Abstract:
An image-capturing module successively captures light data in batches for a scene of a whole field of view by adjusting the position of a multifaceted prism, and executes patch process on these batches of the light data to acquire an image over the whole field of view in a higher imaging quality that is generally achieved by a camera module with large number of pixels. The movable multifaceted prism may be together with an image sensing module and a lens module to be within a holder to have a compact volume for an image-capturing mobile phone, wearable device, and/or smart opto-electronics.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to an image-capturing module, and more particularly to an image-capturing module which is also associated with an invisible structured lighting. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Image sensor is one of key components on determining the quality of image and it takes about 40% cost for the camera module of mobile phone. Image sensor is generally specified by the pixels within the sensor for a camera module in mobile phone. Overall, the more the pixel number of the image sensor is, the better an image resolution is. However, more pixels mean light data of an image to be processed is huge and slows down the rate of image processing. Besides, the more the pixel number of the image sensor is, the smaller the pixel size of a pixel is. A small pixel size could cause insufficient photo-sensitivity. In order to prevent the image from insufficient photo-sensitivity and enhance the quality of the image, the lens number of a lens module needs be added. Consequently, the lens module with more lenses could make the lens module thicker, which is against the current trend of thinning mobile phone. Besides, for smart wearable devices and opto-electronics, which may have various changes on the interaction range as well as the corresponding projecting image, the method of current fixed imaging does not satisfy the demands of the smart wearable devices and opto-electronics. 
         [0003]    Accordingly, for the cameras of mobile phone and/or the smart wearable devices the important issues are to improve the imaging function, the image quality, the volume, and/or the size of an imaging component or module. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    An image-capturing module is provided to apply to thin and small-size communication mobile devices, apparatus or wearable devices and smart opto-electronics. The image-capturing module includes a movable multifaceted prism and an imaging-sensing module. By adjusting the position of the movable multifaceted prism, light data for a scene of a whole field of view may be captured in batches. Each batch of the light data could be sensed by the whole imaging-sensing module and collected to patch a whole image of the whole field of view. Such an approach of capturing in batches and image patching may both satisfy scope adjustment of captured image and hence, enhance the quality of the whole image. 
         [0005]    An image-capturing module is provided to include a movable multifaceted prism. By adjusting the position of the movable multifaceted prism, the light data for the scene of the whole field of view may be captured in batches, and each batch could be sensed by the whole imaging-sensing module, even though the image-capturing module is equipped with an image sensor in lower pixel number. Such an approach applying on the equipped image sensor in lower pixel number may reduce the cost of the image-capturing module. 
         [0006]    An image-capturing module is provided to include a movable multifaceted prism. By adjusting the position of the movable multifaceted prism, the light data of the whole field of view for a scene may be captured in batches. The field of view of each batch is smaller than the whole field of view, and the light data of each hatch is collected together to patch a whole image. Such an approach may speed up the processing of capturing image and acquire a wide-view image. 
         [0007]    In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, an image-capturing module, configured to capture an image of a scene, includes: an image-sensing member; a lens module; a movable light-selecting module including a multifaceted prism, wherein the face number of the multifaceted prism is large than three, and the multifaceted prism includes at least a first face and a second face different from each other; and a housing accommodating the image-sensing member, the lens module, and the movable light-selecting module, wherein light data of the visible scene from the outside of the housing enters into the housing, and the multifaceted prism is adjusted to permit a first portion and a second portion of the light data to enter into the multifaceted prism from the first face and the second face, respectively, and wherein the first portion and the second portion of the light data pass through the multifaceted prism and lens module in sequence and then are received by the image-sensing member. 
         [0008]    In an embodiment, the first face or the second face includes a function zone distributed over a whole or a portion of the first face or the second face, and the function zone is a selector of visible light or infrared light, or the light of thermal range, or a diffractive zone, or combination thereof. 
         [0009]    In an embodiment, the geometric shapes of the first face and the second face are different or identical. 
         [0010]    In an embodiment, the first face or the second face is flat or curved. 
         [0011]    In an embodiment, the movable light-selecting module further includes a connecting member and a rotating member rotating or wiggling the connecting member, and the connecting member connects the multifaceted prism to drive the multifaceted prism moving. 
         [0012]    In an embodiment, the housing includes a window to allow the light data from the outside of the housing to enter into the multifaceted prism, and the housing is opaque. 
