Enhanced depth map images for mobile devices

A method of processing a depth map image, the method comprising:

• capturing, by a depth camera, a depth map image of a scene;
• rotating a linear polarization unit during capture of the scene by a color camera to generate a sequence of linearly polarized images of the scene having different polarization orientations;
• performing image registration with respect to the sequence of linearly polarized images to generate a sequence of aligned linearly polarized images;
• and
• generating an enhanced depth map image based on the depth map image and the sequence of aligned linearly polarized images.

A device configured to process a depth map image, the device comprising:

• means for capturing a depth map image of a scene;
• means for capturing a sequence of linearly polarized images of the scene having different polarization orientations;
• means for performing image registration with respect to the sequence of linearly polarized images to generate a sequence of aligned linearly polarized images;
• and
• means for generating an enhanced depth map image based on the depth map image and the sequence of aligned linearly polarized images.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon instructions that, when executed, cause one or more processors of a mobile device to:

• interface with a depth camera to capture of a depth map image of a scene;
• interface with a color camera to capture a sequence of linearly polarized images of the scene having different polarization orientations;
• perform image registration with respect to the sequence of linearly polarized images to generate a sequence of aligned linearly polarized images;
• and
• generate an enhanced depth map image based on the depth map image and the sequence of aligned linearly polarized images.