Array Camera Configurations Incorporating Multiple Constituent Array Cameras

• US 20150146029A1
• Filed: 11/26/2014
• Published: 05/28/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FotoNation Limited (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Pelican Imaging Corporation
• Inventors: Venkataraman, Kartik, Duparr, Jacques
• Granted Patent: US 9,426,361 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/218.1
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 13/02 Telephoto objectives, i.e. systems of the type + - in which the distance from the front vertex to the image plane is less than the equivalent focal length
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/0056 arranged along two different directions in a plane, e.g. honeycomb arrangement of lenses G02B3/0043 takes precedence; miniaturised objectives for electronic devices employing wafer level optics G02B13/0085
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/0062 Stacked lens arrays, i.e. refractive surfaces arranged in at least two planes, without structurally separate optical elements in-between
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10052 Images from lightfield camera
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 3/4053 based on super-resolution, i.e. the output image resolution being higher than the sensor resolution
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/557 from light fields, e.g. from plenoptic cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/232 using fly-eye lenses, e.g. arrangements of circular lenses
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/243 using three or more 2D image sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/257 Colour aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 17/002 for television cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2013/0081 Depth or disparity estimation from stereoscopic image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/45 for generating image signals from two or more image sensors being of different type or operating in different modes, e.g. with a CMOS sensor for moving images in combination with a charge-coupled device [CCD] for still images
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/69 Control of means for changing angle of the field of view, e.g. optical zoom objectives or electronic zooming
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/698 for achieving an enlarged field of view, e.g. panoramic image capture
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/90 Arrangement of cameras or camera modules, e.g. multiple cameras in TV studios or sports stadiums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/951 by using two or more images to influence resolution, frame rate or aspect ratio
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/134 based on three different wavelength filter elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/702 SSIS architectures characterised by non-identical, non-equidistant or non-planar pixel layout
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/265 Mixing

Abstract

Systems and methods for implementing array camera configurations that include a plurality of constituent array cameras, where each constituent array camera provides a distinct field of view and/or a distinct viewing direction, are described. In several embodiments, image data captured by the constituent array cameras is used to synthesize multiple images that are subsequently blended. In a number of embodiments, the blended images include a foveated region. In certain embodiments, the blended images possess a wider field of view than the fields of view of the multiple images.

Claims

1. An array camera configuration, comprising:

at least two constituent array cameras, where each constituent array camera comprises;

a plurality of cameras, where each camera comprises optics that form an image on a focal plane defined by an array of pixels that capture image data and have fields of view that form a combined field of view for the constituent array camera;

wherein each of the at least two constituent array cameras differ with respect to at least one of combined field of view and viewing direction;

a processor;

memory containing an image processing application and calibrated warp data;

wherein the image processing application directs the processor to;

for each of the at least two constituent array cameras;

obtain image data from the cameras in the constituent array camera;

generate a depth map using the image data captured by the cameras in the constituent array camera; and

synthesize an image using the image data captured by the cameras in the constituent array camera and the depth map;

construct an enhanced image using the image data obtained from the cameras in the at least two constituent array cameras by;

warping at least a first of the synthesized images into a viewpoint of a second of the synthesized images using a depth map for the first of the synthesized images and calibrated warp data; and

blending the at least a first of the synthesized images warped into the viewpoint of the second of the synthesized images and the second of the synthesized images to create the enhanced image.

2. The array camera configuration of claim 1, wherein the plurality of cameras in a first constituent array camera have fields of view that are narrower than and within the fields of view of the plurality of cameras in a second constituent array camera.

3. The array camera configuration of claim 2, wherein the plurality of cameras in the first constituent array camera capture image data at a higher angular resolution than the image data captured by the plurality of cameras in the second constituent array camera.

4. The array camera configuration of claim 2, wherein the plurality of cameras in the first constituent array camera have optics with larger magnification than the optics of the cameras in the second constituent array camera.

5. The array camera configuration of claim 4, wherein:

the plurality of cameras in the first constituent array camera include telephoto lenses;

the plurality of cameras in the second constituent array camera include wide angle lenses; and

the telephoto lenses have higher angular resolution and contrast and longer focal lengths than the wide angle lenses.

