Systems and Methods for Performing Post Capture Refocus Using Images Captured by Camera Arrays
First Claim
1. A camera array configured to simulate reduction in depth of field in images captured by the camera array, comprising:
- a plurality of cameras configured to capture images of a scene, where each camera comprises;
optics comprising at least one lens element and at least one aperture; and
a sensor comprising a two dimensional array of pixels and control circuitry for controlling imaging parameters; and
at least one spectral filter located within the camera, where each spectral filter is configured to pass a specific spectral band of light;
a controller configured to control operation parameters of the plurality of cameras; and
an image processing pipeline module;
wherein the image processing pipeline module comprises a parallax confirmation and measurement module configured to measure parallax using images captured by the plurality of cameras and generate a depth map using the measured parallax;
wherein the image processing pipeline is configured to select at least one distance as an “
in best focus”
distance and blur an image produced by the camera array based upon estimated distance information.
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Abstract
A camera array, an imaging device and/or a method for capturing image that employ a plurality of imagers fabricated on a substrate is provided. Each imager includes a plurality of pixels. The plurality of imagers include a first imager having a first imaging characteristics and a second imager having a second imaging characteristics. The images generated by the plurality of imagers are processed to obtain an enhanced image compared to images captured by the imagers. Each imager may be associated with an optical element fabricated using a wafer level optics (WLO) technology.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A camera array configured to simulate reduction in depth of field in images captured by the camera array, comprising:
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a plurality of cameras configured to capture images of a scene, where each camera comprises; optics comprising at least one lens element and at least one aperture; and a sensor comprising a two dimensional array of pixels and control circuitry for controlling imaging parameters; and at least one spectral filter located within the camera, where each spectral filter is configured to pass a specific spectral band of light; a controller configured to control operation parameters of the plurality of cameras; and an image processing pipeline module; wherein the image processing pipeline module comprises a parallax confirmation and measurement module configured to measure parallax using images captured by the plurality of cameras and generate a depth map using the measured parallax; wherein the image processing pipeline is configured to select at least one distance as an “
in best focus”
distance and blur an image produced by the camera array based upon estimated distance information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A camera array configured to simulate reduction in depth of field in images captured by the camera array, comprising:
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a plurality of cameras configured to capture images of a scene, where each camera is formed on a separate semiconductor substrate and comprises; optics comprising at least one lens element and at least one aperture; and a sensor comprising a two dimensional array of pixels and control circuitry for controlling imaging parameters; and at least one spectral filter located within the camera, where each spectral filter is configured to pass a specific spectral band of light; a controller configured to control operation parameters of the plurality of cameras; and an image processing pipeline module; wherein the plurality of cameras comprises at least one camera having a first set of imaging characteristics and at least one camera having a second set of imaging characteristics; wherein cameras having different imaging characteristics have different effective resolutions; wherein the image processing pipeline module comprises a parallax confirmation and measurement module configured to measure parallax using images captured by the plurality of cameras and generate a depth map using the measured parallax; and wherein the image processing pipeline is configured to select at least one distance as an “
in best focus”
distance and blur an image produced by the camera array based upon estimated distance information.
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21. A camera array configured to simulate reduction in depth of field in images captured by the camera array, comprising:
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a monolithic integrated module forming a plurality of cameras, where each camera comprises; a lens element array forming the optics of each of the plurality of cameras, where the optics of each camera comprises at least one lens element and at least one aperture; and a single semiconductor substrate on which all of the pixels and control circuitry for each camera are formed; and at least one spectral filter located within each camera, where each spectral filter is configured to pass a specific spectral band of light; a controller configured to control operation parameters of the plurality of cameras; and an image processing pipeline module; wherein the plurality of cameras comprises at least one camera having a first set of imaging characteristics and at least one camera having a second set of imaging characteristics; wherein cameras having different imaging characteristics have different effective resolutions; wherein the image processing pipeline module comprises a parallax confirmation and measurement module configured to measure parallax using images captured by the plurality of cameras and generate a depth map using the measured parallax; and wherein the image processing pipeline is configured to select at least one distance as an “
in best focus”
distance and blur an image produced by the camera array based upon estimated distance information.
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Specification