Combined lens module and image capturing-and-sensing assembly

A combined lens module including plural lens modules deposited within a housing is provided. These lens modules include plural lenses and multiple apertures. Each lens has a main lens element for visible light and an associate lens element for invisible light. An image capturing-and-sensing assembly may be performed by equipping with such a combined lens module and a sensor for visible light and invisible light, which could have high-resolution and apply to a thin portable device or any environment in use of infrared structured lighting or light scanner for the applications of human-machine interactive.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of combined lens module, and especially relates to the combined lens module applied to slim opto-electronic device and image-capturing device, module, or apparatus.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In current field of emergent technology and technical applications, dramatic attention has been put on human mutual interactive via different machines and hence, a variety of platforms, either with simple wear device or through wireless communication, have been developed to improve the quality of human daily life and health. Indeed, the interactive is no more limited to common input-output devices (IOD). The evolution of input device was changed from real keyboard to touch panel, and then to gesture control smartly. On the other hand, the typical output device is monitor, liquid crystal display, and then touch panel, which is also an input device as mentioned. It is not a surprise that the input and output can be virtually interacted eventually. Of course, not the less to mention, the IOD with eye as well as the other human activity, say voice and body motion, are no more uncommon in real world. Indeed, in current days, mobile device, e.g., smart phone, has been widely used and new functions are embedded as driven by the demands of market and the consumers. Because the central role played by mobile devices is actually to extend the capability of input-output connectivity for human, it is expecting that gesture control will be fully implemented in our circumstance and environment.

In many applications of gesture control, infrared structured lighting is used. The main advantage of infrared light is its nature of non-visible characteristics and hence it will not interfere the activity of human, particularly for eyes, and the associated connectivity. Meanwhile, the inclusion of infrared wavelength for transmitters and receivers can enhance signal-to-noise in sensing and detecting for many circumstances. The use of structured lighting in different wavelength bands, even for thermal range, is also considering to be an effective means in applications.

As viewing of the demand of imaging apparatus, one will need to have the typical high-resolution camera module for common visual application while IR imaging camera module, even for thermal imaging, has to be included. Therefore, there is a need to integrate all imaging apparatuses in one single device. Accordingly, it is an important issue to develop an image-capturing module of multiple functions in a compact size for the smart mobile phone equipped with the generation of structured lighting.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To meet the requirements aforementioned, a combined lens module is provided herein. The combined lens module includes a plurality of lenses, and each of the lenses has one or more lens elements to add the field of view for the combined lens module.

To meet the requirements aforementioned, a combined lens module and an image capturing-and-sensing assembly equipped therewith are provided herein. The combined lens module includes the plural lenses, and each of the lenses includes the lens elements for passing invisible light and visible light, respectively. The combined lens module can be equipped with a sensor capable of sensing the infrared light and the visible light simultaneously. Thus the combined lens module may receive the light data of the outside visible light and the outside invisible light, such as infrared light or thermal light.

To meet the requirements aforementioned, a combined lens module and the image capturing-and-sensing assembly equipped therewith are provided herein. The combined lens module includes a housing accommodating the plural lenses, and the housing has a compact size to fit into a thin mobile device or apparatus.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a combined lens module includes: a housing; and a plurality of lens modules deposited within the housing, the lens modules including a plurality of lenses and having a plurality of apertures, wherein each of the lens includes a main lens element for passing visible light and an associate lens element for passing invisible light, and light data from the outside of the housing reaches the housing and passes through the lens modules.

In an embodiment, the main lens element is in the center zone of the corresponding lens, and the associate lens element is at the surrounding zone of the corresponding lens.

In an embodiment, the lenses include three lenses stacked on one another within the housing, and the combined lens module further includes an aperture stop.

In an embodiment, the main lens element includes a first main lens element of a first lens, a second main lens element of a second lens, and a third main lens element of a third lens, and the aperture stop is placed between the first main lens element and the second lens element, and wherein the visible light from the outside of the housing passes through the first main lens element, the aperture stop, the second main lens element and the third main lens element in sequence, and then reaches a sensor, and the optical power of the third main lens element is positive.