         [0013]    In an embodiment, the first portion and the second portion of the light data is corresponding to a portion of a field of view for the visible scene or the other corresponding range of wavelength band. 
         [0014]    In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, an image-capturing module, configured to capture an image of a scene comprising a first zone and a second zone, includes: an image-sensing member; a lens module; a movable light-selecting module comprising a multifaceted prism and a connecting member driving the multifaceted prism, wherein the face number of the multifaceted prism is large than three, and the multifaceted prism is driven to be in a first position and a second position; and a housing accommodating the image-sensing member, the lens module, and the movable light-selecting module, wherein light data of the first zone at the outside of the housing passes through the multifaceted prism in the first position and the lens module, and is received by the image-sensing member, and wherein light data of the second zone at the outside of the housing passes through the multifaceted prism in the second position and the lens module, and is received by the image-sensing member. 
         [0015]    In an embodiment, the multifaceted prism comprises a plurality of faces capable of refracting the light data of the first zone or the second zone, and the geometric shapes of the faces are different or identical. 
         [0016]    In an embodiment, each one of the faces includes a function zone distributed over a whole or a portion of the first face or the second face, and the function zone is a selector of visible light, infrared light, or the electromagnetic field of thermal range, or a diffractive zone, or combination thereof. 
         [0017]    In an embodiment, any one of the faces is flat or curved. 
         [0018]    In an embodiment, the image-sensing member includes a sensor of charged-coupled device, a sensor of complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor, or a sensor for thermal range. 
         [0019]    In an embodiment, the field view of the first zone or the field view of the second zone is smaller than the field view of the scene. 
         [0020]    In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a lens assembly includes: a lens module; a movable multifaceted prism, wherein the movable multifaceted prism includes a first face and a second face; and a housing accommodating the lens module and the movable multifaceted prism, and including a first window exposing a portion of the movable multifaceted prism and a second window exposing a portion of the lens module, wherein light data of a scene from the outside of the housing enters into the housing by passing through the first window, the movable multifaceted prism is adjusted to permit a first portion of the light data and a second portion of the light data to enter into the movable multifaceted prism from the first face and the second face, respectively, and then, the first portion and the second portion of the light data pass through lens module in sequence and leave the housing from the second window. 
         [0021]    In an embodiment, the first face or the second face includes a function zone distributed over a whole or a portion of the first face or the second face, and the function zone is a selector of visible light or infrared light, or thermal light, or a diffractive zone, or combination thereof. 
         [0022]    In an embodiment, the geometric shapes of the first face and the second face are different or identical. 
         [0023]    In an embodiment, the first face or the second face is flat or curved. 
         [0024]    In an embodiment, the face number of the movable multifaceted prism is six or eight. 
         [0025]    From the above descriptions, the present invention provides an image-capturing module successively captures light data in batches for a scene of a whole field of view by adjusting the position of multifaceted prism, and executes patch process on these batches of the light data to acquire an image over the whole field of view in a higher imaging quality that is generally achieved by a camera module with the large number of pixels. The movable multifaceted prism may be together with an image sensing module and a lens module to be within a holder to have a compact volume for a mobile phone with camera, a wearable device, or a smart op to-electronics. 
