Converting a monocular camera into a binocular stereo camera

An optical arrangement for acquiring stereoscopic imagery of an object using a single camera of a mobile computing device, the camera having a camera focal plane, the mobile computing device removably attached to a first mount element that arranges the camera in a first position, the optical arrangement having a predefined disposition relative to the first position of the camera, the optical arrangement comprising:

• a first reflective element arranged at a distal end of a planar surface of a second mount element, the first reflective element having a first convex surface extending from the planar surface, the first reflective element arranged along a first optical path defined between the object and the camera, the second mount element coupled with the first mount element at a proximal end of the planar surface;
• a first beam splitter element arranged along the first optical path, the first beam splitter defining a first surface configured to direct, onto the camera focal plane, at least a first portion of first light reflected by the first convex surface;
• a second reflective element arranged at the distal end of the planar surface of the second mount element, the second reflective element having a second convex surface extending from the planar surface, the second reflective element spaced apart from the first reflective element, the second reflective element arranged along a second optical path defined between the object and the camera;
• and
• a second beam splitter element having a predefined disposition relative to the first beam splitter element, the second beam splitter element defining a second surface configured to direct, onto the camera focal plane, a second portion of second light reflected by the second convex surface.

A system comprising:

• one or more computer processors;
• a mobile computing device comprising a camera having a camera focal plane;
• a first mount element to which the mobile computing device is removably attached, thereby arranging the camera in a first position;
• a second mount element comprising a planar surface, wherein the second mount element is coupled with the first mount element at a proximal end of the planar surface;
• and
• an optical arrangement having a predefined disposition relative to the first position of the camera, the optical arrangement comprising:
• a first reflective element arranged at a distal end of the planar surface and having a first convex surface extending from the planar surface, the first reflective element arranged along a first optical path defined between an object and the camera;
• a first beam splitter element arranged along the first optical path, the first beam splitter defining a first surface configured to direct, onto the camera focal plane, at least a first portion of first light reflected by the first convex surface;
• and
• a second reflective element arranged at the distal end of the planar surface of the second mount element, the second reflective element having a second convex surface extending from the planar surface, the second reflective element spaced apart from the first reflective element, the second reflective element arranged along a second optical path defined between the object and the camera, wherein second light is directed onto the camera focal plane via the second convex surface, and
• wherein the one or more computer processors are configured to determine, using the first portion of the first light and the second light, at least one of depth information and positional information of the object.