Image capture with digital light path length modulation
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An image capture system comprising:
- a lens directed at a scene to be captured;
a modulation stack comprising one or more digital light path length modulators, a digital light path length modulator comprising;
a polarization modulator to receive light and to selectively modulate a polarization of the light; and
an optical path length extender (OPLE) to direct the light having a first polarization through a first light path through the OPLE, and to direct the light having a second polarization through a second light path through the OPLE, the first and second light paths having different light path lengths;
wherein the modulation stack adjusts the path length of the light by altering the polarization of the light between the one or more digital light path length modulators to create a plurality of light path lengths; and
an image sensor to capture a plurality of image portions at a plurality of focal distances, from the data captured by the modulation stack, wherein a number of focal distances depends on the number of the one or more digital light path length modulators.
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Abstract
An image capture system comprising an optical path length extender (OPLE) to direct the light having a first polarization through a first light path through the OPLE, and to direct the light having a second polarization through a second light path through the OPLE, the first and second light paths having different light path lengths. The image capture system further comprising an image sensor to capture a plurality of image portions at a plurality of focal distances.
61 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An image capture system comprising:
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a lens directed at a scene to be captured; a modulation stack comprising one or more digital light path length modulators, a digital light path length modulator comprising; a polarization modulator to receive light and to selectively modulate a polarization of the light; and an optical path length extender (OPLE) to direct the light having a first polarization through a first light path through the OPLE, and to direct the light having a second polarization through a second light path through the OPLE, the first and second light paths having different light path lengths; wherein the modulation stack adjusts the path length of the light by altering the polarization of the light between the one or more digital light path length modulators to create a plurality of light path lengths; and an image sensor to capture a plurality of image portions at a plurality of focal distances, from the data captured by the modulation stack, wherein a number of focal distances depends on the number of the one or more digital light path length modulators. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An image capture system comprising:
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a modulation stack comprising one or more digital light path length modulators, a digital light path length modulator comprising; a polarization modulator to receive light and to selectively modulate a polarization of the light, wherein the polarization modulator alters the path length on a time sequential basis, enabling the image capture device to capture a time sequential series of images at a plurality of focal distances; and an optical path length extender (OPLE) to direct the light having a first polarization through a first light path through the OPLE, and to direct the light having a second polarization through a second light path through the OPLE, the first and second light paths having different light path lengths; and an image capture device to capture a plurality of image portions at a plurality of focal distances. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An image capture system comprising:
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an image capture sub-system including; a lens directed at a scene to be captured; a modulation stack comprising one or more digital light path length modulators, a digital light path length modulator comprising; a polarization modulator to receive light and to selectively modulate a polarization of the light; and an optical path length extender (OPLE) to direct the light having a first polarization through a first light path through the OPLE, and to direct the light having a second polarization through a second light path through the OPLE, the first and second light paths having different light path lengths; and an image sensor to capture a plurality of image portions at a plurality of focal distances, from the data captured by the modulation stack, wherein a number of focal distances depends on the number of the one or more digital light path length modulators; an auxiliary control system to select the plurality of focal distances; a processor to process the captured data, to generate one or more of;
a plurality of images at a plurality of focal distances, or a multi-focal image;a camera including the image capture subassembly; and a computer system including the processor, wherein the camera and the computer system are coupled using an I/O system.
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18. An optical path length extender (OPLE) comprising:
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a plurality of polarization sensitive reflective elements parallel to each other and at an angle of between 20 degrees and 70 degrees to a path of light entering the OPLE, to direct the light having a first polarization through a first light path through the OPLE, and to direct the light having a second polarization through a second light path through the OPLE, the first and second light paths having different light path lengths; a plurality of light blocking stripes on an entry surface of the OPLE, to block light; wherein an output of the OPLE comprises alternating stripes of image data, at a first and a second focal distance; an image capture apparatus to capture image data at two focal distances; and an image display apparatus to display data at two focal distances.
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19. An image capture system comprising:
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a lens directed at a scene to be captured; an optical path length extender (OPLE) to direct the light having a first polarization through a first light path through the OPLE, and to direct the light having a second polarization through a second light path through the OPLE, the first and second light paths having different light path lengths; a polarizer; a digital light path length modulator comprising; a polarization modulator to receive light and to selectively modulate a polarization of the light; and the optical path length extender (OPLE) to receive the light from the polarization modulator; and
an image sensor to capture a plurality of image portions at a plurality of focal distances, from the data captured by the modulation stack. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification