Patent ID: 8439265

Claim:
An apparatus for recording first and second visual images, comprising a handheld electronic device having a camera system, the camera system comprising: a first lens with a fixed first field of view and a second lens with a fixed second field of view smaller than the first field of view; at least one optical sensor to sense a first visual image provided by the first lens and to sense a second visual image provided by the second lens; and an optical selection system to direct the first visual image to the optical sensor at a first time and to direct the second visual image to the optical sensor at a second time, the optical selection system comprising a component selected from a list consisting of: (1) a movable reflective surface that can occupy first and second different positions, the reflective surface to cause the first visual image but not the second visual image to reach the image sensor when in the first position and to cause the second visual image but not the first visual image to reach the image sensor when in the second position; and (2) a beam-combiner to direct both the first and second visual images to the image sensor without movement of the beam-combiner, and at least one light blocking device to prevent the first and second visual images from reaching the beam-combiner simultaneously; wherein the device is to record the first visual image and the second visual image.