Folded imaging path camera

Abstract

In embodiments of a folded imaging path camera, a device includes a camera lens module that focuses an image, which is received as reflected light. An image sensor captures the image from the reflected light that is directed at the image sensor. The device also includes one or more optics that fold the reflected light of the image along an imaging path directed through the camera lens module and directed at the image sensor. The imaging path directed through the camera lens module can be approximately perpendicular to an axis along which the reflected light of the image is received via an aperture in the device. Alternatively, the imaging path directed through the camera lens module is approximately parallel to the axis along which the reflected light of the image is received via the aperture in the device.

1 . A device, comprising:
 a camera lens module configured to focus an image that is received as reflected light, the camera lens module comprising one or more lenses, the one or more lenses including an imaging lens configured to tilt for optical image stabilization;   an image sensor configured to capture the image from the reflected light that is directed at the image sensor; and   one or more optics configured to fold the reflected light of the image once along an imaging path directed through the camera lens module, the imaging path after the fold of the reflected light being approximately perpendicular to an axis along which the reflected light of the image is received via an aperture in the device.   
     
     
         2 . A device as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising at least a memory and a processor to implement an image processing service configured to combine a digital image at a nominal position with one or more offset position digital images to generate a high resolution image. 
     
     
         3 . A device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein dimensions of the device include a height dimension, a width dimension, and a depth dimension, and wherein the imaging path is approximately parallel, at least in part, to at least one of a first axis along the height dimension of the device, or a second axis along the width dimension of the device. 
     
     
         4 . A device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the one or more optics are configured to additionally fold the reflected light of the image along the imaging path once between the camera lens module and the image sensor, the imaging path directed at the image sensor after the additional fold of the reflected light being approximately parallel to the axis along which the reflected light of the image is received via the aperture in the device. 
     
     
         5 . A device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the camera lens module is implemented for reverse telephoto imaging and configured to at least one of increase or decrease a distance between the camera lens module and the image sensor. 
     
     
         6 . A device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the one or more optics comprise a mirror configured to fold the reflected light of the image along the imaging path. 
     
     
         7 . A device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the one or more optics comprise a prism configured to fold the reflected light of the image along the imaging path. 
     
     
         8 . A device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the imaging lens of the camera lens module is implemented as a liquid lens or as a liquid crystal lens effective to said tilt for the optical image stabilization. 
     
     
         9 . A method, comprising:
 focusing an image that is received as reflected light with a camera lens module that includes at least an imaging lens and a tilting lens;   folding the reflected light along an imaging path directed by one or more optics through the camera lens module and directed at an image sensor, the one or more optics being located along the imaging path at least between the camera lens module and the image sensor;   stabilizing the image that is received as the reflected light with the tilting lens included in the camera lens module; and   capturing the stabilized image from the reflected light that is directed at the image sensor.   
     
     
         10 . A method as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the one or more optics comprise a mirror configured to fold the reflected light of the image along the imaging path. 
     
     
         11 . A method as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the one or more optics comprise a prism configured to fold the reflected light of the image along the imaging path. 
     
     
         12 . A method as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the tilting lens is implemented as a liquid lens or as a liquid crystal lens effective to tilt for optical image stabilization. 
     
     
         13 . A method as recited in  claim 9 , further comprising:
 receiving the reflected light of the image via an aperture in a device that includes the camera lens module, the one or more optics, and the image sensor; and   wherein the imaging path directed through the camera lens module is approximately parallel to an axis along which the reflected light of the image is received via the aperture in the device.   
     
     
         14 . A method as recited in  claim 9 , further comprising:
 receiving the reflected light of the image via an aperture in a device that includes the camera lens module, the one or more optics, and the image sensor; and   further folding the reflected light by the one or more optics located along the imaging path between the aperture of the device and the camera lens module, wherein the imaging path directed through the camera lens module after said further folding the reflected light is approximately perpendicular to an axis along which the reflected light of the image is received via the aperture in the device.   
     
     
         15 . A device, comprising:
 a camera lens module including at least an imaging lens configured to focus an image that is received as reflected light and a tilting lens configured to tilt for optical image stabilization;   an integrated display configured to display the image as the image is received;   an aperture in an end of the device via which the reflected light of the image is received along an imaging path through the camera lens module;   an image sensor configured to capture the image from the reflected light that is directed at the image sensor; and   one or more optics located along the imaging path at least between the camera lens module and the image sensor, the one or more optics configured to fold the reflected light of the image along the imaging path and direct the reflected light at the image sensor, the imaging path through the camera lens module before the fold of the reflected light being approximately parallel to an axis along which the reflected light of the image is received via the aperture in the end of the device.   
     
     
         16 . A device as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the imaging path from the aperture and through the camera lens module is approximately parallel to a horizontal plane of the integrated display. 
     
     
         17 . A device as recited in  claim 15 , wherein:
 dimensions of the device include a height dimension, a width dimension, and a depth dimension;   a front face of the device is defined by the height dimension and the width dimension of the device, and the front face includes the integrated display;   the end of the device is defined by the width dimension and the depth dimension of the device; and wherein   the imaging path from the aperture and through the camera lens module is approximately parallel to an axis along the height dimension of the device, the axis being along which the reflected light of the image is received via the aperture in the end of the device.   
     
     
         18 . A device as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the one or more optics comprise a mirror configured to fold the reflected light of the image along the imaging path. 
     
     
         19 . A device as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the one or more optics comprise a prism configured to fold the reflected light of the image along the imaging path. 
     
     
         20 . A device as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the tilting lens is implemented as a liquid lens or as a liquid crystal lens effective to said tilt for the optical image stabilization.