Sony patents camera system that moves multiple filters at once
Sony describes an imaging device that uses several mechanical slots to hold different light-blocking filters. The system moves these slots simultaneously in the same direction to quickly adjust how much light reaches the camera sensor.
In the filing’s own words
An imaging device includes: an imaging element; a neutral density (ND) filter unit including a plurality of filter holders, each of the filter holders being mounted with a plurality of optical ND filters having different transmittances and being able to selectively insert the optical ND filters into an incident optical path for the imaging element; and a control unit. The control unit can variably set the transmittance of the ND filter unit by performing drive control of switching the optical ND filter to be inserted into the incident optical path for each of the plurality of filter holders, and in a case where driving of the plurality of filter bodies is required for switching to a target transmittance, performs control such that the plurality of filter holders to be driven is simultaneously displaced in a direction and a displacement amount equal to each other.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. An imaging device comprising: an imaging element; a neutral density (ND) filter unit including a plurality of filter holders, each of the filter holders being mounted with a plurality of optical ND filters having different transmittances and being able to selectively insert the optical ND filters into an incident optical path for the imaging element; and circuitry configured to variably set the transmittance of each ND filter unit by performing drive control of switching the optical ND filter to be inserted into the incident optical path for each of the plurality of filter holders, and perform, in a case where driving of the plurality of filter holders is required for switching to a target transmittance, control such that the plurality of filter holders to be driven is simultaneously displaced in a same direction by a same displacement amount, wherein the plurality of filter holders includes a first filter holder and a second filter holder with different change widths between transmittances.
Facts
- Company
- Sony (Sony Group Corporation)
- Official title
- Imaging device, control method, and program
- Patent number
- US12769112B2
- Application number
- 18700044
- Filed
- Oct 19, 2022
- Granted
- Oct 20, 2026
- Inventors
- 2
- Claims
- 15
Classified under
G02B 26/023 Physics & computingG02B 7/006 Physics & computingG03B 11/00 Physics & computingMore from Sony in Cameras & imaging
- Sony patents camera chips that sign photos to prove they are real Sep 15, 2026
- Sony patents camera setup that learns to mimic a virtual view Sep 1, 2026
- Sony patents camera method to reduce lag in burst mode photos Sep 1, 2026
- Sony patents camera sensor design to improve global shutter image quality Sep 1, 2026
- Sony patents camera lens that subtracts light waves to cut data processing Sep 8, 2026
Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.