         [0026]    The above objects and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art after reviewing the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, in which: 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0027]      FIG. 1  is a schematic block diagram illustrating the members of an image-capturing module according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0028]      FIG. 2  is a schematic top-view diagram illustrating a movable light-selecting module of the image-capturing module according to the embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0029]      FIG. 3  is a schematic stereoscopically side-view diagram illustrating the movable light-selecting module of the image-capturing module according to the embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0030]      FIG. 4  is a schematic stereoscopically see-through-view diagram illustrating a multifaceted prism of the image-capturing module according to the embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0031]      FIG. 5  is a schematic side-view diagram illustrating the different positions of the movable light-selecting module and the field of view E according to the embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0032]      FIG. 6  is a schematic side-view diagram illustrating the different positions of the movable light-selecting module and the field of view E according to the embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0033]      FIG. 7  is a schematic front-view diagram illustrating the field of view E according to the embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0034]      FIG. 8  is a schematic block diagram illustrating a assembly according to the embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0035]      FIG. 9  is a physical appearance illustrating the lens assembly according to the embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0036]      FIG. 1  is a schematic block diagram illustrating the members of an image-capturing module. Referring to  FIG. 1 , an image-capturing module  1  includes an image-sensing member  2 , a lens module  7 , a movable light-selecting module  3 , and a housing  6 . The housing  6  provides a space to accommodate the image-sensing member  2 , the lens module  7 , and the movable light-selecting module  3 . In a first embodiment, the housing  6  is opaque, and has a window  61  at a suitable position. Light data  41  from the outside of the housing  6  could enter into the housing  6  by passing through the window  61 . The window  61  may be with a suitable size and a shape to prevent outside stray light from entering into the housing  6  and disturbing the operating of members within the housing  6 . Next, in the first embodiment, these members and modules within the housing  6  are so arranged that the entering light from the window  61  could pass through the movable light-selecting module  3  and the lens module  7  in sequence, and then be incident onto the image-sensing member  2 . For illustration, light data  41  is reflected or emitted from an object within the field of view E for a scene that is captured by the image-capturing module  1 . Furthermore, light data  41  may be visible, infrared, near-infrared, thermal, or the combination thereof. 
         [0037]      FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3  are schematic top-view and stereoscopically side-view diagrams illustrating a movable light-selecting module of the image-capturing module, respectively. Please refer to  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 , the exemplary movable light-selecting module  3  may include a multifaceted prism  30  and a driving mechanism  5  for rotating the multifaceted prism  30 . The multifaceted prism  30  includes a transparent body  31  in a stereoscopic shape enclosed by plural faces  301 ,  302 ,  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  38 ,  40 , and  42 . For convenient illustration, the faces  301  and  302  are basal planes and parallel to coplanar axes a 1 , a 2 , and a 3 , and the faces  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  38 ,  40 , and  42  are prism planes and vertical to the coplanar axes a 1 , a 2 , and a 3 . These prism planes are also parallel to axis C. Next, the connecting member  52  of the driving mechanism  5  may connect one of the faces  301  and  302  to hold and adjust the position of the multifaceted prism  30 . The faces  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  38 ,  40 , and  42  are configured to permit light to pass through. It is understood that the exemplary multifaceted prism  30  is illustrated with the basal planes and the prism planes, but it is not limited to such a specific shapes in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 . That is, the faces of the multifaceted prism may be designed to be irregular. Furthermore, though the single multifaceted prism is described in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 , however, the combination of plural multifaceted prism may be utilized for the light-selecting module provided that the housing is designed to have enough space. 
         [0038]    Next, in respect of the body  31 , there are definite boundaries among the faces  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  38 ,  40 , and  42 , and each angle between any two next to each other of these faces is less than 180 degrees. These angles among the faces  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  38 ,  40 , and  42  are different or identical. Furthermore, the faces  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  38 ,  40 , and  42 , flat or curved, may have different or identical geometric shapes or lengths. There may be different or the same surface structures on the faces  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  38 ,  40 , and  42 . For example, these surface structures may be designed to perform the function of refraction, penetration, filtering, or diffraction, but not limited to. Next,  FIG. 4  is a schematic stereoscopically see-through-view diagram illustrating a multifaceted prism of the image-capturing module. A multifaceted prism  60  has plural faces  62 ,  64 , and  68  for passing the light data. For example, but not limited to, there are function zones  622  and  624  on the face  62 . The portions except of the function zones  622  and  624  on the face  62  may permit the light data to enter into the multifaceted prism  60 , or to pass through and then leave the multifaceted prism  60 . The function zones  622  and  624  may process the light data in the same or different ways, for example, the function zone  622  is capable of diffracting the light data, while the function zone  624  only permits infrared light to pass through. Furthermore, there may be a filtering coating formed in a suitable way on the face  64  to permit light in a specific wavelength to pass through, while the light data is not processed when it passes through the face  68 . Next, the face number of the multifaceted prism  60  is larger than three, or four faces are better, or six or eight faces are preferred. 
         [0039]    Next, please refer to  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 2 , and  FIG. 3 , when the light data  41  from the outside of the multifaceted prism  30  reaches any face of the multifaceted prism  30 , for example, the face  32 , the light data  41  may enter into the body  31  after passing through the face  32 . It is understood that the transmitting angle within the body  31  and the incident angle onto the face  32  for the light data  41  are different because of the differences between the medium of the body  31 and the medium of air (outside of the multifaceted prism  30 ). Under the design of the multifaceted prism  30 , the light data  43  within the body  31  could reach another face of the multifaceted prism  30 , for example, pass through the face  40 , and then leave the multifaceted prism  30  to become light data  45 . In this embodiment, the light data  43  in the body  31  travels along a non-broken line (straight line), that is, the light data  43  in the body  31  is not reflected or totally reflected by other faces  34 ,  36 ,  40 ,  42  before the light data  43  reaches and passes through the face  38 . Moreover, the light data  45  leaving the face  38  is designed to be vertical to the face  38  (normal line of the face  38 ) for considering the arrangement of sequential components or members. The sequential components or members aforementioned, for example but not limited to, may be lens module or image sensor assembly. 
         [0040]    Next, any surface structures on the faces  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  38 ,  40 , and  42  may be different or identical such that the contents of the light data  41  and  43  may be different or the same. For example, but not limited to, the face  32  may have the function of selecting infrared light. When the light data  41  that includes both visible light data and infrared light data passes through the face  32 , only infrared light data is left to become the light data  43 . In the case of the face  32  having the function of transmission, the light data  41  passing through the face  32  is only refracted to become the light data  43 . It is understood that the filtering function of the face  32  is not limited to aforementioned, it may be visible-light selecting, infrared-light selecting, near-infrared-light selecting, selecting on the light in thermal range, or mixing mode. 
         [0041]      FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6  are schematic side-view diagrams illustrating the different positions of the movable light-selecting module and the field of view E.  FIG. 7  is a schematic front-view diagram illustrating the field of view E. Please refer to  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 5 ,  FIG. 6 , and  FIG. 7 , the driving mechanism  5  includes a connecting member  52  and a rotating member  54 . The rotating member  54  rotates or wiggles the connecting member  52 , and the connecting member  52  connects the multifaceted prism  30  by holding the face  301 . The multifaceted prism  30  could be rotated in the way of the axis C as a rotating axis. When the multifaceted prism  30  is rotated, the geometric center or center of the multifaceted prism  30  is fixed, or moved along the coplanar plane of axes a 1 , a 2 , and a 3 , or moved a little bit in the direction of axis C. The directions of the faces  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  38 ,  40 , and  42  are changed along with the rotation of the multifaceted prism  30 . For example, in  FIG. 5 , when the multifaceted prism  30  is in a first position, the light data of the first zone  12  and the second zone  14  for the filed of view E pass through the window of the housing, and enter into the multifaceted prism  30  from the faces  32  and  34 , respectively. The condition that only the light data of the first zone  12  enters into the multifaceted prism  30  could work. Next, in  FIG. 6 , the multifaceted prism  30  is changed to be at a second position because of being rotated. At the moment, the light data of a third zone  16  and a fourth zone  18  for the field of view E pass through the window of the housing and enter into the multifaceted prism  30  from the faces  40  and  42 , respectively. Alternatively, in the condition that the light data of the first zone  12  enters into the multifaceted prism  30  when the multifaceted prism  30  is in the first position, the multifaceted prism  30  in the second position enables the face  32  face the second zone  14  and the light data of the second zone  14  may enter into the multifaceted prism  30  from the face  32 . It is noted that the shapes or numbers of the zones for the field of view E are not limited to the one shown in  FIG. 7 . These zones may be not overlapped or overlapped, and the light data of overlapped zone may be processed by a suitable subsequent image analysis. Such an image analysis for data is well known or available in literatures, and not mentioned in the present invention. 
