US5519205A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Color electronic camera including photosensor array having binary diffractive lens elements
Assignee: LSI Corp
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Filing: 1994-08-08
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Granted: 1996-05-21
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Expires: 2014-08-08
Abstract
Abstract A camera comprising various arrangements for employing optical elements in association with photosensitive elements are described. In some of the arrangements, the optical elements are formed integrally with a substrate containing the photosensitive elements. In other arrangements, an optical element is mounted to a package, or the like, containing the substrate and photosensitive elements. In other arrangements, two or more optical elements are employed, including conventional refractive elements, refractive focusing elements, and refractive beam splitting elements. Utility as solid state image sensors is discussed. Utility for monochromatic and color imaging is discussed. Various devices based on such camera arrangements and methods of making same are discussed.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael D. Rostoker
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 17:56
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10F; H10F39/00; H10F39/80; H10F39/804; H04; H04N; H04N23/00; H04N23/50; H04N23/55; H04N23/60; H04N23/63; H04N25/00; H10F39/10; H10F39/12; H10F39/18; H10F39/182; H10F39/806
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
81 words
A color electronic camera, comprising: a housing; and a photosensor array that is supported by the housing and includes a plurality of photosensor units for aggregately sensing a light image, each photosensor unit comprising: a two-dimensional binary diffractive lens for diffactively forming three substantially identical segments of said light image in three different colors on three rotationally spaced areas of a surface respectively; and three photosensors disposed on said surface at said three rotationally spaced areas for receiving said segments respectively.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
81 words
A color electronic camera, comprising: a housing; and a photosensor array that is supported by the housing and includes a plurality of photosensor units for aggregately sensing a light image, each photosensor unit comprising: a two-dimensional binary diffractive lens for diffactively forming three substantially identical segments of said light image in three different colors on three rotationally spaced areas of a surface respectively; and three photosensors disposed on said surface at said three rotationally spaced areas for receiving said segments respectively.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
A color electronic camera as in claim 1, in which each lens comprises a circular binary diffractive lens element.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
A color electronic camera as in claim 1, in which said three rotationally spaced areas are substantially equally rotationally spaced from an axis of each lens respectively.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
A color electronic camera as in claim 1, in which said three rotationally spaced areas are substantially equidistant from each lens respectively.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
A color electronic camera as in claim 1, in which said three colors are red, green and blue respectively.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
A color electronic camera as in claim 1, in which each photosensor comprises a two-dimensional array of photosensitive elements.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
A color electronic camera as in claim 1, in which the photosensors generate electronic signals corresponding to said segments respectively.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
A color electronic camera as in claim 7, further comprising a signal converter for converting said electronic signals into a television video signal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
A color electronic camera as in claim 7, further comprising a signal converter for converting said electronic signals into a telephonic video signal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
A color electronic camera as in claim 7, further comprising a signal converter for converting said electronic signals into a camera video signal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
A color electronic camera as in claim 10, further comprising a monitor for displaying said camera video signal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
A color electronic camera as in claim 10, further comprising a display unit that is supported by the housing for displaying a received video signal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
A color electronic camera as in claim 12, in which the display unit comprises a liquid crystal panel.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
A color electronic camera as in claim 13, in which: the photosensor array is substantially transparent; and the liquid crystal panel is disposed behind and visible through the photosensor array.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
A color electronic camera as in claim 14, further comprising illumination means for backlighting the liquid crystal panel.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
63 words
A color electronic camera as in claim 15, further comprising control means for alternatingly enabling the signal converter to produce said camera video signal and inhibiting the illumination means from backlighting the liquid crystal panel; and inhibiting the signal converter from producing said camera video signal and enabling the illumination means to backlight the liquid crystal panel for displaying said received video signal.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
42 words
A color electronic camera as in claim 13, in which: the liquid crystal panel has a transparent state; and the photosensor array is disposed behind and imaged through the liquid crystal panel when the liquid crystal panel is in said transparent state.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
34 words
A color electronic camera as in claim 17, in which: the photosensor array is substantially transparent; and the electronic camera further comprises illumination means for backlighting the liquid crystal panel through the photosensor array.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
77 words
A color electronic camera as in claim 18, further comprising control means for alternatingly enabling the signal converter to produce said camera video signal, controlling the liquid crystal panel to said transparent state and inhibiting the illumination means from backlighting the liquid crystal panel; and inhibiting the signal converter from producing said camera video signal, controlling the liquid crystal panel to display said received video image and enabling the illumination means to backlight the liquid crystal panel.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
75 words
A color electronic camera as in claim 13, in which: the liquid crystal panel is disposed between the two-dimensional binary diffractive lens and the photosensors; the lenses are substantially transparent such that the liquid crystal panel is capable of being viewed through the lenses; the liquid crystal panel has a transparent state; and the photosensors are capable of being imaged through the liquid crystal panel when the liquid crystal panel is in said transparent state.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
32 words
A color electronic camera as in claim 20, in which: the photosensors are substantially transparent; and the electronic camera further comprises illumination means for backlighting the liquid crystal panel through the photosensors.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
77 words
A color electronic camera as in claim 21, further comprising control means for alternatingly enabling the signal converter to produce said camera video signal, controlling the liquid crystal panel to said transparent state and inhibiting the illumination means from backlighting the liquid crystal panel; and inhibiting the signal converter from producing said camera video signal, controlling the liquid crystal panel to display said received video image and enabling the illumination means to backlight the liquid crystal panel.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
21 words
A color electronic camera as in claim 12, in which the housing is shaped to be worn around a human wrist.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
13 words
A color electronic camera as in claim 12, further comprising an audio transceiver.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
85 words
A color camera, comprising: a support structure; and a photosensor array that is supported by the support structure and includes a plurality of photosensor units for aggregately sensing a light image, each photosensor unit comprising; a multi-dimensional binary diffractive lens for diffractively forming a plurality of substantially identical segments of said light image in a plurality of different colors at a plurality of rotationally spaced areas respectively; and a plurality of photosensors disposed at said plurality of rotationally spaced areas for receiving said segments respectively.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
85 words
A color camera, comprising: a support structure; and a photosensor array that is supported by the support structure and includes a plurality of photosensor units for aggregately sensing a light image, each photosensor unit comprising; a multi-dimensional binary diffractive lens for diffractively forming a plurality of substantially identical segments of said light image in a plurality of different colors at a plurality of rotationally spaced areas respectively; and a plurality of photosensors disposed at said plurality of rotationally spaced areas for receiving said segments respectively.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
85 words
An imaging system, comprising: a support structure; and a photosensor array that is supported by the support structure and includes a plurality of photosensor units for aggregately sensing a light image, each photosensor unit comprising: a multi-dimensional binary diffractive lens for diffractively forming a plurality of substantially identical segments of said light image in a plurality of different colors at a plurality of rotationally spaced areas respectively; and a plurality of photosensors disposed at said plurality of rotationally spaced areas for receiving said segments respectively.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
85 words
An imaging system, comprising: a support structure; and a photosensor array that is supported by the support structure and includes a plurality of photosensor units for aggregately sensing a light image, each photosensor unit comprising: a multi-dimensional binary diffractive lens for diffractively forming a plurality of substantially identical segments of said light image in a plurality of different colors at a plurality of rotationally spaced areas respectively; and a plurality of photosensors disposed at said plurality of rotationally spaced areas for receiving said segments respectively.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-05-21 | 1999-11-20 | 2000-05-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-05-21 | 2003-11-20 | 2004-05-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-05-21 | 2007-11-20 | 2008-05-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |