.2 to 2.8.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2020
    Publication date: February 4, 2021
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Yuhong Yao