Apparatus method and system for imaging

• US 8,878,896 B2
• Filed: 10/04/2010
• Issued: 11/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jungo Connectivity Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Extreme Reality Ltd.
• Inventors: Givon, Dor
• Primary Examiner(s): PRINCE, JESSICA MARIE
• Application Number:
  US12/897,390
• Publication Number:
  US 20110080496A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,492 Days
• Field of Search: 348/42, 348/222.1
• US Class Current: 348/42
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 1/268 Holographic stereogram
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 2210/42 from real object, e.g. using 3D scanner
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 2210/441 Numerical processing applied to the object data other than numerical propagation synthesizing propagation G03H1/0808
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/204 using stereoscopic image cameras stereoscopic photography G03B35/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/218 using spatial multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/257 Colour aspects

Abstract

There is provided in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention an optical assembly including a set of optical paths, wherein two or more optical paths receive an image from a common surface. The optical paths may direct received images onto a common image sensor generating a complex multidimensional data set, an image processing block may extrapolate each of the subset of optical paths printed on the image sensor and may generate a multidimensional data set based on the collected images.

Claims

1. An apparatus for generating one or more images of a given scene from data output by an imaging sensor substantially concurrently sensing image information of the given scene via two or more optical paths, said apparatus comprising:

Interface circuitry adapted to receive image related signals generated by a single imaging sensor substantially concurrently sensing, on an overlapping segment of a common image sensor array die of the single imaging sensor, image information of the given scene via two or more optical paths, thereby encoding a composite image data set including overlapping image information from said two or more optical paths;

first image data processing circuitry adapted to convert the composite image data set into a second image data set of the given scene, including encoded depth related information of the given scene; and

second image data processing circuitry adapted to render from the composite or second image data set multiple different 2-dimensional images of the given scene.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first image data processing circuitry is further adapted to identify within the composite image data set, image information captured via a given optical path.

3. A method for generating images of a given scene from data output by an imaging sensor substantially simultaneously sensing the given scene via two or more optical paths, said method comprising:

sensing, substantially simultaneously, a given scene via two or more optical paths on an overlapping segment of a common image sensor array die of a single imaging sensor, thereby encoding a composite image data set including overlapping image information from said two or more optical paths;

converting the composite image data set into a second image data set of the given scene, including encoded depth related information of the given scene; and

rendering multiple different 2-dimensional images of the given scene, by utilizing depth related information encoded within the second image data set.

4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising identifying within the composite image data set, image information captured via a given optical path.

5. A system for generating multiple different images of a scene from data output by an imaging sensor substantially concurrently sensing the scene via two or more optical paths, said system comprising:

an image sensor adapted to sense, substantially concurrently, a given scene via two or more optical paths on an overlapping segment of a common image sensor array die of said imaging sensor, thereby encoding a composite image data set including overlapping image information from said two or more optical paths;

first image data processing circuitry adapted to convert the composite image data set into a second image data set of the given scene, including encoded depth related information of the given scene; and

second image data processing circuitry adapted to render from the composite or second image data set multiple different 2-dimensional images of the given scene.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein said first image data processing circuitry is further adapted to identify within the composite image data set image information captured via a given optical path.