SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CONTROLLING ALIASING IN IMAGES CAPTURED BY AN ARRAY CAMERA FOR USE IN SUPER-RESOLUTION PROCESSING
First Claim
1. An imager array, comprising:
- a plurality of focal planes, where each focal plane comprises a two dimensional arrangement of pixels having at least two pixels in each dimension and each focal plane is contained within a region of the imager array that does not contain pixels from another focal plane;
control circuitry configured to control the capture of image information by the pixels within the focal planes; and
sampling circuitry configured to convert pixel outputs into digital pixel data;
wherein the pixels in the plurality of focal planes comprise a pixel stack including a microlens and an active area, where light incident on the surface of the microlens is focused onto the active area by the microlens and the active area samples the incident light to capture image information;
wherein the pixel stack defines a pixel area and includes a pixel aperture, where the size of the pixel apertures is smaller than the pixel area.
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Abstract
Imager arrays, array camera modules, and array cameras in accordance with embodiments of the invention utilize pixel apertures to control the amount of aliasing present in captured images of a scene. One embodiment includes a plurality of focal planes, control circuitry configured to control the capture of image information by the pixels within the focal planes, and sampling circuitry configured to convert pixel outputs into digital pixel data. In addition, the pixels in the plurality of focal planes include a pixel stack including a microlens and an active area, where light incident on the surface of the microlens is focused onto the active area by the microlens and the active area samples the incident light to capture image information, and the pixel stack defines a pixel area and includes a pixel aperture, where the size of the pixel apertures is smaller than the pixel area.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. An imager array, comprising:
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a plurality of focal planes, where each focal plane comprises a two dimensional arrangement of pixels having at least two pixels in each dimension and each focal plane is contained within a region of the imager array that does not contain pixels from another focal plane; control circuitry configured to control the capture of image information by the pixels within the focal planes; and sampling circuitry configured to convert pixel outputs into digital pixel data;
wherein the pixels in the plurality of focal planes comprise a pixel stack including a microlens and an active area, where light incident on the surface of the microlens is focused onto the active area by the microlens and the active area samples the incident light to capture image information;wherein the pixel stack defines a pixel area and includes a pixel aperture, where the size of the pixel apertures is smaller than the pixel area. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An imager array, comprising:
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a plurality of focal planes, where each focal plane comprises a two dimensional arrangement of pixels having at least two pixels in each dimension and each focal plane is contained within a region of the imager array that does not contain pixels from another focal plane; control circuitry configured to control the capture of image information by the pixels within the focal planes; and sampling circuitry configured to convert pixel outputs into digital pixel data; wherein the pixels in the plurality of focal planes comprise a pixel stack including a microlens and an active area, where light incident on the surface of the microlens is focused onto the active area by the microlens and the active area samples the incident light to capture image information; wherein the pixel stack defines a pixel area and the microlens forms a pixel aperture, where the size of the pixel apertures is smaller than the pixel area; wherein gaps exist between adjacent microlenses in the pixel stacks of adjacent pixels in a focal plane; wherein the pixel stack further comprises light blocking material located to prevent light from entering the pixel stacks through the gaps between the microlenses; and wherein the amount of aliasing in images captured by a focal plane is greater than the amount of aliasing that would be present were the microlens to occupy the entire pixel area defined by the pixel stack.
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15. An array camera module, comprising:
an imager array configured to capture light field image data, comprising; a plurality of focal planes, where each focal plane comprises a two dimensional arrangement of pixels having at least two pixels in each dimension and each focal plane is contained within a region of the imager array that does not contain pixels from another focal plane; control circuitry configured to control the capture of image information by the pixels within the focal planes; and sampling circuitry configured to convert pixel outputs into digital pixel data; wherein the pixels in the plurality of focal planes comprise a pixel stack including a microlens and an active area, where light incident on the surface of the microlens is focused onto the active area by the microlens and the active area samples the incident light to capture image information; wherein the pixel stack defines a pixel area and includes a pixel aperture, where the size of the pixel apertures is smaller than the pixel area; and an optic array of lens stacks, where an image including aliasing is formed on each focal plane by a separate lens stack in the optic array of lens stacks. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
Specification