Abstract:
An apparatus and a method for operating the same. The apparatus includes N light guide portions. Each light guide portion of the N light guide portions includes a first light guide end and a second light guide end. If an image enters the N light guide portions through the N first light guide ends, then the image goes through the N light guide portions and exits through the N second light guide ends undistorted. The apparatus further includes N image devices. The N image devices are in one-to-one close proximity to the N second light guide ends. If an image exits the N light guide portions through the N second light guide ends, then the image essentially completely enters the N image devices.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to image processing, and more particularly to image processing using multiple image devices. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In digital image processing of the prior art, in order to increase the resolution of the image, the size of the image sensor chip has to be increased. However, increasing the size of the image sensor chip would decrease yield and dramatically increase fabrication costs. Therefore, there is a need for an apparatus (and a method for operating the same) in which image resolution (and/or overall image size) can be increased without increasing the individual image sensor chip size. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides an apparatus, comprising (a) N light guide portions, wherein N is an integer greater than 1, wherein each light guide portion of the N light guide portions comprises a first light guide end and a second light guide end, wherein if an image enters the N light guide portions through the N first light guide ends, then the image goes through the N light guide portions and exits through the N second light guide ends undistorted; and (b) N image devices, wherein the N image devices are in one-to-one close proximity to the N second light guide ends, and wherein if an image exits the N light guide portions through the N second light guide ends, then the image essentially completely enters the N image devices. 
     The present invention provides an apparatus operation method, comprising providing an apparatus which includes (a) N light guide portions, wherein N is an integer greater than 1, wherein each light guide portion of the N light guide portions comprises a first light guide end and a second light guide end, wherein if an image enters the N light guide portions through the N first light guide ends, then the image goes through the N light guide portions and exits through the N second light guide ends undistorted; and (b) N image sensor devices, wherein the N image sensor devices are in one-to-one close proximity to the N second light guide ends, and wherein if an image exits the N light guide portions through the N second light guide ends, then the image essentially completely enters the N image sensor devices; sending an image to the N first light guide ends; splitting the image into N sub images into the N light guide portions; using the N light guide portions to transmit the N sub images to the N image sensor devices; and using the N image sensor devices to collect and convert the N sub images to N digital data. 
     The present invention provides an apparatus operation method, comprising providing an apparatus which includes (a) N light guide portions wherein N is an integer greater than 1, wherein each light guide portion of the N light guide portions comprises a first light guide end and a second light guide end, wherein if an image enters the N light guide portions through the N second light guide ends, then the image goes through the N light guide portions and exits through the N first light guide ends undistorted; and (b) N image display devices wherein the N image display devices are in one-to-one close proximity to the N second light guide ends, and wherein if an image exits the N image display devices, then the image goes to the N light guide portions through the N light guide ends; using the N image display devices to generate N sub images of a single image into the N light guide portions through the N second light guide ends; and using the N light guide portions to transmit the N sub images to the N first light guide ends. 
     The present invention provides an apparatus (and a method for operating the same) in which image resolution (and/or overall image size) can be increased without increasing the individual image sensor chip size. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a side view of a structure, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 1A  shows a perspective view of a fiber optic element of the structure of  FIG. 1 , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  shows a top-down view of the structure of  FIG. 1 , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  shows a top-down view of a structure, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  shows a side view of a structure, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  shows a side view of a structure, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a top-down view of a light output end of a fiber optic bundle of  FIG. 1  and a pixel of an image sensor chip of  FIG. 1 , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  shows a side view of a structure, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIGS. 8 and 9  each illustrate block diagram of a system, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  shows a side view of a structure  100 , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. More specifically, in one embodiment, with reference to  FIG. 1 , the structure  100  comprises (i) two fiber optic bundles  130   a  and  130   b  and (ii) two image sensor chips  140   a  and  140   b . In one embodiment, the image sensor chips  140   a  and  140   b  are physically placed apart from each other. In one embodiment, a distance  160  between the image sensor chips  140   a  and  140   b  is large enough to ensure that there is enough space for logic circuits and bond pads (not shown) around the perimeters of the image sensor chips  140   a  and  140   b . Illustratively, the fiber optic bundle  130   a  comprises a first light guide portion  130   a   1  and a first support portion  130   a   2 . 
     More specifically, in one embodiment, the first light guide portion  130   a   1  comprises multiple individual fiber optic elements  130   a   1 ′. Illustratively, each fiber optic element  130   a   1 ′ comprises a core  134  and a cladding  132  (as shown in  FIG. 1A ). In one embodiment, the cladding  132  has a lower index of reflectivity than the core  134 . As a result, it is difficult for light transmitting along the core  134  to escape the core  134  through the cladding  132 . 
