Light field data acquisition
AssigneeLytro, Inc.
InventorsYi-Ren Ng, Colvin Pitts, Timothy Knight
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A light field data acquisition device includes optics and a light field sensor to acquire light field image data of a scene. In at least one embodiment, the light field sensor is located at a substantially fixed, predetermined distance relative to the focal point of the optics. In response to user input, the light field acquires the light field image data of the scene, and a storage device stores the acquired data. Such acquired data can subsequently be used to generate a plurality of images of the scene using different virtual focus depths.
Claims26
A light field imaging device for acquiring light field image data of a scene, the device comprising:
- optics, wherein the optics includes an optical path and a focal point, wherein the focal point is associated with a focal length of the optics;
- a light field sensor, located (i) in the optical path of the optics to acquire light field image data and (ii) at a substantially fixed, predetermined distance relative to the focal point of the optics, wherein the predetermined distance is substantially independent of the scene, and wherein an optical depth of field of the optics with respect to the light field sensor extends to a depth that is closer than optical infinity;
- and
- a user interface configured to receive a user input, wherein, in response to the user input, the light field sensor acquires the light field image data of the scene;
- and
- a storage device, coupled to the light field sensor, configured to store the acquired light field image data of the scene.
A light field imaging device for acquiring light field image data of a subject in a scene, wherein the subject is in a focal plane, the device comprising:
- optics, wherein the optics comprises an optical path, an optical depth of field, and an autofocus mechanism, and wherein the autofocus mechanism selects among a plurality of focuses including a first focus related to a focal plane of the subject;
- a light field sensor, located (i) in the optical path of the optics to acquire light field image data and (ii) at a predetermined distance, relative to the optics, during acquisition of the light field data, wherein the predetermined distance is at a substantially fixed separation relative to the focal plane corresponding to the subject, and wherein the focal plane of the subject is outside of the optical depth of field of the optics with respect to the light field sensor;
- and
- a storage device, coupled to the light field sensor, configured to store the acquired light field image data.
A light field imaging device for acquiring light field image data of a subject in a scene, wherein the subject is in a focal plane, the device comprising:
- optics, wherein the optics comprises an optical path, an optical depth of field and an autofocus mechanism, and wherein the autofocus is configured to select among a plurality of focuses including a first focus which is related to a focal plane of the subject;
- a light field sensor, located (i) in the optical path of the optics to acquire light field image data and (ii) at a predetermined separation, relative to the optics, during acquisition of the light field data, wherein the focal plane of the subject is outside of the optical depth of field of the optics with respect to the light field sensor;
- and
- control circuitry configured to adjust the separation between the light field sensor and the optics among a plurality of discrete, fixed-focus separations, wherein each discrete separation provides a refocusing range of the light field image data;
- and
- a storage device, coupled to the light field sensor, configured to store the acquired light field image data.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.