Single-lens aperture-coded camera for three dimensional imaging in small volumes

• US 20070195162A1
• Filed: 09/14/2006
• Published: 08/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: California Institute of Technology
• Original Assignee: California Institute of Technology
• Inventors: Gharib, Morteza, Pereira, Francisco, Graff, Emilio, Milano, Michele
• Granted Patent: US 7,612,870 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/47
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/24 for measuring contours or curvatures
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2207/129 Coded aperture imaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/211 using temporal multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/243 using three or more 2D image sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/257 Colour aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/296 Synchronisation thereof; Control thereof

Abstract

Determining instantaneously three-dimensional coordinates of large sets of points in space using apertures associated with cameras or camera parts. An embodiment associates information from the apertures with different portions of the imager, so that portions on the imager do not overlap.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

imaging at least one site by restricting an overall size of the scene that is imaged using a plurality of the apertures of specified shapes, and by allowing light to pass only through the plurality of apertures of specified shapes;

associating each of the apertures with a different and separate portion on an imager, so that light which passes through each aperture is imaged by a different portion of an imager, and so that there is no overlap between said different portions of the imager; and

analyzing said light from said camera portions, to determine three-dimensional object information about the site.

2. A method as in claim 1, wherein the apertures are arranged into an equilateral triangular arrangement.

3. A method as in claim 1, wherein the apertures are arranged into a square arrangement.

4. A method as in claim 1, wherein the apertures are arranged linearly along a line.

5. A method as in claim 1, further comprising providing a lensing system between at least a plurality of said apertures and said imager.

6. A method as in claim 1, wherein said lensing system is a lensing system intended for close-up imaging.

7. A method as in claim 1, further comprising watertight encasing the imager prior to imaging, and also forming an illumination system which is also watertight.

8. A method as in claim 1, further comprising calibrating an operation of said system, by imaging grid patterns at multiple depths.

9. A method as in claim 7, further comprising calibrating an underwater operation of the system, by imaging grid patterns at multiple depths.

10. A three-dimensional camera device, comprising:

an imaging device;

an array of apertures, in a specified shape, arranged between said imaging device and a scene including the image; and

a lensing part, passing light which has passed through said apertures to said imaging device so that said imaging device obtains an image of the scene which has passed through said array of apertures, in a way such that light from each of said apertures is received on a different part of said imaging device and such that there is no overlap on said imaging device between areas which receive light from the different apertures.

11. A device as in claim 10, further comprising a computer controlled part, which analyzes information from the different parts, and produces three-dimensional object information therefrom.

12. A device as in claim 10, wherein said apertures are arranged in an equilateral arrangement.

13. A device as in claim 10, wherein said apertures are arranged linearly along a line.

14. A device as in claim 10, wherein said lensing part is a close-up imaging lens.

15. A device as in claim 10, further comprising an illumination part, associated with said imaging device, which provides illumination to said scene.

16. A device as in claim 10, further comprising a waterproofing part, associated with waterproofing said imaging device and said illumination part.

17. A device as in claim 10, wherein said lensing part includes two groups of lenses and a relay lens between said two groups of lenses, said lensing part optimized for close up imaging.

18. A three-dimensional camera device, comprising:

a first imaging device;

a second imaging device;

an array of apertures, in a specified shape, arranged between said imaging devices and a scene including the image; and

a lensing part, passing light which has passed through said apertures to at least one of said imaging devices so that said at least one imaging device obtains multiple images of the scene which has passed through said array of apertures;

wherein at least one of said imaging devices is a color imaging device, and

a processing part, which processes information from said imaging devices to obtain 3D information from said multiple images of the scene, and to overlay color information from said color imaging device, or said 3D information, to form a composite image.

19. A device as in claim 18, wherein said lensing part operates in a way such that light from each of said apertures is received on a different part of said imaging device and such that there is no overlap on said imaging device between areas which receive light from the different apertures.

20. A device as in claim 18, further comprising at least one additional imaging device, each imaging device associated with one of said apertures.

21. A device as in claim 18, wherein said at least one imaging device obtains images from different apertures at different separated times.