6. The array camera configuration of claim 2, wherein the optics of the cameras in the first constituent array camera include at least one adaptive optical element enabling the independent adjustment of the focal length of the camera.

7. The array camera configuration of claim 2, wherein the optics of the cameras in the first constituent array camera include at least one adaptive optical element that can enable the lateral shifting of the centration of the refractive power distribution of the at least one adaptive optical element.

8. The array camera configuration of claim 2, wherein the enhanced image has a field of view of the image synthesized using the image data captured by the second constituent array camera and includes a foveated high resolution region with an angular resolution of the image synthesized from the image data captured by the first constituent array camera.

9. The array camera configuration of claim 1, wherein the image processing application directs the processor to synthesize an image using the image data captured by the cameras in the constituent array camera and a depth map by performing a super-resolution process to synthesize a high resolution image using image data captured by the cameras in the constituent array camera and the depth map generated using the image data.

10. The array camera configuration of claim 1, wherein:

a first constituent array camera has a first viewing direction and a first combined field of view; and

a second constituent array camera has a second viewing direction and a second combined field of view, where the first and second combined fields of view are partially overlapping beyond a specific object distance.

11. The array camera configuration of claim 10, wherein the image processing application further directs the processor to generate a depth map for the enhanced image using the depth maps generated using the image data captured by each of the first constituent array camera and the second constituent array camera.

12. The array camera configuration of claim 1, wherein cameras in a constituent array camera have different imaging characteristics.

13. The array camera configuration of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of constituent array cameras includes a M×

N array of cameras.

14. The array camera configuration of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of constituent arrays comprises an array camera module including an array of lens stacks forming separate apertures and an imager array including an array of focal planes, where each lens stack forms an image on a corresponding focal plane.

15. The array camera configuration of claim 1, wherein different cameras in at least one of the plurality of constituent array cameras capture images of different portions of the light spectrum.

16. The array camera configuration of claim 15, wherein the lens stacks of the different cameras differ based upon the portion of the spectrum imaged by the camera.

17. The array camera configuration of claim 16, wherein at least one lens element in the lens stacks of the different cameras have a surface with different shapes.

18. The array camera configuration of claim 16, wherein at least one lens element in the lens stacks of the different cameras are constructed from different materials.

19. The array camera configuration of claim 15, wherein different types of cameras in a constituent array camera are located on either side of a reference camera.

20. An array camera configuration, comprising:

at least two constituent array cameras, comprising;

a first constituent array camera comprising a plurality of cameras, where each camera comprises;

optics that form an image on a focal plane defined by an array of pixels that capture image data; and

have fields of view that form a first combined field of view in a first viewing direction;

a second constituent array camera comprising a plurality of cameras, where each camera comprises;

optics that form an image on a focal plane defined by an array of pixels that capture image data; and

have fields of view that form a second combined field of view in a second viewing direction;

wherein the plurality of cameras in the first constituent array camera have fields of view that are narrower than and within the fields of view of the plurality of cameras in the second constituent array camera;

wherein the plurality of cameras in the first constituent array camera capture image data at a higher angular resolution than the image data captured by the plurality of cameras in the second constituent array camera;

a processor;

memory containing an image processing application and calibrated warp data;

wherein the image processing application directs the processor to;

obtain image data from the cameras in the first and second constituent array cameras;

generate separate depth maps using the image data captured by each of the first and second constituent array cameras; and

synthesize separate high resolution images by performing a super-resolution process using the image data captured by each of the first and second constituent array cameras and the depth maps generated using the image data captured by each of the first and second constituent array cameras; and

construct an enhanced image using the two synthesized images and the depth maps used to synthesize images by;

warping a first of the synthesized images into a viewpoint of a second of the synthesized images using the depth map used to synthesize the first of the synthesized images and calibrated warp data; and

blending the first of the synthesized images warped into the viewpoint of the second of the synthesized images and the second of the synthesized images to create the enhanced image;

wherein the enhanced image has a field of view of the image synthesized using the image data captured by the second constituent array camera and includes a foveated high resolution region with an angular resolution of the image synthesized from the image data captured by the first constituent array camera.