US 12,348,870 B2
Spin-out 360-degree camera for smartphone
Gal Adler, Tel Aviv (IL)
Assigned to Corephotonics Ltd., Tel Aviv (IL)
Filed by Corephotonics Ltd., Tel Aviv (IL)
Filed on Apr. 2, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/194,637.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/329,384, filed on Apr. 9, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0328378 A1, Oct. 12, 2023
Int. Cl. H04N 23/69 (2023.01); H04N 23/50 (2023.01); H04N 23/54 (2023.01); H04N 23/57 (2023.01)
CPC H04N 23/69 (2023.01) [H04N 23/50 (2023.01); H04N 23/54 (2023.01); H04N 23/57 (2023.01)] 25 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A camera module, comprising:
a first sub-camera comprising a first lens having a first effective focal length (EFL1) and a first image sensor, the first sub-camera having a first field of view FOV1≥180 degrees and being oriented along a camera module optical axis and pointing in a first direction;
a second sub-camera comprising a second lens having a second effective focal length (EFL2)=EFL1 and a second image sensor, the second sub-camera having a second field of view FOV2≥180 degrees and being oriented along the camera module optical axis and pointing in a second direction which is opposite to the first direction; and
a spin-out actuator,
wherein the first sub-camera and the second sub-camera are included in a camera housing,
wherein the camera is operational to capture a 360 degree panoramic image or video stream by combining images obtained with the first sub-camera and with the second sub-camera,
wherein the spin-out actuator is operational to rotate the camera housing around an axis perpendicular to the camera module optical axis for switching the camera between a stowed position and a spun-out position,
wherein the camera module is active in the spun-out position.