In an embodiment, the optical powers of the first main lens element and the second main lens element are positive numbers.

In an embodiment, the main lens element includes a first main lens element of a first lens, a second main lens element of a second lens, and a third main lens element of a third lens, and the aperture stop is placed between the first main lens element and the housing, and wherein the visible light from the outside of the housing passes through the aperture stop, the first main lens element, the second main lens element and the third main lens element in sequence, and then reaches an image sensor, and the optical power of the third main lens element is positive.

In an embodiment, the optical power of the first main lens element is positive, and the optical power of the second main lens element is negative.

In an embodiment, the apertures includes a main aperture corresponding to the plural main lens elements, and an associate aperture corresponding to the plural associate lens, and wherein the image circle of the associate aperture and the image circle of the main aperture have at least a portion to overlap with each other.

In an embodiment, the invisible light includes at least one of infrared light and thermal light.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, an image capturing-and-sensing assembly includes: a housing; a plurality of lens module deposited within the housing, the lens modules comprising a plurality of lenses and having a plurality of apertures, wherein the plural apertures comprise a main aperture imaging visible light from the outside of the housing to pass through and an associate aperture imaging invisible light from the outside of the housing to pass through; and a sensor sensing the visible light passing through the main aperture and the invisible light passing through the associate aperture.

In an embodiment, the sensor includes a non-Bayer sensor in which at least one sensing pixel for the invisible light is included in one unit, where the corresponding sensor unit may be in a regular matrix or in an irregular shape.

In an embodiment, the sensor includes sensors for thermal detection.

In an embodiment, each of the lenses includes a plurality of lens elements, and the lens elements include a main lens element at the center of the corresponding lens to be stacked on another main lens elements of the another lenses to form the main aperture, and an associate lens element at the surrounding of the center of the corresponding lens to be stacked on another associate lens elements of the another lenses to form the associate aperture.

In an embodiment, the image capturing-and-sensing assembly further comprising an aperture stop, and wherein the main lens elements comprise a first main lens element, a second main lens element, and a third main lens element, and wherein the aperture stop is between the first main lens element and the second main lens element, or the aperture stop is between the first main lens element or the housing.

In an embodiment, the optical powers of the first main lens element and the second main lens element are positive numbers.

In an embodiment, the sensor includes sensors for thermal detection.

From the above descriptions, the present invention provides a combined lens module including plural lens modules deposited within a housing. These lens modules include plural lenses and multiple apertures. Each lens has a main lens element for visible light and an associate lens element for invisible light, such as infrared light or light where thermal bands can also be included. An image capturing-and-sensing assembly may be performed by equipping with such a combined lens module and a sensor for visible light and invisible light, which could have high-resolution and apply to a thin portable device or any environment in use of infrared-red structured lighting or light scanner for human interaction field.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In the present invention, a lens assembly may have plural apertures, and each of the apertures can have it own lens module. Each of the lens modules can include one or more lens elements. The plural lens elements may be stacked along the optical axes of the lens modules. That is, the distances from an objective plane or an image plane to these lens elements are different. Furthermore, the lens elements corresponding to the different lens modules may be separated into the plural lenses or integrated into a single piece lens, for example, in the way of the plastic molding to integrate the plural lens elements into a single piece. The different lens elements on a single piece lens may have their own functions and be illustrated in the following paragraphs.

FIG. 1is a schematic stereo diagram illustrating a combined lens module. Please refer toFIG. 1, a combined lens module10includes a base11, a housing13deposited in the base11, and a lens assembly12deposited in the housing13. In this embodiment, the base11accommodates and fixes the housing13having the lens assembly12. Besides, the base11may include other structures to fix other circuit or other assembled components. In practice, the base11may be omitted if necessary. Next, the housing13is configured to integrate the lens assembly12to become a single member. For example, the housing13could include a top plate, a bottom plate, and a sidewall to fix the lens assembly12. It is understood that the ratio, the positions, the sizes, the geometric shapes of the base11and the housing13inFIG. 1are just exemplary for illustration, not limited to a design in the present invention.