     In one embodiment, the fiber optic bundle  130   a  further comprises a light input end  120   a  and a light output end  150   a . Illustratively, each individual fiber optic element  130   a   1 ′ of the first light guide portion  130   a   1  comprises an element input end at the light input end  120   a  and an element output end at the light output end  150   a . In one embodiment, each individual fiber optic element  130   a   1 ′ of the first light guide portion  130   a   1  is bonded tightly and aligned with its neighboring elements such that each individual fiber optic element  130   a   1 ′ is locked in relation to neighboring position so as to not distort the transmitted image. Illustratively, the image sensor chip  140   a  is placed in close proximity to the light output end  150   a , meaning the image sensor chip  140   a  would receive essentially all of light emitting from the light output end  150   a.    
     In one embodiment, the fiber optic bundle  130   b  comprises a second light guide portion  130   b   1  and a second support portion  130   b   2 . Illustratively, the structures of the second light guide portion  130   b   1  and the second support portion  130   b   2  are similar to the structures of the first light guide portion  130   a   1  and the first support portion  130   a   2 , respectively. In one embodiment, the fiber optic bundle  130   b  further comprises a light input end  120   b  and a light output end  150   b . Illustratively, each individual fiber optic element  130   b   1 ′ of the second light guide portion  130   b   1  comprises an element input end at the light input end  120   b  and an element output end at the light output end  150   b . In one embodiment, each individual fiber optic element  130   b   1 ′ of the second light guide portion  130   b   1  is bonded tightly and aligned with its neighboring elements such that each individual fiber optic element  13   b   1 ′ is locked in relation to neighboring position so as to not distort the transmitted image. Illustratively, the image sensor chip  140   b  is placed in close proximity to the light output end  150   b , meaning the image sensor chip  140   b  would receive essentially all of light emitting from the light output end  150   b.    
     In one embodiment, the support portions  130   a   2  and  130   b   2  are bonded together so as to help hold the fiber optic bundles  130   a  and  130   b  tightly together. Illustratively, the support portions  130   a   2  and  130   b   2  can comprise any material and are not necessarily for transmitting light. In one embodiment, the light input ends  120   a  and  120   b  are adjacent and coplanar. Illustratively, the light output ends  150   a  and  150   b  are coplanar. In one embodiment, the light input ends  120   a  and  120   b  and the light output ends  150   a  and  150   b  are in parallel planes. 
     In one embodiment, the fiber optic bundles  130   a  and  130   b  can be formed from commercially available products. Illustratively, each of the fiber optic bundles  130   a  and  130   b  can be cut from a commercially available faceplate (not shown), or other commercially available coherent fiber bundle structures (not shown). In one embodiment, the faceplate is a bundle of fiber optic elements (similar to the fiber optic elements  130   a   1 ′) which are bonded tightly together and aligned with one another so as to not distort the transmitted image. As a result, the support portions  130   a   2  and  130   b   2  also comprise fiber optic elements. However, the fiber optic elements (not shown) of the support portions  130   a   2  and  130   b   2  do not necessarily receive or transmit any light incident on the light input ends  120   a  and  120   b.    
       FIG. 2  shows a top-down view of the structure  100  of  FIG. 1 , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , in one embodiment, the operation of the structure  100  is as follows. In one embodiment, assume that light  110   a  comes from a first half of a single image (not shown) and is incident on the light input end  120   a , whereas light  110   b  comes from a second half of the same image and is incident on the light input end  120   b . As a result, the light  110   a  transmits along the fiber optic elements  130   a   1 ′ to the light output end  150   a  and then to the image sensor chip  140   a . There, the light  10   a  coming from the first half of the single image is converted to a first digital data. It should be noted that the first support portion  130   a   2  does not transmit any portion of the light  110   a . Similarly, the light  110   b  transmits along the fiber optic elements  130   b   1 ′ to the light output end  150   b  and then to the image sensor chip  140   b . There, the light  110   b  coming from the second half of the single image is converted to a second digital data. It should be noted that the second support portion  130   b   2  does not transmit any portion of the light  110   b . In one embodiment, the first digital data from the image sensor chip  140   a  and the second digital data from the image sensor chip  140   b  can be processed, combined, and then stored as a single data for the single image as if the lights  110   a  and  110   b  were collected and processed by a single image sensor chip. 
     In summary, the lights  110   a  and  110   b  coming from the single image are split in halves wherein the first half  110   a  transmits through the fiber optic bundle  130   a  and is collected and converted into the first digital data by the image sensor chip  140   a  and wherein the second half  110   b  transmits through the fiber optic bundle  130   b  and is collected and converted into the second digital data by the image sensor chip  140   b . It should be noted that the first digital data from the image sensor chip  140   a  and the second digital data from the image sensor chip  140   b  can be processed, combined, and then stored as a single data for the single image as if the lights  110   a  and  110   b  were collected and processed by a single image sensor chip. As a result, the fiber optic bundles  130   a  and  130   b  can be collectively referred to as a coherent fiber optic image divider (CFOID)  130   a + 130   b.    
       FIG. 3  shows a top-down view of a structure  300 , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. More specifically, in one embodiment, the structure  300  comprises four fiber optic bundles  330   a ,  330   b ,  330   c , and  330   d . For illustration, the structure of each of the fiber optic bundles  330   a ,  330   b ,  330   c , and  330   d  is similar to the structure of the fiber optic bundle  130   a  of  FIG. 1 . In one embodiment, light input ends  310   a ,  310   b ,  310   c , and  310   d  of the fiber optic bundles  330   a ,  330   b ,  330   c , and  330   d , respectively, are adjacent to one another and coplanar. Illustratively, four image sensor chips (not shown) are placed in close proximity to light output ends  320   a ,  320   b ,  320   c , and  320   d  of the fiber optic bundles  330   a ,  330   b ,  330   c , and  330   d , respectively, meaning the four image sensor chips would receive essentially all of lights emitting from the light output ends  320   a ,  320   b ,  320   c , and  320   d . In one embodiment, the light output ends  320   a ,  320   b ,  320   c , and  320   d  are physically apart from one another such that there is enough space for logic circuits and bond pads (not shown) around the perimeters of the four image sensor chips. Illustratively, the light output ends  320   a ,  320   b ,  320   c , and  320   d  are coplanar. In one embodiment, the light input ends  310   a ,  310   b ,  310   c , and  310   d  and the light output ends  320   a ,  320   b ,  320   c , and  320   d  are in parallel planes. The fiber optic bundles  330   a ,  330   b ,  330   c , and  330   d  can be collectively referred to as a CFOID  330   a + 330   b + 330   c + 330   d.    
       FIG. 4  shows a side view of a structure  400 , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. More specifically, in one embodiment, the structure  400  comprises (i) two fiber optic bundles  420   a  and  420   b  and (ii) two image sensor chips  430   a  and  430   b . For illustration, the structure of each of the fiber optic bundles  420   a  and  420   b  is similar to the structure of the fiber optic bundle  130   a  of  FIG. 1  except that a light input end  410   a  and a light output end  440   a  of the fiber optic bundle  420   a  are not in parallel planes. In one embodiment, the orientation of fiber optic elements of the fiber optic bundles  420   a  is perpendicular to the plane of the light output end  440   a . In one embodiment, light input ends  410   a  and  410   b  of the fiber optic bundles  420   a  and  420   b , respectively, are adjacent and coplanar. Illustratively, the light output ends  440   a  and  440   b  of the fiber optic bundles  420   a  and  420   b , respectively, are physically apart from each other such that there is enough space for logic circuits and bond pads (not shown) around the perimeters of the image sensor chips  430   a  and  430   b.    
     In one embodiment, the operation of the structure  400  is similar to the operation of the structure  100  of  FIG. 1 . Therefore, the fiber optic bundles  420   a  and  420   b  can be collectively referred to as a CFOID  420   a + 420   b.    
       FIG. 5  shows a side view of a structure  500 , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. More specifically, in one embodiment, the structure  500  comprises (i) two fiber optic bundles  530   a  and  530   b  and (ii) two image sensor chips  540   a  and  540   b . For illustration, the structure of each of fiber optic bundles  530   a  and  530   b  is similar to the structure of the fiber optic bundle  130   a  of  FIG. 1  except that each individual fiber optic element of the fiber optic bundles  530   a  and  530   b  is custom routed from light input ends  520   a  and  520   b  to light output ends  550   a  and  550   b , respectively. 
     In one embodiment, the orientation of each fiber optic element of the fiber optic bundle  530   a  at its element input end is perpendicular to the light input end  520   a . Similarly, the orientation of each fiber optic element of the fiber optic bundle  530   b  at its fiber optic element input end is perpendicular to the light input end  520   b . Illustratively, the light input ends  520   a  and  520   b  of the fiber optic bundles  530   a  and  530   b , respectively, are adjacent and coplanar. In one embodiment, the light output ends  550   a  and  550   b  are coplanar. In one embodiment, the light output ends  550   a  and  550   b  of the fiber optic bundles  530   a  and  530   b , respectively, are physically apart from each other such that there is enough space for logic circuits and bond pads (not shown) around the perimeters of the image sensor chips  540   a  and  540   b.    
     In one embodiment, the operation of the structure  500  is similar to the operation of the structure  100  of  FIG. 1 . Therefore, the fiber optic bundles  420   a  and  420   b  can be collectively referred to as a CFOID  540   a + 540   b.    
