Patent ID: 8698940
Filing Date: 2014-04-15
Classification: G02F,H04N

Abstract:
1. A switchable imaging apparatus having a transparent viewing mode for viewing a scene and an image capture mode for capturing an image of the scene, comprising: a transparent plate having a front surface, wherein the scene is viewable through the transparent plate when the imaging apparatus is in the transparent viewing mode; an optical beam deflector positioned within the transparent plate, wherein the optical beam deflector is configured to switch between a first non-deflecting state and a second deflecting state, such that when the optical beam deflector is in the first non-deflecting state light from the scene is able to pass through the optical beam deflector in an undeflected direction, and when the optical beam deflector is in the second deflecting state light from the scene is able to be deflected from a first optical axis perpendicular to the front surface of the transparent plate onto a second optical axis parallel to the front surface of the transparent plate; a camera positioned along the second optical axis in a location peripheral to the transparent plate; and a controller configured to switch the optical beam deflector between the first non-deflecting state and the second deflecting state and to initiate capture of an image by the camera, thereby providing the transparent viewing mode and the image capture mode.