IMAGING DEVICE HAVING LIGHT FIELD IMAGE SENSOR
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus comprising:
- an image sensor for generating light-field data, wherein the image sensor comprises (1) an array of photosensitive elements and (2) an array of microlenses that overlays the array of photosensitive elements with a uniform spacing, wherein a microlens covers multiple photosensitive elements each receiving light through the microlens to function as a sub-pixel;
an image processing unit (IPU) operatively connected to the image sensor to receive the light-field data from the image sensor, the IPU being operative to generate a stream of image data including image data representing an expected in-focus image of a target object; and
a controller operatively connected to the IPU to process the stream of image data received from the IPU.
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Abstract
A method of imaging a target object with an imaging reader. The method includes the following: (1) detecting light from the target object through a lens arrangement with an image sensor to generate light-field data; (2) generating a stream of image data including image data representing an expected in-focus image of the target object, and (3) processing the expected in-focus image of the target object to decode a barcode on the target object. The image sensor includes an array of photosensitive elements and an array of microlenses that overlays the array of photosensitive elements located at a focus plane of the microlens.
41 Citations
24 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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an image sensor for generating light-field data, wherein the image sensor comprises (1) an array of photosensitive elements and (2) an array of microlenses that overlays the array of photosensitive elements with a uniform spacing, wherein a microlens covers multiple photosensitive elements each receiving light through the microlens to function as a sub-pixel; an image processing unit (IPU) operatively connected to the image sensor to receive the light-field data from the image sensor, the IPU being operative to generate a stream of image data including image data representing an expected in-focus image of a target object; and a controller operatively connected to the IPU to process the stream of image data received from the IPU. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. (canceled)
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15. A method of imaging a target object with an imaging reader, the method comprising:
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detecting light from the target object through a lens arrangement with an image sensor to generate light-field data, wherein the image sensor comprises (1) an array of photosensitive elements and (2) an array of microlenses that overlays the array of photosensitive elements with a uniform spacing, wherein a microlens covers multiple photosensitive elements each receiving light through the microlens to function as a sub-pixel; generating a stream of image data including image data representing an expected in-focus image of the target object, a stream of image data being generated from the light-field data; selecting a set of predetermined focus planes each being titled with respect an optical axis of the lens arrangement; and constructing a set of images of the target object from the light-field data, wherein each image in the set of images is constructed from the light-field data using one of the predetermined focus planes as a corresponding focus plane. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 23)
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18-20. -20. (canceled)
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21. A method of imaging a target object with an imaging reader, the method comprising:
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detecting light from the target object through a lens arrangement with an image sensor to generate light-field data, wherein the image sensor comprises (1) an array of photosensitive elements and (2) an array of microlenses that overlays the array of photosensitive elements with a uniform spacing, wherein a microlens covers multiple photosensitive elements each receiving light through the microlens to function as a sub-pixel; generating a stream of image data including image data representing an expected in-focus image of the target object, a stream of image data being generated from the light-field data; constructing a reference image of the target object from the light-field data using a first focus plane as a corresponding focus plane; comparing the reference image with an intensity distribution in the sub-pixels to selected one of a near focus plane, a far focus plane, and the first focus plane as a next focus plane, wherein the first focus plane is located between the near focus plane and the far focus plane; and using the next focus plane to construct the expected in-focus image of the target object from the light-field data. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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24-26. -26. (canceled)
Specification