Next, the lens assembly12includes a multitude of lens modules, such as a first lens module120, a second lens module122, a third lens module124, a fourth lens module126, and a fifth lens module128. In this embodiment, the first lens module120is positioned in the center zone of the housing13, and surrounded by the second lens module122, the third lens module124, the fourth lens module126, and the fifth lens module128. It is noted that the arrangement of these lens modules can be regular or irregular, and a regular or symmetric arrangement is preferred. The arrangement shown inFIG. 1does not limit any design of the present invention. Furthermore, the lens assembly12has a plurality of apertures corresponded by the lens modules aforementioned. For convenient illustration, the first lens module120implements a main aperture with a main optical axis201, while the second lens module122, the third lens module124, the fourth lens module126, and the fifth lens module128implement different associate apertures with associated optical axes203. In the embodiment, the first lens module120of the main aperture is configured to permit visible light data detective by a visible light sensor to pass through. The other lens modules of the associate apertures are configured to permit invisible light data detective by an invisible light sensor to pass through, such as the wavelength of 830 nm or 920 nm which less appeared in our natural environment. Furthermore, though the first lens module120is illustrated to implement the capturing of the visible light data, it is not limited to a single first lens module120at design, and the plural lens modules120distributed in the center zone of the housing13may be designed to be capable of permitting the visible light data to pass through. Moreover, the invisible light aforementioned may include, but not limited, infrared light, thermal light (long-wavelength infrared light), or the combination thereof.

FIG. 2andFIG. 3are schematic diagrams illustrating the different exemplary image circles maps of the associate apertures for the different arrangements on the lens modules in the present invention. Take a typical 4 MP sensor with a format 16:9 as an example, it is denoted by a square of the length22of 5.376 mm and the width24of 3.040 mm. To use the maximum capability of imaging for the sensor, image circles23and25have to be at least 6.176 mm diameter. Accordingly, shown inFIG. 2, associate apertures232,234,236, and238are designed to be separated without overlapping within the image circle23and within the range of the length22and the width24of the sensor. Shown inFIG. 3, associate apertures252,254,256, and258are designed to be independent with partially overlapping portions within the image circle23and cover some portions over the range of the length22and the width24of the sensor. Accordingly, the cooperation of the main aperture and the one or more associate apertures in the present invention can satisfy to cover the image circle of the maximum capability of imaging for the sensor in use. The ranges of the main aperture and the associate apertures can be separated without overlapping, or independent with partially overlapping portions. The arrangements of the main aperture and the associate apertures are not limited to in symmetric or asymmetric form, or identical or different sizes of apertures. Furthermore, the main aperture and the associate apertures in the present invention can include multitudes of different directions of viewing (sighting) and hence the lens assembly of the present invention can be named as a multiple view lens assembly, and the characteristics of each aperture are specified by the corresponding field of view (FOV) or field angle (FA) and the size of aperture.

FIG. 4is a schematic cross-view diagram illustrating the combined lens assembly of a first embodiment and other components, andFIG. 5is a schematic diagram illustrating a sensing unit of an exemplary sensor. Please refer toFIG. 1andFIG. 4, the lens assembly includes three lenses32,34, and36, and each of the lenses32,34, and36includes one or more lens elements. In the first embodiment, the lens32includes a first main lens element31, and a first associate lens element41and a second associate lens element42deposited around the first main lens element31. Similarly, the lens34includes a second main lens element33, and a third associate lens element43and a fourth associate lens element44deposited around the second main lens element33. The lens36has a third main lens element35, and a fifth associate lens element45and a sixth associate lens element46deposited around the third main lens element35. Moreover, the associate lens elements can be separated with one another, or be within a continuous zone if they belong to the same lens. Next, compared withFIG. 1, the first lens module120includes the first main lens element31, the second main lens element33, and the third main lens element35. The third lens module124has the second associate lens element42, the fourth associate lens element44, and the sixth associate lens element46. The fourth lens module126has the first associate lens element41, the third associate lens element43, and the fifth associate lens element45. It is understood that the second lens module122and the fifth lens module128are not shown inFIG. 4because of selecting a specific cross-view diagram. Furthermore, the lens34is deposited between the lens32and the lens36. The first face311of the lens32is faced towards an objective plane, the first face331of the lens34is faced towards the objective plane and the lens32. The first face351of the lens36is faced towards the objective plane, the lens32, and the lens34. Besides, an aperture stop30is placed in front of the first face331of the second main lens element33, and a sensor40is set behind the lens36.

Please refer toFIG. 1andFIG. 4again, in the first embodiment, the lens configuration of the first lens module120is represented by a text “XAXP”, in which “X” represents the optical power (OP) for the lens counting from the objective plane, and can be positive or negative; “A” represents the aperture stop30; “P” represents the positive optical power for the second lens counting from the objective plane; and “N” represents the negative optical power of the face of the lens counting from the objective plane. Accordingly, the optical power of the first main lens element31is a positive number near to zero, a positive number of 0.1038 is preferred such that the corresponding field of view could be extended nearly close to about 80-90 degrees, or even larger. Next, the optical powers of the second main lens element33and the third main lens element35are positive numbers respectively more than the one of the first main lens element31, the preferred positive numbers of the second main lens element33and the third main lens element35are 0.1497 and 0.7552, respectively. However, these numbers aforementioned are not limited in the present invention. The lens configuration of the first lens module120is considered to be capable of providing enough space to let multitudes of light beams for associate views reach the sensor40behind the lens assembly without interferences among one another, after the multitudes of light beams pass through the first lens module and other surrounding lens modules. Accordingly, the lens configuration of the first lens module120could have a positive optical power of the lens that is the closest to the sensor40. If the aperture stop30is necessary, it would be placed after the lens element that is the closest to the objective plane.

Please refer toFIG. 1andFIG. 4again, for example, a person stands ahead of the lens assembly and stretches his arms from his shoulders (not shown inFIG. 4). Light data72of the person's body in right front of the lens assembly12enters into the lens assembly12in the way of the incident direction parallel to a main optical axis201. Light data71of the stretched left arm and light data73of the stretched right arm pass through the lens assembly12and then reach the sensor40in the way of the respectively incident angles with respect to the main optical axis201. These incident angles results from these incident directions are not parallel to the main optical axis201. However, the first lens module120can provide the enough space to let the light data71and the light data73reach and be received by the sensor40without the interferences with each other.

Furthermore, the combined lens modules of the present invention are equipped with the sensor40to become an image-capturing assembly. The combined lens modules of the present invention are capable to permit the visible light and invisible light (eg. the infrared light, or thermal light) from the outside of the housing to pass through the lens modules and then reach the sensor40(inFIG. 4andFIG. 5), so that the sensor40could be considered to be a non-Bayer sensor, i.e., the pixels are distributed for Red (R), Green (G), Blue (B), IR (infrared or invisible) regularly or irregularly, or say, in which at least one sensing pixel for the invisible light is included in one unit, where the corresponding sensor unit may be in a regular matrix or in an irregular shape, and it can sense both the visible light and the invisible (infrared or thermal for example) light. Please refer toFIG. 4andFIG. 5, the sensor40includes a plurality of sensing pixels74aligned in a matrix of one or two dimensions. Each of the sensing pixels74could have four pixel units75,76,77, and78. For example, the pixel unit75is configured to sense red light (R), the pixel unit76is configured to sense green light (G), the pixel unit77senses blue light (B), and the pixel unit78is configured to sense infrared light or other invisible light. Accordingly, the pixel units75,76, and77of the sensing pixel74are the portions of a visible light domain on the sensor40, while the pixel unit78is the portion of a infrared light domain on the sensor40.

