Single-lens 3-D imaging device using a polarization-coded aperture maks combined with a polarization-sensitive sensor

• US 20080285034A1
• Filed: 04/23/2008
• Published: 11/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: California Institute of Technology
• Original Assignee: California Institute of Technology
• Inventors: Gharib, Morteza, Pereire, Francisco, Gran, Emilo
• Granted Patent: US 7,894,078 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 356/364
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/2509 Color coding
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2207/129 Coded aperture imaging
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/005 Diaphragms for cameras G03B9/02
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 15/12 using mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 35/02 by sequential recording
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/50 Depth or shape recovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/204 using stereoscopic image cameras stereoscopic photography G03B35/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/207 using a single 2D image sensor
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/254 in combination with electromagnetic radiation sources for illuminating objects

Abstract

A device and method for three-dimensional (3-D) imaging using a defocusing technique is disclosed. The device comprises a lens, at least one polarization-coded aperture obstructing the lens, a polarization-sensitive sensor operable for capturing electromagnetic radiation transmitted from an object through the lens and the at least one polarization-coded aperture, and a processor communicatively connected with the sensor for processing the sensor information and producing a 3-D image of the object.

Claims

1. A device for three-dimensional (3-D) imaging comprising:

a lens;

at least one polarization-coded aperture obstructing the lens;

a polarization-sensitive sensor operable for capturing electromagnetic radiation transmitted from an object through the lens and the at least one polarization-coded aperture; and

a processor communicatively connected with the sensor for processing the sensor information and producing a 3-D image of the object.

2. The device of claim 1, where the mask has two mutually distinct polarization-coded apertures, where a relative polarization of the two apertures is approximately perpendicular, and where the polarization-sensitive sensor is configured to distinguish between images generated by each aperture, thereby minimizing mismatching.

3. The device of claim 1, where the at least one polarization-coded aperture rotates such that the polarization of the aperture changes between exposures, whereby depth information can be calculated from a distance between images of the same marker on different exposures.

5. The method of claim 1, where the mask has two mutually distinct polarization-coded apertures, where a relative polarization of the two apertures is approximately perpendicular, and where the polarization-sensitive sensor is configured to distinguish between images generated by each aperture, thereby minimizing mismatching.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising an act of rotating the at least one polarization-coded aperture such that the polarization of the aperture changes between exposures, whereby depth information can be calculated from a distance between images of the same marker on different exposures.

4. A method for three-dimensional (3-D) imaging comprising acts of:

capturing electromagnetic radiation transmitted off of an object and through a lens and at least one polarization-coded aperture with a polarization-sensitive sensor; and

processing information from the sensor to produce a 3-D image representative of the object.