Multi-camera system using folded optics free from parallax artifacts
First Claim
1. A system for capturing an image of a target scene, the system comprising:
- an array of a plurality of cameras positioned to capture image data representing a plurality of portions of the target scene, the array having a virtual center of projection;
each of the plurality of cameras positioned to capture a portion of the image data representing a different one of the plurality of portions of the target scene, and each of the plurality of cameras comprisingan image sensor,a lens assembly comprising at least one lens, the lens assembly having a center of projection, anda first reflective surface positioned to reflect incoming light representing one of the plurality of portions of the target scene toward the lens assembly, the first reflective surface provided in a plane positionedat a midpoint along a line connecting the center of projection of the lens assembly and the virtual center of projection, andat an angle orthogonal to the line;
a surface positioned between the array and the target scene, the surface including an aperture positioned to allow light representing the target scene to pass to the first reflective surface of each of the plurality of cameras;
a processor; and
a memory storing instructions that configure the processor to generate the image of the target scene based at least partly on the image data comprising each of the plurality of portions of the target scene;
wherein the image sensor of each of the plurality of cameras is positioned within a common plane.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Aspects relate to an array camera exhibiting little or no parallax artifacts in captured images. For example, the planes of the central mirror surfaces of the array camera can be located at a midpoint along, and orthogonally to, a line between the corresponding camera location and the virtual camera location. Accordingly, the cones of all of the cameras in the array appear as if coming from the virtual camera location after folding by the mirrors. Each sensor in the array “sees” a portion of the image scene using a corresponding facet of the central mirror prism, and accordingly each individual sensor/mirror pair represents only a sub-aperture of the total array camera. The complete array camera has a synthetic aperture generated based on the sum of all individual aperture rays.
277 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for capturing an image of a target scene, the system comprising:
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an array of a plurality of cameras positioned to capture image data representing a plurality of portions of the target scene, the array having a virtual center of projection; each of the plurality of cameras positioned to capture a portion of the image data representing a different one of the plurality of portions of the target scene, and each of the plurality of cameras comprising an image sensor, a lens assembly comprising at least one lens, the lens assembly having a center of projection, and a first reflective surface positioned to reflect incoming light representing one of the plurality of portions of the target scene toward the lens assembly, the first reflective surface provided in a plane positioned at a midpoint along a line connecting the center of projection of the lens assembly and the virtual center of projection, and at an angle orthogonal to the line; a surface positioned between the array and the target scene, the surface including an aperture positioned to allow light representing the target scene to pass to the first reflective surface of each of the plurality of cameras; a processor; and a memory storing instructions that configure the processor to generate the image of the target scene based at least partly on the image data comprising each of the plurality of portions of the target scene; wherein the image sensor of each of the plurality of cameras is positioned within a common plane. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An apparatus for capturing an image of a target scene, the apparatus comprising:
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an array of a plurality of cameras having a virtual center of projection, the array positioned to capture image data representing a plurality of portions of the target scene; each of the plurality of cameras positioned to capture a portion of the image data representing a different one of the plurality of portions of the target scene, each of the plurality of cameras comprising image sensing means for generating the image data in response to received light, means for focusing light, the means for focusing having a center of projection, and first light folding means positioned to redirect incoming light representing one of the plurality of portions of the target scene toward the means for focusing, the first light folding means provided in a plane positioned at a midpoint along a line connecting the center of projection of the means for focusing and the virtual center of projection, and at an angle orthogonal to the line; housing means positioned between the array and the target scene, the housing means including an aperture positioned to allow light representing the target scene to be received by the first light folding means of each of the plurality of cameras; and means for mounting the image sensing means of each of the plurality of cameras within a common plane. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of capturing an image of a target scene such that the image is substantially free of parallax and tilt artifacts, comprising:
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receiving light representing the target scene through an aperture to a plurality of mirrors; splitting the light representing the target scene into a plurality of portions using the plurality of mirrors; capturing image data representing the plurality of portions of the target scene by a corresponding plurality of cameras, each of the plurality of cameras positioned to capture a portion of the image data representing a different one of the plurality of portions from a location of a virtual camera having a virtual center of projection, each of the plurality of cameras comprising a mirror of the plurality of mirrors, a lens assembly comprising at least one lens, the lens assembly positioned to receive light representing one of the plurality of portions from the mirror, a center of projection of the lens assembly, and a sensor positioned to receive the light from the lens assembly, wherein the mirror is provided in a plane positioned at a midpoint along a line connecting the center of projection of the lens assembly and the virtual center of projection, and at an angle orthogonal to the line; and assembling the image data representing the plurality of portions of the target scene into the image. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification