Imaging apparatus and imaging system

An imaging apparatus imaging an image, the imaging apparatus comprising:

• an image sensor configured to convert an optical image into image signals and output the converted image signal, the optical image being taken in a plurality of light receiving elements that are arranged on an imaging surface in an array;
• a modulator provided on a light receiving surface of the image sensor and configured to modulate an intensity of light:
• a signal processor configured to receive the image signals outputted from the image sensor;
• an inter-pixel difference processor configured to calculate a difference between adjacent pixels of an image based on the image signals received by the signal processor and specify a range of values indicated by the difference;
• a data converter configured to generate compression image data based on the range of values indicated by the difference of the image signal by the inter-pixel difference processor and on the difference between the pixels;
• a compressor configured to compress the compression image data generated by the data converter;
• and
• an output unit configured to output the data compressed by the compressor, wherein
• the modulator has a grating pattern composed of a plurality of lines, and
• the signal processor receives an image signal outputted by the grating pattern.

An imaging system including an imaging apparatus and a restoring apparatus, the imaging apparatus compressing a result obtained by imaging an image, the restoring apparatus restoring the compressed result,

• the imaging apparatus comprising:
• an image sensor configured to convert an optical image into image signals, the optical image being taken in a plurality of light receiving elements that are arranged on an imaging surface in an array;
• a modulator provided on a light receiving surface of the image sensor and configured to modulate an intensity of light;
• a signal processor configured to receive the image signals outputted by the image sensor;
• a difference processor configured to calculate a difference between the image signals received by the signal processor and generate a first difference data based on the difference;
• a data converter configured to generate first compression image data based on the first difference data and a range of values indicated by the difference of the image signal by the difference processor;
• a compressor configured to compress the first compression image data generated by the data convertor;
• and
• an output unit configured to output the data compressed by the compressor,
• the restoring apparatus comprising:
• an input unit configured to input the data outputted by the output unit;
• a decoding processor configured to decode the data inputted by the input unit and generate a compression restoration image;
• an image restoration processor configured to generate a restoration difference image from the compression restoration data and the range of values indicated by the difference;
• a modulation processor configured to modulate the restoration difference image and generate a moire-fringe image;
• and
• a signal processor configured to Fourier-transform the moire-fringe image and calculate a frequency spectrum, wherein
• the modulator has a first grating pattern composed of a plurality of lines, and a second grating pattern having a phase shifted from the first grating pattern,
• the signal processor receives a first image signal outputted by the first grating pattern, and a second image signal outputted by the second grating pattern,
• the difference processor calculates a difference between the first image signal and the second image signal, and
• the compressor contains information that indicates the range used by the data converter to generate the first compression image data.