Camera arrays incorporating 3×3 imager configurations
First Claim
1. A camera array, comprising:
- a plurality of imagers, where each imager comprises;
optics comprising at least one lens element and at least one aperture that form an optical channel; 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 imager, where each spectral filter is configured to pass a specific spectral band of light;
wherein the plurality of imagers are configured to capture different images of the same scene;
wherein the plurality of imagers forms at least a 3×
3 configuration of imagers comprising;
an imager having a green filter at the center of a 3×
3 configuration of imagers;
two imagers having red filters located on opposite sides of the 3×
3 configuration of imagers;
two imagers having blue filters located on opposite sides of the 3×
3 configuration of imagers; and
four imagers having green filters surrounding the central imager having a green filter; and
wherein the shape of at least one lens element of the imagers having green filters differs from the shape of at least one lens element of the imagers having red filters and the imagers having blue filters.
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Abstract
Systems and methods for implementing array cameras configured to perform super-resolution processing to generate higher resolution super-resolved images using a plurality of captured images and lens stack arrays that can be utilized in array cameras are disclosed. An imaging device in accordance with one embodiment of the invention includes at least one imager array, and each imager in the array comprises a plurality of light sensing elements and a lens stack including at least one lens surface, where the lens stack is configured to form an image on the light sensing elements, control circuitry configured to capture images formed on the light sensing elements of each of the imagers, and a super-resolution processing module configured to generate at least one higher resolution super-resolved image using a plurality of the captured images.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A camera array, comprising:
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a plurality of imagers, where each imager comprises; optics comprising at least one lens element and at least one aperture that form an optical channel; 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 imager, where each spectral filter is configured to pass a specific spectral band of light; wherein the plurality of imagers are configured to capture different images of the same scene; wherein the plurality of imagers forms at least a 3×
3 configuration of imagers comprising;an imager having a green filter at the center of a 3×
3 configuration of imagers;two imagers having red filters located on opposite sides of the 3×
3 configuration of imagers;two imagers having blue filters located on opposite sides of the 3×
3 configuration of imagers; andfour imagers having green filters surrounding the central imager having a green filter; and wherein the shape of at least one lens element of the imagers having green filters differs from the shape of at least one lens element of the imagers having red filters and the imagers having blue filters. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A camera array assembly, comprising:
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a monolithic integrated module forming a plurality of imagers, where each imager comprises; a lens stack array comprising an array of optical channels that form the optics of each imager, where each optical channel comprises at least one lens element and at least one aperture forming a lens stack; and a single semiconductor substrate on which all of the pixels and control circuitry for each imager are formed; and at least one spectral filter located within each imager, where each spectral filter is configured to pass a specific spectral band of light; and an image processing pipeline module configured to estimate distance to an object in a scene using images captured by the plurality of imagers; wherein the plurality of imagers are configured to capture different images of the same scene; wherein the plurality of imagers forms at least a 3×
3 configuration of imagers comprising;an imager having a green filter at the center of a 3×
3 configuration of imagers;two imagers having red filters located on opposite sides of the 3×
3 configuration of imagers;two imagers having blue filters located on opposite sides of the 3×
3 configuration of imagers; andfour imagers having green filters surrounding the central imager having a green filter; and wherein the shape of at least one lens element of the imagers having green filters differs from the shape of at least one lens element of the imagers having red filters and the imagers having blue filters.
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20. A camera array, comprising:
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a plurality of imagers formed on separate semiconductor substrates, where each imager comprises; optics comprising at least one lens element and at least one aperture that form an optical channel; 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 imager, where each spectral filter is configured to pass a specific spectral band of light; and an image processing pipeline module configured to estimate distance to an object in a scene using images captured by the plurality of imagers; wherein the plurality of imagers are configured to capture different images of the same scene; wherein the plurality of imagers forms at least a 3×
3 configuration of imagers comprising;an imager having a green filter at the center of a 3×
3 configuration of imagers;two imagers having red filters located on opposite sides of the 3×
3 configuration of imagers;two imagers having blue filters located on opposite sides of the 3×
3 configuration of imagers; andfour imagers having green filters surrounding the central imager having a green filter; wherein the shape of at least one lens element of the imagers having green filters differs from the shape of at least one lens element of the imagers having red filters and the imagers having blue filters.
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Specification