US 12,219,226 B2
Shared aperture imaging system for acquiring visible and infrared images
Aditya Rayankula, Cupertino, CA (US); and Xiangli Li, Palo Alto, CA (US)
Assigned to Apple Inc., Cupertino, CA (US)
Filed by Apple Inc., Cupertino, CA (US)
Filed on Sep. 19, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/948,054.
Prior Publication US 2024/0107136 A1, Mar. 28, 2024
Int. Cl. H04N 23/45 (2023.01); G02B 5/20 (2006.01); G02B 27/14 (2006.01); H04N 23/50 (2023.01); H04N 23/56 (2023.01)
CPC H04N 23/45 (2023.01) [G02B 27/149 (2013.01); H04N 23/50 (2023.01); H04N 23/56 (2023.01); G02B 5/208 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An electronic device, comprising:
a housing including a front cover opposite a back cover;
a display viewable through the front cover;
a light-bending mirror positioned between the front cover and the back cover and receiving light through one of the front cover or the back cover, the light-bending mirror redirecting the received light along a light path parallel to the front cover and the back cover;
a dichroic cube prism positioned in the light path, the dichroic cube prism receiving light through a first face of the dichroic cube prism, redirecting a visible light portion of the received light through a second face of the dichroic cube prism, and redirecting an infrared (IR) portion of the received light through a third face of the dichroic cube prism;
a visible light image sensor positioned to receive visible light exiting the second face of the dichroic cube prism; and
an IR light image sensor positioned to receive IR light exiting the third face of the dichroic cube prism.