Consequently, the visible light data passing through the main lens elements reaches the visible light domain of the non-Bayer sensor, while the infrared or invisible light data passing through the associate lens elements reaches the infrared (invisible) light domain of the non-Bayer sensor. Thus, a single sensor may be used for the combined lens module in the present invention and simplify the members of an image-capturing assembly. Of course, it is understood that two or more individual sensors may also used in the present invention, such as a Bayer sensor in charge of receiving the visible light data and other specific sensor in charge of receiving the infrared light data and other invisible light data.

Furthermore, the image circle of the lens configuration inFIG. 4can be similar to the one inFIG. 3, the image circle25represents the one of the first lens module120, which follows the lens configuration of “XAXP” rule and enables the image circles of all the associate lens modules to be within the domain of the image circle of the first lens module120. Besides, the lenses of the first lens module may be designed in a more freedom way and a larger resolution capability.

FIG. 6is a schematic cross-view diagram illustrating the combined lens assembly of a second embodiment and other components. Please refer toFIG. 1andFIG. 6, the lens assembly12includes three lenses52,54, and56. The lens52includes a first main lens element51, and a first associate lens element61and a second lens element62deposited around the first main lens element51. Similarly, the lens54has a second main lens element53, and a third associate lens element63and a fourth associate lens element64deposited around the second main lens element53. The lens56includes a third main lens element55, and a fifth associate lens element65and a sixth associate lens element66deposited around the third main lens element55. Next, the lens54is positioned between the lens52and the lens56. The aperture stop30is placed in front of the lens52that is the closest to the objective plane, or say, the aperture stop30is place in front of all the lens elements. Thus, the first lens module120has the lens configuration of “AXXP”. Besides, the sensor40is positioned behind the lens56. It is noted that the light data inFIG. 6is similar to the ones shown inFIG. 4, and some of them omitted inFIG. 6are not limited to the second embodiment.

Compared with the first embodiment, the aperture stop30of the second embodiment is located at the position the closest to the objective plane, and the third main lens element55of the lens56that is just in front of the sensor has a positive optical power. The optical power of the third main lens element55is preferred 0.6924. The first main lens element51of the lens52and the second main lens element53of the lens54have positive or negative numbers, respectively. For example, the optical power of the first main lens element51has a preferred positive number of 3.964, while the optical power of the second main lens element53has a preferred negative number of −0.789, but not limited to in the present invention.

FIG. 7is a schematic diagram illustrating the image circle ofFIG. 6. Please refer toFIG. 1,FIG. 6, andFIG. 7, image circle27is the one of the first lens module120(main lens module), and image circles272,274,276, and278are the ones of the associate lens modules. Furthermore, the image circles272,274,276, and278are partially overlapped with the image circle27, and an image-capturing domain28is within the ranges of all the image circles aforementioned.

Accordingly, the lens module of the present invention combines multitudes of lenses, and each of the lenses can have different lens elements in charge of the visible light data and the infrared light data, respectively. Compared with a single lens, such a combined lens is used to improve the field of view and further enhance the image quality of an associate field of view. Next, the lens element in charge of passing the visible light data could be positioned in the center zones of any lens, and the lens element in charge of passing the infrared light data could be at the surrounding of the corresponding lens. From the view of mechanical enhancement in practice, the lens elements for the infrared light data are the extensions of the lens elements for the visible light data, which could improve the mechanical strength of the lenses and permit the invisible light data (infrared light data or thermal light data) to reach the sensor behind the lens modules, so that both mechanical and optical properties are considered in the combined lens modules. Besides, because any lens has different lens elements in charge of passing the invisible light data (infrared light data or thermal light data for example) and the visible light data, respectively, the combined lens modules of the present invention can be applied to an image-capturing device or apparatus with multiple apertures. Moreover, the multitudes of lenses are accommodated within the single housing to reduce the whole size, so such a combined lens module is suitable applied to a slim smart mobile phone. Next, the combined lens module of the present invention is capable to receive both the visible light data and the invisible light data in which infrared light is also included, so it is applied to a situation or environment in use of the invisible light for detection, scanning, or other purposes, such as an interactive device or apparatus with human body. The invisible light may be in thermal range, too.