Zoom related methods and apparatus

摘要

Methods and apparatus for performing zoom in and zoom out operations are described using multiple optical chains in a camera device. At least one optical chain in the camera device includes a moveable light redirection device, said light redirection device being one of a substantially plane mirror or a prism. Different zoom focal length settings correspond to different scene capture areas for the optical chain with the moveable light redirection device. Overlap between scene areas captured by different optical chains increases during zoom in and decreases during zoom out. Images captured by different optical chains are combined and/or cropped to generate a composite image corresponding to a zoom focal length setting.

主权项

1. A method of capturing and using images, the method comprising:
implementing a zoom in operation in response to user control of a zoom setting, said zoom in operation including adjusting a direction of a first light redirection device of a first optical chain of a camera device, said first light redirection device being one of a substantially plane mirror or a prism, said adjusting increasing an overlap in scene areas captured by the first optical chain of said camera device and a second optical chain of said camera device; capturing a first image of a scene area using the first optical chain, said first optical chain having a first focal length; capturing a second image of the scene area using a third optical chain of said camera device having a second focal length which remains fixed irrespective of the zoom setting, said second focal length being smaller than the first focal length; and generating a composite image, in accordance with the zoom setting, from at least said first and second images.