Light field data acquisition devices, and methods of using and manufacturing same
First Claim
1. A light field imaging device for acquiring light field image data of a scene, the device comprising:
- optics, wherein the optics includes an optical path and a focal point, wherein the focal point is associated with a focal length of the optics;
a light field sensor, located (i) in the optical path of the optics to acquire light field image data and (ii) at a substantially fixed, predetermined location relative to the focal point of the optics, wherein the predetermined location is substantially independent of the scene, and wherein an optical depth of field of the optics with respect to the light field sensor extends to a depth that is closer than optical infinity;
a user interface to receive a plurality of user inputs, including first and second user inputs, wherein, in response to the first user input, the light field sensor acquires the light field image data of the scene; and
processing circuitry, coupled the user interface, to generate and output image data which is representative of an image, the processing circuitry to;
determine a first virtual focus depth of the light field image data, wherein the first virtual focus depth is different from the optical focus depth of the light field image data,automatically generate data which is representative of a first image of the scene using the light field image data, wherein the first image includes a focus which corresponds to the first virtual focus depth,output the data which is representative of the first image, and, after outputting the data which is representative of the first image and in response to the second user input,determine a second virtual focus depth of the light field image data using data which is representative of the second user input, wherein the second user input is indicative of the second virtual focus depth and the second virtual focus depth is different from the optical focus depth of the light field image data, andgenerate data which is representative of a second image of the scene using the light field image data wherein the second image includes a focus which corresponds to the second virtual focus depth.
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Abstract
A light field data acquisition device includes optics and a sensor to acquire light field image data of a scene. In at least one embodiment, the sensor is located at a substantially fixed, predetermined location relative to the focal point of the optics. The device determines a first virtual focus depth different from an optical focus depth of the light field image data, and automatically generates and outputs data representative of a first image of the scene at the first virtual focus depth. In response to user input, the device determines a second virtual focus depth and generates data representative of a second image of the scene at the second virtual focus depth.
270 Citations
36 Claims
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1. A light field imaging device for acquiring light field image data of a scene, the device comprising:
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optics, wherein the optics includes an optical path and a focal point, wherein the focal point is associated with a focal length of the optics; a light field sensor, located (i) in the optical path of the optics to acquire light field image data and (ii) at a substantially fixed, predetermined location relative to the focal point of the optics, wherein the predetermined location is substantially independent of the scene, and wherein an optical depth of field of the optics with respect to the light field sensor extends to a depth that is closer than optical infinity; a user interface to receive a plurality of user inputs, including first and second user inputs, wherein, in response to the first user input, the light field sensor acquires the light field image data of the scene; and processing circuitry, coupled the user interface, to generate and output image data which is representative of an image, the processing circuitry to; determine a first virtual focus depth of the light field image data, wherein the first virtual focus depth is different from the optical focus depth of the light field image data, automatically generate data which is representative of a first image of the scene using the light field image data, wherein the first image includes a focus which corresponds to the first virtual focus depth, output the data which is representative of the first image, and, after outputting the data which is representative of the first image and in response to the second user input, determine a second virtual focus depth of the light field image data using data which is representative of the second user input, wherein the second user input is indicative of the second virtual focus depth and the second virtual focus depth is different from the optical focus depth of the light field image data, and generate data which is representative of a second image of the scene using the light field image data wherein the second image includes a focus which corresponds to the second virtual focus depth. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A light field imaging device for acquiring light field image data of a subject in a scene, wherein the subject is in a focal plane, the device comprising:
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optics, wherein the optics includes an optical path, an optical depth of field and an autofocus mechanism, wherein the autofocus selects between a plurality of focuses including a first focus which is related to a focal plane of the subject; a light field sensor, located (i) in the optical path of the optics to acquire light field image data and (ii) at a predetermined location, relative to the optics, during acquisition of the light field data, wherein the predetermined location is at a substantially fixed separation relative to the focal plane corresponding to the subject, and wherein the focal plane of the subject is outside of the optical depth of field of the optics with respect to the light field sensor; and processing circuitry to generate an output image data which is representative of an image including the subject in the scene, the processing circuitry to; determine a virtual focus depth of the light field image data, wherein the virtual focus depth is different from the optical focus depth of the light field image data, and automatically generate data which is representative of the image of the scene using the light field image data and data which is representative of the virtual focus depth, wherein the image includes a focus which corresponds to the virtual focus depth. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
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27. A light field imaging device for acquiring light field image data of a subject in a scene, wherein the subject is in a focal plane, the device comprising:
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optics, wherein the optics includes an optical path, an optical depth of field and an autofocus mechanism, wherein the autofocus selects between a plurality of focuses including a first focus which is related to a focal plane of the subject; a light field sensor, located (i) in the optical path of the optics to acquire light field image data and (ii) at a predetermined separation, relative to the optics, during acquisition of the light field data, wherein the focal plane of the subject is outside of the optical depth of field of the optics with respect to the light field sensor; control circuitry to adjust the separation between the light field sensor and the optics between a plurality of discrete, fixed-focus separations, wherein each discrete separation provides a refocusing range of the light field image data; and processing circuitry to generate an output image data which is representative of an image including the subject in the scene, the processing circuitry to; determine a virtual focus depth of the light field image data, wherein the virtual focus depth is different from the optical focus depth of the light field image data, and automatically generate data which is representative of the image of the scene using the light field image data and data which is representative of the virtual focus depth, wherein the image includes a focus which corresponds to the virtual focus depth. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A light field imaging device for acquiring light field image data of a scene, wherein the light field image device includes a maximum output image resolution, the device comprising:
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optics, wherein the optics includes an optical path and a focal point; a light field sensor, located (i) in the optical path of the optics to acquire light field image data and (ii) at a substantially fixed location relative to the focal point of the optics, wherein the substantially fixed location;
(a) is substantially independent of the scene and (b) creates an optical depth of field of the optics with respect to the light field sensor that extends to a depth that is closer than optical infinity; andprocessing circuitry to generate and output image data which is representative of an output image of the scene, the processing circuitry to; determine a virtual focus depth of the light field image data, wherein the virtual focus depth is different from the optical focus depth of the light field image data, and automatically generate data which is representative of the output image of the scene using the light field image data and data which is representative of the virtual focus depth, wherein the output image includes a focus which corresponds to the virtual focus depth; and wherein the light field sensor, which is located at the substantially fixed location relative to the focal point of the optics, acquires light field image data which corresponds to an output image of the scene which includes a virtual focus of optical infinity and a resolution in lines per picture height (LPH) that is at least 0.5 times the maximum output image resolution of the light field imaging device. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36)
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Specification