         [0042]    Accordingly, the image-capturing module  1  may capture the reflected light or emitting light from an object within the field of view. In the present invention, the image-capturing module  1  is equipped with the movable light-selecting module  3  in which the positions of the multifaceted prism  30  are changeable. When the multifaceted prism  30  is at the first position, the face  32  may receive the light data  41  of the first zone  12  for the field of view E. The field of view corresponding to the first zone  12  is smaller than the whole field of view E. The light data  41  of the first zone  12  may be sensed by the total sensing pixels of the image-sensing member  2  after entering into the image-capturing module  1 , so that the image of the first zone  12  in a higher resolution is acquired. It is understood that, even the light data  41  of both the first zone  12  and the second zone  14  are simultaneously received by the image-capturing module  1 , the sensing pixels for each of the zones are still more than the one of all zones for the whole field of view E simultaneously. The driving mechanism  5  may adjust the multifaceted prism  30  quickly, such that the capturing time of the image-capturing module could not be longer or delayed. It is advantageous that the image-capturing module  1  equipped with the movable light-selecting module  3  is capable of using an image-sensing member with less sensing pixels to achieve a high resolution that is generally acquired by a sensor with more sensing pixels. The light data of different zones within the whole field of view are captured in batches by the help of changing of the movable light-selecting module  3 , and the captured light data of each zone could be sensed by the whole pixels of the image-sensing member  2 . The light data of all zones are patched together and processed to acquire the image of the whole field of view E in a higher quality. Accordingly, it is not necessary for an image-sensing member to enhance sensing capability by using higher pixels. For example, the image-sensing member  2  is a sensor of five million pixels (5 MP), and the field of view is divided into four zones for capturing. The light data of each zone is sensed by the five million pixels of the image-sensing member  2 . Thus, the light data for the whole field of view is equal to be sensed by twenty million pixels, and the image quality of the whole field of view is enhanced. Such an approach is especially beneficial for an image-capturing module for zooming. Besides, by the way of division of zones associated with the changing of the movable light-selecting module  3 , the range of the field of view can be extended because the light data of each zone is sensed by the total number of pixels of the image-sensing member. Thus, the capturing result of the field of view is improved and a wide-angle result can be acquired. 
         [0043]    Furthermore, the image sensor having a bigger pixel size may be applied to the image-capturing module. The use of the image sensor having the bigger pixel size may improve photo-sensitivity, and therefore, the image quality. It may also prevent the image-capturing module from adding the number of lens in the lens module  7 . The less number of lenses reduces the use of space for the lens module of the image-capturing module in the housing  6 . Consequently, the image-sensing module  2 , the lens module  7 , the movable light-selecting module  3  are accommodated within the housing  6 , and such an image-capturing module does not occupy much space within a mobile phone when the image-capturing module is applied to the mobile phone. Accordingly, the image-capturing module of the present invention is suitable to apply to not only a front camera module but also a rear camera module of a thin and compact mobile device, apparatus or wearable electronics. 
         [0044]    It is understood that a wide-angle image is acquired by the view-patching approach, but the image-capturing module in the present invention is not limited to acquire an image with the wider field of view. The image-capturing module may be used to acquire a narrow-angle image in higher resolution by using the single face of the multifaceted prism to receive the light data of a field of view. A user may get the image of any field of view by selecting various modes of the movable light-selecting module in the present invention. 
         [0045]    Moreover, another shape-changing method of the multifaceted prism, but not limited to, is to use the connecting member  52  as a wiggling axis. The position of the multifaceted prism is changed along with the wiggling of the connecting member, and the geometric center or general. center of the multifaceted prism may be wiggled, too. The directions of the faces of the movable multifaceted prism are moved or wiggled along with the wiggling of the connecting member, and the position of the movable multifaceted prism is changed or adjusted from the first position to the second position. 
         [0046]    Next, referring to  FIG. 1  again, the driving mechanism  5  may further include a control circuit. The image-sensing member  2  may include a CCD, CMOS image sensor, or thermal image sensor, or further include an associated circuit, such as a processor, control circuit and storage medium. Furthermore, the lens module  7  may include plural lenses, two or four pieces for example, and lens stands, but not limited to in the present invention. 
         [0047]      FIG. 8  is a schematic block diagram illustrating a lens assembly, and  FIG. 9  is a physical appearance illustrating the lens assembly. Compared with the image-capturing module  1  in  FIG. 1 , a housing  8  of a image-capturing module  9  only accommodates a lens module  7  and a multifaceted prism  30 , and has another window  81 (a second window), so that the light data passing through the lens module  7  may emit out from the window  81 . Accordingly, the image-capturing module  9  may be associated with any suitable image sensor if necessary, and be applied more flexibly. It is understood that other components, such as the portion or the whole of the driving mechanism, are still accommodated and integrated into the housing or on the housing. 
         [0048]    While the invention has been described in terms of what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention needs not be limited to the disclosed embodiments. On the contrary; it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims which are to be accorded with the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar structures.