       FIG. 6  illustrates a top-down view of the light output end  150   a  of the fiber optic bundle  130   a  ( FIG. 1 ) and a pixel  610  of the image sensor chip  140   a  ( FIG. 1 ), in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. In one embodiment, the pixel  610  has a shape of a square whose side  612  (which is also the pitch of the pixels of the of the image sensor chip  140   a ) is at least twice a pitch  622  of the fiber optic elements  130   a   1 ′. It should be noted that the pitch  622  of the fiber optic elements  130   a   1 ′ is the distance between the centers of two adjacent fiber optic elements  130   a   1 ′. 
     With the side  612  being at least twice the pitch  622 , there is no need to align the light output end  150   a  of the fiber optic bundle  130   a  to the pixels (similar to the pixel  610 ) of the image sensor chip  140   a . In one embodiment, this size relationship between the fiber optic elements  130   a   1 ′ and the pixel  610  is applicable to the structures  300 ,  400 , and  500  of  FIGS. 3 ,  4 , and  5 , respectively. 
       FIG. 7  shows a side view of a structure  700 , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. More specifically, in one embodiment, with reference to  FIG. 7 , the structure  700  comprises (i) two fiber optic bundles  730   a  and  730   b  and (ii) two image display chips  740   a  and  740   b . Illustratively, the fiber optic bundles  730   a  and  730   b  have structures similar to the structures of the fiber optic bundles  130   a  and  130   b  of  FIG. 1 , respectively. In one embodiment, the fiber optic bundles  730   a  and  730   b  are held together in a manner similar to the manner in which the fiber optic bundles  130   a  and  130   b  are held together. Illustratively, the image display chips  740   a  and  740   b  are placed in close proximity to light input ends  750   a  and  750   b , respectively, meaning the light input ends  750   a  and  750   b  would receive essentially all of light emitting from the image display chips  740   a  and  740   b.    
     In one embodiment, the operation of the structure  700  is as follows. Illustratively, with reference to  FIG. 7 , the image display chip  740   a  displays a first half of a single image at the light input end  750   a . In one embodiment, the light of the first half of the image goes through a first light guide portion  730   a   1  to a light output end  720   a . It should be noted that a first support portion  730   a   2  does not transmit any portion of the light of the first half of the image through it from the light input end  750   a . Then, the light of the first half of the image exits the light output end  720   a  as a light  710   a.    
     Similarly, the image display chip  740   b  displays a second half of the single image at the light input end  750   b . In one embodiment, the light of the second half of the image goes through a second light guide portion  730   b   1  to a light output end  720   b . It should be noted that a second support portion  730   b   2  does not transmit any portion of the light of the second half of the image through it from the light input end  750   b . Then, the light of the second half of the image exits the light output end  720   b  as a light  710   b . As a result, because the light output ends  720   a  and  720   b  are adjacent, the lights  710   a  and  710   b  represent the single image displayed by image display chips  740   a  and  740   b . As a result, the fiber optic bundles  730   a  and  730   b  can be collectively referred to as a coherent fiber optic image combiner  730   a + 730   b.    
       FIG. 8  illustrates a block diagram of a system  800 , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. More specifically, in one embodiment, with reference to  FIG. 8 , the system  800  comprises the two image sensor chips  140   a  and  140   b  and a processor  820 . Illustratively, the processor  820  receives the first digital data and the second digital data from the image sensor chips  140   a  and  140   b  through connections  810   a  and  810   b , respectively. In one embodiment, the processor  820  also receives control signals  830  which control the operation of the processor  820 . Illustratively, the processor  820  processes and combines the first digital data and the second digital data into a signal output data  840 . 
       FIG. 9  illustrates a block diagram of a system  900 , in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. More specifically, in one embodiment, with reference to  FIG. 9 , the system  900  comprises the two image display chips  740   a  and  740   b  and a processor  920 . 
     Illustratively, the processor  920  receives the input image data  940  and outputs the first digital data (corresponding to the first half of the image) and the second digital data (corresponding to the second half of the image) to the image display chips  740   a  and  740   b  through connections  910   a  and  910   b , respectively. In one embodiment, the processor  920  also receives control signals  930  which control the operation of the processor  920 . Receiving the first and second digital data, the image display chips  740   a  and  740   b  process the first and second digital data into the first and second halves of the image and then display the first and second halves of the image to the fiber optic bundles  730   a  and  730   b  ( FIG. 7 ), respectively, so that the entire image is displayed at the light output ends  720   a  and  720   b  ( FIG. 7 ) as a single image. 
     In the embodiments described above, the number of fiber optic bundles used are two ( FIG. 1 ), four ( FIG. 3 ), etc. In general, a CFOID can have N fiber optic bundles wherein N is an integer greater than 1. 
     It should be noted that the term “light” used in this application including the claims has the same meaning as photons. 
     While particular embodiments of the present invention have been described herein for purposes of illustration, many modifications and changes will become apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to encompass all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.